How Much Does a Background Search Cost? Pricing & Factors

In today’s increasingly connected world, trust plays a pivotal role in personal relationships. A solid background search can often be the linchpin to building that trust. But how much does a background search cost to ensure that the person you’re dating has a clean record and is who they claim to be? 

Moreover, what tools and resources are available to help you make the most informed decision possible? The answer might be more complex than you think. The purpose of this article is to discuss the costs of background searches. Background searches can be expensive, and the costs vary depending on the type of search and the provider. 

Understanding the different costs involved in a background search can help you make an informed decision about choosing the right type of search, providers, and tools, and avoid unnecessary expenses. So buckle up, and let’s dive into the fascinating realm of background search costs!

What Is a Background Search?

A background search is a process of investigating an individual’s past records and activities, including criminal records, employment history, educational qualifications, credit history, and more. 

How Much Does a Background Search Cost?

The cost of a background search can vary depending on the type of search, the provider, and the level of detail required. Basic searches can cost as low as $20 to $50, while detailed searches can cost hundreds of dollars. Fees may apply for expedited processing or accessing certain databases. Quality and accuracy are also important factors to consider when choosing a provider.

Here is how much a background search costs with some of the best background search services:

• PeopleFinders: Membership plans starting at $24.95 per month, with a trial available for $0.95.
• WhiteBridge AI: Pay-per-report pricing starting at $19 for a single report, with discounted rates as low as $6 per report for high-volume business plans.
• Spokeo: Trial searches starting at $0.95, with monthly memberships around $19.95 for unlimited basic searches.
• TruthFinder: Subscription plans starting at $28.05 per month.
• Intelius: Subscription plans starting at $21.13 per month.
• Instant Checkmate: Subscription plans starting at $35.12 per month, and $28.09 for a 3-month membership.

Factors That Affect the Cost of a Background Search

The factors that affect the cost of a background search include:

Scope of the Background Search

1. Criminal History: Investigating an individual’s criminal record, including arrests, convictions, and incarceration. The depth of this search may vary, and the cost may increase depending on the number of jurisdictions searched.
2. Employment Verification: Confirming an individual’s employment history, including previous employers, positions held, and dates of employment. The cost can be affected by the number of employers verified and the level of detail required.
3. Education Verification: Verifying an individual’s educational background, such as degrees earned, institutions attended, and dates of attendance. The cost may vary based on the number of institutions checked and the level of detail requested.
4. Credit History: Reviewing an individual’s credit history, including payment history, debts, and credit score. The cost of a credit search may be influenced by the specific reporting agency used and the comprehensiveness of the report.
5. Driving Records: Examining an individual’s driving history, including accidents, traffic violations, and license suspensions. The cost may differ depending on the jurisdictions searched and the period covered by the search.

Type of Background Search

1. Basic: A simple background search that typically includes a limited criminal history search and basic identity verification. These searches are often more affordable but may not provide a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s background.
2. Standard: A more thorough background search that may include criminal history, employment and education verification, and credit history. The cost of a standard search may be higher than a basic search, but it offers a more detailed overview of an individual’s background.
3. Comprehensive: An extensive background search that may encompass criminal history, employment and education verification, credit history, driving records, and additional searches as needed. These searches are the most expensive but provide the most in-depth insight into an individual’s background.

Jurisdiction & Geographic Location

1. Local Searches: Background searches are conducted within a specific city or county, typically involving a search of local criminal records. Local searches are usually less expensive but may not capture information from other jurisdictions.
2. Statewide Searches: Background searches that include a search of criminal records within an entire state. Statewide searches are generally more costly than local searches but provide broader coverage.
3. National Searches: Background searches that encompass criminal records from multiple states or nationwide databases. National searches can be more expensive due to their wider scope, but offer a more comprehensive view of an individual’s background.
4. International Searches: Background searches that involve searches in foreign countries, which may include criminal records, employment, and education verification. International searches are typically the most expensive due to the complexity of accessing information across borders and varying legal systems.

Volume & Frequency of Searches

1. Single or Occasional Searches: Background searches are conducted on an as-needed basis, typically for individuals or small organizations. These searches may be more expensive per search due to the lack of volume discounts.
2. Frequent Searches: Background searches are performed regularly, often by larger organizations or those with ongoing hiring needs. The cost per search may be lower than that of single or occasional searches due to the higher volume.
3. Bulk Discounts for Large Orders: Many background search providers offer discounted pricing for organizations that require a large number of background searches. The more searches ordered, the lower the cost per search, resulting in significant savings for the organization.

Top 6 Background Search Tools

The cost of a background search can vary depending on the specific tool you choose to use. Here are three popular background search tools, with a brief explanation of their features and an overview of their pricing. Remember that these tools are not FCRA-approved and hence can’t be used for employee or tenant screening and any other purpose that requires FCRA compliance. 

PeopleFinders

PeopleFinders is a long-established background search service that helps individuals and businesses uncover essential details quickly and reliably. Whether you’re reconnecting with friends or family or verifying someone’s history, PeopleFinders provides access to billions of public records for accurate and up-to-date insights.

Features

• Extensive searches covering criminal records, court records, address history, and contact details.
• Large, trusted database with billions of public records for thorough results.
• Quick turnaround time with easy-to-read reports.
• Flexible tools for both casual users and businesses needing bulk searches.

Pricing
PeopleFinders offers affordable membership options with access to unlimited searches. Monthly plans start at $24.95, and users can try the service with a $0.95 trial before committing.

WhiteBridge

WhiteBridge is designed for individuals and businesses who need precise and reliable background information. Whether you’re hiring, reconnecting with someone, or verifying personal details, WhiteBridge ensures you get accurate, up-to-date reports from trusted data sources.

Features

• Comprehensive searches covering criminal records, public records, and address history.
• Fast search results powered by advanced data-matching technology.
• Easy-to-read, organized reports with verified details.
• Privacy-focused, your search history is not shared or stored publicly.

Pricing

WhiteBridge offers flexible pricing based on search volume and report type. Individual searches are available for a flat fee, while subscription plans provide unlimited searches for frequent users.

Spokeo

Spokeo specializes in making background searches simple, fast, and accurate. By aggregating billions of records from public sources and online data, Spokeo helps you uncover the most relevant and trustworthy information about an individual.

Features

• Multi-source data collection for maximum accuracy.
• Detailed reports including social media profiles, phone numbers, and location history.
• Intuitive search filters for refining results.
• Mobile-friendly platform for on-the-go searches.

Pricing

Spokeo offers affordable subscription plans for unlimited background searches, as well as pay-per-search options for occasional use. Pricing varies depending on the depth and frequency of searches.

TruthFinder

Features

TruthFinder is a background search tool that offers unique features, such as deep web searches for comprehensive results, a user-friendly mobile app, optional Dark Web Monitoring, family tree reports, and responsive customer support. These features make TruthFinder a versatile and reliable option for users seeking in-depth background search information.

Pricing

• TruthFinder charges a monthly subscription fee (around $28.05) for unlimited background searches.
• A two-month subscription is also available at a slightly reduced rate per month.

Instant Checkmate

Features

Instant Checkmate offers a user-friendly platform for performing background searches, including criminal records, contact information, social media profiles, and more. The tool provides a comprehensive report on the subject and offers unlimited searches within the subscription period.

Pricing:

• Instant Checkmate offers a trial membership at a low cost for five days.
• After the trial period, the service charges a monthly subscription fee (around $35.12), allowing for unlimited background searches during the subscription period.
• Instant Checkmate also offers a three-month subscription plan at a reduced rate per month.

Cost Breakdown of Different Types of Background Searches

The cost of different types of background searches can vary depending on the scope and depth of the search. Here’s a general overview of the cost breakdown for various types of background searches:

1. Basic Background Search

Features & Limitations

• Limited Criminal History Search: This usually includes a search of local or statewide criminal records but may not cover national or international databases.
• Basic Identity Verification: Verifies an individual’s name, age, and Social Security number, but may not include in-depth searches like employment or education verification.
• Limited Scope: This may not provide a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s background due to the limited searches conducted.

Typical Cost Range

Costs can vary depending on the provider and specific services included, but basic background searches typically range from $10 to $50 per search.

2. Standard Background Search

Features & Limitations

Criminal History Search: Covers local, statewide, and sometimes national criminal record databases, offering a more in-depth view of an individual’s criminal background.

Employment & Education Verification: Confirms an individual’s employment and educational history, providing a more complete picture of their background.

Credit History (optional): This may include a credit search to assess an individual’s financial responsibility, depending on the purpose of the background search.

Some Limitations: This may not include driving records, professional license verification, or international searches, depending on the provider and specific services chosen.

Typical Cost Range

Costs for standard background searches can vary, but typically range from $30 to $100 per search, depending on the provider and the specific services included.

3. Comprehensive Background Search

Features & Limitations

• Extensive Criminal History Search: Includes local, statewide, national, and potentially international criminal record databases for the most comprehensive view of an individual’s criminal background.
• Employment, Education, & Professional License Verification: Provides a thorough examination of an individual’s professional and educational background.
• Credit History & Driving Records: Covers an individual’s financial responsibility and driving history, offering additional insight into their background.
• Customizable Searches: Comprehensive background searches may be tailored to include additional searches as needed, such as reference searches or social media screening.
• Limitations: This may not always include international searches or industry-specific searches unless specifically requested, and the cost can be significantly higher than basic or standard searches.

Typical Cost Range

Comprehensive background searches can be considerably more expensive due to their extensive nature, with costs ranging from $100 to $300 or more per search, depending on the provider and the specific services included.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Provider

• Pricing: Compare the cost of background searches among different providers, taking into account the services included and any additional fees that may apply.
• Turnaround Time: Assess the average time it takes for a provider to deliver background search results, as faster turnaround times may be crucial for certain hiring or leasing decisions.
• Accuracy: Consider the provider’s reputation for delivering accurate and up-to-date background search results, as inaccurate or outdated information may lead to poor decision-making.
• Customer Service: Evaluate the quality of the provider’s customer service, including responsiveness, support, and user-friendliness of their platform or tools.

Conclusion

In conclusion, background searches are an essential investment for businesses, landlords, and individuals to ensure safety and security. Costs can vary significantly depending on the type, scope, provider, and volume of searches required, ranging from $10 for basic searches to over $300 for detailed searches. 

Choosing the right background search provider and utilizing the appropriate tools is crucial to obtaining accurate and relevant information. By comparing providers and tools based on factors such as pricing, turnaround time, accuracy, and customer service, you can make informed decisions that cater to your specific needs. 

Ultimately, this investment in background searches and tools will lead to better decision making in various aspects of your professional or personal life while managing costs effectively.

DISCLAIMER: You may not use the non-FCRA approved services mentioned in this article or the information they provide to make decisions about consumer credit, employment, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance. These services don’t provide consumer reports and are not consumer reporting agencies. (These terms have special meanings under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC 1681 et seq., (“FCRA”), which are incorporated herein by reference.) 

The information available on our website may not be 100% accurate, complete, or up to date, so do not use it as a substitute for your own due diligence, especially if you have concerns about a person’s criminal history. The services we mention do not make any representation or warranty about the accuracy of the information available through our website or about the character or integrity of the person about whom you inquire. For more information, please review each service’s Terms of Use.