We compare Spokeo, Intelius, BeenVerified, TruthFinder, and PeopleFinders on accuracy, price, features, and data coverage.
We tested six major reverse phone lookup services by searching 50 phone numbers of known identity — including cell phones, landlines, VoIP numbers, and recently-changed numbers. We evaluated each service on four criteria: accuracy (did they return the correct owner?), completeness (how much additional data was provided?), speed (how fast were results delivered?), and value (what do you get per dollar spent?).
Our test numbers included 20 personal cell phones, 10 business landlines, 10 VoIP numbers, 5 recently-ported numbers, and 5 Google Voice numbers. We scored each service from 1-10 on each criterion and calculated a weighted average, with accuracy weighted at 40% and the others at 20% each.
All tests were conducted in Q1 2026. Pricing reflects current rates and may change. We purchased standard subscriptions — no free trials — to evaluate the full experience.
Spokeo scored highest in our testing with an overall rating of 8.7/10. It correctly identified 43 of 50 test numbers (86% accuracy), including 18 of 20 cell phones and all 10 business landlines. It struggled most with VoIP numbers, identifying only 3 of 10.
At $6.95/month for a standard membership, Spokeo offers the best value in the market. Reports include name, address, email addresses, social media profiles, relatives, and in many cases, employer information. The interface is clean and results load in under 5 seconds.
Spokeo's biggest strengths are its social media aggregation (it pulls data from 120+ social networks) and its price point. The main weakness is limited VoIP number coverage and occasional outdated address information. For most consumer use cases — identifying unknown callers, verifying online contacts — Spokeo is our top recommendation.
Intelius scored 8.3/10 overall, with the highest raw accuracy at 88% (44 of 50 numbers). It particularly excelled with recently-ported numbers (4 of 5) and VoIP numbers (5 of 10), suggesting a more frequently updated database than competitors.
At $19.95/month for a Premier membership, Intelius is the most expensive option, but it delivers the deepest reports. Background check data includes criminal records, court records, property ownership, and professional licenses in addition to standard contact information.
Intelius is best suited for users who need comprehensive background information rather than simple caller identification. The higher price is justified if you regularly need detailed reports for professional purposes — landlord screening, employment verification, or reconnecting with lost contacts.
BeenVerified scored 7.9/10 overall with 82% accuracy (41 of 50 numbers). It stood out for having the most user-friendly interface and the best mobile app experience of all services tested.
At $17.48/month, BeenVerified positions itself as an all-in-one people search platform. Reports include phone owner data, email lookups, address history, social media profiles, and a basic background check. The unlimited search model is valuable for users who need to look up multiple numbers frequently.
BeenVerified's dark web monitoring feature (included in the premium tier) is a useful addition that alerts you if your own phone number or personal data appears on dark web marketplaces. Its main weakness is slightly lower accuracy on cell phone lookups compared to Spokeo and Intelius.
TruthFinder scored 7.5/10 overall with 78% accuracy (39 of 50 numbers). It offers deep background check capabilities similar to Intelius but at a slightly lower price point of $18.29/month.
TruthFinder's reports are among the most detailed available, including criminal records, sex offender registry data, court records, bankruptcy filings, and social media profiles. However, its phone lookup accuracy lagged behind Spokeo and Intelius, particularly for newer cell phone numbers.
The service is best for users who prioritize comprehensive background information over phone number identification speed. The interface is somewhat dated compared to BeenVerified, and reports can take 30-60 seconds longer to generate.
PeopleFinders scored 7.2/10 overall with 76% accuracy (38 of 50 numbers). Its distinguishing feature is one of the largest public records databases in the industry, pulling from over 6,000 data sources including utility connections, voter registrations, and property records.
Pricing starts at $9.95/month for basic reports, making it the second most affordable option after Spokeo. However, deeper reports with criminal records and background data require a premium subscription at $19.95/month.
PeopleFinders works best for historical research — finding relatives, tracing address histories, and connecting old phone numbers to current owners. For real-time caller identification of recent numbers, other services performed better in our testing.
Best overall value: Spokeo — 86% accuracy at $6.95/month makes it the clear winner for most users who want to identify unknown callers without overspending.
Best for detailed background checks: Intelius — highest accuracy (88%) plus the deepest reports, justified at $19.95/month for professional use cases like tenant screening or employment verification.
Best for frequent searches: BeenVerified — unlimited lookups with a solid mobile app, ideal for users who check multiple numbers regularly. The dark web monitoring is a nice bonus.
Best for public records research: PeopleFinders — extensive historical data and affordable entry pricing for basic searches.
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