US Search Review

US Search is an online tool designed to help you find individuals or verify their details. But is it any good? Read on to learn more.

Lost touch with a friend or relative? US Search could help you reconnect with them by providing their probable location and other relevant details.

In this US Search review, you'll discover what else you can get using their services. Plus, you'll see if it's right for you and your needs.

What Is US Search?

US Search is a people search engine that aggregates information related to a person's identity based on various sources. The results are presented to you in a well-organized report.

You can retrieve public records on any specific person using their full name, phone number, address, or email. Depending on which search type you use, here are some of the data you may initially extract:

• Current location
  
• Email address
  
• Address history
  
• Aliases
  
• Maiden name
  
• Associates
  
• Employment history
  
• Properties
  
• Home value
  
• Social network information
  
• Criminal history
  
• Nearby sex offenders

How Does US Search Work?

US Search facilitates access to background information by compiling personal records into one comprehensive report. Otherwise, you would have to retrieve them manually, which can be a tedious exercise.

To begin your search, press "Get Started" on the US Search website and choose a search variable (name, phone number, or address). Then, proceed by encoding the necessary details.

You'll be directed to the payment page once US Search has successfully retrieved the relevant information, such as address and contact numbers.

A US Search login account is created based on the email address you provide during payment. You can then access the full report in your US Search dashboard, which you can download and print.

Reasons to use US Search

Even if you can't legally use US Search for tenant screenings or credit checks, there's still a lot you can do with its services. Here are some of them:

• Stop annoying callers
  Once you know who they are, you can easily block their number or report them to authorities if they continue to harass you.

• Build business contacts
  You can update or add contact details to your personal directory using a name or phone search.

• Track down long-lost family members
  With people search tools like US Search, there's essentially no reason to lose touch with people who are near and dear to your heart.

• Reconnect with old friends
  Missing your best friend in high school? Look them up and plan a get-together sometime.

• Learn red flags about your date
  Run a search and see if a potential romantic partner is really who they say they are.

• Private searching
  It's comforting to know that you can search for anyone without being outed to the person you're looking up.

• Hide what you don't want known
  If you don't want to come up on searches, you can suppress your own background data (or some of it) on US Search for free.^[2]

Pros and Cons

Here are the pros and cons of using US Search background check services:

Pros:

• Affordable
  
• Fast retrieval
  
• Responsive customer service
  
• Unlimited US Search reports
  
• Membership trial
  
• Data updated daily
  
• Long experience

Cons:

• No mobile app
  
• Less comprehensive reports
  
• Limited website info
  
• No pre-validation for phone numbers/addresses

US Search offers a cost-effective membership option for those who want to get an overview of anyone's background an unlimited number of times.

Even then, you can also pay for a 5-day trial, which auto-renews to a monthly plan. Make sure to cancel before it ends if you want to avoid being charged for a regular subscription.

However, the low subscription cost is for a reason: It provides less information, skipping financial details and other sensitive data that are readily available from other providers. Nonetheless, this may be sufficient if you don't require much from your searches other than the basics.

Unlike other tools, US Search can only be accessed via a web browser, which can turn off users who prefer mobile apps.

Their reverse phone and address lookups can be quite tricky too. Even after entering a totally made-up phone number and address, there was an invite to unlock a full report.

How Much Does US Search Cost?

A US Search membership for a name search costs $19.86 a month.^[3] But you have to figure that price out by running the search first before it tells you that's how much you're going to pay.

For reverse address, email, and phone lookups, the monthly fee is $4.99 each.

In case you're wondering if there are US Search deals, their 5-day trial for $1.99 would be the cheapest you can pay as a new user.^[4] This is an option for any search type and is ideal if you only need a single report. Just don't forget to cancel it so you won't be billed the regular subscription fee.

Payment options include credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal.

US Search's Services

US Search offers the following background check services to their members:

• Search by Name
  Discover a person's last known address and phone number, properties owned, social network, criminal records, and more (if applicable).

• Search by Phone Number
  This tool may also reveal photos, videos, address history, and online activities of the owner.

• Search by Address
  Learn a bit more about a particular location, such as its current and previous residents, property records, and if there are nearby sex offenders.

• Search by Email
  One way you can catch a cheating spouse is to run a search on their email addresses. US Search can reveal secret social media profiles attached to them.

US Search Ease of Use

Although the website could use more information and transparency as a whole, conducting people searches on US Search is pretty easy.

Once you hit "Search," the system prompts 2 validating questions, which some may consider unnecessary.

Overall, the retrieval process is quick and straightforward. All the search results are condensed into one full report.

US Search Security

US Search employs reasonable security measures to prevent data misuse, accidental leaks, and theft.

Their site has a verified SSL certification that maintains secure connections. It uses 256-bit encryption, which is generally deemed one of the safest standards in data security.

Nonetheless, it is always wise to remain vigilant and proactive toward emerging threats when accessing your US Search account.

US Search Customer Reviews

Despite being around since 1993, US Search doesn't have a lot of online feedback from third-party review websites.

Out of 184 reviews on ConsumerAffairs, 79% gave it a 5-star rating, garnering a high average 4.5 score.^[5] Several users pointed out receiving excellent customer service and getting the results they were looking for.

On the other hand, it only has 14 reviews on Sitejabber, with a low average rating of 1.1. ^[6] Most of these reviews date many years back.

US Search Alternatives

Below are side-by-side comparisons of US Search with 3 of its closest competitors, TruthFinder, BeenVerified, and Spokeo.

US Search vs. TruthFinder

If you are looking for more comprehensive background reports without the additional cost, TruthFinder's may be a better option. Your results can potentially go beyond contact information by providing financial details, licenses, and other important public record data.

Another advantage of TruthFinder is their dark web monitoring option, which isn't offered by US Search. You also get the convenience of a mobile app that you can access on both Android and iOS devices.

US Search vs. BeenVerified

For just a bit more, you can access BeenVerified's multiple search tools, which include a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) check, username search, and an unclaimed money check.

Although you may also opt out of your subscription with US Search at any time, BeenVerified takes it to another level by offering a satisfaction guarantee which may entitle you to a refund.

US Search vs. Spokeo

Both tools are very similar in their bare-bones searching and membership cost. However, you have the option to get in-depth reports containing divorce records and the like with Spokeo for an additional fee.

While it is not available on iOS, you can access a Spokeo mobile app on Android phones and tablets. They also offer daily live support which is particularly convenient in case you need help on weekends.

Things to Consider Before Hiring People Search Services

Here are a few things you might want to look for in background check providers:

• Features
  Some background check services have dark web monitoring and inmate search capabilities. Others can give you extra tools, like finding a vehicle's owner or if there's money out there for you that's left unclaimed.

• Frequency
  Are you looking for just one particular person? Or do you plan to update your contact lists, which means you'll be doing multiple searches? Note that most providers would require a monthly membership.

• Trial offer
  Many people search services offer a risk-free trial period either for free or a small fee. US Search allows you to test-drive its product for 5 days, after which you will be renewed as a monthly subscriber.

• Accuracy
  It's important to know the third-party data sources being provided to you, especially if they are sensitive in nature (such as criminal history). This will help you assess accurate information.

• User reviews
  Read up on real user experiences. Although you may find a lot of negative reviews that may turn off potential customers, focus on those who give constructive feedback.

• Fees
  Check if the associated costs are justified by the services it comes with. For instance, is it more expensive because of the unlimited searches? US Search is cheaper because their reports generated aren't as comprehensive as other services.

• Customer support
  At the very least, a dedicated customer care team must attend to your calls on weekdays. You could also use an extensive help page for quick answers to common concerns.

Bottom Line

US Search is a cost-effective option if you require more than basic contact info.

While it doesn't have a mobile app, you may appreciate its quick and easy process using any web browser. Their responsive customer service doesn't hurt either.

Ultimately, it's a tool worth adding to your sleuthing arsenal.

References