10 Best Databases for Private Investigators of 2026

1. 1

   idiCORE

   IDI's investigative search platform for locating people, assets and relationships, sold to credentialed businesses.

   8.6overall

   IDI's investigative search platform for locating people, assets and relationships, sold to credentialed businesses.

   Best forLicensed investigators and agencies that want a widely used locate and due diligence platform

   Adoption data

   11,252red violet, the parent of IDI, reported 11,252 billable IDI customers as of September 30, 2026, up from 9,853 a year earlier.

   red violet, Inc., Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (2026): “As of September 30, 2026, our IDI billable customer base increased to 11,252 customers, up from 9,853 customers a year earlier.”

   idiCORE is the flagship investigative product of IDI, part of the publicly listed red violet. Its 10-Q describes idiCORE as an investigative solution for due diligence, risk mitigation, identity authentication and regulatory compliance, used by law enforcement, law firms, collections teams, corporate security and investigative firms. That is the core job of a licensed investigator or skip tracer: find a subject, confirm identity and map relatives, associates and assets. idiCORE also has the strongest public adoption evidence on this list. red violet reports 11,252 billable IDI customers as of September 30, 2026, up from 9,853 a year earlier, and it counts each organization once. Customers reach the data through a web interface, batch processing, API or custom integrations, and they pay per transaction, by a monthly fee or by both. The drawbacks are the usual ones for this tier: no published price list and a credentialing step before the first search. We compared documented features and published figures and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +Only investigator database here with a customer count in an SEC filing: 11,252 billable customers
   • +Customer base grew from 9,853 to 11,252 in a year
   • +Batch and API access for high-volume locate work

   Limitations

   • −No public price list
   • −Business credentialing is required before access
   • −Billable customer counts organizations, not individual users

   SummaryidiCORE is the best database for private investigators because it pairs a full investigative toolkit with 11,252 billable customers reported in an SEC filing. Ask for transactional pricing if your search volume is low.

2. 2

   LocatePLUS

   Investigative database for businesses with people, asset, criminal, phone and vehicle searches.

   8.4overall

   Investigative database for businesses with people, asset, criminal, phone and vehicle searches.

   Best forSolo investigators and small agencies that want a published entry price

   Adoption data

   100,000LocatePLUS states on its own site that it has over 100,000 users.

   LocatePLUS, LocatePLUS Pricing (2026): “Over 100,000 Users”

   LocatePLUS is the rare investigator-grade database that prints a starting price: plans start at $39.95 per month, with final pricing set after a call to sales. Its search menu covers people, SSN verification, phone and email, social media, criminal records, motor vehicle reports, assets, businesses and courts, and the Comprehensive Report pulls together 24+ data sets on a subject. An integrated case manager tracks cases, expenses and users, which helps a small agency bill clients. LocatePLUS also says it offers same day credentialing and still provides full SSNs and DOBs. The company says it has over 100,000 users, a vendor figure rather than an audited one. It sells only to businesses, so an individual cannot sign up, and the published price is a floor rather than a plan sheet. For a new licensed investigator who needs to start working this week on a known budget, it is the easiest entry point here. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +Published entry price of $39.95 per month
   • +Same day credentialing for new business accounts
   • +Email and social media searches included on all plans

   Limitations

   • −Final pricing is customized by phone
   • −Business customers only
   • −User count is a vendor claim, not an audited figure

   SummaryLocatePLUS is the best choice for solo investigators on a budget because plans start at $39.95 a month and credentialing can finish the same day. Confirm search fees before you sign.

3. 3

   TLOxp

   TransUnion's investigative platform for locating people, assets and businesses, now sold within TruLookup.

   8.2overall

   TransUnion's investigative platform for locating people, assets and businesses, now sold within TruLookup.

   Best forInvestigators who need relationship mapping and batch searches backed by a credit bureau

   TLOxp is TransUnion's investigative search platform, and tlo.com now presents it inside the TruLookup family. TransUnion says the data comes from 10,000 public and proprietary databases refreshed every day, and the platform maps relationships among family, associates, assets and businesses. For skip tracers it adds batch and API processing that returns a single report, and for investigators it covers current and historical criminal and driving data plus liens, bankruptcies and judgments. A free trial signup sits on the product page, which makes it easier to test against an incumbent tool. What TransUnion does not publish is a price or a TLOxp customer count, so we scored adoption conservatively despite the brand's reach in the industry. Expect a credentialing review and a sales conversation before the first search. We compared documented features and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +10,000 databases refreshed daily, per TransUnion
   • +Free trial signup on the product site
   • +Batch and API processing in a single report

   Limitations

   • −No public price list
   • −No published customer count for TLOxp
   • −Rebranding into TruLookup can make plan names harder to compare

   SummaryTLOxp is the best choice for investigators who want relationship mapping across 10,000 daily refreshed sources. Use the free trial to compare hit rates with your current database.

4. 4

   LexisNexis Accurint for Private Investigations

   LexisNexis Risk Solutions' Accurint edition for corporate security and private investigative teams.

   8.1overall

   LexisNexis Risk Solutions' Accurint edition for corporate security and private investigative teams.

   Best forCorporate security teams and larger PI firms tracing people, businesses and hidden assets

   Accurint for Private Investigations is the LexisNexis Risk Solutions edition built for corporate security and private investigative teams. The product page lists the jobs it covers: pinpointing suspects, uncovering debt or hidden assets, researching businesses and potential partners, and detecting fraudulent or suspicious behavior. Investigators locate individuals through public and proprietary data sources, address history, employment information and linking technology that surfaces connections and contact details. Advanced administration features suit firms that manage several investigators under one account. LexisNexis does not publish prices or a user count for this edition, so it scores lower on value and adoption here than its reputation might suggest. Buyers should request the private investigations sales sheet and ask for per-search and subscription quotes side by side. We compared documented features and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +Dedicated edition for private investigations
   • +Covers suspects, hidden assets, businesses and fraud detection
   • +Team administration controls

   Limitations

   • −No public pricing; contact sales
   • −No published Accurint customer count
   • −Aimed at corporate security as much as solo investigators

   SummaryAccurint for Private Investigations is the best choice for corporate security teams because it combines people, business and hidden asset research with team administration. Get a written quote before comparing it with idiCORE or TLOxp.

5. 5

   Thomson Reuters CLEAR

   FedRAMP Certified public records and investigation software with AI-assisted entity resolution.

   8.0overall

   FedRAMP Certified public records and investigation software with AI-assisted entity resolution.

   Best forInvestigators working for government, financial services or large corporate clients

   CLEAR is Thomson Reuters' online investigation software, and it is the most enterprise-oriented tool on this list. It is FedRAMP Certified, which matters to investigators who take government work or serve regulated clients. Its entity resolution is built for messy inputs: the product page says CLEAR overcomes partial and incomplete data and scores relationships by confidence level. Investigators can connect people, businesses, assets and affiliations, and the platform includes exclusive data feeds and incarceration records with source transparency. Batching supports high-volume checks such as residency verification. The trade-off is buying friction. There is no price list, the path starts with a free demo, and Thomson Reuters does not publish a CLEAR user count, so adoption is scored conservatively. Small PI shops may find the contract heavier than they need. We compared documented features and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +FedRAMP Certified, which matters for government work
   • +Entity resolution helps with partial or incomplete subject data
   • +Incarceration records in the same platform

   Limitations

   • −No public pricing
   • −Sales-led, demo-first buying process
   • −No published CLEAR customer count

   SummaryCLEAR is the best choice for investigators serving government and financial clients because it is FedRAMP Certified and scores relationships by confidence level. Small agencies should price it against idiCORE and LocatePLUS.

6. 6

   IRBsearch

   Investigative search platform for PIs, process servers, attorneys and recovery agents with 40+ searches.

   7.7overall

   Investigative search platform for PIs, process servers, attorneys and recovery agents with 40+ searches.

   Best forPI agencies that want a choice of transactional, per-seat or flat-rate billing

   IRBsearch lists private investigators, process servers, legal professionals, repossession agents, bail bondsmen and collections as its core users. It offers more than forty individual searches with coverage across fifty states and all US territories, plus an Intelligence Brief bundle that finds a subject, pulls the Comprehensive Report and returns prioritized findings. Pricing comes in three models: transactional with a monthly minimum fee, per seat for 1 to 30+ users, and flat rate for 500 to 100,000+ minimum transactions a month. None of those plans shows a dollar figure, and IRBsearch publishes no customer count, so value and adoption are scored cautiously. A free trial for new customers lowers the risk of testing it. We compared documented features and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +Three billing models: transactional, per seat (1 to 30+ seats) or flat rate
   • +Free trial for new customers
   • +Built for PIs, process servers, bail and recovery work

   Limitations

   • −No published prices
   • −Transactional plan carries a monthly minimum fee
   • −No published customer count

   SummaryIRBsearch is the best choice for PI agencies that want flexible billing because it sells transactional, per-seat and flat-rate plans. Use the free trial before you commit to a monthly minimum.

7. 7

   BeenVerified

   Consumer people search subscription with background, phone, email and address lookups.

   7.5overall

   Consumer people search subscription with background, phone, email and address lookups.

   Best forInvestigators who want a low-cost secondary lookup outside regulated work

   Adoption data

   1.5 millionBeenVerified says more than 1.5 million subscribers use its services.

   BeenVerified, About BeenVerified (2026): “Over 1.5 million+ subscribers use our services.”

   BeenVerified is a consumer people search service, not a credentialed investigative database, but many investigators keep it as a quick secondary check. Every plan includes the full feature set: background reports, contact information, phone, email and address lookups, and criminal and traffic records, with optional alerts when a report changes. The 3-month membership costs $71.94, which works out to $23.98 a month, and the month-to-month plan is $36.89, both limited to 100 reports a month after a 7-day trial. The company says more than 1.5 million subscribers use it. The limits matter for licensed work. BeenVerified states it is not a consumer reporting agency and prohibits use for FCRA purposes, and it lacks the SSN, DOB and asset depth that idiCORE, TLOxp or Accurint provide to credentialed users. Treat it as a cross-check rather than a primary locate tool. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +Cheapest monthly rate on this list at $23.98 on the 3-month plan
   • +Open signup with no business credentialing
   • +1.5 million+ subscribers, per the company

   Limitations

   • −Not a consumer reporting agency; barred from FCRA purposes
   • −100 reports per month cap
   • −Fewer investigative data sets than credentialed databases

   SummaryBeenVerified is the best choice for a low-cost secondary lookup because the 3-month plan works out to $23.98 a month for 100 reports. It cannot be used for FCRA purposes.

8. 8

   Spokeo

   People search engine with a membership that includes up to 100 reports a month.

   7.5overall

   People search engine with a membership that includes up to 100 reports a month.

   Best forQuick name, phone and email checks on a small budget

   Adoption data

   20 millionSpokeo says its people search engine has grown to more than 20 million monthly visitors.

   Spokeo, About Spokeo (2026): “We launched a people search engine in 2010 and have grown to more than 20 million monthly visitors.”

   Spokeo is a consumer people search engine that investigators sometimes use for fast identity checks. A membership includes up to 100 reports a month: $14.95 a month on the 3-month plan, billed as $44.85, or $19.95 on a single month, and either can be canceled at any time. Spokeo launched its people search engine in 2010 and says it has grown to more than 20 million monthly visitors, which explains its broad name and phone coverage. For licensed investigators it is a supplement, not a primary tool. It does not offer the credentialed data that idiCORE, TLOxp or LocatePLUS release to vetted businesses, and its terms are written for consumers, with a separate sales contact for business use. Use it to confirm a phone number or email, then move to a credentialed database for anything you will put in a client report. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +Lowest verified entry price here at $14.95 a month on the 3-month plan
   • +No credentialing to start
   • +20 million+ monthly visitors, per the company

   Limitations

   • −Consumer product, not built for licensed investigative workflows
   • −100 reports per month cap
   • −No SSN, DOB or asset depth comparable to credentialed databases

   SummarySpokeo is the best choice for quick phone and email checks on a small budget because the 3-month plan costs $14.95 a month. Use a credentialed database for case evidence.

9. 9

   Skip Smasher

   Pay-per-search data site for investigators and skip tracers with a low monthly access fee.

   7.4overall

   Pay-per-search data site for investigators and skip tracers with a low monthly access fee.

   Best forSkip tracers with low or uneven search volume

   Skip Smasher is a no-frills option that publishes every price, which almost no investigator database does. Site access costs $11.95 a month, extra employees cost $2.95 a month each, and searches are billed one by one: Mega People Search is 90 cents, Open People Search 50 cents, Mega Public Records Search 25 cents, Workplace Data Search $1.50, Email Owner Search $1.00, a Landline Report $2.50 and a Cell Phone Report $3.50. Several utilities are free, including an SSN validator with death check, an address checker, a P.O. box locator and a fake number check. For a skip tracer who runs a few dozen searches a month, that structure is far cheaper than a subscription with a monthly minimum. The limits: Skip Smasher states it is not a consumer reporting agency, it publishes no user count, and its search menu is narrower than idiCORE, TLOxp or CLEAR. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +Every search price is published
   • +Lowest fixed monthly fee here at $11.95
   • +Extra employees cost $2.95 per month each

   Limitations

   • −Search fees add up at high volume
   • −Not for FCRA purposes
   • −No published user count

   SummarySkip Smasher is the best choice for low-volume skip tracers because access is $11.95 a month and every search price is published. Heavy users should compare per-search totals with a flat-rate plan.

10. 10

    Skip Genie

    Flat-rate skip tracing membership for finding property owners and heirs.

    6.9overall

    Flat-rate skip tracing membership for finding property owners and heirs.

    Best forSkip tracers who locate property owners, heirs and mineral owners

    Skip Genie is a skip tracing membership rather than a full investigative database. One plan costs $58 a month, includes 100 search credits and charges 17 cents for each additional credit, with no long-term contract. A search can return up to 10 phone numbers ranked by likelihood and labeled mobile or landline, a full address history, possible emails, possible relatives and associates, age and a deceased indicator. Optional add-ons include a do-not-call scrub, caller ID check and connection status. The product is aimed at real estate investors and oil and gas land professionals tracing owners of record and heirs, so it lacks the criminal, asset and court searches a licensed investigator expects. Skip Genie has been skip tracing since 2014 but publishes no user count. It earns its place for skip tracers working probate and heir searches at a fixed monthly cost. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run hands-on tests.

    Strengths

    • +100 search credits included for $58 a month
    • +17 cents per additional credit
    • +No long-term contract

    Limitations

    • −Built for real estate and oil and gas owner searches, not general investigations
    • −No criminal or asset searches listed
    • −No published user count

    SummarySkip Genie is the best choice for heir and property owner skip tracing because $58 a month buys 100 credits with up to 10 ranked phones per search. It lacks criminal and asset searches.

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