Searching for people online has become increasingly common, whether you’re looking to reconnect with a long-lost friend, research a potential employee or tenant, or verify someone’s identity. IDCrawl is a popular people search engine, but it has some limitations. Luckily, there are several powerful IDCrawl alternatives available.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll review the top 10 IDCrawl alternatives, including Pipl, Webmii, PeekYou and more. We’ll discuss what to look for when choosing a people search engine and share tips on how to effectively use these tools. Let’s dive in!
What is IDCrawl?
IDCrawl is a free people search engine that aggregates social media profiles, public records, phone numbers, and other web information to help you find people online. It pulls data from a variety of sources and presents it in an easy-to-read report. To learn more, read our in-depth IDCrawl review.
How IDCrawl Works
To use IDCrawl, simply enter a person’s name, phone number, or email address. The search engine will scan its database and return any matching results, which may include:
- Social media profiles
- Public records (property ownership, court records, etc.)
- Contact information (phone numbers, email addresses)
- Images and videos
- Web mentions
You can then click on the results to view more details or access the original source.
Limitations of IDCrawl
While IDCrawl is a handy free tool, it does have some drawbacks:
- Limited data sources: IDCrawl pulls from a limited number of data sources compared to paid alternatives.
- Outdated information: Some of the records may be old or inaccurate.
- Lack of advanced search filters: There are minimal options to refine your search.
- No background check capabilities: IDCrawl only provides basic contact/web info, not full background check reports. For a more detailed analysis of IDCrawl’s capabilities and drawbacks, check out this comprehensive IDCrawl review.
- Minimal customer support: As a free tool, customer support is limited.
For more robust people search capabilities, you may want to consider one of these top IDCrawl alternatives:
Top 10 IDCrawl Alternatives
1. Pipl
Pipl is a powerful people search engine and background check provider trusted by top investigative teams, law enforcement agencies, and enterprises alike.
Here are some of its key benefits:
- Extensive data coverage: Pipl searches 300+ billion records from over 7,000 data sources globally.
- Complete identity profiles: Pipl reports include contact info, social profiles, public records, and more.
- Match likelihood indicators: Pipl provides confidence scores to validate identity match accuracy.
- Flexible search options: Search by name, username, email, phone or address.
- Enterprise-grade solutions: Pipl offers batch processing, an API, and dedicated account managers.
- Used by 1,000s of businesses: Pipl is one of the most widely used and respected people search engines.
Pipl is a paid service, with enterprise pricing available by request. Learn more at Pipl.com.
2. Webmii
Webmii is a free people search engine that aggregates information from various websites to generate a “web visibility” score and report for individuals.
Some key features:
- Multiple data sources: Webmii pulls data from social networks, homepages, blog posts, and news articles.
- Web Visibility scoring: Webmii provides a score from 0-10 indicating a person’s online presence.
- Visual profiles: Reports include images, tag clouds, and network graphs.
- Name disambiguation: Webmii can often differentiate between people with the same name.
- International searches: Webmii supports searches in major countries worldwide.
- Completely free: No paid plans, ads, or subscriptions.
Webmii is a useful free tool for casual searching, but doesn’t offer the same depth of data as paid services. Try it out at Webmii.com.
3. PeekYou
PeekYou is a people search engine with the unique ability to cross-reference a person’s username on multiple accounts.
Highlights include:
- Username search: Find all the networks someone has profiles on with a given username.
- Deep web search: PeekYou claims to search parts of the web other search engines can’t access.
- Web Presence Score: Get a rating of a person’s overall web presence.
- Detailed summaries: View quick facts, tag clouds, and related links.
PeekYou offers a limited free plan and paid subscriptions starting at $99/month. Learn more at PeekYou.com.
4. People Background Check
People Background Check is an affordable, user-friendly background check service providing access to federal, state, and county public records.
Key features:
- Detailed reports: Reports may include criminal history, sex offender status, bankruptcies, assets, and more.
- Intuitive interface: People Background Check is very beginner-friendly.
- Affordable pricing: Pay-as-you-go pricing starts at $6.95/report.
- Secure searching: Your searches remain private and confidential.
- Helpful support articles: The knowledge base walks you through using the service.
People Background Check is great for occasional, affordable background checks on individuals. Visit PeopleBackgroundCheck.com to get started.
5. ZabaSearch
ZabaSearch is a long-standing free people search engine and phone lookup service.
Some important notes:
- Basic contact info: Get phone numbers, addresses, and age.
- Possible relatives: ZabaSearch can return names of potential relatives.
- Area code lookups: See the city and state for a given phone number.
- Dated interface: The ZabaSearch website looks outdated compared to alternatives.
- Limited free results: Most info is blurred out, requiring a BeenVerified subscription.
ZabaSearch is still a viable free option for quick phone or address lookups, but is fairly limited overall. Try it at ZabaSearch.com.
6. PrivacyWatch.app
PrivacyWatch.app is a freemium people search engine focused on privacy and ease of use.
Notable features include:
- Straightforward interface: Look up basic contact info, addresses, and social profiles in seconds.
- Privacy-focused: PrivacyWatch.app does not log searches or share your data.
- No ads: The clean interface is free of distracting ads and popups.
- Freemium model: Access basic results free, or upgrade for full reports.
- Accessible anywhere: PrivacyWatch is web-based, so no installation required.
If quick, no-frills, confidential searches are a priority, give PrivacyWatch.app a try.
7. Spokeo
Spokeo is a popular people intelligence service providing insights into people’s social, marital and financial status.
Highlights include:
- 12 billion records: Spokeo boasts one of the largest databases of any people search engine.
- Wealth indicators: Unique insights like income, property values and investments.
- Detailed relationship info: Spokeo can uncover family members, exes, neighbors and more.
- Comprehensive reports: Spokeo’s reports cover 120 data points across 6 core categories.
- Mobile apps: iOS and Android apps enable searching on the go.
- Affordable plans: Pricing starts at $0.95 for a 7-day trial.
To uncover hard-to-find details about someone’s life and relationships, Spokeo is a solid choice. Learn more at Spokeo.com.
8. BeenVerified
BeenVerified is a well-established background check provider offering detailed reports and an intuitive user experience.
Key features:
- Exhaustive reports: BeenVerified reports may span 100+ pages, covering criminal records, assets, licenses and more.
- Ongoing monitoring: Get alerts if information changes or new records emerge.
- Intuitive dashboard: Easily manage and organize search results.
- Transparent pricing: Unlimited reports start at $26.89/month.
- Mobile apps: Access reports anywhere via iOS and Android apps.
- Helpful support guides: The blog and FAQ make it easy to find info.
For extensive, user-friendly background checks, BeenVerified is hard to beat. Visit BeenVerified.com to learn more.
9. Intelius
Intelius is an industry leader in people search, background checks and identity theft protection.
Important points:
- 30+ years of experience: Intelius was founded in 2003 and has served 50+ million customers.
- Diverse offerings: Intelius provides people search, background checks, criminal records, and more.
- Reverse phone lookups: Easily identify the owner of an unknown caller.
- SSN verification: Validate someone’s identity with their Social Security Number.
- Premier Plus plan: Enjoy unlimited searches across all Intelius services.
As an all-in-one people data powerhouse, Intelius has you covered. Check out Intelius.com for more info.
10. TruthFinder
TruthFinder is a widely used background check service known for its accuracy, depth, and user-friendly reports.
Standout features:
- Accurate, up-to-date reports: TruthFinder reports go through extensive quality assurance.
- Deep web searches: Access data buried in databases that standard search engines can’t find.
- Self-monitoring tools: Get notified if your personal information ends up in TruthFinder’s database.
- Detailed criminal records: Uncover felony and misdemeanor offenses at the federal, state and county levels.
- Location history: See where a person has lived over the last 20+ years.
- Dark web scanning: Find out if your information has been compromised online.
TruthFinder offers comprehensive reports and peace-of-mind protection in one. Visit TruthFinder.com to try it out.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an IDCrawl Alternative
With so many IDCrawl alternatives available, how do you choose the right one? Here are the key factors to consider:
Accuracy & Data Quality
The best people search engines draw from billions of current public records to ensure you get accurate, up-to-date information. Look for services that clearly list their data sources and update frequency. Avoid ones with many user complaints about outdated or incorrect data.
Search Capabilities
Consider what information you need and which search options are important to you. Do you need in-depth background checks or is basic contact info sufficient? Is username search vital? Make sure the service you choose aligns with your needs.
Pricing
People search tools range from completely free to over $50/month. In general, you get what you pay for in terms of data quality and search capabilities. However, if you only need occasional basic searches, a free or low-cost service may suffice. Consider your budget and usage needs.
Ease of Use
The best people search engines make it quick and easy to find who you’re looking for. Look for intuitive interfaces, beginner-friendly search options, and readable reports. Avoid services with clunky, outdated, or ad-heavy interfaces that make finding info a chore.
Customer Support
Reputable people search services provide robust customer support to help you make the most of their offerings. Look for ones with detailed help centers, how-to videos, and direct support channels like phone, email or live chat.
How to Effectively Use People Search Engines
Once you’ve chosen an IDCrawl alternative, here are some tips to make your searches more effective:
Verify Identity & Contact Info
People search engines are ideal for verifying someone’s identity and contact details. To get the best results:
- Search by name, phone number, email, username or address
- Compare results across multiple sources to validate accuracy
- Look for “confidence scores” that indicate match likelihood
- Manually review social profiles to confirm they belong to the same person
Conduct Background Checks
When conducting background checks, be sure to:
- Check national, state, and county criminal databases
- Look for aliases and related persons
- Verify credentials and licenses
- Review financial history like bankruptcies, liens, and judgments
- Validate employment and education history
Reconnect with Friends & Family
To find long lost friends and relatives:
- Start with a full name and last known location
- Search by former names (e.g. maiden names)
- Look for relatives and associates to find new leads
- Check social media profiles for clues and common connections
- Reach out thoughtfully, respecting privacy
Research for Hiring & Tenant Screening
When using people search for hiring or tenant screening:
- Verify identity and SSN
- Check national, state and county criminal records
- Review sex offender registries
- Validate professional licenses
- Comply with all FCRA guidelines and other applicable laws
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are people search engines legal? Yes, searching public records and online information is legal. However, there are restrictions on how you can use the information for hiring, housing, credit, and more. Consult the FCRA guidelines.
- How current is the information in people search reports? It depends on the data source and update frequency. The best services refresh their records every 1-3 months. However, some data (like court records) may only update quarterly or annually.
- Can I search for someone internationally? Some people search engines have limited international data. Pipl and Webmii cover many countries, but TruthFinder and BeenVerified focus mainly on the U.S.
- Why do some services charge while others are free? Paid services tend to have better data quality, more frequent updates, deeper web searches, and higher quality customer support. Free services suffice for basic lookups.
- Can I remove my information from people search engines? Many services allow you to opt out and remove your info by request. However, they cannot remove records from the original public sources. Consult each service’s opt out instructions. For step-by-step guidance on removing your info from IDCrawl, see this IDCrawl Opt Out tutorial.
Key Takeaways
- IDCrawl alternatives provide more powerful, flexible people search capabilities
- Top alternatives include Pipl, Webmii, PeekYou, Spokeo, BeenVerified, and more
- Consider accuracy, search options, pricing, ease of use, and support when choosing
- Use these tools to verify identities, conduct background checks, find relatives, and screen tenants
- Follow applicable laws and guidelines when using personal information
- Paid services offer better quality data and support than free ones
- You can opt out of most databases by request. (See how to opt out of IDCrawl)
Armed with these insights, you’re ready to find the best IDCrawl alternative for your needs. Whether you opt for a free service like Webmii or a premium powerhouse like Pipl, these people search engines will help you surface the information you need quickly and easily.
