TruthFinder Reviews: What Users Actually Say About This Background Check Service

What Is TruthFinder?

TruthFinder is a people search and background check service that's been operating since 2015. Based in San Diego, California, the platform aggregates public records from county, state, and federal databases to generate reports on individuals. These reports can include criminal records, address history, social media profiles, contact information, and more.

The service positions itself as a tool for reconnecting with lost family members, vetting online dates, or simply satisfying curiosity about people in your life. However, there's an important caveat: TruthFinder is not a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This means you legally cannot use their reports for employment decisions, tenant screening, insurance eligibility, or any purpose that requires FCRA compliance.

TruthFinder Pricing Breakdown

One of the most common frustrations users report is the lack of upfront pricing transparency. You typically won't see costs until after you've run a search and reached the checkout page. Here's what you can expect to pay:

• Reverse Phone Lookup: $4.99/month for unlimited phone reports
• People Search Membership: $28.05/month (or $23.52/month when paying for two months upfront)
• Reverse Email Lookup: $29.73/month for unlimited email and personal reports
• Dark Web Monitoring Add-on: $2.99/month
• PDF Downloads: Additional $3.99/month

Unlike some competitors, TruthFinder doesn't offer one-time report purchases. You're committing to a monthly subscription, which automatically renews until you cancel. This subscription model is a significant point of contention in user reviews.

What Do Real Users Say? Breaking Down TruthFinder Reviews

The Positive Feedback

TruthFinder has earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and positive reviews tend to highlight several strengths:

• Comprehensive reports: Users appreciate the breadth of information compiled into a single, easy-to-read format
• People finding success: Many reviewers report successfully locating lost family members, old friends from school, or verifying information about online dates
• User-friendly interface: The platform is generally considered simple to navigate, with reports presented in an organized manner

The Common Complaints

However, the service has also drawn significant criticism. On Sitejabber, TruthFinder holds a 1.9-star rating from over 670 reviews, with complaints focusing on:

• Accuracy issues: Multiple users report finding outdated or incorrect information in their reports. Some discovered that data about close relatives—where they could verify accuracy—was significantly off
• Billing problems: Reviewers frequently mention unexpected charges, difficulty canceling, and automatic renewals they weren't aware of
• Information already available free: Several users felt they paid for data they could have accessed through free public records searches
• Add-on charges: Core features like PDF downloads and additional search types require extra fees on top of the base subscription

The FTC Settlement You Should Know About

In September 2023, TruthFinder (along with affiliated company Instant Checkmate) settled with the Federal Trade Commission for $5.8 million. The FTC alleged that the companies deceived consumers about the accuracy of their background reports and violated the FCRA by marketing reports for employment and tenant screening purposes. The complaint stated that TruthFinder "misrepresented the comprehensiveness and accuracy of its reports."

Additionally, the FTC noted that TruthFinder attempted to boost positive reviews by offering customers free premium reports in exchange for posting reviews—without requiring disclosure of this compensation.

Is TruthFinder Worth the Money?

This depends entirely on your use case. If you need to run multiple searches over time and value the convenience of aggregated data, the subscription model might work for you. The unlimited searches included with membership plans can provide value if you're conducting ongoing research.

However, for most casual users who need one or two quick lookups, the mandatory subscription is a significant drawback. You're essentially paying $25-30 to access information that you may be able to find for free with some effort—particularly through state court record databases and social media.

The accuracy concerns are also worth considering. If you're making any kind of important decision based on the information, you should verify it through official sources. Remember, TruthFinder themselves acknowledge that "some reports may contain inaccuracies or outdated details."

Free Alternatives to TruthFinder

Before committing to a paid background check service, consider these approaches:

Government Court Records

Most state and county courts offer free online access to case records. A simple search for "[State Name] court case search" will typically lead you to official databases where you can look up criminal records, civil cases, and more—at no cost.

Social Media Investigation

LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms can reveal employment history, connections, photos, and location information. Combined with basic Google searches, you can often piece together substantial background information.

Free Background Check Tools

If you need structured background checks—especially for B2B purposes like vetting potential business partners, vendors, or sales prospects—consider using our free Background Checker tool. It provides comprehensive reports with trust scores without the ongoing subscription commitment that services like TruthFinder require.

For sales and recruiting professionals, combining background checks with contact verification is often more valuable than standalone people searches. Our Email Verifier can instantly confirm whether an email address is valid, while our Mobile Number Finder helps locate direct phone numbers when you need to reach someone quickly.

When TruthFinder Might Make Sense

Despite the criticisms, TruthFinder can be appropriate in certain scenarios:

• Genealogy research: If you're actively tracing family history and need to run many searches across different names and locations
• Personal safety vetting: Checking on potential roommates, online dates, or new acquaintances (for personal use only)
• Locating lost contacts: Finding current addresses or phone numbers for people you've lost touch with
• Self-monitoring: Checking what information about yourself appears in public records

If any of these apply and you're prepared to actively use the subscription before canceling, TruthFinder can deliver value. Just set a calendar reminder to cancel before your renewal date.

Tips If You Decide to Use TruthFinder

Should you proceed with TruthFinder, keep these practical tips in mind:

1. Mark your calendar: Set multiple reminders before your billing date so you don't forget to cancel if you're done
2. Read the fine print: Understand exactly what's included in your chosen plan and what requires additional payment
3. Verify critical information: Never rely solely on TruthFinder data for important decisions—cross-reference with official sources
4. Start with basic plans: The Phone Lookup plan at $4.99/month is the cheapest entry point if you just need phone-related searches
5. Document your cancellation: Keep records of your cancellation confirmation to dispute any unexpected charges

The Bottom Line on TruthFinder Reviews

TruthFinder is a legitimate service that can help aggregate public records into digestible reports. It's particularly useful for people who need to run multiple searches and value the convenience of having information compiled in one place.

However, the mandatory subscription model, accuracy concerns documented by both users and the FTC, and the availability of free alternatives mean it's not the right choice for everyone. For one-time searches or professional use cases, you'll likely find better options.

For B2B professionals specifically—sales teams, recruiters, and marketers—purpose-built tools like our Background Checker can provide the verification you need without the consumer-focused limitations and subscription traps of services like TruthFinder. The key is matching your tool to your actual use case rather than paying for features you don't need.