Surprisingly, about 75 percent of connections made between two people had no prior connection before meeting online. With the excitement that online dating brings, background checks should be considered before you meet anyone in person. Doing a background check on someone you're dating, or considering dating, is easier and more common than you might think.
Although Google is the go-to source of information for most people, it doesn't provide nearly as much information as quickly as you can obtain from background check services. If you're wondering how to find out if someone is registered on a dating site for free, these background check services can help.
We've compiled a list of some top companies and how they operate, so you can choose the one that best ensures your safety.
Our Top Picks for Background Checks for Dating: Which Is Best For Your Needs?
- TruthFinder - Best for searching the deep web for different types of info
- BeenVerified - Best for social media information
- Spokeo - Affordably priced background checks
- CheckPeople - Best for simple and easy-to-read report
- Instant CheckMate - Best for customizing your reports
- iD True - Best for quick results
- Intelius - Best for flexible background check reports
- Persopo - Best for unlimited database searches
- SearchQuarry - Best for one-off background checks
- PeopleWhiz - Best for highly confidential background checks
Here Are Our Best Background Checks for Dating:
1. TruthFinder
TruthFinder’s main selling point is that it looks for information across the deep web, scouring the depths of the internet beyond Google. With TruthFinder, you can potentially find more information before the first date than with other sites.
On Truthfinder, you can get background searches, criminal records, and social network searches, as well as find out a wealth of other information, including if someone has any known aliases, bankruptcies, tax liens, and more. TruthFinder's intuitive and user-friendly interface makes it an excellent choice for seamless navigation during a background check search.
Why we chose TruthFinder: TruthFinder truly understands the world of dating, offering comprehensive public record searches and social media profile analysis. Their user-friendly platform provides accurate results quickly, and the addition of features like dark web scanning creates a safer environment for your dating journey.
2. BeenVerified
BeenVerified is a people search tool used in the MTV television series Catfish: The TV Show. An initial search on BeenVerified takes several minutes to perform before you are asked to pay for the service.
If you click the back button in your browser or attempt to leave the site, you are presented with increasingly better offers on the service. First, you will be offered 25% off the monthly membership pricing, but if you attempt to leave the site again, you’ll be offered a $1 trial for seven days.
During this seven-day trial membership, you can run up to 100 reports. After the seven days expire, you’ll be billed $26.89 per month plus tax if you don’t cancel the service.
Background reports can include details on age, location, relatives, phone numbers, emails, and criminal records. They can also include photos and links to social media, making BeenVerified a reasonably good choice for dating searches.
Why we chose BeenVerified: The service stands out with its vast range of data sources, giving users a holistic understanding of a potential date's history. BeenVerified excels in generating reports that include criminal records, providing crucial insight into someone's trustworthiness. Their consistent accuracy and affordable pricing plans make it an ideal option for individuals seeking a safe and informed dating experience.
3. Spokeo
You can use Spokeo to search billions of records for details of anyone in the US. Even if you only know the person’s first and last name, you should be able to find them on the Spokeo website.
The free listing shows you where the person lives, where they have lived in the past, and the names of their close relatives, so you can be sure you’ve found the right person. The free report also lists whether Spokeo has details of the addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of the person before you pay for a report.
Reports include details on social media profiles and often include photos and videos, making them excellent for investigating someone you’re considering dating. Spokeo searches through 620 million court records to expose anyone with a hidden past.
Beyond this, Spokeo reports may contain personal details such as previous marriages, employment history, and information related to income and investments.
Spokeo starts at just $0.95 for a seven-day trial membership. If you continue using the service after seven days, your monthly bill will go for $24.95. Spokeo makes it easy to cancel your membership online during the seven-day trial period.
Why we chose Spokeo: Spokeo stands out with its simple yet effective social media account finder, allowing you to seamlessly connect publicly available information with potential partners' online presence. Their comprehensive public record searches and quick turnaround time ensure that you can make informed decisions about compatibility while keeping your online dating experience safe and enjoyable.
4. CheckPeople
CheckPeople keeps things simple for users, offering comprehensive background checks that are provided in a single, easy-to-read report. The company makes use of “deep web” searches that can dig up significantly more than you could find on your own in a simple Google search.
With CheckPeople you have access to records compiled through the company’s access to billions of public records, ranging from court documents to marriage certificates, arrest records, and more. It can also dig up long-lost websites, blog posts, and social media accounts, and if you ever have any problems navigating the site, you can count on 24/7 online customer service to sort you out.
Why we chose CheckPeople: The unlimited monthly search feature allows for effortless verification of multiple profiles, ensuring safer dating choices. Plus, by including crucial relationship histories data, such as marriages and divorces, their background reports facilitate more informed decisions when seeking potential romantic partners.
5. Instant CheckMate
Sometimes you’d like to know a little more about somebody that you’re planning on getting a cup of coffee with, but you don’t want to take a deep dive down some personal rabbit hole to get there. With Instant Checkmate you get to carry out unlimited searches and pick from either a standard report or premium reports, depending on how much you want to know.
A standard report will tell you about address history, related persons, arrest records, social media accounts, and more. Meanwhile, a premium report includes things as far-reaching as civil judgments, corporate affiliations, watercraft owned, tax liens, and if the person owns an aircraft, just to name a few.
In addition, the company offers a federal inmate locator service and can draw information from convicted sex offender registries. You can also access the site’s “crimewire” blog for information about staying safe online and offline.
Why we chose Instant Checkmate: Its advanced search options make it a breeze to verify potential partners so that you can date with confidence. Plus, Instant Checkmate's comprehensive reports, including criminal records and social media analysis, help users make informed decisions on who to consider in their search for love.
6. ID True
With ID True you can find a wide range of personal information about people including where they live and their address history, criminal records and arrest history, convicted sex offender status, relatives and business associates, social media accounts, and more.
The company also hosts a variety of blog posts with helpful information about subjects ranging from “how to catch a cheater with a web search” to “neighborhood watch—keeping your neighborhood safe.”
And while it makes use of millions of public records for its searches, ID True provides results in a flash, so it's quite handy for running a quick check on someone you just met through a friend.
Why we chose iD True: Its quick and reliable search options deliver valuable info on potential love interests, saving you time and effort. With detailed reports on criminal records and public data, you'll get the full story on your date, so you can focus on what truly matters – building a connection.
7. Intelius
Intelius is your trusty wingman in the dating game, providing you with the need-to-know details about your potential matches. With Intelius you can perform a people search, a reverse phone lookup, a criminal records search, a background check, a public records search, and a reverse address lookup, all through the same site.
All these different report types are particularly useful in the early stages of online dating. They make it possible to find extensive records of a person, even if you only know one or two pieces of information about them.
Intelius offers quite a range of pricing options. These start with a $0.95 six-day trial that includes unlimited reports. Monthly and bi-monthly memberships are also available.
An additional bonus Intelius offers is an app for iOS and Android. You can use it to perform people searches on the go. You can even search known addresses to display a map of the homes of registered sex offenders and criminals in the area.
Why we chose Intellius: Its powerful search engine scours vast data sources to reveal vital information like criminal backgrounds and employment history. With its unique features, like nationwide criminal checks and reverse phone lookups, you'll have the peace of mind to enjoy the dating journey, prepared and carefree.
8. Persopo
Persopo performs background checks and criminal background searches across a range of databases. These databases span 50 states in the United States and include federal databases and registries. You can search for a person for free to see whether any data is found before committing to purchase a full background check report.
Persopo is particularly easy to use, but when you perform a search, you must wait for around two minutes while a performative search animation completes.
Persopo allows you to keep your dating safer, as you can use its criminal background checks to scan for prior sexual offenses. I found that Persopo was better than most background search services at finding people from their name and hometown alone.
Costing you as little as $9.93 per month for unlimited searches, Persopo is available on a one-month, three-month, or six-month membership basis.
Why we chose Persopo: Persopo has made a name for itself with their commitment to affordability and transparency, making it the perfect choice for online daters on a budget. They offer a variety of search options, including criminal, financial, marriage, and divorce records, to ensure a thorough evaluation of potential matches. Plus, their simple design makes it easy to find the information you need, fast.
9. SearchQuarry
SearchQuarry is a US record search service that includes data drawn from records freely available to the public. These include civil and criminal records, court records, and incarceration details.
SearchQuarry goes further than many information search providers by offering details on driving records, prior bankruptcies, and liens records. A SearchQuarry membership can allow you to search for license plates or vehicle identification numbers (VINs). It also includes information on social media interactions.
SearchQuarry offers a seven-day trial for $5.05, or you can purchase a single report for a one-off fee of $14.95. Unlimited access to reports costs $35.40 for an entire year.
Why we chose SearchQuarry: SearchQuarry goes beyond providing a basic background check by incorporating real-time contact information updates, keeping you informed of potential matches' recent activity. Additionally, the site excels in its detailed reports, which include criminal records, social media profiles, and contact data.
10. PeopleWhiz
PeopleWhiz is a public records search tool that boasts of having access to over 67 billion searchable records. These include federal, state, and county records. PeopleWhiz can find judgments, criminal records, felonies, sexual offenses, and court records. It can even find traffic tickets, DUIs, and gun permits.
Besides a criminal background check, PeopleWhiz can provide details from the social media profiles of the person you search for. This can be useful for getting a better picture of a person you’re considering dating after meeting them through an online dating app.
PeopleWhiz’s initial search takes several minutes to complete. A subscription costs $27.99 per month, though you can get a discount of nearly 50% if you purchase a six-month subscription up front.
All searches on PeopleWhiz are completely confidential. Customer service representatives are available 24/7 via phone or email, and canceling the service can be performed over the phone or by email.
Why we chose PeopleWhiz: PeopleWhiz offers extensive search capabilities, including the scanning of millions of public records, to keep you informed during the dating process. The user-friendly interface, combined with in-depth and up-to-date information, makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking to be proactive about their safety while exploring new relationships.
Do Dating Sites Conduct Background Checks?
Finding a partner through online dating services is fun and effective. However, with limited information available on a dating profile, it makes sense to check for dating red flags with a background check service.
A few dating sites offer background checks for online dating as part of the service. For instance, Match Group, the company behind popular dating sites Tinder, OkCupid, and Match, began partnering with background check service Garbo in 2021. This partnership allows you to run a background check on an individual, checking their criminal history for domestic abuse and gender-based violence.
However, most dating sites don’t automatically perform a criminal background check. Zoosk, for example, states that users must have no sexual criminal offenses on their records when they sign up, but it doesn’t conduct any form of background check or attempt to verify the information users post.
Therefore, running a background check yourself using one of the background check services listed above is highly recommended.
Why Should I Use Background Checks for Online Dating?
The rise of online dating has opened new avenues for finding love, but it also poses unique risks. Background checks act as a safeguard, ensuring that the person you're connecting with is who they claim to be.
These checks can reveal important information such as criminal history, including any records of domestic abuse or gender-based violence, which are critical red flags in any relationship.
In an era where online personas can be carefully curated, a dating background check helps in verifying the authenticity of a person's identity, providing peace of mind and helping to avoid potentially dangerous situations.
How To Do a Background Check on Someone You Are Dating?
Often, dating websites don’t publish many personal details about individuals. If they allowed people to include their social media profile or phone number, this would allow direct contact between users to be possible.
Background check services usually don’t need a lot of information about a person to find them in the thousands of databases they monitor. A full name, a phone number, and a date of birth are usually enough to find a wealth of information about a person. Sometimes, even less information is needed.
From there, you can use the background check service’s search engine to find the person and perform a thorough check. Depending on the service, this will show you their social media accounts, criminal and financial background, and a wealth of other personal details.
With your background check report in hand, you can use it to perform further investigation yourself, such as verifying if the person is really who they say they are and checking on the posts they make on social media.
Do I Need to Background Check Everyone I Meet on Dating Apps?
While it may seem excessive to conduct a background check on every individual you meet through dating apps, it's important to use your judgment based on the interactions you have. If something feels off or too good to be true, it's wise to do a background check. Doing so will help you find out if someone is registered on a dating site, and often you'll be able to find this information for free.
For more casual interactions or when you feel secure about the information shared by the other person, it might not be necessary. The key is to balance your comfort level and safety without becoming overly paranoid. Trust your instincts: if someone is pushing boundaries, is vague about their past, or you plan to meet in person, a background check is a sensible precaution.
What to Look for in Background Check Results
When reviewing background check results, focus on critical areas that could impact your safety and the authenticity of the person's profile. Look for any criminal records, especially those related to violence, harassment, or sexual offenses. Pay attention to financial red flags like bankruptcies or fraud, which could indicate potentially deceptive intentions.
Additionally, verify their employment and education history to ensure consistency with their online profiles. Social media profiles can also provide insights into their lifestyle, beliefs, and behavior. Remember, the goal is not to invade privacy but to ensure your safety and the genuineness of the connection.
Important Precautions Before Your First Date
Inform a Trusted Person
Before you head out to meet somebody new, make sure to tell someone—a friend, roommate, sibling, you get the idea—about your plans for that night and when you expect to be home. You can even arrange for that person to text or call you at a specific time, just to make sure all is ok.
Never Leave Your Drink Unattended
If you’re sitting with someone you don’t know well—or just at a bar at all—never leave your drink unattended. If you have to go to the bathroom, take your drink, phone, and purse with you, just to be on the safe side. Also, and this isn’t quite the same thing, but it’s a good idea not to drink too much on your first date. You’re meeting someone for the first time and it’s best to have full control of your senses.
Choose a Public Meeting Location
Sure, you’ve hit it off with this person, but until you know them a little better, it’d be better not to have them know where you live or where you work. Suggest a neutral location like a cafe or restaurant.
Enhancing Online Dating Safety with Background Checks
When it comes to online dating, your safety should always be a top priority. While following general safety tips is crucial, incorporating background checks can provide an additional layer of security. Here are some guidelines to help you navigate dating sites while keeping your personal safety in mind.
Exercise Caution
If someone on a dating site appears too eager or sounds too perfect, exercise caution and proceed with caution. Trust your instincts if the person requests money, favors, or engages in any behavior that raises suspicion. It's advisable to distance yourself from individuals who exhibit signs of potential scams.
Protect Your Personal Information
Dating sites make a big point of letting you build a profile that really reflects your personality, and we agree you should do so—to a certain extent. Don’t put anything that could give away where you live or your email, or too much about yourself or your family. You can save that for when you get to know the person a little bit.
Research Your Potential Match
If you have the person’s real name, you should take a few minutes at least to look them up online and see what you can find. You can check if their profile pic is real (Try using Google's reverse image search). See if their name comes up in in news reports or if they’ve written anything troubling online on social media.
Discover Love Safely and Securely
Dating today is far from what it was in the past. There is a world of apps and websites that can help you link up with countless strangers you probably never would have met in the past. With great options, though, also comes great responsibility.
The good news is that since we are so connected today, it’s easier than ever to find information online that you can use to your advantage. A simple Google search can only go so far, though. If you’d like to go deep, you should consider signing up for a background search company, which can provide you with all types of insight to keep you safe while you look for love.