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Review 2026
Each company is evaluated across five criteria. Scores are weighted and combined into a single BestGuide Score out of 5. See how we rate the brands.
Key Takeaway
BeenVerified earns an Expert Score of 4.3/5.0 from BestGuide. It stands out for data aggregation, pulling from billions of public records with flexible search types — including a VIN lookup. It's best for informal, personal searches, not official screening, and it is not a Consumer Reporting Agency under the FCRA, a critical distinction for users. Its subscription-only, auto-renewing model is the main thing to watch before signing up.
Best For: Best for individuals running informal personal searches — reconnecting with people, vetting an online contact, or checking a vehicle's VIN — who understand it can't be used for official screening.
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BeenVerified is a public-records search engine that aggregates data from billions of public sources into a single, easy-to-read report. Founded in 2007 by high-school friends Josh Levy and Ross Cohen, it is the flagship brand of The Lifetime Value Company (LTV), a New York holding company whose portfolio also includes NumberGuru, PeopleLooker, NeighborWho, Ownerly, PeopleSmart, and Bumper. In December 2020, LTV announced a $150 million growth investment led by Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital and ROCA Partners. BeenVerified is built for personal, informational use — not official screening.
Founded
2007
Parent company
The Lifetime Value Co.
Headquarters
New York, NY
See If You Qualify
Visit the site to get started in less than a minute.
Enter a piece of known information into the search bar — a full name and location, a phone number, an email address, or a physical address. The platform supports these primary search types, so you can start with whatever information you already have.
BeenVerified's technology scours billions of records from an extensive network of sources — federal, state, and local public records, social media, property records, and commercial business data — cross-referencing data points to build a profile. It doesn't require the subject's permission because it only accesses publicly available records.
The system compiles findings into a detailed report you access from your dashboard, which may include contact information, address history, court records, social accounts, and possible relatives. This information is for personal informational use only and isn't guaranteed to be complete or up to date.
BeenVerified is built for people running informal background searches for personal reasons, using an affordable subscription for repeated use.
Extensive Data Access
Searches billions of records from thousands of public data sources, compiled into a single report.
Multiple Search Types
Look people up by name, phone, email, or address — plus a VIN lookup for vehicles.
VIN Search
Enter a vehicle's VIN to surface history details that may include accident and title information and specifications, pulled from a wide network of vehicle-history sources.
Unclaimed Money Search
Scans state and federal databases for assets tied to a name — forgotten bank accounts, uncashed paychecks, or insurance payouts held by state treasuries.
Dark Web Monitoring
Monitors parts of the dark web for your registered email and alerts you if it appears in data breaches — included with a standard membership.
Subscription Pricing & $1 Trial
BeenVerified is subscription-only (no single reports). It often offers a low-cost trial, such as $1 for 7 days, that auto-converts to a paid plan — roughly $27–$37/month for up to 100 reports, with multi-month plans lowering the effective monthly cost. Pricing changes often, so verify current terms and set a reminder before the trial renews.
Pros
Cons
Yes, BeenVerified is a legitimate technology company. Founded in 2007 by Josh Levy and Ross Cohen, it is the flagship brand of The Lifetime Value Company (LTV) and operates legally by aggregating data that is already publicly available. It is not a Consumer Reporting Agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), so its reports cannot be used for employment, housing, credit, or insurance decisions — using them that way could carry legal consequences. From a security standpoint it's safe to use: it employs 256-bit SSL encryption, searches are confidential, and the person you search is never notified. BeenVerified has not been the subject of FTC enforcement action. The main thing to understand before subscribing is its auto-renewing billing model, which has generated recurring complaints about surprise charges and cancellation difficulty.
BeenVerified earns an Expert Score of 4.3/5.0, making it a capable, comprehensive tool for personal background inquiries. Its strengths are a vast database drawn from billions of public records, a user-friendly interface, and unique tools like VIN and unclaimed-money searches. It's backed by an established parent, The Lifetime Value Company. The main drawbacks are legal and financial: it is not a Consumer Reporting Agency, so it legally can't be used for employment, housing, or credit decisions; and its subscription auto-renews after the low-cost trial, with users widely reporting surprise charges and difficulty canceling or opting out. It is a legitimate service (not a scam) and has not faced FTC enforcement action, but you should understand the subscription terms before signing up. For people who need ongoing access to public records and understand these limits, BeenVerified is a powerful, accessible option.
BestGuide's expert panel gives BeenVerified a 4.3/5.0, praising its large volume of searchable records and intuitive interface, while cautioning that it is not a Consumer Reporting Agency under the FCRA and should be used only for informal purposes.
It's worth it for people who run multiple informal searches a month and understand its limits. For a single search it isn't cost-effective, but for ongoing personal research it offers substantial data access. Review the subscription terms carefully, since the plan auto-renews after the trial.
BeenVerified compares well on breadth of data and search types, including VIN and unclaimed-money lookups. It falls short of services built for professional use, since it isn't a Consumer Reporting Agency and can't be used for official screening.
BeenVerified, LLC was founded in 2007 by Josh Levy and Ross Cohen. It's the flagship brand of The Lifetime Value Company (LTV), which also owns NumberGuru, PeopleLooker, NeighborWho, Ownerly, PeopleSmart, and Bumper. Levy serves as CEO and Cohen as COO.
No. All searches are confidential and anonymous — the person being searched receives no notification or alert.
No. It's a subscription service. It often promotes a low-cost trial, such as $1 for 7 days, but continued access requires a paid monthly or multi-month membership, typically in the $27–$37/month range.
BeenVerified is a public-records search engine that aggregates data from billions of public sources into easy-to-read reports for subscribers. It's intended for personal, informational use, like finding old friends or learning more about online contacts.
No. It's a legitimate data-aggregation company founded in 2007 and owned by The Lifetime Value Company. The "scam" perception usually comes from its recurring-subscription billing: a low-cost trial auto-enrolls you in a monthly plan unless you cancel in time, which has led to complaints about surprise charges. Review the terms and cancel before renewal if it's not for you.
Yes, from a data-security standpoint. The site uses 256-bit SSL encryption, and searches are private, so the subject is never notified. The concerns users raise relate to billing and cancellation, not data security.
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