Are you receiving harassing phone calls, spam texts or calls, or calls from unknown numbers? We've compiled a list of the top five best reverse phone lookup sites to help you find information on any phone number.

You can use phone number lookup services for a variety of things including:

• Identifying unknown callers
• Finding out who has been texting you or your partner
• Identifying owner of harassing calls or texts
• Verifying the identity of online sellers from Craigslist or Facebook
• Learning more about a potential date

Many providers offer not just phone number lookup but also background check services, social media profiles, photos, criminal and traffic reporting, scam and spam reports, and more.

In our listings for the five best reverse phone lookup providers, we describe the pros and cons of each service provider to help you make an informed decision about which service might be the best option to suit your needs.

#1. Intelius: Best Reverse Phone Lookup Overall

Intelius offers a massive public records database, producing top-quality search results for a reverse number lookup. A user can enter a phone number into the search bar and request a full report that includes:

• name
• address
• social media accounts
• criminal and traffic records
• pictures
• location
• phone carrier

Users need to register for Intelius's paid services for unlimited reverse phone lookups, but the company offers several savings opportunities to suit users' needs. It has a 5-day special trial offer for users unsure if they want the full membership features. For users who want immediate search results, Intelius offers a Fast Pass to jump ahead of the line.

Regular Intelius users pay monthly for unlimited searches and can cancel their contracts at any time. If users aren't happy with their phone lookup services, Intelius offers a 30-day refund.

Intelius ranks high for detailed information, its 5-day trial period, and its intuitive and user-friendly platform design. See the roundup of pros and cons below to see why we ranked Intelius in our top five reverse phone lookup services.

Pros:

• Detailed sources with a database of over 20 billion public records
• 5-day trial period at a discount to try out its phone lookup services
• User-friendly platform that makes getting detailed reports simple
• Fast turnaround times for reverse phone number searches
• Android and iOS apps

Cons:

• Additional costs for extra services
• No free trial

#2 TruthFinder: Great for Phone Lookups, and People Searches

Truthfinder is a top-rated reverse phone number search tool offering several lookup service reports and features. You can also look up your own phone number to find old social profiles if you need to manage your digital reputation. Truthfinder reports can include:

• name
• phone numbers
• email addresses
• potential relatives or connections
• education and job history
• criminal and traffic reports
• social media and dating profiles
• genealogy

Truthfinder uses a unique dark web scan to collect a deeper dataset than most other reverse phone lookup service providers. Users can use Truthfinder to protect themselves from harassment from an unknown number, research online dates before meeting in person, and learn about their new neighbors.

To get Truthfinder's reverse lookup service, users must subscribe for a monthly or three-month recurring subscription. Memberships offer unlimited searches for reverse phone number lookup, including cell phones and landline numbers. Check out the pros and cons listed below to see why Truthfinder is one of our top five best reverse phone lookup sites.

Pros:

• A+ rating by the BBB
• Detailed information with more reporting options than other lookup service providers
• Unique dark web scan database updates
• User-friendly platform interface

Cons:

• No individual reports, subscription only
• Android app only

#3. Spokeo: Search by Phone, Email, Address, or Name

Spokeo made it onto our list for the best reverse phone lookup services for several reasons, including its highly responsive customer service and implementation of customer feedback. Spokeo even offers a free reverse phone lookup that includes a more detailed background and phone report for purchase.

After entering a phone number or email address into the search bar, a Spokeo reverse search report will offer several reporting details based on its extensive public records database, including:

• name
• location history
• potential family or connections
• email addresses
• photos
• social media accounts
• court records
• work history

Spokeo offers some free reverse phone lookup results, with the option to buy a full report after confirming the correct phone or address search results. Users can purchase single reports or sign up for either a one-month or three-month continuous renewing membership. Spokeo also offers a seven-day free trial.

Users can take advantage of Spokeo's satisfaction guarantee to speak with a representative about the reverse lookup service options and make suggestions for improvements in reporting and search functions. See the pros and cons list below to get a snapshot of why Spokeo belongs on our top five best reverse phone lookup services.

Pros:

• Depth of information available from a large database of over 12 billion public records
• Area code and telemarketer telephone directory
• Up-to-date information with regular updates

Cons:

• Less-detailed reports than some other reverse phone lookup providers
• Fewer scans of public records

What Is a Reverse Phone Number Lookup?

Reverse phone lookup sites allow users to track down a phone number owner when they receive a call from an unknown caller. A reverse phone lookup service provider may also offer additional reports including personal details like criminal and traffic records, background checks, known associates, aliases, and more information.

Because many free phone lookup sites don't comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, information obtained from these sites is not valid for employers, landlords, lenders, and other officials to use to make judgments on loans, employment, tenancy, or other official purposes. Reverse phone number lookup sites are for personal use only under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

How We Ranked the Top Phone Number Lookup Services

We researched and compared several reverse phone lookup sites to determine the best reverse phone lookup services. We evaluated each reverse phone lookup service on a variety of factors including accuracy, cost, report details, and additional features and search functions. We also considered whether reverse phone lookup service maintained information for mobile phones, landlines, email addresses, and locations for deep background searches.

Database Extensiveness and Accuracy

Many reverse phone lookup sites run searches through their databases to generate reports on potentially relevant information, including who owns a phone number, if certain phone numbers have been reported for spam calls, the current or previous addresses of an unknown caller, and if the caller has a criminal record.

For the information to be accurate, these reverse phone lookup sites need to gather information from public records to input into their databases as well as update their databases frequently to ensure the information is correct and current.

Paid reverse cell phone lookup sites use funds from memberships or individual reports to gather information from public government records, employers, and educational institutions. Reverse phone lookup services also use income from their services to maintain their databases, including the physical hardware for their servers and networking, as well as updating existing reports and profiles with new data.

Free reverse phone lookup providers often lack the funding necessary to maintain their data, resources, or hardware. This often leads to incorrect or obsolete records, nonfunctioning reverse phone lookup site interfacing, and poor security for your personal information if you use free reverse phone lookups.

Intelius, PeopleFinders, and Spokeo use billions of public records to maintain their databases. TruthFinder's phone lookup site uses a unique dark web scan to ensure the most  detailed source information in their searches.

Free or Paid

While there are some free reverse phone lookup sites available to help you find out the source of strange phone calls, many free phone lookup site providers either lack the funding to properly compile their data or are not safe options for your searches. Free reverse phone lookup sites often can't afford the appropriate security safeguards to keep their sites free from malware, putting your information at risk if you visit their reverse phone lookup site.

Paid phone lookup sites can use money they earn from memberships and individual reports to keep their sites secure, functional, and useful. Funding they earn from their reverse phone lookup services helps them to improve their database structure, purchase additional informational resources, and pay salaries for digital security and IT personnel, as well as maintain daily operations for data entry, testing, and other functional services.

Details Provided About Each Phone Number

While each cell phone lookup provider offers names and basic details associated with searched phone numbers, they each offer different levels regarding which information they provide beyond assigning a name to their reverse cell phone lookup reports.

While some of the best reverse phone lookup services offer in-depth background checks, others can provide custom genealogical information that you can use to find new relatives you never knew you had or to trace your lineage back to an ancestral homeland.

Other reverse number lookup sites focus on social media profiles, sometimes including dating profiles. Users can use this information to find out more about a person they met online before meeting in person. This information is especially useful for maintaining your personal safety when meeting for a date or to complete an in-person transaction from Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or OfferUp.

Depending on why you're looking for information about a specific cell phone number, you may need to narrow your focus when choosing the best phone search site for your needs. For example, PeopleFinders doesn't offer social media results in its search reports, but Intelius, TruthFinder, Spokeo, and Instant Checkmate all gather information from social media profiles.

Additional Features Offered

When determining the best reverse phone lookup site, we also compared additional features beyond just reverse phone lookup offerings. Many of these providers also offer in-depth background checks, criminal and traffic record reporting, inmate searches, genealogy searches, employment history, educational history, and several other reporting options.

While knowing who calls you from different cell phone numbers can help you deter spam callers, you may need to perform research on a person for another reason beyond identifying an unknown number. For example, if you suspect a cousin in another state has been arrested, you can perform an inmate search with Instant Checkmate. You may also want to use Truthfinder's genealogy feature to learn more about your family.

Spokeo offers work and wealth reports, court searches, and its proprietary Spokeo Connections searches to help reconnect friends and families. PeopleFinders and Instant Checkmate both offer criminal background checks. Intelius also offers a thorough criminal history report, as well as known associates and connections.

What Information Can You Find from a Phone Number Search?

Depending on which reverse phone lookup service you choose, your provider may offer several informational reports when you look up who owns a landline or cell phone number. Some additional information a phone number search can provide includes:

Location History

Your reverse phone lookup provider may report on where a person currently lives or has lived previously. Providers generally find this information through property records, social media, and employment records.

Potential Family Relationships and Known Associates

Social media profiles, genealogy reports, and other public records allow phone lookup providers to provide information about potential relatives, friends, and associates in their reports.

Employment and Education History

While you may not need to know the entire life story of an unknown caller, finding information about employment or education history for a lost family member or friend can help you determine if someone is indeed the person you're looking for.

Photos

In order to confirm a person's identity in instances of harassment or finding a lost family member or friend, a reverse phone lookup service may offer photos in their reporting options to help you identify an individual based on social media photos.

Caller Registration

Many reverse phone number lookup services include whether the unknown number is a business number, landline, or cell phone number in their reports. By knowing the source of the call, you may be able to determine if the call was simply a wrong number, a spam call, or possible harassment.

Criminal and traffic Records

Court proceedings are a matter of public record, allowing reverse phone number lookup sites to offer criminal and traffic histories, past convictions, arrest records, and similar reports. Be aware that judicial records change frequently based on convictions, acquittals, expungement, and case sealing. If looking for a criminal and or traffic record with a reverse phone number lookup service provider, ensure that your service updates its database frequently.

Social Media Accounts

One of the best ways to learn about someone is to let them tell you themselves. Find every social media account linked to a certain person using just an email address or phone number. A reverse phone lookup site can link account information from multiple platforms to create a comprehensive social media report.

Marriage, Birth, or Death Certificates and Records

Because certificates and records like marriage, birth, and death certificates pass through the court, they are often a matter of public record. Additionally, many genealogy trackers have access to this information and are another resource that reverse phone lookup sites use to build their reports.

Email Addresses and Other Contact Information

Reverse phone lookup sites create full reports of individuals in their databases, which include past and current contact information like numbers for secondary cell phones, email addresses, and usernames on different messenger apps.

When Is the Best Time to Use a Reverse Phone Lookup?

Different people use reverse phone lookup sites for distinct reasons. Users may choose to use a phone lookup site for something as simple as deciding whether to call back after a missed call from an unknown number to performing a thorough personal background check before meeting a new person face-to-face. Some occasions when people choose to use a reverse phone lookup search include:

Protecting vulnerable people. Scammers often target the elderly and other vulnerable populations for phone scams, gathering sensitive information in simple scams like “calling grandma from jail.” Additionally, telemarketers may think they can push harder to make a sale with a vulnerable person. You can look up missed calls for your elderly friends and family members and block numbers so they can't call again.

Reconnecting with lost loved ones. You may lose touch with a friend or relative over time or lose contact with a young family member separated from their birth family. Performing a person search with a name and their last known location can help you reunite with old friends or family members or learn where a family member who was adopted now lives.

Fighting harassment. If you receive threatening texts or calls from an unknown party, you can use a reverse phone search to file a report with police for harassment from the individual and determine if they pose an immediate threat to you and your family.

Discovering an affair. Does your partner get texts or calls at strange times or seem secretive when on their phone? Before confronting them, look up any contacts you don't know with a phone lookup service.

Expecting a callback. If you're expecting to receive a call from someone new, like a prospective employer, you might miss the call. Many people receive several unknown calls each day. How do you know whether or not to call a number back, especially if you were expecting a call? Use a phone number lookup service to decide whether or not a missed call is worth a return call.

Meeting someone new in person. Whether you're meeting someone from your online dating service or buying a used item from Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp, make sure the person you're meeting is actually who they say they are by running a background check through a phone lookup service.

Frequently Asked Questions on Reverse Phone Lookups

You may still have questions about phone lookup providers and how you can use their services to protect yourself, your family, and your information. Check out our FAQ below to learn more about how these services work.

Are there any free reverse phone search sites?

While there are free reverse phone number lookup websites, these sites often have problems with security, outdated or inaccurate information, database maintenance, and other issues that many paid service providers have the funds to mitigate. Additionally, many free phone lookup services are actually phishing or malware scams trying to steal user information.

How can I find out who a phone number belongs to?

To find out who a phone number belongs to, you need to visit one of the reverse phone lookup sites in this review. Next, you’ll need to type the unidentified phone number into the search bar to start the reverse phone lookup process. Once the reverse phone lookup is complete, you’ll be presented with information about the owner, including location, phone carrier, name, and more.

Be aware that most U.S.-based companies don't offer an international phone number search due to international privacy laws and restrictive access to accurate information on foreign phone numbers.

What's the difference between free phone lookups and paid services?

Free phone lookup providers have to earn money since they are not charging for their services. They may allow ads on their website, take donations from users, or upcharge for additional information beyond their free report.

Because of this, free phone lookup providers often can't afford to get the latest information to update their databases, can't maintain their servers, and can't pay salaries for experienced IT and data management professionals on staff. Also, many free services are actually scam sites ready to collect your personal information, install malware on your device, or generate ad revenue through ad-heavy circular navigation clicks.

Through their earnings, paid services can update their databases, upgrade their equipment, and pay appropriate salaries for skilled workers and managers to ensure that operations run effectively for an optimal user experience.

What happens if I can't find who owns a phone number?

There are some instances where you may not be able to find information on anyone by just using a phone number, including who owns the number. These circumstances may include:

• a harasser or scammer who is using a burner cell phone number to make calls or texts
• a business or individual who's paid extra to keep their phone number unlisted
• a person who removed their information from the same reverse phone search system you're using

If you find that your chosen reverse phone service provider can't find a phone number, review their refund policy. For monthly subscription services, it is unlikely you will receive a refund for a single disappointing search result. However, for the services that allow you to purchase individual number reports, you may be able to seek a refund for a single phone number report.