The best free people search sites offer a cost-effective way to find and verify basic details about individuals online. While there are paid tools offering more comprehensive data, free platforms are ideal if you simply need to confirm someone’s identity or reconnect with a long-lost acquaintance. They’re also useful for basic pre-employment checks — though proper due diligence will still require more formal verification.
The best free people search sites typically provide limited but useful information, such as basic contact details and current locations, and may cap your daily queries. More advanced details — such as historical addresses, financial data, or criminal records — tend to sit behind paywalls or require a premium plan. Based on our most recent testing, considering data depth, usability, and the value delivered at no cost, That’s Them remains our top pick. Its breadth of free search options still outpaces most rivals, and it continues to allow queries using email addresses, IP details, and even VIN numbers, which many competitors do not support when it comes to personal information.
What do the best free people search sites offer?
For anyone aiming to keep costs down, these free search services provide essential information at no charge. They allow searches by name, address, and other basic identifiers like email, which is enough to confirm identities for personal or casual use. Understandably, they cap daily searches and limit the richness of data you can access for free.
You won’t usually find complex records, such as criminal histories or detailed financial data, via free searches. While some platforms do feature paid tiers for accessing these deeper insights, anyone needing that level of detail might consider a dedicated premium provider from the outset — particularly if you’re conducting formal background checks that go beyond simple identity confirmation.
What are the best free people search sites?
Our top recommendation is still That’s Them, which continues to offer a generous range of free search parameters and insights compared to competitors. Alongside name and address lookups, it still supports searches via email, Internet Protocol (IP), and VIN.
Whitepages, Zaba Search, TinEye, and Peek You are close competitors, offering a range of free search services that rank it among the top free people search sites available.
Whitepages remains a go-to for those starting with a phone number, while TinEye excels if you only have an image to go on. For simple social media checks, Peek You can help pinpoint usernames and associated online profiles. Zaba Search’s appeal lies in its quick, hassle-free results.
| Free people search site | Search method | Includes phone numbers | Includes social media profiles | Premium plan available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| That's Them | Name, address, phone, email, IP, VIN | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Whitepages | Name, phone, address, business | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Zaba Search | Name, phone | ✔ (partial) | ✔ | ✔ |
| TinEye | Photo | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Peek You | Name, social media username | ✔ (partial) | ✔ | ✔ |
The best free people search sites available right now
The best allrounder - THAT’S THEM
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can search by email, IP, and VIN | Limited to 10 searches per day |
| Checks include address and phone number | Row 1 - Cell 1 |
That’s Them still sets itself apart by offering a range of free search methods not commonly available elsewhere. From a name or email, to something as obscure as an IP address or a VIN, the platform provides more data than most of its peers at no extra charge.
Its paid plans have evolved somewhat over recent years. As of late 2024, That’s Them continues to provide various subscription options, but it has simplified its tiers, with plans typically starting around $19.95 a month. While UK users can still access free lookups, remember that more extensive background data tends to focus on US records.
The best for phone numbers - WHITEPAGES
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can filter results by age and city | Name checks don’t include contact details |
| Reverse address checks are in-depth | Reverse phone checks don’t include name or address |
| Reverse phone checks include spam risk | Row 2 - Cell 1 |
Whitepages remains a well-known directory for searching by phone number, though it also supports name and address queries. Free lookups typically provide partial information, like possible relatives and historical regions of residence, with the option to refine by age or city.
To unlock detailed addresses, mobile numbers, and full reports, you’ll still need a premium plan. These now start at around $5.99 and can climb to about $109.99 per month, depending on the depth of detail required.
Disclaimer
Premium plans are only available for customers based in the United States.
The best for quick searches - ZABA SEARCH
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can filter results by age and city | Checks don’t include past addresses |
| Checks include age and current address | Occasional ads |
| Unlimited free searches | Row 2 - Cell 1 |
Zaba Search’s core value proposition is unchanged: it offers quick, no-frills verification of basic information, whether you’re searching by name or phone number. You get current addresses, rough age estimates, and partial phone number details for free. Filtering results by city or age is handy if the name you’re searching is a common one.
By comparison, rival platform That’s Them reveals results that have a greater level of detail for free, including IP addresses, email addresses, and birthdays. However, Zaba Search is great for quickly verifying someone’s basic information.
For more detailed reports — including contact information, previous addresses, or social media links — Zaba Search still steers users towards paid services. Pricing for these deeper checks has been adjusted slightly, with monthly subscriptions now starting from around $34.95 per month for more comprehensive data.
The best for image searches - TINEYE
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great if you don’t have a name or phone number | Checks don’t include LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram |
| Can add image via upload or URL | Requires visiting external websites to verify identities |
| Can filter results by website | Row 2 - Cell 1 |
TinEye remains the go-to option if you’re starting with just an image. Uploading a picture or pasting a URL returns a list of pages where that image (or something similar) appears. While you’re unlikely to find detailed personal records this way, it’s superb for verifying the authenticity of profile images, especially if you suspect a stolen or faked identity photo.
A disadvantage of TinEye is that it can’t generally search photos across popular social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram. However, results can include other job platforms or blogging websites, which can help you verify basic information such as name, location, and profession. You’ll still need to do some manual digging if you’re looking to confirm details on major platforms.
Results can be filtered by website, which is useful when queried people have a significant online presence.
The best for social media searches - PEEK YOU
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can search by online username | Full address and contact details on premium plan only |
| Checks include age, city, and family members | Checks don’t include Facebook profiles |
| Checks include some social media profiles | Row 2 - Cell 1 |
Peek You’s niche hasn’t changed: it excels in rounding up someone’s scattered online presence. Whether you’re starting with a username from X or Instagram, the service attempts to connect dots across various sites. You’ll see basic personal info alongside any linked social media profiles discovered.
For deeper insights — such as contact details or extensive historical addresses — Peek You still relies on premium affiliates like Truthfinder or BeenVerified. While this may feel like an upsell, it’s helpful for those who need a more exhaustive background check.
Best free people search sites FAQs
There are a number of factors to consider when looking for the best free people search sites, depending on the questions one needs to answer or the specific pieces of information required. Users often ask:
What is the best site to search for a person for free?
That’s Them continues to top our list. It grants access to a broader set of free search methods — from names and phone numbers to IP addresses and VINs — than any other platform we’ve tested. For basic identity verification, it’s hard to beat.
Are people search websites illegal?
All the sites listed here operate by aggregating publicly available and commercial data, making them legal in jurisdictions where accessing such data is permitted. Still, users should be mindful of local data protection laws, especially outside the United States. UK users, for instance, should always ensure compliance with GDPR and other local regulations.
Are there any true free people search sites?
All of the platforms we’ve mentioned offer genuinely free searches, though the data they provide is often basic and may be subject to daily query limits. They’ll frequently prompt you to consider a paid upgrade for more comprehensive reports.
The benefits of people search sites
- Fact check someone
Quickly confirm the basic details of potential employees, online sellers, or prospective landlords, ensuring you have accurate, reliable information at your fingertips.
- Save time
A people search website with instant access to public records can save you hours or even days compared to manually researching via Google and social media or liaising with public institutions.
- Have information in one place
Accessing someone’s public records on one platform is convenient, particularly when a provider aggregates personal information and social media data.
How we chose the best people search sites
In reviewing these platforms, we focused on their capacity for delivering swift, reliable, and accurate results. We considered the complexity of their search tools, the quality of their free results, and whether their premium tiers offer good value for money. The final selection ensures a wide coverage of needs — from verifying a phone number to hunting down elusive online profiles.
Next steps with people search sites
Our analysis provides a snapshot of the best free people search sites available in 2025. For more detailed insights, we recommend exploring individual provider reviews, such as our latest PeopleFinders review and guide to using TruthFinder.
