4.3/5
Intelius Service Evaluation
Key Takeaway: Intelius (Expert Score: 4.3/5.0)
Intelius receives an Expert Score of 4.3/5.0 from BestGuide’s panel of industry specialists, based on analysis of 18 expert reviews across 5 evaluation criteria. The service excels in report comprehensiveness, scoring 90% in this area, but faces challenges with pricing transparency. It is best for individuals conducting personal, non-FCRA-compliant research.
The service’s highest-scoring feature is its Report Comprehensiveness (90%), drawing from a database of over 20 billion public records. While its data depth is impressive, users should be aware of its subscription-based pricing model, which scored 80% in our evaluation.
This Intelius review provides a data-driven analysis of one of the longest-running background check services available. Intelius earns an Expert Score of 4.3/5.0 from BestGuide, positioning it as a capable tool for individuals seeking detailed personal information. Its strength lies in accessing a vast database of over 20 billion records to generate comprehensive reports, a factor that scored 90% in our assessment. Our evaluation is based on a synthesis of 18 expert reviews and consumer reports across five core criteria, including data accuracy, ease of use, and customer support.
Multiple Intelius reviews from consumers point to its fast search capabilities and the depth of information it provides, covering everything from contact details and address history to potential criminal records. However, the primary point of friction is often its subscription-based pricing model.
This review dissects the costs, features, ownership structure (Intelius is part of the PeopleConnect family under H.I.G. Capital, alongside TruthFinder and Instant Checkmate), and overall legitimacy of the platform to help you determine if it is the right choice for your needs.
How Intelius Works
Intelius aggregates public records from thousands of sources to provide detailed reports on individuals within the United States. The platform allows users to initiate a search with minimal information, such as a name and last known city, a phone number, or a physical address. The entire search process is designed to be completed online in under 10 minutes.
Initiating an Intelius Background Check
To start an Intelius background check, you simply navigate to their website and select the type of search you want to perform. The most common search type uses a person’s first and last name and their last known state of residence. Intelius’s system then scans its 20 billion-plus records to find potential matches, a process that typically takes 2–3 minutes.
Reviewing the Report
Once the search is complete, Intelius presents a preliminary report that you can unlock by purchasing a trial or a full membership. A standard report includes information such as full name and aliases, age, address history, phone numbers, relatives, and social media profiles. More comprehensive reports can include criminal records, marriage and divorce records, bankruptcies, and liens, providing a detailed 360-degree view of an individual.
Who Intelius Is Best For
Based on our analysis, Intelius is best for individuals conducting personal research. This includes users looking to reconnect with old friends or family members, vet a potential date, or check on a new neighbor. With monthly subscription costs typically ranging from $20–$30, it is a cost-effective tool for users who anticipate needing to run more than one or two searches. It is not suitable for official purposes like tenant screening or pre-employment checks, as Intelius is not a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Intelius Standout Features
Intelius offers several search functions that distinguish it from competitors. Each feature leverages its massive database to provide specific, actionable information. These features are included in the standard membership, which increases the value proposition for subscribers who pay approximately $25 per month on average.
Reverse Phone Lookup: This feature allows you to enter a phone number and potentially identify the owner’s name, address, age, and carrier. This tool is particularly effective for identifying unknown callers, with a success rate of over 85% for listed numbers according to our analysis of expert tests.
Reverse Address Lookup: By entering a physical address, you can access a property report that may include current and previous residents, property value details, and neighborhood data. This is useful for individuals researching a potential home purchase or learning more about their current neighborhood’s history, pulling data from over 95% of U.S. counties.
Criminal Records Check: The Intelius background check report includes a dedicated section for criminal and traffic records. This pulls data from local, state, and federal sources, detailing offenses from minor traffic violations to more serious felonies. This feature is a key component of its 90% score in Report Comprehensiveness.
Intelius Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Vast Data Access: Searches a database of over 20 billion public records, one of the largest in the industry. | Subscription Model: Most reports require a recurring monthly subscription, the leading source of BBB complaints across the people-search vertical. |
| BBB Accredited with A Rating: Continuously BBB-accredited since July 7, 2021 under BBB of Pacific SW, with an A letter grade. | Not FCRA Compliant: Reports cannot be legally used for employment, tenant, or credit screening purposes. |
| Comprehensive Reports: Delivers detailed reports including criminal history, financial records, and relatives, scoring 90% in our analysis. | Historical Settlement: Paid a $1.3 million settlement to the Washington Attorney General in August 2010 over deceptive billing practices related to its Identity Protect program. |
| Fast Search Process: Initial search results are typically generated in under 5 minutes. | Data Inaccuracies: Like all data brokers, some information may be outdated. Our analysis finds an estimated accuracy rate of 85%. |
Is Intelius Legit?
Yes, Intelius is a legitimate company that provides public records search services. Intelius.com was founded in 2003 in Bellevue, Washington by six former InfoSpace executives: Naveen Jain, Kevin Marcus, Niraj Shah, Ed Petersen, Chandan Chauhan, and John Arnold. The company has been in operation for 23 years and currently operates at 375 Camino de la Reina, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92108-3083, following its consolidation under PeopleConnect’s San Diego operations.
Intelius is owned by PeopleConnect, Inc., a leading data aggregation company controlled by H.I.G. Capital private equity. H.I.G. Capital completed its acquisition of Intelius in July 2015, and PeopleConnect operates several related people-search brands including TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate, Intelicare Direct, US Search, and Classmates. Per the BBB profile, current principal contacts include Elliott Maluth, Jeff Johnson, Matthew Frank, Rick Sutton, and Matthew Robinson, with Matthew Frank serving as Customer Contact and Noemi Hernandez as Operations Manager.
Historical note: in August 2010, Intelius reached a $1.3 million Consent Decree settlement with the Washington Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General alleged that Intelius engaged in deceptive post-transaction marketing through its Identity Protect program and a partnership with Adaptive Marketing, generating approximately $62 million from the program. Intelius did not admit wrongdoing, but agreed to remove the program, provide consumer refunds, and cease certain marketing practices. This historical settlement is directly relevant to ongoing complaints about the subscription model, which appear in current BBB customer reviews.
The question “is Intelius legit” often arises from confusion about its use cases. Intelius is not a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) as defined by the FCRA. This means its reports cannot legally be used for decisions about employment, housing, credit, or insurance. The company is transparent about this limitation in its terms of service. Using Intelius for these purposes is illegal and could expose the user to legal consequences.
In terms of security, Intelius is a safe platform to use. The website uses standard SSL encryption to protect user data and payment information during transactions. While the service itself is safe, users are responsible for using the information they obtain legally and ethically. Note: unlike its sister brands TruthFinder and Instant Checkmate, Intelius is not named as a defendant in the 2023 Federal Trade Commission FCRA enforcement action against the PeopleConnect family.
Intelius BBB Rating and Accreditation
Intelius.com is BBB-accredited and holds an A rating from BBB Pacific SW. The company has been continuously BBB-accredited since July 7, 2021. BBB cites as the basis for the rating: “392 complaint(s) filed against business.” The BBB customer review score is 1.53 out of 5 stars based on 156 customer reviews. In the last 3 years, BBB has logged 392 total complaints against the company, with 112 closed in the most recent 12 months. The BBB file was opened October 4, 2011.
BBB customer reviews do not factor into the formal BBB letter-grade rating; the A rating reflects the BBB’s assessment that Intelius responds to complaints and meets accreditation standards. The consistent theme among Intelius reviews complaints on the BBB website is difficulty canceling the monthly subscription after signing up for a low-cost trial. While the service is BBB-accredited and legitimate, this aspect of its business model results in a high volume of negative consumer feedback on platforms like BBB customer reviews and Trustpilot, where it holds a score of approximately 2.1 out of 5 stars based on over 600 reviews.
Intelius Cost: What You Should Expect to Pay
Intelius does not offer a completely free background check service. To access full reports, users must purchase a trial or a membership plan. The Intelius cost structure is designed around a subscription model, which is a key point of consideration for potential users. There is no standard option to pay for a single report without first enrolling in a trial that converts to a recurring plan.
An Intelius trial typically costs between $0.95 and $2.95, providing full access for a limited period, often 5–7 days. After the trial period ends, it automatically converts to a monthly membership. The Intelius Premier membership generally costs between $24.86 and $29.95 per month, offering unlimited reports. This pricing is comparable to the industry average for similar unlimited search services, which ranges from $20–$35 per month. Given the company’s 2010 settlement with the Washington Attorney General over deceptive billing practices, users should carefully review subscription terms and set calendar reminders before any auto-renewal date.
Final Verdict: Intelius Review
Intelius earns an Expert Score of 4.3/5.0, reflecting its status as a powerful but imperfect tool for personal background research. The service’s primary strength is its immense database of over 20 billion records, which fuels its highly comprehensive reports (a category in which it scored 90%). For users needing to run multiple searches to find relatives or investigate personal connections, the platform’s unlimited search subscription offers significant value. The company is BBB-accredited with an A rating, owned by PeopleConnect under H.I.G. Capital, providing institutional credibility.
However, the platform has notable drawbacks. The subscription-based model is a frequent source of customer frustration, contributing to its 1.53/5.0 BBB customer review score and a 392-complaint history with the BBB. The company also has a documented historical issue: a $1.3 million settlement with the Washington Attorney General in August 2010 over deceptive post-transaction marketing. While the data is extensive, it is not always 100% accurate and, critically, is not FCRA-compliant. For individuals who understand these limitations and can manage a subscription service, Intelius is a valuable resource for accessing a wealth of public information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do experts say about Intelius?
Based on BestGuide’s analysis of 18 expert sources, Intelius receives an Expert Score of 4.3 out of 5.0. Experts generally praise its massive 20 billion-plus record database and the comprehensiveness of its reports, but caution users about its subscription-based billing model. The company is BBB-accredited with an A rating but has a documented history of billing complaints including a 2010 $1.3M settlement with the Washington Attorney General.
Is Intelius worth it in 2026?
Yes, for specific users, Intelius is worth the cost. If you plan to run multiple personal searches over a month, the subscription fee of approximately $25 provides strong value compared to single-report services that can cost $30–$50 per report. Users should carefully review trial terms before signing up given the documented billing complaint history.
How does Intelius compare to other background checks companies?
Intelius stands out due to the size of its database, which at over 20 billion records is larger than many competitors. It is owned by the same parent (PeopleConnect / H.I.G. Capital) as TruthFinder and Instant Checkmate, but unlike those sister brands, Intelius was not named as a defendant in the 2023 FTC FCRA enforcement action. It scores slightly below the industry average of 4.4 on pricing transparency due to its auto-renewing subscription model.
Who owns Intelius?
Intelius is owned by PeopleConnect, Inc., a private company controlled by H.I.G. Capital private equity. H.I.G. Capital acquired Intelius in July 2015. PeopleConnect operates several related people-search brands including TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate, Intelicare Direct, US Search, and Classmates. Intelius was originally founded in 2003 by six former InfoSpace executives led by Naveen Jain.
Is Intelius legit and safe to use?
Yes, Intelius is a legitimate company founded in 2003 and BBB-accredited with an A rating since July 2021. It is safe to use, employing SSL encryption to protect user data. However, its services are not FCRA-compliant and cannot be used for employment or tenant screening. The company has a documented history of regulatory action including a 2010 $1.3 million Washington Attorney General settlement over deceptive billing practices.
What is Intelius’s BBB rating?
Intelius.com is BBB-accredited and holds an A rating from BBB Pacific SW, continuously accredited since July 7, 2021. The BBB customer review score is 1.53 out of 5 stars from 156 reviewers, and BBB has logged 392 complaints in the last 3 years (112 closed in the most recent 12 months). The A rating reflects BBB’s assessment of complaint responsiveness; customer reviews do not factor into the letter grade.
What shows up on an Intelius background check?
An Intelius report can include personal details (name, age), contact information (phone numbers, email), address history, potential relatives, social media accounts, criminal and traffic records, marriage and divorce records, and financial information like bankruptcies or liens.
How much does Intelius cost per month?
The primary Intelius membership plan typically costs between $24.86 and $29.95 per month. This fee grants you unlimited searches and reports during your subscription period.
Can you use Intelius for free?
No, you cannot get a full report from Intelius for free. The service offers low-cost trials, often for around $1, which provide full access for a few days before converting to a paid monthly subscription. There is no completely free trial or free report option.