How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- TLOxp (TransUnion), IRB Search and Tracers are the core public-records databases PIs use daily.
- LexisNexis Accurint and Thomson Reuters CLEAR bring institutional data depth.
- Delvepoint and LocatePLUS offer accessible professional searching.
- Skopenow and ShadowDragon cover social media and open-source intelligence.
- Pipl resolves identities across the web.
- All professional databases require permissible purpose and licensing: compliance is not optional.
Quick comparison
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We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best background check software for private investigators
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
TLOxp, now part of TransUnion, is the database most PIs open first: comprehensive public records, assets, associates, phones and addresses in fast reports. The data depth from TransUnion's holdings is the advantage. Licensed investigators with permissible purpose get the industry's standard tool.
Access requires credentials, licensing and compliance; per-search pricing adds up on big cases. But for the core investigative lookup, TLOxp's comprehensiveness keeps it first on most investigators' lists.
TLOxp's batch processing handles volume skip tracing: upload lists, get results, work the hits. The relatives and associates data cracks cases where the subject hides. Phone and email appends refresh stale contact data. For high-volume investigative work, the comprehensiveness per search is the efficiency.
TLOxp's data freshness from the credit header sources gives current addresses: the locates work. The comprehensive reports consolidate multiple searches. For the professional standard, it is the benchmark.
What we like- Enormous data depth from TransUnion
- Fast comprehensive reports
- Industry standard
Watch out for- Requires licensing and permissible purpose
- Pricing is per-search
- Learning curve on advanced search
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
IRB Search serves licensed investigators with fast public-records searching: people, phones, addresses and assets without the bloat. The focus on speed suits high-volume skip tracing and locates. Pricing is straightforward per-search.
The data universe is smaller than TransUnion or LexisNexis. But for quick, reliable professional lookups, IRB's speed and simplicity earn loyal users.
IRB's interface prioritizes speed: minimal clicks from query to report. The data freshness is good for the price tier. Customer service understands PI workflows. For solo investigators watching costs, the value per search is strong.
IRB's flat-rate pricing simplifies budgeting: the per-search cost is predictable. The data quality punches above the price. For cost-conscious professionals, the value is real.
What we like- Fast, focused searching
- Good data quality
- Straightforward pricing
Watch out for- Smaller than the giants
- Requires PI licensing
- Interface is utilitarian
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Tracers provides deep people search for investigators: comprehensive profiles, associates, assets and contact data aimed at skip tracing and locates. The data refresh keeps records current. PIs running volume appreciate the depth.
Licensing and per-search pricing apply, and the interface is functional. But for finding people and their assets, Tracers' depth competes with anyone.
Tracers' asset searches, vehicles, properties, watercraft, support judgment enforcement and divorce cases. The business search connects entities to people. Historical data reaches back usefully. For asset investigations, the depth matters.
Tracers' criminal search aggregates multiple sources: the coverage is broad. The interface is modern and fast. For efficient searching, the design helps.
What we like- Deep people and asset data
- Good for skip tracing
- Regular data updates
Watch out for- Requires licensing
- Per-search costs
- Interface is dated
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Accurint brings LexisNexis's vast data to investigations: public records, legal filings, news and business data with sophisticated search. Law firms and corporate investigators rely on it. The depth for complex cases is unmatched.
Cost and contract complexity exceed the PI-focused tools. Simple locates do not need this. But for cases requiring legal, news and deep public records together, Accurint's breadth is the professional choice.
Accurint's news search, decades of articles, provides the background no database record captures: the story behind the subject. The business reports detail corporate connections. Court records coverage is broad. For complex due diligence, the breadth justifies the cost.
Accurint's batch capabilities handle list processing: the volume work is efficient. The data depth covers the complex cases. For the LexisNexis standard, the breadth is unmatched.
What we like- Unmatched data breadth
- Powerful search logic
- Trusted in legal and corporate
Watch out for- Expensive
- Complex contracts
- Overkill for simple lookups
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
CLEAR combines Thomson Reuters public records with proprietary data and analytics for investigations. Law enforcement and corporate investigators use it widely. The analytics surface connections less obvious in raw records.
Pricing is enterprise and access requires vetting. But the combination of data and analytics suits serious investigative work.
CLEAR's risk-relevant alerts flag the changes investigators need: new addresses, new associates, new filings. The dashboard organizes ongoing monitoring. Batch capabilities serve volume users. For continuous monitoring cases, the alerting is the product.
CLEAR's mobile app keeps investigators productive in the field: the access is instant. The alerting monitors subjects continuously. For active cases, the real-time edge matters.
What we like- Strong public and proprietary data
- Good analytics
- Trusted brand
Watch out for- Enterprise pricing
- Requires vetting
- Learning curve
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Delvepoint targets private investigators directly: professional searching at accessible prices with service that understands PI workflows. Solo practitioners and small agencies get database power without enterprise contracts.
The data depth trails the giants. But the PI focus, pricing and support make it the friendly professional option.
Delvepoint's pricing transparency suits small agencies budgeting per case: know the search cost upfront. The reports are clean and client-presentable. Support responsiveness is good. For the solo PI building a practice, the accessibility matters.
Delvepoint's report customization brands the deliverables: clients see professional output. The search speed is good. For the boutique practice, the polish helps.
What we like- Built for PIs specifically
- Accessible pricing
- Good customer service
Watch out for- Smaller data universe
- Fewer advanced analytics
- Requires licensing
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
LocatePLUS keeps professional searching simple: people, phones and addresses without complexity. Small agencies doing routine locates get what they need affordably.
Depth and analytics trail the leaders. But for straightforward investigative lookups, the simplicity and price work.
LocatePLUS' straightforward search covers the routine locates efficiently: people, phones, addresses without fuss. The pricing is reasonable. It will not replace the deep databases for complex cases, but the daily driver work gets done.
LocatePLUS' customer service understands investigator needs: the support is practical. The pricing is accessible. For the daily locates, it delivers.
What we like- Simple effective searching
- Good for basic locates
- Reasonable pricing
Watch out for- Less depth than leaders
- Interface is basic
- Smaller company
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Skopenow automates social media investigations: enter a subject, get archived, searchable, court-admissible social media evidence. What took days of manual screenshotting takes minutes. The authentication for admissibility matters in legal cases.
It covers social media, not public records; pair it with databases. Platform API changes affect coverage. But for the social media half of modern investigations, Skopenow is transformative.
Skopenow's automation covers the major platforms comprehensively: the time saved versus manual collection is enormous. The reports are designed for legal admissibility. Monitoring alerts on new posts. For any case with a social media dimension, and most have one, it is essential.
Skopenow's court-admissible reports hold up legally: the methodology is sound. The automation saves hours per case. For the social media dimension, it is indispensable.
What we like- Automated social media collection
- Court-admissible reports
- Huge time saver
Watch out for- Social-only focus
- Subscription cost
- Platform coverage changes
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
ShadowDragon provides professional open-source intelligence: collection, monitoring and link analysis across the open web, social and deep sources. Investigators mapping networks and relationships get real analytical power.
It needs training and professional budgets. But for OSINT as a discipline rather than a Google search, ShadowDragon is the professional platform.
ShadowDragon's link analysis visualizes connections across data sources: the network view reveals what lists hide. The training resources build real OSINT skill. For investigators practicing OSINT as a discipline, the platform is the professional environment.
ShadowDragon's training builds genuine OSINT capability: the education is as valuable as the tool. The community shares techniques. For the serious practitioner, the ecosystem matters.
What we like- Serious OSINT collection and analysis
- Link analysis
- Trusted by professionals
Watch out for- Requires training
- Pricing is professional
- Not for casual use
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Pipl resolves identities from fragments: an email, username or phone becomes a profile linked across web sources. Investigators tracing digital footprints get connections manual searching misses. The API enables integration.
The data is web-derived; verify against authoritative records. But for starting from digital crumbs, Pipl's resolution is excellent.
What we like- Excellent identity resolution across web data
- API available
- Good for digital footprints
Watch out for- Web-data focus
- Professional use needs proper purpose
- Pricing is quote-based
The compliance reality
Professional investigative databases are regulated. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Drivers Privacy Protection Act and state laws restrict access to those with permissible purpose, typically licensed investigators, law firms and qualified businesses. Vendors vet every account.
Use data lawfully: permissible purpose only, no pretexting where prohibited, secure handling of personal information. Violations end careers and invite prosecution. The tools are powerful; the responsibility is absolute. Consult legal counsel on your jurisdiction's requirements.
How we chose
We selected professional-grade investigative tools with real PI adoption, spanning public records databases and OSINT platforms. We reviewed capabilities and professional feedback, and verified each vendor's current status, noting TLOxp's place within TransUnion. We excluded consumer people-search sites, which lack professional data depth and compliance.
Frequently asked questions
What software do private investigators use?
Professional databases like TLOxp, IRB and Tracers for public records, plus OSINT tools like Skopenow and ShadowDragon for digital investigation. Consumer sites do not compare.
How much does PI database access cost?
Typically per-search fees plus monthly minimums, ranging from modest (Delvepoint, IRB) to enterprise (Accurint, CLEAR). Budget per case based on search volume.
Do I need a license to use these tools?
Yes, generally. Vendors require PI licensing or qualified business purpose under laws like GLB and DPPA. Unlicensed access is not available and attempting to circumvent vetting is illegal.
Can I use these for employment screening?
Employment background checks fall under the Fair Credit Reporting Act with specific requirements. Use FCRA-compliant providers and processes; investigative databases have different permissible purposes.
What is OSINT?
Open-source intelligence: information collected from publicly available sources, social media, websites, public records. Tools like Skopenow and ShadowDragon professionalize the collection and analysis.
How do I verify what databases tell me?
Cross-reference across multiple sources, check primary records where possible, and document everything. Database data contains errors; professional investigators verify before acting.
Sources we checked (10)
- https://www.transunion.com/business-needs/investigations-tloxp
- https://irbsearch.com/
- https://tracersinfo.com/
- https://www.lexisnexis.com/
- https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en
- https://www.delvepoint.com/
- https://locateplus.com/
- https://www.skopenow.com/
- https://shadowdragon.io/
- https://pipl.com/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
TLOxp
IRB Search
Tracers
LexisNexis Accurint
Thomson Reuters CLEAR
Delvepoint
LocatePLUS
Skopenow
ShadowDragon
Pipl