Intelius Reviews: What Users Really Think (Plus Free Alternatives)

What Is Intelius?

Intelius is one of the oldest players in the online background check industry, founded in and now owned by PeopleConnect Inc. The platform aggregates public records to help users find information about individuals, including address history, phone numbers, criminal records, and more.

With access to over 20 billion public records, Intelius markets itself as a comprehensive people search tool. Users typically turn to it for reconnecting with lost relatives, verifying someone they've met online, or running basic background checks on new neighbors or acquaintances.

However-and this is crucial-Intelius is not FCRA-compliant. This means you legally cannot use it for employment screening, tenant verification, or any decision that requires a consumer reporting agency. If that's what you need, Intelius isn't the right tool.

Who Owns Intelius?

Intelius was founded by Naveen Jain and a team of former Microsoft executives. The company is now part of PeopleConnect Inc., which also operates other people search platforms including TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate, USSearch, and Classmates.com. This consolidation means many competing services you see online are actually owned by the same parent company.

Understanding this ownership structure matters because if you opt out of one service, your information may still appear on sister sites. It also explains why pricing structures and interfaces look similar across multiple platforms.

How Intelius Sources Its Data

Intelius compiles information from multiple public and commercial sources. The data comes from federal, state, and county databases including court records, property filings, voter registration, utility connections, and professional licensing boards. The platform also pulls from commercial data providers who aggregate information from retail transactions, warranty registrations, and other consumer interactions.

Social media profiles and online mentions may appear in reports when they're publicly accessible and can be linked to an individual's identity through email addresses, phone numbers, or other identifiers. However, the platform doesn't access private social media accounts or protected information.

The comprehensiveness of Intelius reports depends entirely on what's digitally available in the databases they search. If a county hasn't digitized older records or updates infrequently, those gaps will appear in your search results.

Intelius Pricing: What You'll Actually Pay

One of the biggest complaints about Intelius is the confusing pricing structure. The company doesn't display clear pricing on their homepage. Instead, you have to run a search first, wait for results, and then see subscription options.

Here's the current pricing breakdown:

• People Search Plan: Around $25.11/month for monthly billing, or approximately $21.35/month when paying bi-monthly (~$42.70 total)
• Reverse Phone Lookup + People Search: $0.95 for a 5-day trial, then $35.30/month
• Address Lookup + People Search: $0.95 for a 7-day trial, then $34.95/month
• Downloadable Reports: Additional $3.99 per report
• Identity Protection Add-on: Extra $9.95/month

The trial offers sound appealing at under a dollar, but here's what catches most people: these trials automatically convert to full monthly subscriptions. Many users report being surprised by charges because the disclosure about automatic enrollment appears in small print.

Understanding the True Cost

When you factor in all potential charges, a single background check through Intelius could cost you anywhere from $25 to over $70 depending on which features you activate. If you forget to cancel within the trial period-which lasts only 5-7 days-you're locked into monthly charges that many users report difficulty canceling.

The downloadable PDF reports carry an additional fee of $3.99 each, which frustrates users who assumed the subscription covered everything. Some users have also reported being charged for identity protection services they don't remember signing up for, adding another layer to the billing confusion.

Comparing Intelius Pricing to Competitors

How does Intelius stack up against similar services? BeenVerified typically charges around $26.89/month for a one-month membership, but offers discounts for longer commitments-around $23.98/month for three months. TruthFinder doesn't publish pricing upfront but typically runs similar to BeenVerified in the $25-30 monthly range.

Spokeo operates differently, charging around $14.95/month for basic searches, but criminal background checks and unlimited searches cost extra. This can make Spokeo appear cheaper initially, but the final cost may exceed Intelius once you add necessary features.

Instant Checkmate offers unlimited reports similar to Intelius, with pricing in the $25-35 monthly range. The key difference? Several competitors offer better transparency about pricing and fewer complaints about unexpected charges.

Hidden Fees and Subscription Traps

The Washington State Attorney General's office investigated Intelius in the past for consumer complaints about unauthorized enrollment in membership programs. While the company has since modified some practices, the fundamental subscription model remains, and complaints about billing issues persist.

Many users report that the low-cost trial appears during checkout in a way that makes it easy to click through without fully understanding the commitment. The trial period is short-sometimes just 5 days-and if you're busy or forget, you're automatically charged the full monthly rate.

Cancellation can be difficult. While Intelius provides phone support and online cancellation options, multiple users report having to call multiple times, being put on hold extensively, or discovering charges continued even after they believed they'd canceled.

What Real Users Say About Intelius

After analyzing reviews across Trustpilot, ConsumerAffairs, and the Better Business Bureau, a clear pattern emerges. Intelius holds a mixed reputation with roughly a 3.2-star rating on many platforms.

Common Positive Feedback

• Customer service representatives are generally described as helpful, professional, and efficient when users actually reach them
• The platform successfully helps people reconnect with lost family members or old friends
• Reports are well-organized and easy to understand
• The mobile app makes searching convenient
• The database is comprehensive for established individuals with long address histories
• The Intelius Connections feature helps map relationships between people

Recurring Complaints

• Billing issues: This is the #1 complaint. Users report unexpected charges, difficulty canceling subscriptions, and confusion about automatic renewal
• Data accuracy: Some users find information that's outdated, incomplete, or simply incorrect-particularly for mobile phone numbers and recent addresses
• Value for money: Many feel the information provided could be found through free public records searches
• Subscription traps: The low-cost trials that auto-convert frustrate users who wanted a single report
• Slow customer service response: While reps are helpful when reached, getting through can involve long hold times
• Mixed records: Users with common names report receiving reports that combine information from multiple people

One particularly telling pattern: multiple BBB complaints describe scenarios where users believed they had canceled, only to find charges continuing months later.

BBB Rating and Accreditation

Intelius maintains an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has held accreditation since . However, the BBB rating reflects the company's responsiveness to complaints rather than the absence of issues. The BBB complaint files show hundreds of customer disputes, primarily about billing and unexpected charges.

The company typically responds to BBB complaints and often resolves them by providing refunds or confirming cancellations. This responsiveness helps maintain the high rating, but the volume of complaints suggests systemic issues with the subscription model and transparency.

Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs Reviews

On Trustpilot, Intelius shows a mixed bag. Positive reviewers often mention successfully finding lost relatives or verifying someone's background before a first date. The detailed reports and ease of use get praise from satisfied customers.

Negative reviews consistently mention billing surprises and poor data accuracy. One common theme: users who searched for themselves found significant errors-wrong educational backgrounds, incorrect employment history, or relatives they've never heard of. If the information about themselves is wrong, they reason, how can they trust information about others?

ConsumerAffairs reviews paint a similar picture. The service receives praise for its interface and concept, but criticism for execution-particularly around billing transparency and data verification.

Common User Scenarios

The online dating scenario: Many users turn to Intelius before meeting someone from a dating app. They want to verify the person is who they claim to be and check for red flags. Results here are mixed-sometimes the service confirms basic information, other times it returns nothing or provides data on the wrong person with a similar name.

The lost relative search: This is where Intelius often succeeds. When looking for a childhood friend or distant family member, the address history and relatives features can provide valuable leads. Multiple reviewers report emotional reunions facilitated by Intelius data.

The new neighbor check: Homeowners often search neighbors to ensure there are no registered sex offenders or concerning criminal histories nearby. The criminal records feature works best in states and counties that update frequently, but can miss recent cases or show outdated information in jurisdictions with slower digitization.

The small business verification: Entrepreneurs and freelancers sometimes use Intelius to vet potential business partners or clients. However, the lack of current employment information and business affiliations limits its usefulness for professional verification. B2B professionals need FCRA-compliant tools or specialized business databases instead.

Intelius Accuracy: Can You Trust the Results?

Intelius pulls data from public databases, government records, court filings, and commercial data providers. While this sounds comprehensive, accuracy varies significantly depending on what you're searching for.

Where Intelius performs well:

• Address history for established residents
• Educational background verification
• Landline phone number identification
• Basic criminal record searches (in jurisdictions that update frequently)
• Property ownership records
• Voter registration information
• Professional licenses that are publicly recorded

Where Intelius falls short:

• Mobile phone numbers-especially prepaid or recently assigned numbers
• Current employment information
• Recent court cases or criminal records in slow-updating jurisdictions
• Social media profiles and email addresses
• Financial information and credit history (which legally cannot be included without FCRA compliance)
• Records for people who've recently moved or changed names
• Information on younger individuals with limited public record histories

The platform works best as a starting point for research rather than definitive verification. If you need highly accurate, current information for professional purposes, you'll likely need to cross-reference with other sources.

Factors That Affect Accuracy

Several variables impact how accurate your Intelius report will be:

Name commonality: John Smith will generate far more potential matches and mixed information than Zebediah Witherspoon. Common names lead to merged profiles that combine data from multiple individuals.

Geographic stability: Someone who's lived in the same area for decades will have more accurate records than someone who moves frequently across state lines. Each move creates opportunities for data to become fragmented across different databases.

Jurisdiction digitization: Some counties and states have fully digitized their records and update them regularly. Others still maintain paper files or update their digital systems infrequently, creating gaps in what Intelius can access.

Age and public record history: Older individuals typically have more extensive public records-property purchases, voter registration, utility connections-while younger people may have minimal digital footprints in traditional databases.

Privacy actions taken: If someone has actively opted out of data broker sites, used privacy services, or taken legal action to suppress records, their information will be less complete on Intelius.

Testing Intelius Accuracy

Independent testing by private investigators and tech reviewers has yielded mixed results. When professional investigators ran their own names through Intelius and competitor services, they found varying degrees of accuracy across platforms.

In one notable comparison, Intelius correctly identified phone numbers but missed some criminal records that other services found. It excelled at finding address history but struggled with current employment information. The platform found some social media profiles but not others, and occasionally linked profiles that belonged to different people with similar names.

For people with unique names and established public record histories, accuracy tends to be higher. For common names, recent movers, or individuals with minimal public records, accuracy drops significantly.

What Intelius Gets Right

Despite accuracy concerns, Intelius does excel in certain areas. The platform's address history feature is particularly strong, often showing a complete residential timeline going back decades. Property ownership records tend to be accurate because they're sourced from county assessor databases that are regularly updated and well-maintained.

Voter registration information, when included, is typically accurate because these records are official government databases updated for each election cycle. Professional licenses-medical licenses, attorney bar numbers, real estate licenses-are usually correct because they come directly from state licensing boards.

The relatives feature, while sometimes overly broad, can reveal family connections that aren't obvious through other research methods. This works by identifying people who've shared addresses, appear on property records together, or are listed as related in various public documents.

Is Intelius Worth It? Our Honest Assessment

Intelius is a legitimate service-it's not a scam. The company has BBB accreditation with an A+ rating, and it does deliver the information it promises. However, "legitimate" doesn't always mean "worth the money."

Intelius makes sense if:

• You need to run multiple searches over time (making the subscription worthwhile)
• You're comfortable navigating subscription billing and setting calendar reminders to cancel before trials end
• You understand its limitations for professional use and aren't using it for FCRA-regulated purposes
• You're specifically looking for address history or basic public records on established individuals
• You're willing to cross-reference findings with other sources for important decisions
• You value the convenience of aggregated data over the cost savings of manual public records searches

Intelius probably isn't right if:

• You only need a single background check (the subscription model doesn't make economic sense)
• You need FCRA-compliant reports for employment or housing decisions
• You're on a tight budget and want to avoid recurring charges
• You need highly accurate, real-time phone number or email data
• You're searching for someone with a common name or limited public record history
• You're a B2B professional needing current business contact information or professional verification

For B2B Professionals: Why Intelius Falls Short

If you're in sales, recruiting, or marketing, Intelius isn't designed for your needs. The platform focuses on consumer information-residential addresses, personal phone numbers, family connections-rather than professional data.

You won't find verified business emails, current job titles, company information, or direct dial numbers for business contacts. The employment history shown is often outdated or incomplete because it's sourced from background data rather than professional networks.

B2B professionals need tools built specifically for business prospecting and verification, not consumer background checks designed for personal use.

Intelius vs. Competitors: How It Stacks Up

Understanding how Intelius compares to similar services helps you make an informed decision about which tool best fits your needs.

Intelius vs. BeenVerified

BeenVerified offers a similar service with some notable differences. The platform provides more transparency about features and pricing, with clearly displayed membership options on the website. BeenVerified includes vehicle history searches and an unclaimed money finder-features Intelius doesn't offer.

In terms of pricing, BeenVerified typically costs around $26.89/month for a one-month membership, slightly higher than Intelius's base plan but with better clarity about what you're getting. The reports are well-organized with a modern interface.

User reviews suggest BeenVerified has fewer billing complaints than Intelius, though both platforms operate on subscription models that can catch users off guard. BeenVerified also offers report monitoring-alerts when information in a saved report changes-which can be useful for ongoing surveillance of a person's public records.

Data accuracy appears comparable between the two platforms, with both showing strengths in address history and gaps in mobile phone numbers and current employment.

Intelius vs. TruthFinder

TruthFinder positions itself as a premium option, claiming to search both public and dark web sources for comprehensive results. The platform includes social media searches more prominently than Intelius and often finds online photos and profiles that other services miss.

Pricing is comparable to Intelius, though TruthFinder doesn't publish rates publicly-you must start a search to see subscription options. The reports are visually appealing and include sections for social media, photos, online activity, and even dating profiles.

Criminal records coverage on TruthFinder is thorough, though like all consumer platforms, it's limited by what's digitally available in each jurisdiction. User reviews suggest TruthFinder excels at finding digital footprints but may lag behind Intelius for traditional public records like property history.

Both services are owned by the same parent company (PeopleConnect Inc.), which explains similarities in pricing structures and subscription models.

Intelius vs. Spokeo

Spokeo takes a different approach with a la carte pricing. The base subscription is cheaper-around $14.95/month-but criminal background checks and unlimited searches cost extra. This makes Spokeo appear more affordable initially, but total costs can exceed Intelius depending on what features you need.

Spokeo shines in social media integration and online presence searches. If your goal is understanding someone's digital footprint across social networks, Spokeo often delivers more comprehensive results than Intelius.

However, for traditional public records-property ownership, address history, court records-Intelius typically provides more thorough results. Spokeo's database leans heavily toward web-based information, while Intelius focuses more on government records and official documents.

User reviews suggest Spokeo has a prettier interface but may lack depth in criminal records and legal history compared to Intelius.

Intelius vs. Instant Checkmate

Instant Checkmate and Intelius are remarkably similar-both offer unlimited reports with subscription memberships, both focus on criminal and traffic records, and both have similar pricing in the $25-35 monthly range.

Key differences lie in the interface and report presentation. Many reviewers find Instant Checkmate's interface more user-friendly and modern compared to Intelius's more dated design. The reports are neatly organized and easy to navigate.

Criminal records coverage is strong on both platforms, drawing from the same general pools of public data. Accuracy issues are comparable-both struggle with mobile phone numbers, current employment, and records in slowly-updating jurisdictions.

Instant Checkmate is also owned by PeopleConnect Inc., making it essentially a sister service to Intelius under different branding.

The Ownership Connection

It's worth noting that Intelius, TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate, and USSearch are all owned by PeopleConnect Inc. This means competition between these services isn't as real as it appears. They're accessing similar databases, using comparable technology, and operating under the same corporate structure.

This consolidation has implications for opting out-removing your information from one service doesn't automatically remove it from the others, each requiring separate opt-out requests.

Free Alternatives to Intelius

Before committing to a paid subscription, consider these approaches:

DIY Public Records Search

Much of what Intelius provides comes from publicly accessible databases. Court records, property records, and voter registration files are often searchable directly through government websites. It takes more time, but the information is free.

Start with the county clerk's website for the area where the person lives or has lived. Most counties now offer online access to property records, court dockets, and recorded documents. Search by name to see what comes up.

State court systems often have online portals for case searches. While not all states offer this, many do-and you can search civil and criminal cases by party name. The records may not be as organized as an Intelius report, but they're directly from the source and therefore authoritative.

Voter registration is another public record in most states. While some states restrict access, others make it freely searchable online, showing registered voters' names, addresses, and sometimes party affiliation.

The challenge with DIY searches is the time investment. Instead of one convenient report, you're checking multiple databases across different jurisdictions. For a single search, this is manageable. For ongoing research needs, it becomes impractical.

Galadon's Free Background Checker

If you're specifically looking to verify someone's background-whether it's a new business contact, a potential partner, or someone you've connected with online-our free Background Checker tool provides comprehensive reports with trust scores at no cost.

Unlike subscription services that lock you into monthly payments, Galadon's tool lets you run checks as needed without billing surprises. For B2B professionals, it integrates well with our other prospecting tools.

The Background Checker analyzes publicly available information and generates trust scores based on multiple verification factors. While not as comprehensive as a full criminal background check, it provides a reliable snapshot for business purposes without requiring subscriptions or hidden fees.

Combining Multiple Free Tools

For thorough research, consider combining several free resources:

• Use our Email Finder to locate professional email addresses when you have a name and company
• Try our Mobile Number Finder for phone contact information
• Search LinkedIn directly for professional background details
• Check state court websites for public criminal records
• Use county property appraiser sites for real estate ownership
• Search state licensing boards for professional credentials

This approach takes more effort but gives you control over costs while often delivering more accurate professional contact data. For B2B research, this combination of free tools often outperforms consumer background check services because you're accessing current, professionally-focused information.

Whitepages and Other Free Directories

Whitepages remains one of the most reliable free people search directories. The free tier provides basic information like names, addresses, and phone numbers without requiring payment. While detailed reports cost money, the free version often suffices for simple contact lookups.

Other free directories include ZabaSearch, That's Them, and FastPeopleSearch. Each pulls from slightly different data sources, so running the same name through multiple services increases your chances of finding accurate, current information.

These free tools won't provide criminal records or comprehensive background checks, but for finding someone's contact information or verifying an address, they're often sufficient-and cost nothing.

Social Media Investigation

Don't overlook the power of social media for background research. Most people maintain profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or other platforms that provide valuable context about who they are, where they live, and how they present themselves.

LinkedIn is particularly valuable for professional verification. You can see someone's claimed employment history, educational background, and professional connections. While people can exaggerate on LinkedIn, blatant lies are less common because professional networks often include colleagues who would notice inaccuracies.

Facebook can reveal location, family connections, interests, and social circles. Instagram shows lifestyle and interests. Twitter/X can reveal opinions and communication style. Together, these platforms create a comprehensive picture without paying for a background check service.

Of course, this only works if the person hasn't locked down their privacy settings. Increasingly, people maintain private profiles, limiting what you can discover through social media alone.

How to Use Background Check Services Legally and Ethically

Whether you choose Intelius, an alternative, or a combination of tools, follow these best practices:

Understanding Legal Limitations

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) regulates how background checks can be used for employment, tenant screening, credit decisions, and insurance underwriting. Consumer services like Intelius, BeenVerified, and similar platforms are explicitly not FCRA-compliant.

This means you cannot legally use Intelius reports to:

• Screen job applicants or make employment decisions
• Evaluate rental applications or decide whether to lease property to someone
• Determine creditworthiness or loan eligibility
• Set insurance rates or coverage decisions
• Any other purpose covered under FCRA regulations

Using a non-FCRA service for these purposes creates legal liability. Applicants who are rejected have the right to know why and to dispute inaccurate information. Consumer background check services don't provide the proper documentation or dispute resolution processes required under FCRA.

For regulated purposes, you must use FCRA-compliant services designed specifically for employment or tenant screening. These services cost more but include necessary legal protections and verification procedures.

Appropriate Uses for Consumer Background Checks

Consumer background check services like Intelius are designed for personal, non-commercial use. Appropriate uses include:

• Verifying someone's identity before meeting them (like someone from a dating app)
• Reconnecting with lost friends or relatives
• Researching your own public records to see what information is available about you
• Checking on new neighbors or people in your community
• Investigating online sellers or people you're considering doing personal business with
• General curiosity about public figures or people in the news

Even for these purposes, use the information responsibly. Finding an old criminal record doesn't tell the full story about who someone is today. People change, records can be inaccurate, and making judgments based solely on background check data is rarely wise.

Best Practices for Responsible Use

1. Start with free resources first. See what you can find through public records and free tools before paying for a subscription.

2. Read the fine print on trials. If you sign up for any trial offer, immediately set a calendar reminder to cancel before it converts to a full subscription.

3. Verify critical information. Never rely on a single source for important decisions. Cross-reference findings with other databases or direct verification.

4. Understand legal limitations. Consumer background check services like Intelius, BeenVerified, and similar platforms cannot legally be used for employment or tenant screening. If you need that, use a proper FCRA-compliant service.

5. Check your own report. Before paying for a subscription, search yourself first. This helps you gauge accuracy and see what others might find about you.

6. Respect privacy. Just because information is legally accessible doesn't mean you should use it irresponsibly. Consider the ethical implications of digging into someone's background without their knowledge.

7. Don't make decisions based solely on background check data. Use the information as one input among many, not as the definitive truth about someone.

Privacy Considerations

If you're concerned about your own information appearing on background check sites, you have options. Most services, including Intelius, offer opt-out procedures that suppress your records from their databases.

The opt-out process typically requires:

• Finding your record on the site
• Copying the URL or record ID
• Submitting an opt-out request through the service's privacy portal
• Verifying your identity (usually via email confirmation)
• Waiting several days for the removal to process

Keep in mind that opting out of one service doesn't remove your information from others. Since Intelius's parent company operates multiple sites, you may need to submit separate opt-out requests to TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate, USSearch, and other PeopleConnect properties.

Data removal services exist that automate this process across multiple sites. These services typically charge monthly or annual fees but handle the time-consuming work of submitting removal requests to dozens of data broker sites.

How to Cancel Intelius (If You're Already Subscribed)

Given the volume of complaints about billing issues, here's how to cancel if you've already signed up:

Online Cancellation Method

The easiest way to cancel is through your account:

• Log into your Intelius account at intelius.com
• Click on your account name or profile icon
• Navigate to "Account Settings" or "Membership Settings"
• Look for "Cancel Membership" or similar option
• Follow the prompts to confirm cancellation
• Save or screenshot the confirmation page

You should receive a confirmation email immediately. If you don't, take screenshots of the cancellation confirmation page as proof.

Phone Cancellation Method

If online cancellation doesn't work or you can't find the option:

• Call Intelius customer service at (877) 564-
• Be prepared for potential hold times
• Clearly state you want to cancel your membership
• Don't accept offers for discounted rates or paused subscriptions if you want to fully cancel
• Request a confirmation number and/or confirmation email
• Note the date, time, and name of the representative you spoke with

Some users report that representatives try to retain customers by offering discounts or "pause" options. Be firm if you want to cancel completely.

What to Do If Charges Continue

If you continue seeing charges after canceling:

1. Check your cancellation confirmation email and any documentation you saved
2. Contact Intelius customer service again with your confirmation number
3. Request a refund for charges that occurred after your cancellation date
4. If the company refuses, file a dispute with your credit card company
5. File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, including all documentation
6. Consider filing a complaint with your state Attorney General's office

Document everything-emails, phone calls, dates, times, names of representatives. This documentation becomes essential if you need to dispute charges with your bank or file regulatory complaints.

Preventing Future Charges

Even after canceling, monitor your bank and credit card statements for 2-3 billing cycles. Some users report charges reappearing months later, possibly due to system errors or database issues.

If you used a credit card for the subscription, consider calling your card issuer and blocking future charges from Intelius. Most credit card companies allow you to block specific merchants from charging your card.

Alternatively, using virtual credit card numbers or prepaid cards for trial subscriptions prevents companies from charging you beyond the initial amount you authorized.

Intelius for B2B Professionals: Why It's Not the Right Tool

If you're in sales, recruiting, or marketing, you need different tools than what consumer background check services provide. Here's why Intelius falls short for business purposes:

Missing Professional Contact Data

Intelius focuses on residential addresses and personal phone numbers-not the business contact information you need for prospecting. You won't find verified work emails, direct dial office numbers, or current corporate contact information.

The email addresses shown are usually personal (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) rather than corporate addresses. Phone numbers are typically cell phones or landlines associated with home addresses, not office numbers.

For B2B outreach, you need professional email addresses that follow company naming conventions. Our Email Finder tool is specifically designed for this purpose-finding verified business emails when you have a name and company.

Outdated Employment Information

When employment history appears in Intelius reports, it's often years out of date. The platform sources employment data from background records, public filings, and commercial databases that update infrequently.

You might see where someone worked five years ago, but not their current employer or position. For sales prospecting or recruiting, this outdated information is nearly worthless.

LinkedIn provides more current professional information for free. For verified, up-to-date contact data at scale, specialized B2B tools offer better results than consumer background check services.

Lack of Company Information

Intelius doesn't provide the company-level data that B2B professionals need. You won't find information about company size, revenue, technology stack, funding, or other firmographic data essential for targeted prospecting.

If you're trying to identify companies using specific technologies, our Tech Stack Scraper finds websites built with particular platforms or tools-something consumer background check services can't do.

For comprehensive company research and lead generation, you need tools built specifically for B2B purposes, not platforms designed for personal background checks.

FCRA Compliance Issues for Business Use

Even if Intelius had better professional data, using it for employment decisions would be illegal. The platform is explicitly not FCRA-compliant, meaning you cannot use it for:

• Pre-employment background screening
• Evaluating candidates during hiring processes
• Verifying employment history for job applications
• Any employment-related decision making

Using non-FCRA services for these purposes creates significant legal liability. Rejected candidates have rights under FCRA to know why they were denied and to dispute inaccurate information. Consumer background services don't provide the necessary documentation or dispute processes.

For employment screening, use specialized FCRA-compliant services. For sales prospecting and professional networking, use B2B-focused tools designed for those purposes.

Better Alternatives for B2B Professionals

If you need to find and verify professional contacts, consider these alternatives:

For email addresses: Our Email Finder locates verified business emails using name and company information. Unlike Intelius, which might show personal email addresses, this tool finds professional contact information suitable for B2B outreach.

For phone numbers: The Mobile Number Finder helps locate contact phone numbers, though for business purposes, LinkedIn and company websites often provide better direct contact information.

For background verification: Our Background Checker provides business-appropriate verification without the consumer-focused data and subscription traps of services like Intelius.

For technology research: The Tech Stack Scraper identifies companies using specific technologies, enabling highly targeted prospecting based on tools and platforms.

For market research: The B2B Targeting Generator uses AI to analyze target markets and identify ideal customer profiles-strategic insight that background check services simply don't provide.

The key difference: these tools are built for professional use with business-appropriate data, not consumer information repurposed for commercial use.

Understanding the Technology Behind People Search Services

How do services like Intelius actually work? Understanding the technology helps you evaluate the limitations and accuracy of what you're getting.

Data Aggregation Methods

People search services operate as data brokers-they don't generate original information but aggregate it from multiple sources. The process begins with purchasing or licensing data from providers who collect information from:

• Public records databases (government sources)
• Commercial data vendors (private companies)
• Marketing databases (retail and consumer transactions)
• Phone directories and utility connections
• Court records and legal filings
• Property records and deed transfers
• Professional licensing boards
• Voter registration files

These data sources are combined using identity resolution algorithms that attempt to match records belonging to the same individual. The algorithms look for common identifiers-name, birth date, addresses, phone numbers, relatives-to link disparate records into a unified profile.

The Identity Resolution Challenge

Identity resolution is where accuracy problems often emerge. When databases contain millions of records for thousands of John Smiths, how do algorithms determine which records belong to which person?

The matching process uses probabilistic algorithms that assign confidence scores to potential matches. If John Smith at 123 Main St in Springfield has a phone number that appears in a court record for John M. Smith at the same address, the algorithm assumes they're the same person with high confidence.

But what if John Smith Sr. and John Smith Jr. both lived at that address at different times? The algorithm might merge their records, creating a composite profile that includes information from both people. This is especially common with common names and addresses where multiple family members have lived.

For unique names and stable addresses, identity resolution works well. For common names, recent movers, or people who've changed names (through marriage, for example), accuracy drops as records fragment across databases or incorrectly merge with similarly-named individuals.

Database Freshness and Updates

People search databases are only as current as their sources. Public records databases update at varying frequencies:

• Property records typically update monthly or quarterly as county records are digitized
• Court records may update daily in some jurisdictions, annually in others
• Voter registration updates before election cycles but may be stale in between
• Professional licenses update when renewed, often annually or biannually
• Commercial data sources update on proprietary schedules that vary by provider

This means Intelius reports show a snapshot of data as it existed when the databases were last updated-not necessarily current information. Someone who moved last month won't show their new address if the relevant databases haven't updated yet.

What People Search Services Can't Access

Despite marketing claims about comprehensive searches, significant information remains beyond the reach of consumer background check services:

• Credit reports and financial history (protected under FCRA)
• Medical records (protected under HIPAA)
• Sealed or expunged court records
• Juvenile records (typically sealed)
• Private social media posts and messages
• Employment records from private companies
• Education records beyond publicly announced degrees
• Banking and financial account information

Services that claim to search "everything" or promise "guaranteed" accuracy are overselling their capabilities. Legal protections and privacy laws limit what background check services can access and report.

The Future of Background Check Services

The people search industry is evolving in response to privacy regulations, technology advances, and consumer demands. Understanding these trends helps you anticipate how services like Intelius may change.

Privacy Regulations and Their Impact

Privacy laws like California's CCPA and Europe's GDPR are changing how data brokers operate. These regulations give individuals rights to:

• Know what data is collected about them
• Request deletion of their data
• Opt out of data sales
• Correct inaccurate information

As more states adopt similar laws, background check services must invest in compliance infrastructure-opt-out processes, data deletion procedures, and transparency about sources. This may improve data accuracy as companies face liability for incorrect information, but it also means some people will have sparser profiles as they exercise opt-out rights.

AI and Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence is improving identity resolution and data matching. Modern algorithms can better distinguish between different people with similar names and link records more accurately across databases.

AI also enables pattern recognition that identifies relationships and connections not obvious in raw data. This could make services more valuable for mapping social networks and understanding how people relate to one another.

However, AI also raises concerns about algorithmic bias and errors that perpetuate at scale. If an AI system incorrectly links two people's records, that error might propagate across multiple reports and databases.

Blockchain and Verified Identity

Some companies are exploring blockchain technology for creating verified digital identities. In this model, individuals would control their own verified credentials-employment history, education, professional licenses-and selectively share them.

This approach could eventually replace third-party background checks for some purposes. Instead of Intelius scraping public records, you'd request verified credentials directly from the individual, who controls a blockchain-based identity portfolio.

This technology is still emerging, but it represents a fundamentally different model-individual control rather than third-party aggregation.

Specialization and Vertical Focus

The one-size-fits-all background check model is giving way to specialized services for specific use cases. FCRA-compliant employment screening is one vertical. Tenant screening is another. Dating background checks could become a specific niche.

Similarly, B2B contact intelligence is diverging from consumer background checks. Services built specifically for sales prospecting, recruiting, and professional networking offer different data and features than consumer-focused platforms.

This specialization means choosing the right tool for your specific purpose becomes increasingly important. Intelius and similar services serve consumer needs but aren't optimal for professional or business applications.

Real-World Use Cases: When Intelius Actually Helps

Despite the criticisms and limitations, there are situations where Intelius provides genuine value. Understanding these use cases helps determine if it's right for you.

Reconnecting with Lost Relatives

Perhaps Intelius's strongest use case is finding people you've lost touch with. If you're looking for a childhood friend who moved away decades ago, or a relative you haven't seen since a family reunion years back, the address history feature can provide valuable leads.

By showing where someone has lived over the years, Intelius can help you track someone's movement across cities and states. Even if the current address is slightly outdated, it gets you close enough to continue the search through other means.

The relatives feature adds another dimension, showing family members who might be easier to locate or who might know how to reach the person you're seeking.

Many positive reviews come from people who successfully reconnected with lost loved ones using information from Intelius reports. These emotional reunions represent the service at its best.

Verifying Online Sellers and Service Providers

When dealing with someone for a significant transaction-buying a used car, hiring a contractor, purchasing something expensive through Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace-a basic background check can provide peace of mind.

Seeing that someone has a stable address history, no recent criminal records, and checks out as a real person can help you feel comfortable moving forward with a transaction. Conversely, finding red flags might prevent you from becoming a victim of fraud.

This use case has limitations. Scammers can use fake names or stolen identities, so passing a background check doesn't guarantee someone is trustworthy. But it's one data point among others in your due diligence.

Online Dating Safety

Meeting someone from a dating app can be nerve-wracking. While most people online are genuine, safety concerns are valid. Running a basic background check before meeting someone can reveal red flags like criminal histories, registered sex offender status, or other concerning information.

The effectiveness here depends on having accurate information to search with. If you only have a first name and general location, results may be ambiguous. If you have a full name, approximate age, and city, results can be more definitive.

Keep in mind that many people use nicknames or variations of their legal names on dating apps. Ashley might be an Amanda. Mike might be a Michael or a Mitchell. This can make matching challenging.

Also remember that a clean background check doesn't guarantee someone is trustworthy-just that they don't have public records showing otherwise. Use background checks as one tool among many in evaluating new connections.

Checking New Neighbors

When someone new moves in nearby, curiosity is natural. Intelius and similar services allow you to research neighbors discreetly. You can see if there are any registered sex offenders or individuals with concerning criminal histories living close to you and your family.

Many parents use these services to check who lives in their neighborhood, particularly near schools and playgrounds. While this doesn't prevent all risks, it provides information that helps you make informed decisions about supervision and boundaries for your children.

Remember that criminal records don't tell someone's complete story. People who've made mistakes in the past often rehabilitate and become productive community members. Use this information thoughtfully, not as a reason for discrimination or harassment.

The Ethics of Background Checks: Important Considerations

Having access to extensive information about others comes with ethical responsibilities. Just because you can look someone up doesn't mean you should, or that you should act on what you find without context.

Context Matters

A criminal record from 20 years ago doesn't define who someone is today. People change, grow, and move beyond their mistakes. Finding an old misdemeanor or even a felony doesn't tell you whether someone is currently a risk.

Courts often allow record expungement or sealing precisely because society recognizes that past mistakes shouldn't permanently define someone. Yet background check services may still show these records if they appeared in databases before sealing.

Financial judgments, liens, and bankruptcies appear in public records, but economic hardship can happen to anyone. Medical emergencies, job losses, and life circumstances create financial problems for good people. A past bankruptcy doesn't indicate dishonesty or unreliability.

The Right to Privacy

Even though the information in background check reports comes from public records, people have reasonable expectations of privacy. Most individuals don't expect their neighbors, dates, or casual acquaintances to be investigating their entire history.

This creates a tension: the information is legally accessible, but using it feels invasive. There's no clear ethical answer, but it's worth considering whether your research is proportional to the relationship or transaction involved.

Checking someone's background before a business transaction or hiring them for work in your home seems reasonable. Investigating everyone you meet socially might be excessive and could interfere with building authentic relationships based on trust rather than surveillance.

Accuracy and the Risk of Acting on Wrong Information

Perhaps the biggest ethical concern is acting on inaccurate information. If a background check incorrectly shows a criminal record that belongs to someone else with a similar name, and you make decisions based on that error, you've potentially harmed someone based on false information.

Even accurate information can be misleading without context. An arrest without conviction might appear in records, but an arrest isn't proof of guilt. Charges get dismissed, witnesses recant, and innocent people get arrested.

Before acting on concerning information from a background check, consider verifying it through other sources or, when appropriate, asking the person directly. False accusations based on background check errors can damage reputations and relationships unfairly.

Reciprocity and the Golden Rule

A useful ethical test: How would you feel if someone ran a background check on you? Would you want them to judge you based on your worst moments or old mistakes? Would you appreciate being investigated without your knowledge?

This doesn't mean never using background check services-there are legitimate safety and business reasons to research someone's history. But it suggests using these tools thoughtfully, with empathy for the person being researched, and with recognition that you're seeing only one dimension of who they are.

The Bottom Line on Intelius

Intelius is a functional tool with a long track record, but it's not without significant drawbacks. The confusing pricing, auto-renewal trials, and inconsistent data accuracy mean you need to go in with realistic expectations.

For occasional background checks, the subscription model doesn't make economic sense for most people. For ongoing research needs, weigh the monthly cost against free alternatives that might serve you just as well.

If you're in sales, recruiting, or marketing and need to verify contacts or research prospects, tools built specifically for B2B use-like Galadon's free suite-often deliver more relevant results for professional contexts than consumer-focused services like Intelius.

Key Takeaways

Before subscribing to Intelius, remember:

• The service is legitimate but designed for consumer use, not professional purposes
• Pricing involves subscription models with short trial periods that auto-convert
• Data accuracy varies significantly based on name commonality, geographic stability, and jurisdiction
• The platform excels at address history and property records but struggles with current employment and mobile phone numbers
• It cannot legally be used for employment screening, tenant verification, or other FCRA-regulated purposes
• Free alternatives and specialized B2B tools often deliver better results for professional needs
• Always verify important information through multiple sources
• Use background check information ethically and with appropriate context

Final Recommendation

Intelius works for specific use cases-reconnecting with lost relatives, researching neighbors, basic due diligence before meeting someone from online. For these purposes, if you're comfortable with the subscription model and understand the limitations, it can provide value.

However, for most professional purposes, B2B-specific tools offer better results without the consumer focus and billing complexity. Explore Galadon's suite of free tools designed specifically for sales professionals, recruiters, and marketers who need accurate, current business contact information rather than consumer background data.

Whether you choose Intelius or an alternative, approach background checks as one input among many in your decision-making, not as definitive truth. Cross-reference findings, verify important information, and remember that public records show only a fraction of who someone truly is.