2020 TruthFinder Review: Cost, Pros, and Cons

It’s easy to find a background check service—it’s harder to find one that will actually turn up what you’re looking for.

Background check services will never be perfect because they rely on public records—records that are sometimes out-of-date or inaccurate—but when we tested services out for ourselves, we found out that some companies offer much more accurate background reports than others.

We recommend TruthFinder because of its depth of updated information. Keep reading this TruthFinder review to find out why it made it onto our list of the best background check companies.

We ran real background checks on people we know to find out which services provided accurate, useful information. While we can’t speak to every single scenario, TruthFinder had correct, up-to-date contact information in our tests. It turned up the correct phone number and email address without listing lots of confusing, out-of-date information.

When we ran checks on the same people using other services, we sometimes got a mix of old and new phone numbers and addresses that made it hard to know which contact information to rely on.

On top of being accurate, TruthFinder background reports are also easy to digest; we had no trouble understanding the information that turned up. TruthFinder also offers mobile apps, so it’s easy to access these reports if you’re away from your computer.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act makes it illegal to use information from regular background checks to make hiring decisions or to screen tenants. Even if you turn up a criminal record or something else alarming through one of these services, it’s illegal to use that knowledge to assess an employment or housing candidate.

While we like TruthFinder, it isn’t for everyone. There are a few specific things that the company could do to better serve potential customers.

There are lots of irate reviews from users who signed up to try the service, couldn’t find what they were looking for, and canceled within hours. TruthFinder could eliminate a lot of frustration for people if they offered a trial membership.

Most people don’t need multiple searches or background checks in a month. Having the option for one-time purchases would allow the site to better cater to the average user.

TruthFinder gives users legitimate warnings, such as its FCRA compliance disclaimer and popups that warn of turning up unexpected and disturbing information. But it also goes overboard with misleading messages that make its reports sound juicier than they actually are.

For example, when we looked up a member of our team who had no criminal record, the site warned us about shocking criminal information and potentially graphic items in the report. The wording was misleading about whether this particular report would contain such details. This is disingenuous.

Some customer reviews mention that the reports allow users to check horoscope compatibility with the subject of the report in case the user and the subject fell in love. Apart from not being useful to a large portion of TruthFinder’s potential market, this function adds a creepiness factor to an otherwise legitimate service.

When you run your first search, TruthFinder will ask you to sign up for a membership before it gives you the results. TruthFinder charges about $28 per month for a membership. That breaks down to less than a dollar a day. If you purchase a two-month membership, it’s $23 a month paid in a lump sum of $46.

With a membership, you can run as many background checks as you’d like. Note that your membership will automatically renew when the membership period is up unless you cancel before then.

TruthFinder’s offerings are pretty standard for a people search website. It acts as a “truth finder,” turning up public records such as criminal records, arrest records, marriage and divorce records, and more. It also presents information gleaned from social media accounts.

Unlike PeopleFinders, TruthFinder doesn’t differentiate between people searches and background check reports. While PeopleFinders’s background check reports may not include all the available data, TruthFinder background check reports compile all known information, including the following:

• Phone number
• Email address
• Property ownership information
• Criminal history
• Job history
• Education background
• Social media handles
• Names of potential associates, family members, friends

This makes the service easier to use.

Got a background check question? We may have an answer.

Positive reviews mention finding old friends and getting lots of detailed information. Reviewers also liked how easy the site was to use.

Some negative reviewers expected data to be more accurate, and others were annoyed about all the promotional emails they got.

We’ve already mentioned what you can’t do: use TruthFinder information to make decisions about employment and rentals.

But you can use social media accounts, phone numbers, addresses, or email addresses to get in touch with old friends or long-lost relatives. You can learn whether a potential love interest has been married before. You can even check a suspicious person to learn if there’s really anything to be suspicious about.

TruthFinder might not be best for people who hate monthly memberships, but if you’re willing to sign up for a membership, you may like TruthFinder’s intuitive interface and detailed reports.

In particular, we recommend TruthFinder if you’re trying to get in touch with someone, because it had some of the most accurate, recent contact information in our tests. Reports also included correct information about property ownership, education, and birthdates.