TruthFinder Review: What Reddit Users Actually Say About This Background Check Service

What Is TruthFinder and Why Are People Searching Reddit for Reviews?

When you're about to spend money on a background check service, the last thing you want is a glossy marketing page. You want real opinions from real users—which is exactly why so many people turn to Reddit for TruthFinder reviews.

TruthFinder is a people-search platform that aggregates data from public records, social media profiles, criminal databases, and other sources to create comprehensive background reports. The company has been operating since 2015 and currently holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. They offer several subscription tiers ranging from $4.99 to $29.73 per month, depending on which features you need.

But here's the thing: official ratings don't always tell the full story. Let's dig into what actual users are saying across Reddit threads, review platforms, and independent analyses.

The Good: What Reddit Users Like About TruthFinder

To be fair, TruthFinder does have its defenders. Many Reddit users report positive experiences in specific use cases:

• Reconnecting with lost contacts: Users have successfully found updated contact information for old friends and long-lost relatives
• Easy-to-read reports: The platform organizes information into clear categories, making it relatively simple to navigate results
• Comprehensive data when it works: Reports can include contact details, criminal history, address history, social media profiles, and property records
• Unlimited searches: All membership plans include unlimited searches, so you can run as many reports as needed during your subscription period

Some Redditors appreciate that TruthFinder can perform deep web searches—something not all background check services offer. This can sometimes surface information that standard search engines miss.

The Bad: Common Reddit Complaints About TruthFinder

Now for the part most people searching for Reddit reviews actually want to know. Here are the recurring complaints across multiple Reddit threads and review platforms:

Accuracy Issues

This is by far the most common complaint. Reddit discussions are filled with users reporting incorrect personal details, wrong addresses and phone numbers, and outdated information. Some users noted that traffic tickets appeared as criminal offenses, which can be seriously misleading. Others found that their "possible associates" included people they'd never heard of.

One particularly concerning pattern: information about someone's marital status or even whether they're alive may not be current. If you're relying on TruthFinder for important decisions, this is a major red flag.

Subscription and Billing Issues

Reddit users consistently warn about TruthFinder's billing practices. Key concerns include:

• No single-report option—you must purchase a monthly subscription to view any report
• Trials that auto-renew at full price if you don't cancel in time
• An additional $2-4 charge to download reports as PDFs
• Difficulty canceling subscriptions (though TruthFinder now offers online cancellation)

Many users report being caught off guard by recurring charges after they thought they'd only signed up for a trial.

FTC Settlement

Here's something you won't find in TruthFinder's marketing materials: In September 2023, the Federal Trade Commission required TruthFinder (along with sister company Instant Checkmate) to pay $5.8 million to settle charges that they deceived consumers. According to the FTC complaint, the companies misrepresented the accuracy of their reports and failed to implement reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy.

The FTC also noted that TruthFinder marketed their reports for employment and tenant screening—uses that would require FCRA compliance, which TruthFinder doesn't provide.

TruthFinder Pricing: Is It Worth the Cost?

Let's break down what you'll actually pay:

• People Search Subscription: $28.33/month (or $23.52/month if you pay for two months upfront)
• Reverse Phone Lookup: $4.99/month
• Reverse Email Lookup: $29.73/month
• PDF Download Add-on: $3.99/month extra
• Dark Web Monitoring: $2.99/month extra

There's no free trial and no single-report option. You're committing to at least one month regardless of how many searches you actually need. Many Reddit users point out that this pricing model feels predatory—especially when the information you receive might be publicly available elsewhere.

Legal Limitations: What TruthFinder Can't Be Used For

This is critically important and often misunderstood: TruthFinder is NOT FCRA compliant. This means you legally cannot use their reports for:

• Employment screening or hiring decisions
• Tenant screening
• Credit decisions
• Insurance underwriting
• Any other purpose requiring Fair Credit Reporting Act compliance

If you're a recruiter, HR professional, or landlord, TruthFinder is not an appropriate tool for your needs. Using it for these purposes could expose you to legal liability.

Better Alternatives for Background Checks

Based on Reddit discussions and our own analysis, here are some alternatives worth considering:

For Personal Use

If you just want to look up an old friend or check your own digital footprint, consider starting with free public records searches. Many county courts offer free online access to criminal records, and a simple Google search can often surface social media profiles and news mentions.

For Professional Use

If you need FCRA-compliant background checks for hiring or tenant screening, you'll need a proper consumer reporting agency. RocketReach is one option for finding professional contact information, though it serves a different purpose than full background checks.

For B2B Contact Discovery

If your actual goal is finding someone's contact information for business purposes—like sales prospecting or recruiting—you're probably better served by dedicated B2B tools rather than consumer background check services.

Our Email Finder tool lets you find professional email addresses from a name and company, without the subscription hassle. Need phone numbers instead? The Mobile Number Finder can help you locate cell phone numbers from email addresses or LinkedIn profiles.

For a more comprehensive check on business contacts, our Background Checker provides trust scores and verification without the consumer-grade data quality issues that plague services like TruthFinder.

How to Protect Yourself If You Use TruthFinder

If you decide to use TruthFinder despite the concerns, here's how to minimize risk:

1. Set a calendar reminder to cancel before your trial or subscription renews
2. Use a virtual credit card or prepaid card to limit potential unauthorized charges
3. Cross-reference everything—never rely on TruthFinder reports alone for important decisions
4. Screenshot your cancellation confirmation and save all confirmation emails
5. Monitor your bank statements for unexpected charges after canceling

The Bottom Line: Is TruthFinder Legit?

TruthFinder is a legitimate company in the sense that it exists, provides a service, and isn't an outright scam. However, "legit" and "worth your money" are two different questions.

The Reddit consensus is mixed but leans negative. Users appreciate the concept but frequently encounter accuracy issues, billing frustrations, and limitations that aren't clearly communicated upfront. The FTC settlement adds another layer of concern about how the company has historically operated.

If you need reliable background information for business purposes, you're likely better served by professional-grade tools designed for B2B use. Consumer people-search sites like TruthFinder work better for casual curiosity than serious decision-making—and even then, take everything you find with a grain of salt.

For professionals in sales, recruiting, or marketing who need accurate contact information and background context, purpose-built tools will give you more reliable data without the subscription games. The key is matching the right tool to your actual use case rather than relying on one-size-fits-all solutions that often fit no one particularly well.