- YEARS IN BUSINESS: 18 Years
- STARTING FEE: $1.99 The First Five Days
- SUBSCRIPTION MODEL: Monthly
- BBB RATING: A
- RENEWAL POLICY: Automatic
- CUSTOMER SUPPORT: Phone, Email
2021’s Intelius Reviews: Services, Reports, 1-On-1 Comparison
Last Updated: April 29, 2021
- YEARS IN BUSINESS: 18 Years
- STARTING FEE: $1.99 The First Five Days
- SUBSCRIPTION MODEL: Monthly
- BBB RATING: A
- RENEWAL POLICY: Automatic
- CUSTOMER SUPPORT: Phone, Email
Best For
Tracking Down Long-Lost Relatives
STRENGTHS
- Anti-fraud protection for users
- Flexible subscription plans
- 5-day trial membership
- One-time searches
- Accurate reports
WEAKNESSES
- Reports are not downloadable
Intelius, a background check company, allows you to search for information on individuals and properties and also offers a reverse phone lookup service. Aggregating data from public sources like federal, local, and state government agencies, Intelius reviews confirm that it delivers reliable and swift results.
In this Intelius review, I will provide you with a deeper insight into the company, the way it works, features, rating, and more. So, stay tuned to find out what I’ve prepared.
Intelius Overview
Since 2003, Intelius has dominated the data brokerage industry, offering lower subscription rates than most of its competitors but it seems that with the years its prices got on the expensive side. During my research through Intelius reviews, I found that it is actually the exceptional customer service that stands out the most for this company. The reason is that even though many customers complained about not being able to log into their accounts, the customer service was quick to resolve all issues as well as answer and resolve the customers’ complaints on the review platforms.
What Is Intelius And How Does It Work?
Intelius is a background check service that aggregates information about individuals that is available on public records and organizes it into a comprehensive report.
If you are wondering, is Intelius legit? The answer is, yes, it is. Intelius is a great tool for vetting new social media friends, online dates, neighbors, and even tracking down long-lost loved ones. However, since it is not compliant with the FCRA law, it is illegal to use this platform to screen employees and tenants.
Main Features
Over the years, Intelius reviews have been positive and its prominence has grown thanks to the frequent discounts and promotions for all users, in-depth background reports, and reverse phone lookup. With such advantages, Intelius needs to make an effort to improve upon the customer complaints about the login issues.
| Feature | Description | Rating |
| Types of searches | Intelius offers people search, background check, and reverse phone lookup. However, it doesn’t offer deep or dark web scans. | 4/5 |
| Search parameters | The search parameters are fewer than competitors’. With Intelius, you can only search by name and last name, address, and phone number. | 4/5 |
| Type of information | From personal and professional to property and criminal information, the Intelius report contains all. | 5/5 |
| Reports | Intelius background check reviews mostly evaluate the final reports as comprehensive and accurate. | 5/5 |
| Turnaround time | The turnaround time generally ranges from 3-30 minutes but on some occasions, it depends on the type of search performed. | 4/5 |
| Ease of use | The signup and search process is almost the same as with other companies of the kind, and in one word, easy. | 5/5 |
| Price | While Intelius beats its competitors with the range of plans and the one-time reports, the Intelius price is a bit on the expensive side. | 4/5 |
Ease of Use
Intelius is fairly easy to use with multiple search options clearly listed on their website. Here are the steps:
- Enter the required details such as name, phone number, or current address and click on the Search button.
- The search engine will also ask questions like the age of the individual you’re searching for. Once the data is collected, you will be redirected to the next page that shows relevant Intelius person search results.
- Select the person you find who has the most similarities to the person you are searching for. Once the data is collected, Intelius will ask for your personal information to save your report and then for your credit card information to open it.
- Once the payment is successful, your account will be activated. You can then see the full report.
Intelius Pricing & Plans
There is a choice of two Intelius membership plans and a range of single reports to its customers. You can find the details of each in the table below.
| Subscription plan | No. of reports | Turnaround time (in minutes) | Pricing | Report data |
| People Search | 1 | 3-5 | $1 | Full Name, Phone Number, Past & Present Addresses, Age, Date of Birth, Known Relatives, Aliases |
| Email Lookup | 1 | 3-5 | $6.95 | Full Name, Phone Number, Past & Present Addresses, Age, Date of Birth, Known Relatives, Aliases, Email Address |
| Social Network Search | 1 | 3-5 | $6.95 | Full Name, Social Media Account Links, Date of Birth, Current Address, Email Address |
| Background Check | 1 | 20-30 | $39.95 | Personal Information, Criminal Records, Lawsuits, Liens, Property Records, Address History, Bankruptcy, Marital Status |
| Criminal Record Search | 1 | 20-30 | $29.95 | Criminal Record History, Court Records, Charge Outcome |
| Reverse Phone Number Lookup | 1 | 15-20 | Depend on the information required | Type of phone, Carrier, Full Name, Age, Location, More, if a user selects add-ons |
| 24-Hour People Search Plan | Unlimited | 3-5 | $19.95 | Full Name, Address, Phone Number, Relatives |
| Intelius Premier (Monthly Subscription) | Unlimited | Depends on the type of search | $19.95 | Full Name, Phone Number, Past & Present Addresses, Age, Date of Birth, Known Relatives, Aliases, Email Address, Social Media Accounts |
| Intelius Premier Plus (Monthly Subscription) | Unlimited | Depends on the type of search | $29.95 | Full Name, Phone Number, Past & Present Addresses, Age, Date of Birth, Known Relatives, Aliases, Email Address, Social Media Accounts, One Background Check Monthly, Option to Save Profiles and Reports |
There isn’t an Intelius free trial but there is the ‘S report for $1.99 which allows you to do unlimited standard background searches. It lasts for 5 days but you have to remember to cancel your subscription before the trial expires or you will be charged a regular monthly fee.
According to various reviews on Intelius, the service can help you reconnect with old friends, identify spam callers, get data on future property prospects, or reveal how much of your personal data can be found online.
Ratings and Reviews
As to Intelius customer reviews, this service is not overly popular on online reviews sites.
It has an average rating of 3.1 on Trustpilot and a little better rating of 3.7 on ConsumerAffairs.
Negative Intelius reviews complain of prices being too high and difficulties logging into their account.
However, flexible plans and accurate reports tend to keep the clients coming back. They are also acknowledged for their quick and helpful response to consumer complaints.
Alternatives
All great things have competition and Intelius is not an exception. In the table below you will see Intelius and its top 4 competitors compared. I used this format to make the comparison simpler to grasp and the differences and similarities more obvious.
| Company | Win | Lose | Best for |
| Intelius | Variety of plans and single reports | Expensive | Ease of use |
| TruthFinder | Accurate reports | Lengthy cancellation process | Accuracy and depth of information |
| BeenVerified | Ease of search | Some customers complain about inaccurate reports | Quick search |
| Spokeo | Free basic background check | Limited number of reports | Turnaround time |
Once again, Intelius wins over competition for the variety of subscription plans and especially the single reports as most of its competitors don’t offer pay-per-report options.
Is It Worth It?
Every Intelius review clearly shows that customers appreciate the wide selection of plans and searches available. The company ensures that the customers get the most accurate reports based on the provided information, so it deservingly ranks among both the best background check sites and best people search sites.
Intelius is useful for anyone who wants to check a potential date’s status, reconnect with lost friends, find associated criminal records, review new properties, and more. And for those worried about their identity being at risk, you can either opt out, or try to prevent it otherwise.
Legal Disclaimer: Intelius is not a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act guidelines. You may not use the service or the information it provides to make decisions about consumer credit, employment, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance.
Where Intelius Dominates
| PROS | 5-day trial membership for only $1.99 |
| One-time searches | |
| Flexible subscription plans | |
| Accurate reports | |
| Anti-fraud protection for users |
Where Intelius Falls Short
| CONS | Reports are not downloadable |
| Plans are a bit expensive | |
According to Intelius people search reviews, this service is most beneficial for people who are looking for a lost contact, or who want to protect themselves and their families by verifying new and old acquaintances.
Key Features
| Feature | Rating |
| Types of searches | 4/5 |
| Search parameters | 4/5 |
| Type of information | 5/5 |
| Reports | 5/5 |
| Turnaround time | 4/5 |
| Ease of use | 5/5 |
| Price | 4/5 |
FAQ
Yes, unless the user is conducting a search for the purpose of consumer screening on tenants or any other check that needs to be in compliance with FCRA law.
Intelius.com reviews report that Intelius is safe to use for background checks, people search and criminal background check purposes. You cannot use it for tenant and employee screening.
Not really, although it does have cheap offers now and then. If you purchase the $1.99 ‘S report, for example, you will get a 5-day trial with unlimited standard reports.
Intelius background check cost ranges from $0.95 to $39.95 per month depending on the subscription and report. At the time of writing, there was also a supposedly free 5-day trial which you get if you purchase the ‘S report for $1.99 and you’ll also get unlimited standard reports for the duration of the trial. However, do not forget to cancel the membership before the trial expires to avoid being charged a $29.63 fee.
Yes. As the company states, free reports would put them out of business. On the bright side, they do give some discounted offers now and then which you can make a very good use of.
Yes, all the searches and user information is encrypted and protected.
Intelius reviews are mixed. Some report the content to be highly accurate, while others highlight incorrect details like recently changed addresses.
You can call customer support at (888) 245-1655 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST, Mon-Fri, or email them at [email protected]
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