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Comparisons · Updated July 31, 2026

Intelius vs TruthFinder (2026): Records, Fees & FTC Case

See what Intelius and TruthFinder cost, where billing details are unclear, which records they advertise, and why TruthFinder's FTC history matters.

Both Intelius and TruthFinder advertise criminal-record and reverse-phone searches, so those shared features do not decide this comparison. Intelius offers general lookup inputs and possible free Basic identity clues; TruthFinder specifically names a sex-offender locator and mobile purchase options whose billing periods are not always stated. TruthFinder's operator is also covered by a 2023 FTC stipulated order.

Feature comparison

Checkmarks show documented availability. Limited, paid, add-on, and unverified access are labeled separately.

Intelius

Right-person matching
Limited

Free Basic Reports may include aliases, date of birth, age, relatives, contact details, photos, and education information that can narrow a possible match, but no dedicated confirmation workflow is documented.

Criminal records
Yes

Full paid reports may include criminal and traffic-record history; Intelius also presents criminal-history checks as an online-dating safety use case.

Reverse phone lookup
Not confirmed

Intelius offers reverse-phone searches that may return the owner's name, images, location history, and social profiles; the current listings do not map this feature cleanly to free, membership, or one-off access.

Reverse email lookup
Not confirmed

The current app descriptions offer email searches and let users start with an email address, but do not map reverse-email access to the free Basic Report or a specific paid product.

Social profiles
Not confirmed

A reverse-phone result may include Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter profiles and other social-media information; the required access tier is not stated.

TruthFinder

Right-person matching
Limited

People and reverse-phone searches can connect a subject or number owner with addresses and possible relatives, but no dedicated right-person confirmation workflow is documented.

Criminal records
Not confirmed

Criminal-record searches and criminal history are documented as possible report categories, but the current app listings do not map them to a specific purchase; results remain conditional on available public records.

Reverse phone lookup
Add-onUnlimited Phone Reports

Reverse-phone lookup is a primary documented feature and can identify a possible number owner and lead to an available background report.

Reverse email lookup
LimitedUnlimited Email Reports

Apple lists a separately priced Unlimited Email Reports purchase, but the current listing does not describe the report scope.

Social profiles
Yes

TruthFinder says a people-search report may include social-media profiles when available. Access is through the paid people-search report, and profile availability varies by subject.

Features and access terms can change. Confirm current details with each product.

Key differences at a glance

Start with the question you care about, then compare what each service offers.

Price: check before paying

Intelius
Trial and membership pricing varies by entry point, and downloadable reports may cost extra. Confirm the total, renewal date, cancellation path, and any download fee at checkout.
TruthFinder
The US iOS listing shows report options from $19.99 to $67.99, phone reports at $4.99, email reports at $2.99, and unlimited plans at $27.99. Confirm the billing period and renewal terms for the exact option on the charge screen.

Inputs: use the clue you have

Intelius
Start with a name, phone number, address, or email. The current listings do not map email searches to a specific free or paid tier.
TruthFinder
Start with a name, phone number, or address. The iOS listing also labels separately priced phone and email report options.

Free access: match first

Intelius
Free Basic Reports may show identity clues before payment, but a full background report still requires payment. Use the clues to narrow the match, not as a finished report.
TruthFinder
App copy mentions limited free public birth and death records, but not a free full background report. Treat the free material as a narrow preview.

Use restrictions: personal research

Intelius
It is not a consumer reporting agency and cannot be used for credit, insurance, employment, housing, or other FCRA-covered decisions.
TruthFinder
Its app listings prohibit use for credit, housing, insurance, employment, tenant screening, and other FCRA-covered decisions.

Distinct fit: what separates them

Intelius
A general people search with several starting inputs and possible free Basic identity clues before buying a full report.
TruthFinder
A mobile search when its specifically named sex-offender locator or separately labeled phone and email purchases matter. Criminal records and reverse phone alone do not separate the services.

Features and prices can change. Check each service for the latest details.

What actually differs between Intelius and TruthFinder

Both compile public records into paid reports, but they separate on which record categories each advertises, how billing works, how far the data can be trusted, and one service's regulatory history. Here is what each split means before you rely on either.

Shared searches and the one named locator

Both Intelius and TruthFinder document criminal-record and reverse-phone searches, so the supplied evidence does not establish that either service has better coverage, accuracy, or value for those shared features. The supported difference is narrower: TruthFinder's current app listings specifically name a sex-offender locator, while Intelius's reviewed official material does not make that same promise. Intelius instead documents several general starting inputs and possible free Basic identity clues.

Why it matters: Criminal records and reverse phone alone cannot decide this comparison. Choose based on a genuinely distinct need: Intelius's general lookup inputs and possible Basic clues before payment, or TruthFinder's specifically named locator and mobile purchase options. In either case, verify a consequential result at the original court or registry.

How you pay, and whether you can buy one report

The cited sources do not establish a clearly labeled one-time full-report purchase for either service. TruthFinder's US iOS listing shows purchases from $2.99 to $67.99 without stating renewal terms for every option. Intelius publishes no single fixed price, and downloadable reports may cost extra.

Why it matters: Confirm at checkout whether a charge is one-time or recurring, what the purchase includes, and how cancellation works. The billing period matters as much as the headline number when neither listing establishes a clean one-report purchase.

How current and complete the results tend to be

Aggregated public records can be incomplete, stale, or matched to the wrong person with a similar name. In the TruthFinder matter, the FTC alleged that 'most accurate' marketing relied on unverified third-party data. Those are different signals, but neither service guarantees that an aggregated result is complete or belongs to the intended person.

Why it matters: Use multiple matching details before attaching a result to someone. A common name, old address, or missing source record can change the meaning of what either service returns.

What the FTC action against TruthFinder actually means

The FTC case page currently labels FTC v. TruthFinder LLC (No. 3:23-cv-01674-TWR-MSB) as Pending, while a federal court entered a stipulated order for the settling defendants on October 11, 2023. That order required the named settling companies collectively to pay a $5.8 million civil penalty to resolve charges over deceptive criminal-record advertising, alleged FCRA violations, and allegations that 'Remove' and 'Flag as Inaccurate' controls did not work as advertised. The defendants neither admitted nor denied the complaint's allegations except as specified.

Why it matters: This is a settlement order, not an adjudicated finding of wrongdoing, and the case page still reads Pending. Treat it as documented regulatory history to weigh against TruthFinder's stated feature breadth, not as proof of current conduct.

A closer look at each service

Intelius

Best for narrowing a general people search before deciding whether to buy a full report. Several starting inputs and possible free Basic identity clues give you more than one way to check the match.

Pros

  • Name, phone, address, and email searches give it several practical starting points.
  • Free Basic Reports may provide identity and contact clues before you pay for a full background report.

Cons

  • Trial and membership terms vary by entry point, so confirm renewal, cancellation, and any download charge at checkout.
  • A public-record result may be incomplete, outdated, or matched to the wrong person, so verify important details with the original record.
Intelius landing page
Intelius landing page · Captured

TruthFinder

Best for a mobile lookup when its specifically named sex-offender locator matters. Criminal records and reverse phone are shared capabilities, not a documented TruthFinder advantage.

Pros

  • Its current app listings name a sex-offender locator directly.
  • The iOS listing labels phone and email report purchases separately, and current iOS and Android listings document mobile access.

Cons

  • The App Store does not state the billing period or renewal terms for every listed purchase, so confirm both on the charge screen.
  • Its listed categories do not guarantee that a result is current, complete, or matched to the right person; verify important details with the original record.
TruthFinder landing page
TruthFinder landing page · Captured

Where this leaves you

Which option is right for you?

Choose Intelius for a general people search that starts with a name, phone number, address, or email, especially when possible free Basic identity clues can help narrow the match before payment. Both services advertise criminal-record and reverse-phone searches, so those shared features alone do not decide the comparison. Choose TruthFinder when its specifically named sex-offender locator or documented mobile purchase options matter more. Before paying, confirm the exact billing period, renewal, cancellation path, and included report type. Also weigh the 2023 FTC stipulated order involving TruthFinder's operator; the allegations were not adjudicated.

Either way, treat the result as a starting point rather than a verdict. Match several identifiers, including name, age, and location, then verify anything important at the original court or registry.

If you are checking a potential partner, you can start a private TheTeaReport background report for $15 as a one-time purchase. It is available for permitted personal research about a U.S. adult, includes offender-registry and public-record context, and specializes in potential-partner research.

Common questions about Intelius vs TruthFinder

Does either service offer a genuinely free full report?

No. Intelius may show a free Basic Report, and TruthFinder's app copy mentions limited free access to public birth and death records, but neither turns into a full background report without payment. Treat any free preview as a way to confirm you found the right person, not as the finished report.

Can either service be used for hiring or tenant screening?

No. Each provider's current terms prohibit using its reports for employment, housing or tenancy, credit, insurance, or other regulated eligibility decisions. Use a consumer-reporting service designed for the applicable screening process instead.

Sources and further reading

  • Intelius people-search site: Intelius's own site, covering its people-search positioning and the searches it accepts, such as name, phone, and address.
  • Intelius Terms of Use: Intelius's own terms, where its consumer-use limits and non-reporting-agency status are stated.
  • TruthFinder app listing (Apple App Store): TruthFinder's official US iOS listing showing the in-app purchase options and amounts cited on this page; it does not state the billing period or renewal terms for every option.
  • TruthFinder app listing (Google Play): TruthFinder's first-party listing showing its record categories, limited free public-record language, in-app purchase options, and prohibited FCRA-covered uses.
  • TruthFinder Terms of Use: TruthFinder's service terms, covering its consumer-use restrictions and the prohibited FCRA-covered uses referenced on this page.
  • FTC v. TruthFinder LLC case page: The Federal Trade Commission's official case page for No. 3:23-cv-01674-TWR-MSB, currently labeled Pending.
  • FTC stipulated order (entered October 11, 2023): The court-entered order for the settling defendants, resolving specified charges without turning the complaint's allegations into adjudicated findings.

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