Spokeo is one of the most popular online people search engines, allowing users to look up phone numbers, addresses, email addresses, and more to find information on just about anyone. However, Spokeo does come with some downsides, including expensive subscription plans and limited search capabilities.
If you’re looking for an alternative to Spokeo that offers more affordable and comprehensive people search options, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll explore the top Spokeo alternatives to help you find exactly what you need.
Key Takeaways:
- Spokeo alternatives like Intelius, BeenVerified, and TruthFinder offer more affordable subscription plans than Spokeo.
- Social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn can be great options for free people search.
- Pipl provides extremely accurate people search results and is the best Spokeo alternative overall.
- Consider your specific search needs to choose the right Spokeo alternative – some specialize in reverse phone lookup, employment screening, etc.
- Free Spokeo alternatives exist but provide more limited information compared to paid services.
Why Consider Spokeo Alternatives?
Spokeo revolutionized online people search when it was founded in 2006. However, over the years several limitations of Spokeo have emerged:
- Expensive subscription plans – Spokeo’s cheapest option starts at $14.95/month, with more comprehensive plans costing up to $44.85/month.
- Limited free searches – Only basic information like age and location is available for free. For full reports, you have to pay.
- Results not always accurate – While Spokeo pulls from millions of sources, some user reviews mention inaccurate or outdated results.
- Lacks specialized search options – Spokeo focuses on general people search. Alternatives offer more niche search capabilities.
With these drawbacks in mind, you may want to explore some alternatives to find cheaper, more tailored options for your specific people search needs. The good news is there are plenty of Spokeo alternatives out there!
Best Paid Spokeo Alternatives
Here are some of the top paid alternatives for robust people search capabilities:
1. Intelius
One of the best options for a Spokeo alternative is Intelius. Founded in 2003, Intelius provides easy and comprehensive people search options.
Some key features of Intelius include:
- Various reverse lookups – phone, address, email, and more
- Criminal records and background checks
- Database of over 20 billion public records
- Clean, intuitive user interface
Intelius offers flexible pricing, with options like pay-as-you-go single reports starting at $0.95. Monthly unlimited plans start at $24.86. Overall, Intelius provides powerful search capabilities for a fraction of the cost of Spokeo’s higher-tier plans.
2. BeenVerified
BeenVerified provides accurate and affordable people search reports from public records and social media networks.
Some top features of BeenVerified:
- 7 search options in one place – name, username, phone, email, address and more
- Mobile app access – iOS and Android apps available
- Focus on data accuracy – regularly updates its robust public records database
BeenVerified offers 100 monthly searches starting at just $29.99. For those who value convenient mobile access and frequent searching, BeenVerified is an ideal pick.
3. TruthFinder
TruthFinder stands out as the best Spokeo alternative for performing background checks and criminal record searches.
Key features of TruthFinder:
- Specializes in background checks – offers criminal records, court records and more
- Dark web scan – checks across social networks and the dark web for compromised information
- User-friendly interface – simple signup and search process
TruthFinder starts at $28.05/month for unlimited searches. The background check capabilities make it worth considering over Spokeo.
Best Free Spokeo Alternatives
If you want to avoid paying a monthly or yearly fee, several free people search engines provide decent basic information. Just don’t expect the full suite of options of paid services.
1. Facebook
Surprisingly, Facebook can actually be a great free alternative to Spokeo. You can search for old friends or perform an advanced search filtered by location, workplace, school, and more.
While Facebook won’t provide background checks, its social graph gives insights Spokeo lacks. If you’re just trying to find or connect with someone, give Facebook search a try before paying for a service.
2. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is fantastic for employment and education verification thanks to its focus on professional networking. The site allows you to filter searches by location, company, school, and other criteria.
So if you want to look up a potential employee or business associate, search for them on LinkedIn first.
3. FastPeopleSearch
FastPeopleSearch provides basic contact information pulled from public records. It’s easy to use – just enter a name and state or city.
The free search returns full name, age, current and past addresses, phone numbers, and family members. FastPeopleSearch is a decent quick and simple option, albeit limited compared to paid alternatives.
4. PeekYou
PeekYou scours over 100 social networks to find people and provides a snapshot of their online presence. A free search shows associated social profiles, usernames, locations, photos, and more.
PeekYou is useful for getting a quick look at someone’s digital footprint across top social platforms.
Specialized Spokeo Alternatives
Beyond general people search engines, some websites provide specialized search capabilities tailored to specific use cases. Consider options like:
- Nuwber – Best for reverse phone lookup
- Instant Checkmate – For criminal records and background checks
- ZoomInfo – Ideal for searching professionals
- LexisNexis – Great for compliance screening
Evaluate your particular people search needs to choose the ideal specialized site rather than settling for Spokeo’s one-size-fits-all approach.
Which Spokeo Alternative is Best for You?
With so many options to choose from, how do you determine the right Spokeo alternative for your specific situation? Here are a few key factors to consider:
- Affordability – Assess whether monthly unlimited plans or pay-as-you-go single reports make more economic sense.
- Search frequency – If you’ll only do occasional lookups, avoid overpaying for unlimited plans.
- Type of information needed – Consider specialized sites if you need employment screening, compliance checks, etc.
- Ease of use – Pick a site with an intuitive interface to minimize the learning curve.
- Customer support – Paid sites should offer solid customer service in case any issues arise.
- Special features – Do you specifically need reverse phone lookups, criminal checks, or other unique tools?
Once you determine your must-have features, compare options like pricing structures and available search filters. Taking the time to evaluate different Spokeo alternatives will ensure you choose the optimal match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there really a free alternative to Spokeo?
While sites like FastPeopleSearch and PeekYou offer free people search capabilities, they provide fairly limited information compared to paid alternatives. Social networks like Facebook can also be leveraged for free searches in some cases. But for comprehensive results without paying, Spokeo alternatives are limited.
How accurate are Spokeo alternatives?
Most paid Spokeo alternatives use robust databases of public records, social networks, and other sources to maximize accuracy. User reviews indicate options like Intelius, TruthFinder, and Pipl offer precise results, often more so than Spokeo itself. As with any people search, some outdated or incorrect info is inevitable though.
Are Spokeo alternatives legal to use?
Reputable Spokeo alternatives rely 100% on public records and legally-obtained data sources. Unlawful services definitely exist, but focusing on well-established options known for ethics and transparency ensures you stay on the right side of the law. As always, reasonable caution is advised when searching people online.
Can Spokeo alternatives help me reconnect with old friends?
Absolutely! Many Spokeo alternatives excel at helping users get back in touch with old classmates, colleagues, etc. Options like Intelius and TruthFinder make it easy to search for someone you’ve lost touch with and get their current contact info. Social networks also facilitate reconnecting. Just always respect privacy and boundaries.
What if I’m dissatisfied with the Spokeo alternative I picked?
First, give customer service a chance to resolve any issues. Many sites also offer refunds within 1-2 weeks if you’re unsatisfied. Switching between affordable monthly plans on different sites poses little risk. Once you find the perfect match, you can cancel old subscriptions.
Rounding Up the Top Spokeo Alternatives
Spokeo set the standard for online people search, but potential drawbacks have led many to seek alternatives. Luckily, today’s options provide cheaper, more tailored solutions.
In summary, some of the best Spokeo alternatives include:
- Intelius – Comprehensive features and affordable pricing
- BeenVerified – Accurate reports with mobile access
- TruthFinder – Specialized background checks
- Pipl – Extremely accurate personal data aggregation
- Facebook – Free search leveraging social connections
Take the time to evaluate your specific search needs and preferred features. Whether it’s criminal checks, finding old friends, researching a business contact, or another purpose – there’s a Spokeo alternative ready to provide exactly the people search capabilities you require.
So don’t settle for the limitations of Spokeo. Check out one of these top-rated alternatives for more powerful, flexible, and cost-effective people search today!
