Intelius Background Checks: What You Need to Know Before Signing Up

What Is Intelius and How Does It Work?

Intelius is one of the longest-running online background check services, operating since . The platform aggregates public records from government sources, court documents, property records, and other publicly available databases to create detailed reports on individuals.

When you run a search on Intelius, the system scans over 20 billion public records to compile information including:

• Full name, age, and date of birth
• Current and historical addresses
• Phone numbers and email addresses
• Criminal records and court documents
• Property ownership information
• Education and employment history
• Known relatives and associates
• Social media profiles

The platform offers four main search types: people search by name, reverse phone lookup, reverse address lookup, and email search. Each returns varying levels of detail depending on your subscription tier.

Intelius is part of the PeopleConnect network, which also owns TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate, and US Search. This means if you opt out of one service, your suppression request applies across all affiliated sites-a helpful detail if privacy is your concern.

Intelius Pricing: What You'll Actually Pay

One of the biggest frustrations with Intelius is their opaque pricing structure. You won't find a simple pricing page-instead, you have to run a search first, wait through the process, and only then see your options.

Here's what current pricing looks like:

• People Search Plan: Around $25.11 per month for monthly billing, or approximately $21.35/month when billed bi-monthly (~$42.70 total)
• Reverse Phone + People Search: Approximately $35.30 per month after trial
• Address Lookup + People Search: Around $34.95 per month after trial
• One-time Background Check: Around $39.95-$49.95 for a standalone report
• Statewide Criminal Records: $14.95 per search
• Nationwide Criminal Records: $29.95 per search
• Downloadable Reports: Additional $3.99 one-time fee per report
• Identity Protection Add-on: $9.95-$19.95 per month

Watch out for the trial offers. Intelius frequently promotes $0.95 or $1.99 trial periods lasting 5-7 days. The catch? These auto-renew at full subscription prices, and many users report surprise charges when they forget to cancel. This is one of the most common complaints in online reviews.

The trial period link expires within 15 minutes after you receive the verification email, adding pressure to make a quick decision. If you wait around on the site for 5-10 minutes, you may see pop-up offers for discounted trials-but remember, all trials convert to full-price subscriptions unless you actively cancel.

What Intelius Does Well

To be fair, Intelius has maintained its position in the market for over two decades for legitimate reasons:

Database Size: Access to over 20 billion public records gives Intelius one of the larger data pools in the industry. For people searches, this breadth matters-you're more likely to find someone when the system casts a wider net.

Report Organization: The Intelius Connections feature stands out by mapping relationships beyond someone's immediate circle. This can be valuable when you're trying to locate someone who may have changed names or moved frequently. Reports are organized in an intuitive layout that's easy to read and reference, unlike some competitors that present information in confusing formats.

BBB Accreditation: Intelius maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has been accredited since . They also respond to complaints filed through the BBB, which provides some reassurance about their business practices.

Mobile Accessibility: Both Android and iOS apps allow you to run searches on the go, which is convenient for field sales professionals or recruiters who need quick information between meetings.

Multiple Search Options: Unlike some competitors that only offer name-based searches, Intelius provides four distinct search methods: by name, phone number, email, or address. This flexibility helps when you don't have complete information about someone.

The Real Problems with Intelius

Despite the positives, Intelius has significant drawbacks that B2B professionals should understand:

Billing Complaints Are Rampant

User reviews across Trustpilot, SiteJabber, and ConsumerAffairs consistently cite billing issues as the primary pain point. Common complaints include unexpected charges after trial periods end, difficulty canceling subscriptions, and duplicate charges. On Sitejabber, Intelius holds a 2.6-star rating from over 108 reviews, with credit card issues being the most frequently mentioned concern.

On Trustpilot, approximately 89% of users give Intelius the lowest possible rating, with many echoing similar billing frustrations. The Better Business Bureau shows 383 total complaints over the last three years, with 156 complaints closed in the last 12 months alone. The recurring theme? Users feel blindsided by subscription charges they didn't knowingly authorize.

Data Accuracy Varies Significantly

Criminal records and court data accuracy depend heavily on the jurisdiction. Some counties update records frequently while others lag behind. This means Intelius might miss recent cases or show resolved matters without updated dispositions. The platform works better as a starting point for research rather than a definitive verification source.

Multiple users report finding outdated information-addresses from 5-10 years ago, disconnected phone numbers, and employment data that no longer reflects reality. One reviewer noted searching for a known felon but finding no criminal records in the report whatsoever. This inconsistency makes Intelius unreliable for situations requiring current, accurate data.

FCRA Limitations

Here's the critical part many people miss: Intelius cannot be used for employment screening, tenant screening, or any purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). You must check a box confirming this before accessing any report. If you're a recruiter or HR professional looking for compliant background checks, Intelius isn't the solution.

The FCRA requires consumer reporting agencies to follow strict guidelines for accuracy, dispute resolution, and notification. Intelius explicitly states they are not a consumer reporting agency, which means they don't have to meet these standards. For employers, this creates legal risk if you use Intelius data for hiring decisions.

Not Truly Free

While Intelius allows a basic free search that shows name, age, and location, accessing any useful details requires payment. There's no legitimate way to get comprehensive background information without either paying for a single report or subscribing. The "free" search essentially serves as a teaser to encourage paid subscriptions.

Understanding What Background Checks Really Show

Before we dive deeper into Intelius specifically, it's worth understanding what background checks typically reveal and why people use them. This context helps you determine whether Intelius meets your actual needs.

What Employers See in Background Checks

When employers conduct compliant background checks (not through services like Intelius), they typically look for:

• Criminal History: Convictions, pending cases, and in some jurisdictions, arrest records. Employers use this to assess workplace safety risks.
• Employment Verification: Confirmation of previous job titles, dates of employment, and sometimes eligibility for rehire.
• Education Verification: Confirmation of degrees, certifications, and attendance dates at educational institutions.
• Credit Reports: For financial positions or roles with access to company funds, though this is restricted in some states.
• Driving Records: For positions requiring vehicle operation, employers check for DUIs, accidents, and license status.
• Professional Licenses: Verification that required licenses are current and in good standing.

The key difference? Legitimate employer background checks require your written consent, must notify you if they find something concerning, and give you the opportunity to dispute inaccuracies. Intelius reports have none of these protections.

Running a Background Check on Yourself

One smart use case for services like Intelius is checking your own information before applying for jobs or making major life changes. By running a self-background check, you can:

• See what public information exists about you
• Identify inaccurate data that might raise red flags with employers
• Find forgotten social media accounts or old online profiles
• Discover if someone has stolen your identity
• Prepare explanations for legitimate issues like past bankruptcies or criminal records

That said, you don't need to pay Intelius prices for a self-check. You can obtain your official credit reports for free once per year at annualcreditreport.com. For criminal records, many state and county courts offer free online record searches. Social media audits simply require logging into your accounts and reviewing what's public.

When Intelius Makes Sense

Despite its limitations, Intelius can be appropriate for:

• Personal safety verification before meeting someone from a dating app
• Reconnecting with lost family members or old friends
• Preliminary research on potential business partners (not employment decisions)
• Learning more about new neighbors or community members
• Identifying unknown callers through reverse phone lookup
• Checking your own online presence and public records

For these personal use cases, Intelius's comprehensive reports can provide valuable information that would take hours to compile manually from various public sources. The service legitimately aggregates data from dozens of databases, saving you the hassle of searching county records, property databases, and court systems individually.

However, recognize that you're paying primarily for convenience and speed, not for exclusive access to information. Nearly everything in an Intelius report exists in public databases you could theoretically search yourself for free-it would just take significantly more time and effort.

Better Alternatives for B2B Professionals

If you're in sales, recruiting, or marketing, your needs likely differ from the typical Intelius user. You probably need to verify contacts, validate leads, or research prospects-not run full criminal background checks.

For Email and Contact Verification

Before reaching out to any prospect, smart sales professionals verify their contact information. Our free Email Verifier lets you instantly check if an email address is valid, risky, or likely to bounce. This saves you from damaging your sender reputation and wasting time on dead leads.

Unlike Intelius, which focuses on personal background data, email verification tools are purpose-built for B2B outreach. They check deliverability, identify role-based emails, detect disposable addresses, and flag potential spam traps-all factors that matter when you're building a prospecting list.

For Quick Background Research

When you need trust scores and basic background information on business contacts without the subscription commitment, our free Background Checker provides comprehensive reports with trust scores-no hidden trial traps or auto-renewals to worry about. It's built for B2B professionals who need quick verification, not full private investigation capabilities.

The key advantage? No subscription pressure. You get the information you need without worrying about remembering to cancel before a trial ends. For occasional background research, pay-per-use models make more financial sense than monthly subscriptions.

For Finding Decision Makers

If your goal is finding the right contact at a company rather than background checking them, tools like RocketReach or Lusha specialize in B2B contact discovery. You can also use our Email Finder to locate professional emails when you have a name and company.

These tools integrate with your CRM, verify contact information in real-time, and provide direct dial phone numbers-features specifically designed for sales professionals. Intelius won't tell you someone's work email or help you reach them at their company; it's designed for personal information research.

For Identifying Technologies and Companies

Sales and marketing professionals often need to identify companies using specific technologies or find businesses matching certain criteria. Our Tech Stack Scraper helps you discover which websites use particular software, while our B2B Targeting Generator uses AI to analyze target markets and identify ideal customers.

These tools solve B2B prospecting challenges that Intelius never intended to address. When your goal is pipeline generation rather than personal background research, purpose-built sales intelligence tools deliver far better ROI.

The Intelius Opt-Out Process: Removing Your Information

If you're on the other side-concerned about your own information appearing on Intelius-you can request removal through their suppression tool. However, the process is more complicated than it should be.

Step-by-Step Opt-Out Instructions

Here's how to remove your information from Intelius:

1. Navigate to the opt-out page: Go to the Intelius homepage and scroll to the footer. Click "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information."
2. Access the suppression center: In the pop-up window, expand "View Public Data Tools" and click "Manage My Suppression Rules."
3. Verify your email: Enter your email address, agree to terms, and click Continue. You'll receive a verification email from PeopleConnect (the parent company).
4. Click the verification link: The link expires in 15 minutes, so act quickly. This takes you to the next step.
5. Provide your date of birth: Enter your birthdate and verify it's correct. You cannot change this later.
6. Enter your full legal name: Provide your first, middle (if applicable), and last name. If you've used multiple name variations, you'll need separate requests for each.
7. Select your record: The system shows potential matches. Choose the correct one. If multiple records exist, you'll need to repeat this process for each.
8. Choose suppression: In the "Desired Behavior" dropdown, select "Suppressed" and click Save.

The entire process takes 5-15 minutes, and Intelius commits to processing opt-out requests within 72 hours. However, your information may take up to 48 hours to fully disappear from search results.

Important Opt-Out Considerations

Keep in mind that suppression only removes your data from Intelius and affiliated sites (including TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate, and US Search). The original public records remain accessible through their source agencies. Also, some users report their information reappearing after successful removal, so check back periodically and file another request if needed.

This happens because Intelius continuously updates its database from public sources. If new records appear with your information-a property sale, court filing, or voter registration update-Intelius may create a new profile. Consider setting a calendar reminder to check quarterly if privacy is a major concern.

For those who want comprehensive data removal from dozens of people search sites, automated services like Incogni, DeleteMe, or Optery can handle the ongoing monitoring and re-submission of opt-out requests. These services cost $100-200 annually but save significant time if you're serious about minimizing your digital footprint.

How to Cancel Intelius If You're Already Subscribed

Given the billing complaints, here's a quick guide if you need to cancel:

1. Phone: Call customer service at (877) 564- . Hours are typically 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday.
2. Online: Log into your account, navigate to settings, and look for "Membership Settings" or "Manage Subscription" options. Follow the prompts to cancel.
3. Automated IVR: The phone system includes an automated cancellation option if you prefer not to speak with a representative.
4. Live Chat: Some users report success canceling through the live chat feature on the Intelius website.
5. Document Everything: Keep confirmation emails and take screenshots of cancellation confirmations. If you experience unauthorized charges after cancellation, this documentation helps with credit card disputes.

Pro tip: If you signed up with a trial, set a calendar reminder for 24 hours before it ends. This gives you time to cancel if you don't want to continue. Better yet, set the reminder for 48 hours early to provide a buffer zone.

If Intelius continues charging you after cancellation, contact your credit card company immediately to dispute the charges and request they block future transactions from Intelius. Document all your cancellation attempts-BBB complaints, emails, call records-as evidence for your credit card dispute.

Intelius vs. Competitors: How It Stacks Up

Intelius operates in a crowded market with dozens of similar services. Understanding how it compares helps you make informed decisions.

Intelius vs. TruthFinder

TruthFinder, owned by the same parent company (PeopleConnect), offers similar services at comparable prices. The main difference? TruthFinder includes more social media information and may have slightly different data sources. User reviews suggest similar billing complaints and data accuracy issues. For practical purposes, they're nearly identical services under different branding.

Intelius vs. BeenVerified

BeenVerified requires payment before showing you any results, while Intelius at least provides preview information. BeenVerified costs slightly less at around $14 per month but requires additional fees for criminal background checks and report exports. Neither is FCRA-compliant, so neither works for employment screening.

Intelius vs. Instant Checkmate

Another PeopleConnect property, Instant Checkmate focuses primarily on criminal record searches and public record access. It offers more budget-friendly pricing than Intelius but may provide less comprehensive relationship mapping. The data sources overlap significantly since they're owned by the same company.

Intelius vs. Spokeo

Spokeo charges around $14 per month but requires extra payments for criminal checks, unlimited searches, and report exports. The base price looks attractive but can quickly exceed Intelius costs once you add necessary features. Spokeo tends to surface more social media data, while Intelius excels at public record aggregation.

The Bottom Line on Competitors

Most consumer background check services suffer from similar issues: unclear pricing, aggressive subscription tactics, variable data accuracy, and FCRA non-compliance. If you need one for personal research, compare current pricing carefully and read recent reviews. The competitive landscape shifts frequently, with companies adjusting prices and features regularly.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Before using Intelius or any similar service, understand the legal boundaries:

What's Legal

You can legally use Intelius for personal decisions like:

• Researching someone you met online before meeting in person
• Looking up old friends or classmates
• Finding contact information for lost relatives
• Learning about new neighbors (without using it for housing discrimination)
• General curiosity about public figures or acquaintances

What's Illegal

You cannot legally use Intelius for:

• Employment screening or hiring decisions
• Tenant screening or housing decisions
• Credit eligibility determinations
• Insurance underwriting
• Stalking, harassment, or threatening someone
• Identity theft or fraud

Violating these restrictions can result in civil liability and, in some cases, criminal charges. The FCRA provides substantial penalties for improper use of consumer information, and stalking laws cover harassment based on background check data.

Ethical Considerations

Even when legally permissible, consider whether using background check services aligns with your values. Everyone has a right to privacy, and background checks can surface information people prefer to keep private-old addresses, past bankruptcies, or criminal records for which they've already paid their debt to society.

For B2B professionals, remember that building relationships based on trust matters more than trying to dig up dirt on prospects. Focus on verifying professional credentials and contact information rather than conducting deep personal background investigations.

Tips for Protecting Your Own Information Online

Whether or not you opt out of Intelius, consider these steps to minimize your digital footprint:

• Review privacy settings: Adjust settings on social media accounts to limit what's publicly visible.
• Remove old accounts: Delete unused social media profiles, forum accounts, and websites.
• Use privacy services: Consider data removal services if your profession requires privacy (doctors, lawyers, law enforcement).
• Limit online sharing: Avoid posting personal information like phone numbers, addresses, or birthdates publicly.
• Monitor your presence: Google yourself regularly to see what information appears.
• Secure your information: Use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and protect against identity theft.

For business professionals, create separate personal and professional presences online. Use LinkedIn and professional websites for work-related information while keeping personal social media private. This separation protects your privacy while maintaining necessary professional visibility.

The Bottom Line on Intelius Background Checks

Intelius is a legitimate service with genuine utility for personal background research. Their extensive database and detailed reports can uncover information that would otherwise require hours of manual searching through public records.

However, the subscription model with auto-renewals, lack of transparent pricing, and FCRA limitations make it a poor fit for most B2B use cases. Sales professionals, recruiters, and marketers typically need contact verification and quick prospect research-not comprehensive personal background investigations.

The billing complaints aren't just noise-they represent a pattern of practices that prioritize conversion over transparency. While Intelius isn't a scam (they do provide real data), their business model depends on users forgetting to cancel trials or not realizing they've been enrolled in subscriptions.

For B2B workflows, consider tools specifically designed for professional use. Verify emails before outreach with our Email Verifier, find mobile numbers with our Mobile Number Finder, and validate phone numbers before cold calls. Use purpose-built prospecting tools that integrate with your existing sales stack.

If you do decide to try Intelius for personal reasons, go in with your eyes open. Set multiple calendar reminders about trial end dates, use a credit card rather than a debit card for easier dispute resolution, and read the fine print carefully before clicking "Continue." Better yet, explore whether you can find the same information through free public record searches before committing to a subscription.

The public records that Intelius aggregates are, by definition, public. With patience and know-how, you can access most of them directly. Intelius charges for the convenience of aggregation and organization-a service that has value, but perhaps not at the cost of subscription headaches and billing surprises.

For most B2B professionals reading this, the answer is simple: skip Intelius and use tools built for your actual workflow. You'll save money, avoid billing headaches, and get information more relevant to your needs. Reserve background check services like Intelius for legitimate personal use cases where they actually make sense.