Intelius Background Check Review 2026
Intelius
- Price : From $25.11/month
- Reports offered: People search, background search, criminal records
- Cancelation policy: $7.95 to cancel
Is Intelius Worth It?
Intelius is a versatile tool for anyone looking for detailed background information. It’s known for its large database and fast service, giving users access to over 20 billion public records. This covers a wide range of info, from criminal backgrounds and education to specific details like traffic violations. The platform is easy to use, with clear search options and simple navigation, making it user-friendly even for those who aren’t experienced with online searches. Intelius offers flexible options to suit different needs and budgets, whether you need a single report or unlimited searches through a subscription.
Overview
Since its founding in 2003, Intelius has emerged as a leader in the background check industry, thanks to its extensive database and advanced search capabilities. Each year, it adds over 20 billion new records, showcasing the breadth of information it provides. Intelius caters to a wide range of needs, from basic people searches to thorough background checks. Its detailed reports cover everything from criminal and traffic records to social media profiles and educational backgrounds, making it one of the top online background check sites.
What truly distinguishes Intelius is its innovative algorithm. This cutting-edge technology revolutionizes the people search experience by accurately connecting data points to the right individual. This enables Intelius to comb through its vast database and generate clear, graphical reports that are easy to understand.
Reports Offered
- People Search: Utilizes a proprietary data engine to find detailed information about individuals from various sources.
- Reverse Phone Lookup: Offers details about the owner of both published and unpublished phone numbers.
- Criminal & Traffic Records Search: Provides searches for criminal and traffic offenses nationwide, including offense specifics and court outcomes.
- Background Check: Delivers comprehensive reports on criminal history, liens, bankruptcies, and personal records, known for their detail.
- Public Records Search: Searches a wide range of publicly available information, including marriage, divorce, and death records.
- Reverse Address Lookup: Enables users to discover detailed information about who lives or has lived at a specific address.
Is Intelius Legitimate?
Intelius holds an A-rating from the Better Business Bureau, which speaks to its reliability and trustworthiness. However, it is important to note that Intelius is not compliant with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This is clearly stated on its homepage. While this means that Intelius should not be used for purposes such as determining eligibility for credit, insurance, employment, housing, or any other FCRA-covered decisions, it does not affect its overall legitimacy. The service remains a valuable tool for personal use and other non-regulated purposes.
How Intelius Works
Intelius stands out by offering one of the most extensive search options available. The service is user-friendly and never feels cluttered. After creating an account, you’ll see a simple search bar where you can look up subjects by name, phone number, email, or address.
Once you enter the basic information, you’ll be taken to a full profile of the person you’re searching for. From the navigation bar, you can easily access all your past reports.
Sharing reports is just as easy, though saving them as PDFs requires an additional one-time fee of $2.99. This is considered an add-on service.
Unlike some other background check sites, Intelius doesn’t track your searches or notify you of updates. However, its database is updated daily, ensuring that the information in your reports is always current.
Intelius gathers its data from various sources, including federal, state, county, and local records. It can even find unlisted phone numbers, as these may still be part of public records even if they’re not in the phone book.
It’s worth noting that Intelius can’t provide information about people outside the US. I tested this by searching for individuals I know who live or have spent time abroad, and the results were limited. However, I still believe Intelius is a reliable choice for tracking people within North America. It might also provide more detailed international information for military personnel stationed abroad.
Help and Support
The company provides clear and easy-to-understand explanations of all the searches it offers. This is really helpful if you’re not sure how to find the information you need, as it guides you in choosing the right type of search.
Live customer support is available from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, via a toll-free number. You can also contact them by email or by submitting a support ticket. Reports can be submitted at any time, 24/7.
Pricing
Intelius offers a variety of pricing plans designed to fit different needs. The People Search membership costs $25.11 per month or $21.35 for a bi-monthly payment, and it includes all the features you need for thorough background checks.
Additionally, Intelius provides a 5-day trial for its Reverse Phone Lookup and People Search plan for just $0.95. After the trial, the price increases to $34.95 per month, giving you unlimited access to phone, individual, and address reports. Similarly, the Address Lookup combined with the People Search membership also starts with a $0.95 trial for seven days, and then moves to $34.95 per month for unlimited address and person reports.
Bottom Line
Intelius provides a powerful way to access personal information, whether you’re verifying someone’s identity, reconnecting with a long-lost relative or classmate, or checking employment or education history. Although there’s no free trial, the membership is reasonably priced and offers in-depth details that go beyond basic information. If you need a background check service with extensive search options and detailed results that cover a wide range of connections, Intelius is definitely worth considering.
