Tired of sites advertising free background checks only to require your credit card upfront? We get it – you want genuinely free options without any payment needed, period.

The good news? Legitimate free background check sources do exist without charging fees. In this guide, we’ll show you 4 methods to run a totally free background check, with no credit card needed. Let’s dive in…

4 methods to run a free background check

Now a little fair warning: these no-cost approaches will require some digging on your part. But with hands-on effort, you can get background information on someone without handing over your hard-earned cash.

1. Run a Google® search

With trillions of web pages indexed and analyzed, Google® is the key to unlocking pretty much anything and everything around the internet. So, first and foremost, you can start a free background check by searching on Google®.

Google® Keyword Search

The Google® keyword search engine is hands down the most powerful for uncovering public information. With the right name variations, modifiers, and filters, you can potentially gather a wealth of background information on someone:

• Put terms in quotes – e.g. searching “John Smith” will return more relevant pages about that exact name.
  
• Use the site: operator to restrict to specific sites. For example, adding “site:tinder.com” will only show results from Tinder.
  
• Use a combination of keywords – By searching variations of the person’s name, usernames, email addresses, screen names, etc., you can cast a wide net and capture more possible results.
  

Remember, unless the person you’re searching for is a public figure, don’t expect one search to instantly reveal everything. Be prepared to try multiple angles with persistence until you find meaningful results.

If, however, after an extensive search, you’re greeted with “It looks like there aren’t many great matches for your search“, it means that Google® cannot find a result for your search. It could be possible that the person you’re searching for hasn’t left a trail online that could be traced back to them, or you could refine your search techniques.

As an alternative, you can try other keyword combinations or check out other methods to see if you can track them down and uncover valuable information on them.

Google® Reverse Image Search

Google®’s reverse image search allows you to search for a person by photo. So if you have the person’s photo on hand, you can upload it to see if the same photo appears on other websites or platforms.

Here is how to do it:

1. Go to images.google.com and click the camera icon.
   
2. You can click to paste the URL of the image or upload the photo from your computer. Once the photo has been uploaded, click Search by image.
   
3. See if Google® returns to you the same or similar photos. Then click through each match to analyze the context and source of the image for clues.

Reverse Image Search

Find & verify someone’s identity with a photo.

Upload Photo

2. Dig through public records

Public records can be a treasure trove for tracing someone’s background, often without cost. These are kept by government agencies and have everything from birth and marriage records to criminal history and property ownership.

Depending on the types of info you’re after, here are some sources to look at:

• Search county clerk websites for marriage licenses, property records, and more. Counties organize records differently so search thoroughly.
• Visit court websites for lawsuits, bankruptcies, criminal charges, and more. PACER has federal court records.
• Check county assessor sites for property ownership history and real estate details.
• Government offices provide access to vital records like birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates. Availability varies by state.
• Some states offer online criminal record searches but may have legal limitations.
• Licensing agencies can provide professional and disciplinary actions.

Remember that, like any treasure hunt, these records might have a few flaws. Information could be outdated, patchy, or even a touch inaccurate. So, cross-reference what you find from different sources and interpret them wisely.

3. Poke around social media

Social media is a great spot to dig up intel without paying a cent. Start by popping the person’s name into the search bars on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok – all the usual suspects.

Play around with throwing in different name versions, usernames, handles, phone numbers, email addresses, whatever you can think of. You never know what combo will turn up an account.

If you manage to find a profile, jackpot! Scroll through and peep the posts, pics, followers, bio deets, and anything else you can glean. It’s crazy how much people share on social media if you really comb through it.

Oh, and don’t forget to get crafty with the search tools if they have them. Sites like Instagram let you filter by location or keywords. So tinker with filters to uncover even more.

And you can also combine this with Google® searching. Just add “site:instagram.com” or “site:twitter.com” to your searches to dig up connected social accounts.

4. Networking

Last but not least, leveraging your personal and professional networks can provide insider background that might be hard to find through searching alone.

To start with this approach, simply reach out to any mutual connections, either in-person or privately online, to ask if they have any details to share about the individual. Be discreet though – don’t reveal your specific reasons for asking. You’re more likely to get honest insights if you keep it casual.

In the meantime, don’t forget platforms like LinkedIn. They can be used to uncover shared connections who may be willing to make introductions or provide color. Just make sure to approach them diplomatically.

Reverse Email Lookup

Look up email on 55+ social networks.

Bonus tips: Paid background checks

And there you have it – four solid ways to run a free background check with just a little bit of elbow grease. But let’s get real: these DIY options can take time and effort. And, after all that searching on Google and record hunting, you might only end up with bits and pieces.

If you genuinely need the full story on someone, you may want to invest in a premium people search report.

After lots of research, we’ve managed to find 7 paid options that could give you the power to run full-on background searches on someone.

1. BeenVerified

Try BeenVerified

2. TruthFinder

Try TruthFinder

3. Instant Checkmate

Try Instant Checkmate

4. Intelius

Try Intelius

5. PeopleLooker

Get $1 Trial

6. Social Catfish

Try Social Catfish

7. Spokeo ($0.95 trial)

How we chose our recommended search methods

We selected the free background check methods in this guide based on their ability to uncover public information without any fees or credit card requirements. Each option has unique strengths:

• Google Search leverages the power of the internet to find online records.
• Public Records provide official documents from government agencies.
• Social Media profiles give personal details willingly shared.
• Networking taps into insider knowledge from connections.

However, while being “free” saves money, it often costs time and effort without guaranteeing complete results. For full background reports in one place, we suggest trying paid people search services – as recommended in the Bonus Tips section. Most offer $1 trial subscriptions, but be sure to choose ones that suit your specific needs and preferences.

Credit: Featured image by Shutterstock

All product names, logos, brands, trademarks, and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

The methods in this article provide you with easy access to public record information, but without a guarantee for accuracy and may include links to websites not listed as a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA). Information acquired from these bodies is illegal to be used for employment, housing, credit, and other purposes alike, according to laws such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). If you’re not sure whether your use of our methods is appropriate, click here for details.

By Enya Zhang

Meet Enya – a passionate content writer who loves crafting insightful and helpful articles. Since 2018, she's built a reputation as a reliable source of knowledge. She explores topics far and wide, from online dating and people search tools to new streaming platforms to identity theft protection services and the latest tech.

When researching, Enya digs in deep. She sees to it that every article is backed by first-hand testing, rigorous analysis, and/or thorough investigation. Her commitment to in-depth research and comprehensive testing ensures her articles deliver trusted guidance readers can count on.

Embracing both quiet and thrill, Enya is a reserved extrovert who happily cruises between me time and socializing. Outside of writing, you can find her soaking up sights and sounds, chilling with friends or lost in a good book.

Certificate(s):

View all of Enya Zhang's posts.