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Original 2026-01-01

Modified 2026-02-28

1 <p><strong><em><strong><em><strong>Background checks can be used by employers, landlords, and individuals to learn more about criminal records, driving history, credit, and more. Employers may conduct background checks as part of their hiring process to make informed decisions and reduce risk. Individuals may also conduct background checks to review their public records or learn more about someone to build trust. Keep reading to learn more about background checks and how the best background check sites can help you conduct the screenings you need. </strong></em></strong></em></strong></p>

2 <h2>What Shows Up On Background Checks?</h2>

3 <p><a>Background checks</a>may show different types of information about an individual’s history, including criminal records, driving history, previous employers, past education, and more. However, what shows up on background checks varies widely, depending on the type of screenings and who is conducting the background check. Industry regulations as well as federal, state, and local laws may also impact what information is shown on the report. </p>

4 <p>Here are common background screenings and what may be reported:</p>

5 <ul><li><a>Criminal background checks</a>may show misdemeanor and felony convictions, arrest records, and pending criminal cases.</li>

6 <li><a>Driving record (MVR) checks</a>may show license type and status, suspensions, revocations, and motor vehicle-related offenses and convictions, like DUIs.</li>

7 <li><a>Employment verification</a>reports a candidate’s prior employment, including positions held and dates of employment.</li>

8 <li><a>Education verification</a>reports schools attended, dates of attendance and any credentials or degrees the candidate earned. </li>

9 <li><a>Credit checks</a>for employment may show open credit lines, payment history, accounts in collections, and public information including bankruptcies or tax liens. These searches are often used for managerial roles or jobs handling money.</li>

10 <li><a>Drug testing</a>can identify current or past use of certain prescription and illicit substances or alcohol.</li>

11 </ul><h2>Best Background Check Sites For Employers</h2>

12 <p>Employers that conduct pre-employment background checks as part of their hiring process can choose to handle the screenings in-house or partner with a consumer reporting agency (CRA). Employers that choose to partner with a CRA to conduct background checks typically save time and money compared to performing background checks on your own, due to a more streamlined process, API technology, customizable workflows, and analytics tools. Plus, CRAs generally have faster, more accurate reporting. </p>

13 <p>When working with a CRA, employers must remain compliant with the federal<a>Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)</a>, as well as other applicable federal, state, and local laws and industry regulations. It’s important to partner with a trusted FCRA-compliant background check service provider for confident hiring.</p>

14 <p>Here’s a round up of our top picks websites that offer the best background check for employers in 2025.</p>

15 <h2>1. GoodHire, A Checkr Company</h2>

16 <a></a><p><a>Checkr acquired GoodHire</a>and together, they are among the best background check websites with FCRA-compliant screening options to help scale your business and an excellent experience for both customers and candidates alike. Found at the top of this “best background check service” list, GoodHire offers<a>100+ background screenings</a>for companies of all sizes, as well as international background checks and industry-specific options. </p>

17 <p>With GoodHire, you can easily customize your screening packages with additional searches and there’s no monthly minimums or subscription fees so you can order as few or many as you need. Compliance, communication, and convenience make GoodHire one of the best background checks sites for employers. Integrations with popular applicant tracking solutions streamline your hiring process, while automated workflows help simplify compliance. Plus, there’s no charge for sending pre-adverse and adverse action notices through its built-in workflow. </p>

18 <ul><li><strong>Key features:</strong>Built-in compliance tools, easy-to-use interface, customizability</li>

19 </ul><h2>2. First Advantage</h2>

20 <p>First Advantage offers a wide range of background checks for employees, volunteers, and tenants that may comply with federal FCRA regulations. It serves a variety of industries, including insurance, financial services, professional services, transportation, oil and gas, and others. The company offers scalable screening solutions for employers of all sizes. </p>

21 <p>In addition to standard pre-employment background checks, First Advantage also offers checks for contractors, freelancers, and vendors. They promise an “applicant first experience” with a mobile app, plus data analytics and diagnostic dashboards to help employers create a more efficient background check process. </p>

22 <ul><li><strong>Key features:</strong>Scalable solutions, global capabilities, tenant checks</li>

23 </ul><h2>3. HireRight</h2>

24 <p>HireRight provides FCRA-compliant pre-employment background checks for companies, from small businesses to global organizations. It specializes in checks across a wide range of industries, including education, energy and utilities, manufacturing, and technology. Industry-specific packages are available which can be tailored as needed. In addition, the company operates a self-service background check solution for small and medium-sized businesses looking for a more affordable option. </p>

25 <p>HireRight offers many types of background screenings, including criminal history searches, drug testing, DOT employment verification, and healthcare sanctions checks. In addition, HireRight offers tools to manage compliance and analytics to help companies create more efficient hiring processes. The company offers an API integration to streamline workflows as well as a user-friendly candidate portal on their mobile app. </p>

26 <ul><li><strong>Key features:</strong>Global capabilities, industry-specific packages, mobile app </li>

27 </ul><h2>4. VICTIG</h2>

28 <p>Founded 2006, VICTIG is accredited by the PBSA and offers FCRA-compliant pre-employment background checks across all 50 states. The company serves a wide range of industries, including staffing, healthcare, technology, hospitality, and nonprofit. It offers criminal background checks, motor vehicle reports, education and employment confirmation, health sanction checks, and employment credit reports. </p>

29 <p>The company’s Quick App software tool enables employers to start the background check process with just a name and email address. Then, candidates are sent a link to provide digital consent and enter their personal information. VICTIG’s technology integrates with many commonly used Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and HR platforms. </p>

30 <ul><li><strong>Key features:</strong>Nationwide availability, ATS integration, mobile app</li>

31 </ul><h2>5. Cisive</h2>

32 <p>Cisive has been in business for more than 40 years, providing background checks across several industries, including healthcare, transportation, financial services, and technology. Employers can choose from a wide range of background checks options like Social Security number verification, employment and education verification, criminal history, and more. Electronic I-9 verification and global screenings services are also available. </p>

33 <p>In addition, Cisive offers PreCheck, a healthcare-specific background screening and monitoring service. They also offer DriveriQ, a service designed for the transportation industry, which provides background checks, plus retention and roster management. </p>

34 <ul><li><strong>Key features:</strong>Global capabilities, industry-specific products, Form 1-9 verification</li>

35 </ul><h2>6. Zinc</h2>

36 <p>Zinc is a UK-based background check provider that provides a wide range of global background checks. Screenings include criminal record checks, adverse media checks, employment credit checks, global sanctions and watchlist checks, education verification, professional reference checks, and global right to work verification.</p>

37 <p>The company’s customizable platform integrates with popular HR tools and is user-friendly for both employers and candidates. Zinc works with businesses of all sizes, from startups to global enterprises, but specializes in checks for those in the United Kingdom. </p>

38 <ul><li><strong>Key features:</strong>Global capabilities, customizable platform, ATS integration</li>

39 </ul><h2>7. ClearChecks</h2>

40 <p>ClearChecks is a US-based background check provider that offers businesses of all sizes pay-as-you-go employment screenings. There are no required minimums or monthly commitments. Enterprise employers that need 100 or more checks can benefit from discount pricing and custom packages. </p>

41 <p>Background screenings include criminal record checks, education verification, driving record checks and employment verification. The company also offers personal background checks for individuals. </p>

42 <ul><li><strong>Key features:</strong>Pay-as-you-go pricing, API integration, personal checks</li>

43 </ul><h2>8. Accurate</h2>

44 <p>Founded in 1997, Accurate is one of the largest privately owned background check providers. It offers pre-employment screenings for small businesses and enterprise clients around the globe. Industries the company serves include staffing, technology, healthcare, energy, and financial services Background checks meet compliance standards at federal, state and local levels.</p>

45 <p>Customers can choose from a wide range of comprehensive background checks, including, criminal record checks, sanctions, global searches and Form I-9 verification and ongoing monitoring services. The company’s technology includes a candidate portal, one-touch client ordering platform, automated court record access and easy ATS integration. Personal background checks are also available.</p>

46 <ul><li><strong>Key features:</strong>Global capabilities, ATS integration, candidate portal</li>

47 </ul><h2>Best Background Check Companies For Individuals</h2>

48 <p>Background checks are not always used for employment. Individuals can choose to run background checks on themselves or other people for a variety of reasons, including searching for a potential date, new roommate, or long-lost friends and relatives. </p>

49 <p>Since these types of<a>personal background checks</a>are not typically FCRA-compliant, it’s important to note that they cannot be used for purposes such as employment or tenant screenings. Here are the best background checks for individual use.</p>

50 <h2>1. Checkr</h2>

51 <a></a><p>Checkr not only offers employment background checks, but also offers personal background checks for consumers. Running a <a>background check on yourself </a>gives you the opportunity to preview what employers and landlords might see so you can anticipate questions and review the report for errors or inaccuracies, plus you’ll save time instead of searching public records on your own. </p>

52 <p>The report can be ordered in a few easy steps and results are available to view in the online candidate portal.<a>Personal background checks</a> may include an SSN trace, sex offender registry check, global watchlist search, criminal and civil searches, and driving records.</p>

53 <ul><li><strong>Key features:</strong>Secure online portal, multiple search options, transparent pricing</li>

54 </ul><h2>2. Truthfinder</h2>

55 <p>Truthfinder is a consumer background search service that can be used by individuals to search millions of public records and social networks. Truthfinder looks into a range of personal information, including criminal records, employment history, property records, and possible relatives. It also offers a reverse phone number search. If you choose to search your own records and come across inaccurate information, you can update or delete anything that’s not correct. </p>

56 <p>Similar to other people search sites, TruthFinder is not FCRA-compliant, but may be considered a good option to check criminal records for consumers. It enables users to scan hundreds of millions of US-only public records in order to find results.</p>

57 <ul><li><strong>Key features:</strong>People search, phone number lookup, ability to correct personal data</li>

58 </ul><h2>3. Intelius</h2>

59 <p>Intelius is a consumer search site that searches for people, addresses, phone numbers, and criminal records. Intelius uses a data search engine to aggregate results from many different public record databases. While it cannot be used for employment or tenant purposes because it’s not FCRA-compliant, Intelius can help you search for people you know or review your own background report. </p>

60 <p>Users can search using a person’s name, phone number, or address to get started and the information provided may include addresses, criminal and traffic Records, phone numbers, social media profiles, and more. Add-ons are available for extra fees, including downloadable reports and identity protection. </p>

61 <ul><li><strong>Key features:</strong>People search, reverse phone number lookup, mobile app</li>

62 </ul><h2>4. Instant Checkmate</h2>

63 <p>Instant Checkmate is not FCRA-compliant for employment purposes, but offers individuals the ability to search public records and databases. Originally created in 2010 to help people engaged in online dating feel more comfortable meeting up in person, Instant Checkmate is an automated, consumer-facing service that provides access to public records data on a subscription basis.</p>

64 <p>The people search tool can return contact information, location data, criminal records, death records, and phone numbers and may even return other personal data such as social media accounts, email addresses, aliases, or date of birth. Instant Checkmate’s reverse phone number and email lookup can help users identify unknown callers and email addresses. </p>

65 <ul><li><strong>Key features:</strong>People search, inmate search, reverse phone and email lookup</li>

66 </ul><h2>5. PeopleFinders</h2>

67 <p>PeopleFinders is an online people search tool that compiles data from various public sources to help find long-lost friends and relatives, research potential employees or neighbors, and more. Users can find a person by name, phone number, or address and returns information found in public records such as criminal records, court records, and civil matters like bankruptcies and foreclosures. It also features a reverse phone number lookup feature that can help identify the name and address of the caller along with their public and criminal records. </p>

68 <p>PeopleFinders offers a mobile app in addition to its web platform for convenient searching on-the-go. While the basic search is free, more detailed reports like background checks and real-time updates require a paid subscription. It’s not FCRA-compliant so cannot be used for employment or tenant background checks.</p>

69 <ul><li><strong>Key features:</strong>People search, reverse phone search, mobile app </li>

70 </ul><h2>6. Spokeo</h2>

71 <p>Spokeo is a consumer search tool that allows users to access billions of public records to search for information about individuals. Searches can start from a name, phone number, email, or address and return criminal records, location information, social media accounts, contact information, and more. </p>

72 <p>Since Spokeo isn’t FCRA-compliant the site cannot be used to make hiring or housing decisions by employers and landlords. However, Spokeo does offer enterprise solutions that help organizations connect with customers, nonprofits contact donors, legal firms connect with parties, and e-commerce businesses prevent fraud, and more. </p>

73 <ul><li><strong>Key features:</strong>People search, reverse phone search, mobile app</li>

74 </ul><h2>7. US Search</h2>

75 <p>US Search was launched over 25 years ago to make public records available for locating long lost friends or family members. Users can search by name, phone number, or address to learn about an individual’s employment history, social profile, property ownership history, evictions, and more. </p>

76 <p>Since US Search is not FCRA-compliant, the site cannot be used for employment or tenant purposes. The company offers a US Search Pro tool, marketed as a legal research tool for legal professionals. This service offers results similar to a background check, such as criminal and traffic records, bankruptcies, civil cases, and more. </p>

77 <ul><li><strong>Key features:</strong>People search, phone number lookup, address search</li>

78 </ul><h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>

79 <h3>What is the Fair Credit Reporting Act?</h3>

80 <p>The<a>Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)</a>is a federal law that sets forth requirements for employers who partner with a consumer reporting agency (CRA) to conduct background checks. These requirements include providing candidates with written notice of your intent to run a background check and obtaining written consent before proceeding. If you decide not to hire a candidate or promote an employee based on the results of a background check, you must also follow the <a>adverse action</a> process.</p>

81 <h3>What background checks do most employers use?</h3>

82 <p>What searches an employer chooses to conduct will depend on the organization’s<a>background check policy</a>and federal, state, or local laws, and industry regulations. Common<a>employment background screenings</a>include criminal records, motor vehicle records, employment verification, education verification, and credit checks. Employers may also choose to conduct additional screenings such as civil searches, reference checks, or drug testing.</p>

83 <h3>What is the best background check site?</h3>

84 <p>The best background check website may differ for each employer or individual looking to conduct background checks online. Self-service options may be a good choice for a<a>small businesses</a>looking to get started quickly or screening fewer employees. However, enterprise organizations often need the support of a background check provider to conduct high-volume background checks, deliver accurate reporting, and provide compliance support. Employers typically also benefit from background check sites that offer pre-built packages, easy-to-use dashboards, automated workflows, and dedicated customer (and candidate) support. </p>

85 <h3>What is the best free background check?</h3>

86 <p>If you’re an employer (or landlord) on a budget, it may be possible to conduct a free background check on your own by requesting records directly from law enforcement agencies or contacting educational institutions. But, this process often requires paying for copies of certain types of records, like motor vehicle reports, plus the cost of staff overhead to perform the screenings. And if you don’t remain compliant with federal, state, and local laws, you could put your organization at risk for potential penalties or lawsuits. </p>

87 <p>Individuals, however, tend to have a bit more flexibility when performing background checks and may be able conduct limited checks for free. For example, some states allow you to search certain types of criminal records online, like court, arrest, and inmate records. You may also be able to check up on professional licenses, depending on local regulations. Certain people sites may also offer limited free information, such as name, age, and location. But if you want a more detailed report, you can generally expect to pay a fee. </p>

88 <h2>Order Background Checks Today</h2>

89 <p>The top background screening companies can help you speed and your screening process. When evaluating and choosing a background check vendor, it’s important to do your due diligence. Check the<a>Better Business Bureau</a>and<a>PBSA</a>for recommendations and accreditation status, and read real user reviews on sites like<a>Capterra</a>and<a>G2 Crowd</a>.</p>

90 <p>GoodHire, a Checkr company, delivers simple end-to-end employment background checks, offering<a>100+ screening options</a>to meet the needs of your company’s recruiting. Whether you’re a large company managing screening for multiple locations, or a small business needing to run a background check occasionally, we’ve got you covered. Plus, you can enjoy peace of mind with built-in compliance features, faster turnaround times, and more accurate results.<a>Get started</a>with GoodHire.</p>

91 <p><em>*Website images and features mentioned in this article are accurate as of date of publication.</em></p>

92 <p>Disclaimer</p>

93 <p>The resources provided here are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. We advise you to consult your own counsel if you have legal questions related to your specific practices and compliance with applicable laws.</p>

94 <h3>About the Author</h3>

95 <p>Sarah writes about small business topics and corporate communications. She has written on a wide range of topics, including background checks, hiring trends, company culture, and employee training and development. Her work includes educational articles, press releases, newsletters, and employee onboarding collateral.</p>