Intelius People Search: A Complete Breakdown of Features, Costs, and Smarter Alternatives

What Is Intelius People Search?

Intelius is one of the longest-running people search platforms on the internet, operating since 2003. The service aggregates public records from government databases, commercial data providers, and other publicly available sources to compile background reports on individuals.

At its core, Intelius lets you search for people using their name, phone number, email address, or physical address. The platform then pulls together available data including contact information, address history, potential relatives, criminal records, property ownership, and social media profiles.

What makes Intelius stand out from free search options is the depth of its database access. However, that access comes with a subscription-based pricing model that catches many users off guard. Before you sign up, you need to understand exactly what you're getting—and what you're paying for.

Intelius Pricing: What It Really Costs

Here's where things get complicated. Intelius doesn't operate on a simple pay-per-search model for most users. Instead, it uses subscriptions with auto-renewal that can quickly add up.

The People Search membership costs approximately $25.11 per month for monthly billing, or around $21.35 per month when billed every two months (approximately $42.70 total). This tier offers unlimited people and address reports.

For users who need reverse phone lookup features, the combined package runs about $35.30 per month after any trial period ends. Address lookup combined with people search typically costs $34.95 per month.

Intelius also offers low-cost trials—usually $0.95 to $1.99 for 5-7 days. Here's the catch: these trials automatically convert to full-price subscriptions unless you cancel before they expire. Many users report forgetting about the trial deadline or struggling with the cancellation process.

Hidden Costs to Watch For

• Report downloads: Some detailed reports require additional fees to download
• Criminal record checks: Statewide criminal checks may cost around $14.95, while nationwide checks can run $29.95
• Identity protection add-ons: Optional services that add to your monthly bill
• Trial-to-subscription pricing: Users who start with a trial may pay higher monthly rates ($29.63 vs $25.11) once converted

What Intelius Does Well

Despite the pricing concerns, Intelius has earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has some genuine strengths worth acknowledging.

Comprehensive Database Access: Intelius claims access to billions of public records. For users searching for people with unique names, the platform typically delivers cleaner, more accurate matches compared to free alternatives.

Multiple Search Methods: You can search by name, phone number, email, or address—giving you flexibility when you only have partial information about someone.

Mobile App Availability: Unlike many competitors, Intelius offers both iOS and Android apps that provide the same functionality as the desktop site.

Reverse Phone Lookup: The platform's reverse phone lookup is particularly strong for landlines and long-established numbers. It's useful for identifying unknown callers or verifying contact information.

Report Organization: When reports are accurate, they're well-organized and easy to navigate, pulling together information that would otherwise require multiple manual searches.

Common Complaints About Intelius

No honest review of Intelius would be complete without addressing the concerns that appear consistently in user feedback.

Billing Issues: The most frequent complaint involves unexpected charges. Users report being enrolled in subscriptions they didn't realize they signed up for, duplicate charges, and difficulties canceling. Some reviewers describe having charges continue for months even after attempting to cancel.

Data Accuracy: While criminal background checks tend to be more reliable, contact information accuracy is inconsistent. Testing by reviewers found that about 60% of searches returned accurate, up-to-date information, while roughly 30% contained outdated addresses or disconnected phone numbers. Some searches returned information for the wrong person entirely.

Cancellation Difficulties: Multiple reviews mention that canceling a subscription requires navigating customer service channels that many find frustrating. The subscription model means users who only need occasional searches end up paying for access they don't use.

Not Suitable for Employment Screening: Intelius explicitly states that its service cannot be used for employment background checks, tenant screening, or other FCRA-regulated purposes. If you need background checks for hiring decisions, you'll need a different solution.

Who Should Actually Use Intelius?

Given the pricing structure, Intelius makes the most sense for users who need multiple searches per month on an ongoing basis. If you're a skip tracer, private investigator, or regularly need to verify information about multiple people, the unlimited search model provides value.

For occasional searches—like looking up an old friend or checking out a potential date—the subscription model is overkill. You'll pay for a month (or more) of access when you only need one report.

Free Alternatives Worth Considering

Before committing to a paid subscription, consider what you actually need from a people search tool.

If you're trying to verify someone's identity or conduct due diligence on a potential business contact, our free Background Checker provides comprehensive background reports with trust scores—without requiring a monthly subscription. It's particularly useful for B2B professionals who need to verify someone's credibility before a business transaction.

For finding contact information specifically, you have several options depending on what data you have:

• If you have someone's name and company, our Email Finder can locate their professional email address
• If you have an email address and need a phone number, our Mobile Number Finder can help bridge that gap
• RocketReach offers another option for contact discovery if you need broader database access

For users focused specifically on B2B outreach and sales prospecting, Lusha provides contact enrichment tools designed for professional use cases.

How to Use Intelius Safely (If You Decide to Sign Up)

If you determine that Intelius fits your needs, here are some practical tips to avoid common pitfalls:

1. Use a prepaid card for trials. This is the most reliable way to prevent unexpected recurring charges. Once the trial charge depletes the prepaid card balance, no further billing can occur.

2. Set a calendar reminder. If you use a regular card, set a reminder for 1-2 days before your trial expires. This gives you time to cancel if you don't want to continue.

3. Screenshot your cancellation confirmation. Keep documentation that you cancelled in case charges continue appearing.

4. Start with the basic People Search tier. Unless you specifically need reverse phone or address lookup, begin with the lowest-cost option to evaluate whether the data quality meets your needs.

5. Cross-reference important findings. Because accuracy varies, don't rely solely on Intelius for critical decisions. Verify important information through additional sources.

Understanding Intelius Data Sources

Intelius aggregates information from public records including court filings, property records, voter registrations, and commercial data providers. Criminal records and court data accuracy varies by jurisdiction—some counties update records frequently while others lag significantly behind.

Mobile numbers, prepaid lines, and recently reassigned phone numbers often produce incomplete or outdated results. A phone number may still be linked to a previous owner in the database, which is worth keeping in mind when verifying contact information.

The platform is compliant with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and users can request their own information be removed from Intelius databases. However, some users report that their data reappears after removal, likely because it's re-added from original public sources.

When to Skip Intelius Entirely

There are situations where Intelius simply isn't the right tool:

• Employment background checks: You need an FCRA-compliant service instead
• One-time searches: The subscription model makes occasional use expensive
• Professional contact finding: B2B-focused tools like our Email Finder or Mobile Number Finder are more appropriate and cost-effective
• Real-time verification: Intelius data can lag, so time-sensitive verification needs may require other approaches

The Bottom Line on Intelius People Search

Intelius is a legitimate service that has operated for over two decades and maintains BBB accreditation. For users who need unlimited access to people search databases on an ongoing basis, it provides genuine value.

However, the subscription model, trial-to-paid conversion tactics, and inconsistent data accuracy make it a poor fit for casual users or one-time searches. The billing complaints that appear across review platforms suggest you need to approach sign-up with caution and clear expectations.

For most B2B professionals, marketers, and sales teams, specialized tools designed for business use cases—like our Background Checker for due diligence or our contact finding tools for outreach—offer better value and more relevant data without the subscription trap.

Whatever you decide, go in with your eyes open. Know exactly what you're signing up for, how much you'll pay, and when to cancel if the service doesn't meet your needs.