On this page17 sections
- Ratings and complaints
- BeenVerified vs. competitors
- Pricing
- Step by step
- About BeenVerified
- Who it is for
- Features
- BeenVerified legitimacy and licensing
- How much BeenVerified costs
- What a BeenVerified report includes
- BeenVerified complaints and how to avoid them
- How to cancel BeenVerified
- How to remove your information from BeenVerified
- The rules that apply
- What customers say
- Alternatives
- FAQ
BeenVerified is the priciest people search site we compared at $36.89 a month, or $23.98 a month billed $71.94 every 3 months, and plans renew automatically until you cancel, which is the most common complaint. It is a real, long-running people search service run by BeenVerified, LLC in New York, and it's useful for personal lookups such as finding a relative, checking an unknown caller, researching a property or looking yourself up. It is not a consumer reporting agency, so you can't legally use it to screen tenants, employees or borrowers. Reports can be incomplete, so confirm anything important with the original records.
Your options
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BeenVerified This review People who need several personal lookups in a short window, such as tracing a relative or checking callers, and will cancel on time.
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PeopleFinders Alternative Adults doing a personal lookup, such as finding an old friend's contact details or checking an unknown caller, who will watch the renewal date.
How we rated BeenVerified
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.
- Price
- $36.89 a month, or $71.94 every 3 months ($23.98 a month), plus sales tax, as listed October 12, 20261
- Trial
- 7-day membership trial limited to 100 reports, then billing at the plan you chose1
- Report limit
- 100 reports a month on either plan1
- Search types
- People, vehicle, phone, address, email, social media, unclaimed money and business search in one subscription5
- Company
- BeenVerified, LLC, New York; founded in 2007; says it has more than 1.5 million subscribers5
- FCRA status
- Not a consumer reporting agency; reports can’t be used for employment, tenant, credit, insurance or other eligibility decisions1
- Cancellation
- Online in My Account, live chat, contact form, email to [email protected] or phone 1-844-823-28692
- Refunds
- Case by case by email; App Store and Google Play purchases are refunded through Apple or Google4
Pros
- Eight search types in one subscription, including vehicle and unclaimed money
- Up to 100 reports a month
- Many ways to cancel, including online and phone
- Clear FCRA disclaimer and billing terms on the pricing page
- Free opt-out for people who want their listing removed
Cons
- Most expensive monthly price among the people search sites we compared
- Plans renew automatically; billing is the top complaint
- Not FCRA compliant, so no tenant or job screening
- Refunds are case by case
- Terms require individual arbitration and waive class actions
Best for: People who need several personal lookups in a short window, such as tracing a relative or checking callers, and will cancel on time.
Skip it if: You need a legal background check for hiring or renting, or you only want one report and don't want a subscription.
BeenVerified vs. competitors
| Company | Monthly price | Multi-month price | BBB rating | FTC history | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeenVerified | $36.89 | $71.94 for 3 months | B+, not accredited | None found | Visit site |
| PeopleLooker | $26.89 standard; $23.99 promo | $64.53 for 3 months | B, not accredited | None found; sister brand of BeenVerified | Read review |
| Spokeo | $19.95 | $44.85 for 3 months | A-, accredited | Paid $800,000 to settle FTC FCRA charges (2012) | Visit site |
| PeopleFinders | $24.95; Premium $29.95 | Not published | F, not accredited | None found | Visit site |
| TruthFinder | Not published on pages we could open | Not published | A+, accredited | Paid $5.8 million with Instant Checkmate to settle FTC charges (2023) | Read review |
Background checks we reviewed
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BeenVerified This review BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who need several personal lookups in a short window, such as tracing a relative or checking callers, and will cancel on time. -
PeopleFinders BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Adults doing a personal lookup, such as finding an old friend's contact details or checking an unknown caller, who will watch the renewal date. -
Spokeo BestGuide rating: 4.4 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who want a current phone number, address or relative for someone they know, and who will cancel as soon as they are done. -
Instant Checkmate BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who want to run several personal lookups in a short window, such as checking a date, a seller or an old contact, and will cancel on time. -
Intelius BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Personal lookups, like identifying an unknown caller or finding an old friend's contact details, when you'll remember to cancel. -
PeopleLooker BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who need several personal lookups in a short period, such as reconnecting with someone or checking unknown callers, and will cancel on time. -
Truthfinder BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who need several personal lookups in a short period and will cancel before the membership renews. -
GoodHire BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Small businesses that run a few employment background checks a year and want posted prices and help with FCRA paperwork.
BeenVerified pricing at a glance
BeenVerified membership options, as listed October 20261
| Plan | Price | Billed | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-month membership | $36.89 a month | Every month until you cancel | 100 a month |
| 3-month membership | $23.98 a month | $71.94 every 3 months until you cancel | 100 a month |
Both plans start with a 7-day trial limited to 100 reports, then bill at the price shown plus sales tax. The 3-month plan shows $71.94 charged at sign-up. BeenVerified says its offers change, so check the price at checkout.
BeenVerified, step by step
Run a search
Enter a name and state, phone number, email, address or vehicle details to see possible matches.
Accept the use limits
You agree not to use results for employment, tenant, credit, insurance or other FCRA purposes.
Choose a plan
Pick 1 month at $36.89 or 3 months at $71.94; pay by card, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay or Venmo.
View reports
Reports can include aliases, relatives, address history, phone numbers, property, and criminal and traffic records when available. You can set alerts for changes.
Cancel before renewal
Cancel online, by chat, email or phone before the term ends. You keep access until the paid term runs out.
About BeenVerified
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.
Who BeenVerified is best for
BeenVerified is built for people running informal background searches for personal reasons, using an affordable subscription for repeated use.
- Reconnecting with old friends or family members
- Verifying the identity of an online acquaintance or date
- Checking a vehicle's history with a VIN lookup
- Anyone who wants ongoing, repeated searches rather than a one-time report
BeenVerified features
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.
BeenVerified legitimacy and licensing
Yes. BeenVerified, LLC was founded in 2007 and is based at 48 West 38th Street in New York. It’s the parent of PeopleLooker, and it says more than 1.5 million subscribers use its service. It compiles public records from federal, state and county sources, plus contact data, into searchable reports.
It’s legitimate for personal use, but it is not a Consumer reporting agency. A company that assembles reports used for eligibility decisions and must follow FCRA accuracy and dispute rules. Compare background checks under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Using its reports to decide on a job applicant, tenant, loan or insurance policy violates its terms and the law. The BBB rates it B+ and it isn’t accredited, with 523 complaints in three years, a large number driven mostly by billing.
How much BeenVerified costs
On October 12, 2026, BeenVerified’s pricing page listed two plans: 1 month at $36.89 a month, or 3 months at $71.94 ($23.98 a month), both plus sales tax and both capped at 100 reports a month. Each starts with a 7-day trial limited to 100 reports and then bills the plan you picked; the 3-month plan shows $71.94 charged at sign-up. Plans renew to the same term until you cancel.
You’re charged for a search even if it turns up no criminal record. BeenVerified says it changes its offers often, so first-time visitors may see different deals. Read the billing details next to each plan before you pay.
What a BeenVerified report includes
When records exist, reports can show names and aliases, relatives and associates, address history, phone numbers, emails, property reports, criminal and traffic records and social profiles. The subscription also covers vehicle lookups by VIN or plate, phone and email searches, an unclaimed money search and a business search. It covers people in the United States only, and the person you search isn’t notified.
Data comes from public and commercial sources and can be out of date or attached to the wrong person. Confirm criminal records with the court that holds them before you act on anything.
What customers say about BeenVerified
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Fast, well-organized search that’s easy to use
- Helpful for reconnecting with family members and locating people
- Many search types, including vehicle and phone lookups, in one plan
- Company replies to negative Trustpilot reviews
Common complaints
- Unexpected recurring charges after a trial
- Subscription terms that customers say weren’t clear at checkout
- Reports missing details or not finding the person
- People upset to find their own information listed
BeenVerified complaints and how to avoid them
Most complaints at the BBB and on Trustpilot are about charges after a trial and subscription terms that customers say weren’t clear. Others say a report lacked details or didn’t find the person. Trustpilot reviews are split: 43% five star, 31% one star.
- Set a reminder before day 7 of the trial and cancel if you don’t need more.
- Pick the 1-month plan if you only need a few searches.
- Check BeenVerified’s billing descriptor page so you recognize the charge.
- Email [email protected] right away for a refund; requests are handled case by case and can take up to 10 days to post.
How to cancel BeenVerified
Log in, go to My Account, choose Edit My Account Information and then Cancel My Account. You can also cancel by live chat, the Contact Us form, email to support@beenverified.com with your 9-digit membership ID, or by calling 1-(844) 823-2869. If you subscribed through the iPhone or Android app, cancel in your Apple or Google Play subscriptions instead; deleting the app doesn’t stop billing. You keep access until your paid term ends.
How to remove your information from BeenVerified
BeenVerified has a free opt-out page where you find your listing and request removal. It warns that other records may still appear if they can’t be matched to the one you removed, so search again later. Opt out of PeopleLooker too, since they’re sister brands. California residents can also use the state’s free DROP portal, which registered data brokers must check at least every 45 days since August 1, 2026.
The rules that apply
The Fair Credit Reporting Act covers reports used for jobs, housing, credit and insurance; those must come from a consumer reporting agency, and employers need the applicant’s written permission. BeenVerified isn’t one, which is why it bars those uses. Its terms require individual arbitration and waive class actions. For billing disputes you can’t resolve, complain to the BBB, your state attorney general or the FTC.
Alternatives to BeenVerified
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Free public record searches
County and state court sites, property records and the free National Sex Offender Public Website cover many of the same records at no cost.
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The cheapest paid people search we compared, at $14.95 a month on a 3-month plan.
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GoodHire
The right choice if you need a legal FCRA background check for hiring, with the candidate’s consent.
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PeopleLooker
A sister brand with a $1 seven-day trial and a lower monthly price if you only need a short look.
Next steps
BeenVerified reviews
Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.
No reader reviews yet. If you have used BeenVerified, yours will be the first.
Write a reviewHow do I know I can trust these reviews about BeenVerified?
- Every reviewer confirms an email address before a review can publish.
- Our moderators read every review before it publishes.
- Companies can respond publicly but can never edit, hide or remove a review.
- Paying BestGuide never changes the reader rating or which reviews publish.
Frequently asked questions
Is BeenVerified a real company?
Yes. BeenVerified, LLC has operated since 2007 from New York and says it has more than 1.5 million subscribers. It's legitimate for personal searches but is not an FCRA consumer reporting agency.
How much does BeenVerified cost?
$36.89 a month, or $71.94 every 3 months ($23.98 a month), plus sales tax, as listed October 2026. Both plans allow 100 reports a month.
Is BeenVerified free?
No. You can start a search and see possible matches, but full reports need a paid membership.
How do I cancel BeenVerified?
Cancel in My Account, by live chat, the Contact Us form, email to [email protected] or phone at 1-844-823-2869. App subscriptions must be cancelled through Apple or Google Play.
Does BeenVerified give refunds?
Refunds are handled case by case by emailing [email protected]. Refunds can take up to 10 days to post, and app store purchases are refunded by Apple or Google.
Does BeenVerified notify the person you search?
No. BeenVerified says its reports are confidential and the person you search is not notified.
Can I use BeenVerified for tenant or employee screening?
No. It's not a consumer reporting agency, and using its reports for employment, tenancy, credit or insurance decisions violates its terms and the FCRA. Use an FCRA screening company instead.
How do I remove myself from BeenVerified?
Use BeenVerified's free opt-out page to find and remove your listing, then check again later. California residents can also use the state's DROP portal.
What is BeenVerified's BBB rating?
B+, not accredited, with 523 complaints in the last three years as of October 12, 2026.
Is BeenVerified the same as PeopleLooker?
They're separate brands from the same company family with separate sites, prices and BBB profiles. PeopleLooker's terms name BeenVerified LLC as its parent.
Sources (15)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- BeenVerified: Subscription plans and pricing (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BeenVerified: Frequently asked questions (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BeenVerified: Billing and cancellation FAQ (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BeenVerified: Refund policy (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BeenVerified: About (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BeenVerified: Terms and Conditions (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BeenVerified: Opt out (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: BeenVerified, LLC business profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: BeenVerified reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CFPB: Consumer complaint database API, search for BeenVerified (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store: BeenVerified: People Search (accessed October 12, 2026)
- California Privacy Protection Agency: Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- FTC: Using consumer reports, what employers need to know (accessed October 12, 2026)
- PeopleLooker: Membership checkout page (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Spokeo: Membership purchase page (accessed October 12, 2026)
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