9+ Best Reverse Phone Lookup Sites to Verify Spam Callers (How to Identify an Unknown Phone Number)

That’s where reverse phone lookup services come in. 

These people-search engines help you verify your callers’ identities. You can even file a case against them if they sound threatening.

Still, with so many seemingly legit reverse lookup services on the market, you want to make sure you've found the right tool for the job. Luckily, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you.

We’ve listed helpful sites (including free and paid services) you might want to use to dig up that nagging telemarketer’s info.

Best Reverse Cell Phone Search Site: First Look

1. All-around best reverse phone lookup - TruthFinder
2. Best affordable reverse phone lookup - Intelius
3. Easiest phone number lookup service - Instant Checkmate
4. Reverse search with stellar BBB rating - Spokeo
5. Unlimited phone number searches - CocoFinder
6. Best cell phone lookup with no sign-up - ZabaSearch
7. Best new phone lookup service - TruePeopleSearch
8. Best reverse lookup site for dating - Social Catfish
9. Best free phone number lookup site -  Addresses
10. Free access to online public records - Background Check

1. TruthFinder - All-Around Best Reverse Phone Lookup 

Pros

• Unlimited phone lookups
• Comprehensive reports
• Mobile app (Android only)
• Money-back guarantee

Cons

• Needless horoscope emphasis

TruthFinder checks the right boxes when it comes to offering reverse phone number lookups. They also excel at it, delivering accurate results, at least comparatively.

To look up a number, type it in the search bar. The platform’s search engine will turn up reports of people linked to the number. Scroll through these and click on any profiles that match the information you’re looking for.

The report will feature your caller’s basic info, including physical and email addresses, alternate contact numbers, names, and marital status.

The good news?

You can conduct searches with TruthFinder’s membership for only $4.99 a month. Quarterly subscriptions are even cheaper.

TruthFinder also helps you do more than look up a number. They let you dig into your caller’s background using various parameters, such as criminal history, drug offenses, and driving record.

You only need to enter the name or email address you get from the phone lookup report.

2. Intelius - Best Affordable Reverse Phone Lookup 

Pros

• Supports individual searches
• Affordable subscriptions
• Easy-to-use interface

Cons

• Some inaccurate info

Another site that lets you search for people by their phone numbers, Intelius, has been in business for almost two decades.

To do a quick search, you only need to enter a phone number, and bingo! The Intelius data engines will jump into action, turning up possible reports for your caller. Click on any profiles of interest to see the information.

Please be careful since some users have reported inaccurate information with Intelius’ reverse phone number lookup. Double-check the info you come across before taking action.

Even so, Intelius is pretty easy to use.

Feel free to dig deeper into your callers’ backgrounds by unearthing their criminal information, drug history, driving records, etc. Intelius lets you do that by entering a name or email address, which you’ll get from your phone lookup report.

3. Instant Checkmate - Easiest Phone Number Lookup Service

Pros

• Easy-to-use search tool
• Cheap subscriptions
• Mobile app

Cons

• Poor customer support

This platform, launched in 2010, lets you search for people by phone number and other options. Just enter a number in the search box, and search results will turn up. Click on a profile that looks right.

You might want to opt for membership if the service works for you. The platform offers handy features, including a mobile app and an easy-to-use search tool.

Plus, Instant Checkmate offers various search parameters, including court, civil, and drug records. Dig deeper into someone’s criminal history using one or more of these search options. As usual, you’ll need to enter the person’s name, which is available in the phone lookup report.

Membership at Instant Checkmate comes with an attractive 50% off your first month. This might be handy if you’re on a budget.

4. Spokeo - Reverse Phone Search with Stellar BBB Rating

Pros

• Easy-to-use portal
• Free version available
• Anonymous lookup service
• Reliable customer support

Cons

• A flat-rate charge for court records

One of the biggest people search engines, Spokeo lets you track any US-based phone number hassle-free. You’ll need to enter the number in the platform’s search box. Then, Spokeo will dig up publicly available info, including addresses, names, and ages.

If you want court records included in your search results, you’ll have to dig deeper into your wallet. Those are available at a flat rate.

This California-based company has been around for more than 14 years, and the information provided couldn’t be more accurate. Their portal is pretty easy to use, and customer support is reliable. It’s no wonder they have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Spokeo also lets you do anonymous searches, which is handy if you don't want someone to find out you’re spying on them.

You can get started with their free version and get reliable reports. For full functionality, though, you’ll want to upgrade to the premium version.

Among other things, Spokeo lets you search for people by address, and you can dig into their criminal histories. 

5. CocoFinder - Unlimited Phone Number Searches

Pros

• Up-to-date data
• Unlimited free searches
• User-friendly
• Anonymous searches

Cons

• No mobile app

Another platform that lets you do number searches is CocoFinder. To start a search, type your caller’s phone number in the search box, and CocoFinder will turn up potential matches.

Reports include your caller’s current and previous addresses, full names, alternate phone numbers, and marital status.

While you get unlimited free lookups here, the info that’s provided is limited. Plus, if you want to access the site on the go, you might want to look elsewhere. CocoFinder has no mobile app for Android or iOS devices.  

Like most people search sites, though, this platform offers other services, such as criminal, drug, and civil background checks. This lets you dig deep into someone’s history.

Just note that while their customer care center is open 24/7, it’s only email-based, which can be slow.

6. ZabaSearch - Best Cell Phone Lookup with No Sign-Up

Pros

• Easy to use
• Positive reputation
• No registration
• More than a phone lookup service

Cons

• Some inaccurate info

This California-based company lets you do call lookups for free –no sign-up is required. While they generally unearth reliable info, you might want to go premium for in-depth data.

ZabaSearch seems to have a solid reputation, though, and you’ll likely end up with accurate data, at least comparatively.

To run a search, enter a phone number and hit the search button. ZabaSearch will do its magic, turning up possible profiles. Click the one that looks right and read through the info.

ZabaSearch isn’t limited to phone lookups; they offer other services, including address, area, background, and ZIP code lookups.

ZabaSearch advertises itself as a free site. Well, it used to be free -- but not anymore! These hidden charges are probably why it’s ranked #46 in the people-finding niche, according to SiteJabber.

7. TruePeopleSearch - Best New Phone Lookup Service

Pros

• Free searches
• Great user experience
• Accurate results

Cons

• Android app only

A comparatively new kid on the block, TruePeopleSearch opened its doors in 2017. However, the founders are extremely experienced in the “people search” field.

They let you look up any US-based number free of charge. Just enter it in the search bar. Their search engine will turn up basic details for your caller, including name, address, contact details, and social media accounts.

If you need an in-depth report, though, you’ll have to pull out your wallet.

Still, the “in-depth” searches here aren’t that in-depth, at least comparatively. For instance, a full background check with a criminal background report isn’t available.

Plus, TruePeopleSearch’s app is currently available for Android users only. This might not go over well if you’re an iOS fan. 

8. Social Catfish - Best Reverse Lookup Site for Dating

Pros

• Free
• A range of search options
• Doubles as a dating site
• No registration

Cons

• Mediocre reviews

Now we get to the dating site that doubles as a people-search engine. You can easily dig into a potential date’s history with just their phone number.

Just enter the number and hit “search.’’ The platform’s search engine will scour public and private records, turning up the info you can bank on, like age, marital status, social media handles, and alternate numbers.

Among other things, this California-based company lets you unearth someone’s info by address and name in addition to their numbers. Plus, Social Catfish helps you verify your potential date’s photos, which couldn’t be handier if you want to confirm the images on their dating profile are really them.

However, their online reviews are mediocre. According to some users, Social Catfish is lacking as a people search platform since the site turns up pretty limited info, at least comparatively.

9. Addresses - Best Free Phone Number Lookup Site

Pros

• Free
• Various search options
• Basic details

Cons

• Some inaccurate info

This public search platform lets you do your thing without paying a dime – it’s totally free. You only have to enter your caller’s number, and its search engine will get to work.

However, please double-check the info that’s turned up. Addresses is notorious for unearthing inaccurate info. It’s public and free, after all, which probably explains why their reports aren’t that detailed.

Still, the platform lets you do more than a number lookup. They offer reverse email lookup so you can dig up info about the folks behind those unsolicited emails in your spam folder.

Besides a number search, Addresses lets you search for someone by name if you have it. 

10. Background Check - Free Access to Online Public Records

Pros

• Easy-to-use portal
• Basic info is free
• A variety of search parameters

Cons

• Limited (but free) public records

Got a caller’s phone number? Just enter it in Background Check’s search bar to get the ball rolling.

The free report will include basic details, including name, addresses, and alternate phone numbers. You can dig deeper into someone’s background using the platform’s various search parameters, such as court records, employment records, and education records.

In-depth info costs money. To access it, you’ll have to opt for membership, which comes with a comparatively higher price tag.

Make sure to double-check the info that’s turned up, too. It could be inaccurate, at least based on previous users’ experiences with the site.

Phone Number Lookup Service: Your Questions Answered

How Does a Reverse Phone Lookup Service Work?

It works just like any other search tool that looks people up by email, photo, or name. You only have to enter someone’s phone number.

Next, your potential site’s search engines will dig through publicly available records and private ones if it has access to them.

It’ll turn up possible profiles; click the one that intrigues you, then look at the report.

What Can a Reverse Phone Lookup Site Tell You?

A reverse lookup can tell you a lot!

Reverse lookup sites HelpUnearth people’s identities. Reports will include basic details, such as age, name, alternate phone numbers, education history, marital status, and addresses.

Paid services tack on additional information you might be interested in, such as criminal background, drug history, and driving records. You only need to search by the respective parameter.

In a nutshell, a number lookup helps dig up a person’s info so you can take appropriate action if needed.

What Can You Do with the Information?

It all boils down to why you did a phone number lookup in the first place.

If all you were after was just a little more info about a telemarketer, use the social media handles on the report to head to their social profiles.

If you figure out that your unknown caller was just an old connection who wanted to reconnect, you can call them back.

If, however, your mysterious caller threatened you in one way or another, you’ll want to file a case against them.

Is It Better to Use a Free or Paid Site?

A paid service is better– for good reason.

Paid sites tend to not only generate accurate info but also dig deeper into a person’s history, including criminal, drug, driving, and work records, which is handy if you need a detailed report.

Most paid sites also offer free versions or cheap trials just so you know what you’re getting into before pulling out your wallet.

Free searches, meanwhile, might turn up inaccurate reports, which can be misleading. Even if the info is accurate, it’s likely limited. 

Reverse Phone Lookup: The Takeaway 

Using a phone number lookup service is an ideal way to identify your unknown callers, which is vital since some spammers can have hidden agendas.

Still, you don’t want to use just any site out there. Our top picks (TruthFinder, Intelius, and Instant Checkmate) check most of the right boxes, which means they might be good fits for you.

Plus, they feature affordable subscriptions, so even if you’re on a budget, you can conduct a search.

Did a spammer call you today? Don’t wait until you’re in a compromising situation – verify their identity today.