Is there a free alternative to BeenVerified?

Yes, for basic information. Free directories such as TruePeopleSearch and FastPeopleSearch show names, addresses, relatives, and phone numbers without an account, funded by ads and links to paid sites. HooDat's search and preview are also free. Deeper records and contact details generally cost something everywhere.

Do I have to subscribe to HooDat?

No. Credit packs start at $2.49, never expire, and carry no subscription. Subscriptions are optional and only lower the price per credit. Searching is free; opening a report costs 1–3 credits depending on how much the record holds.

Will the person know I searched for them?

HooDat never notifies the person you search. Most people-search sites say the same, but check each site's own policy before you rely on it.

Can I use these sites to screen a tenant or an employee?

Not HooDat, and not most consumer people-search sites. Tenant, employment, credit, and insurance decisions are covered by the FCRA and need a consumer reporting agency that follows its rules, including notifying the person and letting them dispute errors.

Guides · Comparisons

BeenVerified Alternatives for Personal Use (2026)

By the HooDat TeamSeptember 10, 20267 min read

Try a free search

Short answer

If you only need a name and an address, a free directory such as TruePeopleSearch may be enough. If you need someone's social profiles from a phone number or email, HooDat is built for that and charges per report with no subscription. If you need deep records, such as court filings or vehicle history, the big subscription sites, BeenVerified included, cover more; just know that their low trial price becomes a monthly subscription unless you cancel.

BeenVerified is one of the largest people-search sites in the U.S., and for plenty of searches it does the job. Most people looking for an alternative are reacting to how it charges rather than what it finds: a $1 seven-day trial that renews as a monthly subscription, listed in September 2026 at $36.89 a month, or less billed quarterly. Billing and cancellation are a recurring theme in its public reviews on Trustpilot and the BBB. The right alternative depends on what you actually need to find.

The options, by what you need

Free directories (TruePeopleSearch, FastPeopleSearch). Names, ages, addresses, relatives, and phone numbers, free and without an account. They are ad-supported, link out to paid sites, and their data can be out of date. Good for a quick name behind a number.
Whitepages. A small number of free lookups each month, with paid plans listed from $3.99 a month. The cheapest paid option of the big names.
Spokeo. A $0.95 seven-day trial, then a monthly plan. Advertises links to social and dating profiles alongside standard records.
TruthFinder. No trial in 2026; a monthly subscription listed at $28.05. Strong on background-style records.
Social Catfish. Photo and username search aimed at dating safety, with a short paid trial that renews monthly.
HooDat. Free search and a free, masked preview. Opening a report costs 1–3 credits, depending on how much the record holds, from packs starting at $2.49 that never expire. From a report, a social search finds the person's Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for 3 credits per run. Subscriptions are optional, from $7.99 a month.

Prices are as listed on each site in September 2026 and change often. Check the renewal price on the checkout page before you enter a card anywhere, including here.

Where HooDat is weaker

HooDat is not a replacement for everything BeenVerified does. It has no criminal or court records and no vehicle data, and its record depth is thinner than the largest aggregators. Its strength is the step most sites skip: going from a phone number or email to the person behind it and then to their real social profiles. The social search isn't guaranteed to find a profile; if someone has no public, linkable account, there is nothing to match.

How to avoid surprise charges on any of them

Before you start a trial, find the renewal price and date on the checkout page, not the ad.
Set a reminder a day before the trial ends, and check how cancellation works: online, by phone, or by email.
If you only need one or two searches, prefer pay-per-use credits to a subscription you have to remember to cancel.

A quick decision guide

"Who owns this number?" Run a free preview first, on a free directory or HooDat's reverse phone lookup.
"What are their socials?" HooDat, from a phone number or email. The Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook guides cover the free manual methods too.
"I need court or vehicle records." A subscription site. Take the trial, get what you need, and cancel the same day.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free alternative to BeenVerified?: Yes, for basic information. Free directories such as TruePeopleSearch and FastPeopleSearch show names, addresses, relatives, and phone numbers without an account, funded by ads and links to paid sites. HooDat's search and preview are also free. Deeper records and contact details generally cost something everywhere.
Do I have to subscribe to HooDat?: No. Credit packs start at $2.49, never expire, and carry no subscription. Subscriptions are optional and only lower the price per credit. Searching is free; opening a report costs 1–3 credits depending on how much the record holds.
Will the person know I searched for them?: HooDat never notifies the person you search. Most people-search sites say the same, but check each site's own policy before you rely on it.
Can I use these sites to screen a tenant or an employee?: Not HooDat, and not most consumer people-search sites. Tenant, employment, credit, and insurance decisions are covered by the FCRA and need a consumer reporting agency that follows its rules, including notifying the person and letting them dispute errors.