Finding software that allows you to record your screen while on a budget isn’t always easy. If you’ve got a Mac, you could use the Screen Recording feature of QuickTime Player, but that doesn’t include any system sounds, nor can you record from your Webcam or a microphone, and this advice is useless for those working on a Windows machine.

Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder - a name that literally does what it says on the tin - offers everyone, everywhere, the ability to capture their screens right from their browser. Well… that’s the claim at least.

Compared to many of the best free screen recorders, we weren’t impressed last time we reviewed this app, but has anything changed in this latest version? We put the tool to the test.

Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder: Set-up & interface

• Looks simple and promising, and works as expected - on a PC… on a Mac, it’s a different matter

You can access Apowersoft’s screen recording facilities in two ways. The most appealing is directly through your browser, by clicking here. There’s also an optional software download, should you have problems getting it to work, which we explore later in this review.

There’s not really any interface to speak of. Just a large ‘Start Recording’ button, to the left of a large ‘Download App’ button. Click on the former to be offered various options. It’s through this that you can choose to record your screen, connect to your webcam, record your system sound, and external microphone. In today’s security conscious world, you’ll need to approve each of these the first time you wish to make use of them. This is all standard fare for Macs and PCs.

On the PC side of things, everything works as expected: once you hit that window’s ‘Start Recording’ button, and agree not to exceed one hour of recording time due to browser memory limitations, it’s smooth sailing all the way. Speaking of limitations, if you’ve elected to record your webcam, you’ll get a little popup window with you in it as expected, but it’s tethered to the webpage. Switch to another app, or do something else that obscures that page, and it’ll also obscure your webcam footage. Far from ideal.

With your recording done, you’re then offered a series of editing options, each of which take you to various other sites. The AI captioning works well but appears to be limited to 30 seconds, another website takes care of trimming your footage, and so on.

But on the Mac side of things, it’s not as rosy. Apowersoft can’t record your system audio in Safari, but at least everything else works as expected. However, once your recording is done, you have no editing options. Those little popup icons you get on the right of the recording when using a PC just don’t appear. Using Firefox all the options appear to work, even the computer audio, but every time we tried to record something, we were advised to download the app instead. We couldn’t get around that.

From this we conclude that recording from a browser is a nice novelty which works well on the PC, but isn’t that seamless on the Mac, and if you need to perform even basic editing, Mac users appear to have been left out of the loop.

• Set-up & interface: 3/5

Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder: Recording

• When it works, it records well, but the file format causes headaches

Once we managed to get part of the options up and running, everything worked fine.

You get to decide whether you want to record the entire screen, or just focus on one of your currently open windows. This is great. You’re given a 3-second timer, and the page starts recording your chosen part of your interface.

When you’ve finished screen-capturing, stop the recording and it’ll appear on the page, ready for you to play it back.

There's none of the best video editing software available to you. Saving the file downloads it to your computer. You also have the option of uploading it to your Apowersoft account, although you’d need to login for that.

The resulting file caused us some concern though. Most computer users rely on their operating system to be able to read the files they’re sent. Very few would go out of their way to add additional functionality to their device, and perhaps more so for Mac users.

Except here, they’d have to: Free Online Screen Recorder saves your clip as a .webm file which Macs cannot read natively.

Yes, you can download the free VLC reader, and play it back from there. And yes, you could also use the excellent free Handbrake, one of the best free video converter tools we've tried, which lets you change the format to something more ubiquitous - .mp4.

But the question remains: why can’t Apowersoft save your video as the universally recognised .mp4 by default?

• Recording: 2.5/5

Apowersoft Free Online Screen Recorder: App

• Records well, but it records well, but little to no editing options on Mac

So using the app might be a better option than the browser version (they kept pushing us to download it anyway, on either platform!).

Having struggled so much on the Mac, we thought we’d try it first, and we came away very pleased with our recording. Everything worked, including the system audio, and you have the option of recording the entire screen, or limit the area Apowersoft will record. Whatever you do during the recording is saved permanently to your video, and that includes the various callouts you can use during your session, such as a spotlight view (dimming everything except a large circle around your cursor), and an annotation tool which lets you draw on the screen. There’s also a button to take screenshots of your recording. All this is good.

You have a few interesting options when it comes to your webcam, which offers you the ability to blur your background or replace it with a choice of other locations. Unfortunately, the video capture from the webcam slowed to an absolute crawl when we tried it, like, less than one frame every second, so we thought it best to stick to a default normal background. One other option which must’ve been included just for fun, is the ability to alter your look: you can smooth out your wrinkles, increase the size of your eyes, add lipstick and blush… none of this seemed to affect the frame rate, and if you fancy putting on some virtual makeup, who are we to stop you?

When it comes to editing… we appear to have next to nothing. We couldn’t find a way to trim our footage for instance, which should be the most basic aspect of any video editor (heck, it’s available on Apowersoft’s PC’s browser version after all!). Instead, we could extract the audio, speed up or slow down the footage, change the volume… and that’s pretty much it.

On the PC side of things, just like with the browser version, the app offers a range of editing tools. You can add AI subtitles, AI translations, you can split videos, merge them, crop and rotate clips, among others. The point being, the PC’s implementation is miles better than what Apowersoft offers for the Mac.

So it’s not very good news for Mac users, but PC users can have fun with Apowersoft’s software… for about a minute. That’s right: although you have a one-hour limit on your recordings with the browser version, the app limits any recording to a single minute. If you record for longer, it’ll keep that first one minute and discard the rest. You can’t even choose which part to save.

You can remove this utterly crippling limitation by opting for a ‘VIP Upgrade’. This can be done through a yearly subscription (around $40 as of this writing) or a lifetime purchase (around $80).

Now last time we checked Apowersoft, we were far from satisfied. We struggled getting it to work - on any machine - and the file format they’d elected to use was one Macs couldn’t read natively: .webm (they do appear to have a thing against Macs even though they claim their software works on these machines).

Thankfully all of this has been resolved. The file format is now the standard .mp4, and most of the headaches to get the system to work have been ironed out… on the PC. The browser and app versions on the PC side worked great, even despite some of their limitations, and we can happily recommend either to anyone looking for a free screen capture tool. Not so for the Mac. Yes, the flaws to get it to work have been resolved, but where are the editing tools that come as standard on the PC, either in the browser or the dedicated app? They pop up effortlessly on the PC; we just couldn’t find them on the Mac. And let’s not forget that one-minute recording limitation for the app for both platforms. You might actually be better off taking a look at our ScreenPal review for a free alternative instead.

• Screen recorder app: 3/5

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Having the ability to record your screen, be it to show something that’s glitching for tech support, explain a feature to someone, or just for fun, is becoming an increasingly useful and important thing to do. 

And no, using your phone to record your computer screen is far from ideal, which is why we’re taking a look at FlashBack Express from Blueberry. Is it one of the best free screen recorders around or are compromises still evident since our last review?

FlashBack Express: Pricing and plans

• Free screen recorder with no watermark, only some limitations

PC-only FlashBack Express is free - and you can check it out by clicking here. However, the tool has limitations that are only lifted once you grab a Pro license. 

The Pro version is a perpetual license - no on-going subscriptions here. You pay once and you own the software.

In addition to offering one of the best screen recorders, FlashBack Pro also includes a full video editing software suite. You can add text, images, sound and video effects to your project, you’re offered more exporting options than the 720p MP4 FlashBack Express can use, and your footage won’t be crippled with watermarks either.

You purchase Pro via licenses, and the more licenses you buy, the cheaper the price for each gets. For instance, one license is usually $49, but is discounted to $39 / £33 as of this writing. Get two for $59 / £50, three for $89 / £75, and so on. Academic discounts are also available.

If you’re looking for streaming software to broadcast and record your gaming experience, neither the company's best free screen recorder Express nor Pro might be up to that task. But the developers also offer FBX for that purpose, with Free and Pro versions available.

• Pricing: 4/5

FlashBack Express: Interface

• Simple parameters, in an easy to understand interface, with some limitations

Once you’ve launched FlashBack Express, you’re graced with a very small window containing a handful of options. This is where you get to set your parameters, and you’ll find that there are a surprisingly fair number of them, for a free service.

First of all, you’ve got ‘Screen’. By default, it’s set to ‘fullscreen’. Click on that menu to choose to focus on a region of your screen, or a specific window instead. Top left of your screen (not the window), you’ll also find a menu with different size options (depending on your computer screen’s own dimensions).

Look around the edge and you’ll notice a selectable border. Click and drag on any of its handles to resize the area you’ll be capturing. It’s a very simple and hands-on approach.

Your next parameter involves your webcam. Here it’s simple: whether you have it switched on or not. This is also true of your microphone, along with a choice of devices should you have more than one connected. 'PC Audio’ is set to ‘off’, but that’s because it’s there to lure you to upgrade to the more advanced ‘Pro’ version mentioned above: Express doesn’t record your computer’s audio, save through your external microphone.

Same goes for ‘Video quality’: Express is set to 720p, so that menu is only there to entice you to go ‘Pro’, which can record at up to 4K.

You’ll find a cog wheel at the top of that small window, where the software’s settings and preferences are located, and to its left, is the ability to schedule a recording (funny how updated versions just switch the order of buttons: it used to be to its right). This is an interesting concept, and you’re offered numerous parameters, such as when to start the recording, and for how long to record. Additional features include when to repeat your scheduled recording, what to record (video, audio, or both), and what to do once the recording is completed.

• Interface: 4/5

Blueberry FlashBack Express: Recording

• Lights, camera, action - everything has to be done live

With FlashBack Express, you have no post-editing capabilities. Everything you want to see happening, you need to do it live so to speak. This obviously involves performing the right action at the right time that you wish to record, but it also applies to your webcam footage.

By default, you’ll find that video as a picture-in-picture, lower right of the interface. You can move it anywhere on the screen, and as you do so, you’ll notice you have three size options, the largest one being full screen.

If you fancy doing a two camera setup, moving from yourself to your desktop, this is something you’ll have to do during the recording process.

Otherwise, just leave it where it is, perform your actions, and stop your recording. This is done either via a keyboard shortcut, or by using the onscreen controls to the left.

• Recording: 3/5

Blueberry FlashBack Express: Editing & exporting

• No real editing, can only trim, although direct upload to YouTube is a plus

Your recordings are stored within the app itself, and to access your editing tools, you simply double-click on the one you wish to work on.

Except, calling that editing is a pretty generous way of referring to trimming. That’s right: you can trim the start and end of your recording and that’s it. This is hardly the best free video editing software we've tried. These are the only options at your disposal. At this point, you can understand why FlashBack Pro might become a tempting alternative.

When it comes to exporting, you’re able to save the file to your computer, or directly via cloud storage through your Google Drive or DropBox. If you’re satisfied with your recording, you also have the option of uploading it straight to YouTube.

• Editing & exporting: 2/5

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O&ODiskImage is a backup software product of O&O Software GmbH, a German software company founded in 1997. The name “O&O” refers to the initials of its founders, Oliver Falkenthal and Olaf Kehrer. It develops Windows software for PC optimization, data imaging, disk cloning, backup & recovery, secure data deletion, and administration.

O&O serves individual and enterprise customers in over 140 countries, including 43% of those listed in the “Forbes 100 International”, and it’s got plenty of pedigree when it comes to disk imaging and backup tools – we’ve tested the nineteenth version of O&O DiskImage Professional here.

Plans & pricing

O&O DiskImage 19 Professional has no free version and, unusually, there’s no Home version, either – this is a purely professional piece of software and only available in Professional or Server versions.

That’s pleasingly straightforward, and that trend follows through to the pricing. Professional Edition for one PC costs $50 for a lifetime licence or $70 for five PCs – ideal for smaller businesses. Server Edition costs $299 for a single licence.

Additionally, DiskImage 19 Professional is available in the O&O PowerPack, which also includes O&O Defrag, O&O SafeErase 19 Pro and O&O AutoBackup 6. This bundle costs $60 for a one-PC licence and $100 for a five-PC version. It’s an excellent deal.

Features

As with most of its contemporaries, O&O DiskImage 19 Professional lets users back up entire computers, operating systems, partitions or drives alongside specific file or folder selections. Those backups can be restored, incremental backups are supported, and it has handy tools for one-click PC backups, drive or disk cloning and the option to create bootable recovery disks.

Elsewhere, O&O offers options to read and validate backup image files, check your drives, map or disconnect network drives, convert or merge backups and mount or unmount drives as local options for users to navigate.

Delve into the advanced options and you’ll uncover more functionality. Multiple compression and encryption options are available, along with password protection, and you can split your backups into units of smaller sizes – handy if you have to store backups across a few different external drives.

You can configure the app to email you when backups are completed and automatically check backups for errors.

When creating a backup job, you can schedule your operations and program the app to complete specific tasks before or after your backups.

It’s a solid slate of backup features, but we can’t help but notice that other tools, like Genie or EaseUS, have more extensive scheduling options, and Macrium’s tools are better for developing commands to use around your backups.

Interface and use

O&O DiskImage 19 Professional has a straightforward interface that makes backup operations easy. Large buttons on the home page signpost users to all critical operations. Start a backup, and a window on the left is used to select what you want to preserve. Then, a wizard-style window allows the backup to be personalized.

Along the top of each window you’ll find large icons pointing you towards frequently-used settings, and the tools at the end of the app are sensibly laid out. If you don’t want to open the full app, there’s an Express version that puts key options in a tiny window – a handy shortcut – and the Start Menu has a link to directly open the backup creation wizard.

There are certainly apps that look cleaner and more modern, but O&O’s interface is straightforward and easy to navigate.

We tested our latest slate of backup apps with a 42GB document folder, a 2.5GB spreadsheet folder, a 162GB folder of media and an 82GB file that mixes all of those file types. We backed them up to three different SSDs to weed out any inconsistency.

O&O’s app proved to be one of the fastest in our testing. In our Media test it averaged 10 minutes and 25 seconds, and it preserved a mixed folder of files in 13 minutes and 2 seconds. It whizzed through our Excel files in just over three minutes. All three averages are comfortably at the top of our results table.

Its 14-minute time working with Documents was a little slower, but it was still in the top half of our results and not something to be worried about. This, ultimately, is a very fast backup app.

O&O DiskImage: Support

O&O’s official website has many support resources – from FAQs, whitepapers and manuals to a busy forum. Support requests can be made via a form, with faster responses available for premium customers, and a direct email address is also available. Sadly, though, there are no phone options.

Competition

Some of O&O’s key rivals in the backup software space include apps from Macrium, EaseUS and Genie9, and they certainly have their strengths – EaseUS and Macrium’s tools offer similar speed to O&O’s apps and some better features when it comes to fine-tuning and scheduling your backups.

Macrium is more expensive, though, and EaseUS is no cheaper. And with a good core offering and generous pricing that includes lifetime options, O&O competes well with a great combination of speed and value.

Verdict

Indeed, those two attributes prove to be some of O&O DiskImage 19 Professional’s biggest strengths. It’s a very fast backup tool with a great set of core features, and its pricing is extremely fair and straightforward.

You’ll get a slicker interface and more features elsewhere, and those in large enterprises may want more advanced options, like SQL support – but for home users and those in small and medium businesses, O&O DiskImage 19 Professional is a great, affordable choice. 

Streaming is huge. There’s tons of equipment to help make sure you keep up with the best of them. And that means investment. Sometimes, quite large investments. If only one crucial part of the equation could be free...

Enter OBS Studio version 31. It’s open-source, and therefore free, streaming software for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It also features some of the best free screen recorder apps you can get. Could it really be that the best things in life are free, or do you truly get what you pay for?  

OBS Studio: Interface

• An empty canvas, but an interface that is easy to learn

Grabbing your copy of the software is incredibly straightforward: point your browser to obsproject.com, click on either ‘Windows’ (version 10 or 11), ‘macOS’ (version 11 onwards) or ‘Linux’, to download the latest version. MacOS also comes in two flavours, for Macs that have Intel processors and for those that run on Apple Silicon.

The first time you launch OBS Studio, you’ll be asked a series of questions to help the software optimize itself to your needs. These are simple queries, but if you’re not sure what you’re after just yet, or wish to get back to the process at a later date, you can activate it at any time by going to Tools > Auto-Configuration Wizard.

You’re then graced with an empty canvas. Literally. If you’re new to streaming, this could feel a little daunting. OBS Studio does provide a quick start guide and an overview on their website to help you get started. But to be honest, it isn’t that difficult to find your way around, and a few minutes of prodding will help you understand how everything works.

• Interface: 3.5/5

OBS Studio: Streaming setup

• Preparing for a stream is easy - once you understand the process

OBS Studio is set up around the notion of scenes. Just as you would cut from one scene to the next using any of the best video editing software (or rather, the best free video editing software, in this case), here, you can create as many scenes as you need prior to going live. Name them, organize them in the lower left section of the interface, ready to switch from one to the other at any time.

Adding Scenes in that tiny little corner is easy, but by default, there’s nothing in them. That’s where the Sources tab comes in most handy.

Click on its ‘+’ button, and you’ll see all the inputs you can include. Anything from audio, to a coloured background, an image or video, a webcam, and, of course, a way to broadcast your desktop. It’s all there. 

And, if you happen to find a dreaded black screen when trying to access your desktop, make sure you allow OBS to have screen recording privileges in your computer’s privacy settings. If this is your first time with OSB, it should launch with a list of permissions to allow, with a series of buttons to get to each quickly.

Those who are concerned about revealing how messy their work environment is, will heave a sigh of relief when they realize they can limit what is streamed, to a specific window for instance, or even just a webpage.

• Setup: 3.5/5

OBS Studio: Issues

• Confusing interface for newbies, and upside-down media

OBS Studio features a huge amount of flexibility, but the interface doesn’t feel that user-friendly. It’s a bit like having to wrestle with its way of working, until you capitulate and choose to work on its terms. It feels like there’s always one too many clicks to get the work done.

For instance, when adding text to a scene, you can click on it directly in the preview window to resize it and move it around, and it almost feels like a double-click would allow you to edit it - like you can with image compositors. 

But this isn’t the case: you need to double-click on its listing in the Source panel in order to do that. Of course this is also where you get to choose its font, style, color, and so on. But it feels overly time-consuming to have to go there just to change a word, or fix a typo.

Be that as it may, once you’ve familiarized yourself with such peculiarities, you will find OBS Studio is a supremely flexible tool  - apart from one issue that we’ve also encountered in some video editing packages in the past which never fails to frustrate: any photo or video shot on an iPhone will appear upside down when imported - even on a Mac. The issue can be fixed by selecting the offending article and going to Edit > Transform > Rotate 180 Degree, but imagine having to do this when setting up a slideshow with dozens of images… this glitch has been in existence since the iPhone came out, 18 years ago! This does show the importance of preparing your clips prior to going live, should an unexpected glitch occur (and don’t they always?)

OBS Studio: Tools

• Many tools to help you create great content

It must be stressed however that for what you’re getting for free, these are minor inconveniences - and no software is perfect, right?

We found the options offered by OBS Studio to be impressive: each scene can be filled with multiple sources. These sources, once applied, can be reordered, exactly like layers in an image editor or video editing app, with the one above obscuring those beneath it.

One thing we particularly liked was the ability to reuse the same object in multiple scenes. Create some text or add a watermark in one scene, and you’ll see them available when creating a new source in the ‘add existing’ section. Even better, if you make alterations to one, those changes will be passed on to other scenes that contain the same source. 

Better still, if you need an object placed in a specific location throughout your stream, you can simply copy it from one scene, and paste it choosing ‘Paste (Reference)’ to not only enable those editing possibilities mentioned above, but also make sure its size and position on the screen are preserved.

But this is just scratching the surface: you have so many other tools available to you, like setting up transitions when cutting from scene to scene - there are but a handful available but you can also bring in custom ones via the ‘Add : Stinger' option.

You can include up to six audio tracks, name them, and even add unique settings and filters to each. The ability to include custom filters is also a possibility.

If you’re keen on keyboard shortcuts, you can set them up and customize them to your heart’s content through OBS Studio’s Preferences window.

Another great tool is Studio Mode. This splits your screen in two, showing you what’s being broadcast on the right, and displaying a preview of what could come next on the left. This allows you to set us the next scene during broadcast, even making alterations to it before showing it to your audience. This also works while using OBS Studio as a recording device (i.e., when recording something but not broadcasting it live).

• Tools: 5/5

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TruthFinder is a comprehensive online service that allows users to search through extensive databases, including public records maintained by various government agencies as well as social media profiles. By utilizing advanced algorithms, the platform effectively sifts through an immense volume of data to deliver detailed reports on the individuals you’re researching. This capability can be particularly useful in a variety of reasonable situations, such as verifying the identity of a prospective neighbor, reconnecting with an old friend, or gathering information relevant to personal safety.

However, it is crucial to understand the ethical guidelines surrounding the use of TruthFinder. The service is not intended for conducting employee background checks, tenant screenings, or verifying consumer credit information. Furthermore, users must adhere to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which prohibits using such platforms for any purpose that could infringe upon an individual’s privacy or rights.

Think of TruthFinder as a streamlined resource for accessing publicly available information that can otherwise be cumbersome to compile independently. The data it aggregates comes from reliable and authorized sources, ensuring that users can trust the integrity of the information provided. According to the company's claims, these sources are regularly updated, allowing for the removal of inaccuracies and ensuring that users receive the most accurate and relevant information possible.

Here’s a look at how we liked TruthFinder.

TruthFinder: plans and pricing

TruthFinder provides a variety of flexible pricing options tailored to different user needs, making it accessible for anyone seeking detailed information about individuals.

1. People Search Subscription: For comprehensive searches, the monthly subscription is priced at **$28.33**. Opting for a bi-monthly subscription will cost you **$47.03**, which breaks down to **$23.52 per month**. This plan grants you access to a wealth of data, offering unlimited person reports and location reports. You'll receive insights into social media profiles, location history, and much more, ensuring you're equipped with thorough information.

2. Reverse Phone Lookup: If your primary interest lies in contacting someone via their phone number or obtaining limited personal details, the Reverse Phone Lookup plan is available for just $4.99 per month. This economical option proves invaluable if you're specifically seeking someone's employment history, as well as email and phone information associated with that number, providing you with targeted results without the extras.

3. Reverse Email Lookup: For those needing to gather information through email correspondence, the Reverse Email Lookup plan costs $29.73 per month. While the reports you obtain through this plan may offer less detail than the comprehensive People Search plan, you benefit from unlimited email reports sent directly to your inbox, streamlining your access to the data.

4. Customization Options: If the preset plans offered do not perfectly align with your needs, you can reach out to their customer support team to customize a plan that suits your requirements. This flexibility allows you to tailor your experience, ensuring you receive the most relevant information.

5. Offline Access and Additional Services: Have the convenience to download and view reports offline for an additional $3.99 monthly fee, making it easy to access your data anytime, anywhere. Furthermore, TruthFinder offers a Dark Web Monitoring service for $2.99 a month, which monitors known hacker forums to protect your passwords and personal credentials from potential breaches.

Payment Options: TruthFinder supports a variety of payment methods, accepting major credit and debit cards, as well as digital payment platforms like PayPal and Amazon Pay, ensuring a hassle-free checkout experience.

With these well-rounded options, TruthFinder makes it easy for users to gain valuable insights and ensure their online safety, whether they're searching for a person, investigating a phone number, or safeguarding their digital presence.

TruthFinder:: features

TruthFinder offers many of the same features that you’d expect to find with other background check services. These include searches that cover both public and private sources, plus the ability to identify potential associates and relatives of your search subject.

If TruthFinder correctly manages to identify the person you are searching for, you could receive a report containing many essential details about their life. These will be collated from birth records, social media profiles, and criminal and traffic records.

The TruthFinder platform also offers self-monitoring tools, meaning you can view your record to see what potential employers, or other people who search for you, will see on the platform. Through TruthFinder, you can even claim a particular record as your own. If you do this, you’ll be able to correct factual inaccuracies on it or hide it from other TruthFinder users.

If you’re getting suspicious calls from a number that you don’t recognize, you may be able to use TruthFinder to identify its owner via the reverse phone lookup feature. In some cases, TruthFinder may even be able to reveal social media profiles or photographs associated with the number you are searching for.

TruthFinder: interface and in use

The TruthFinder interface is slick and easy to use. To perform a search, all you need to do is enter the search subject’s name and their local city. Next, TruthFinder will ask questions to help narrow down possible results, such as the gender, age, and known locations of the individual being searched for. You are also requested to provide your first and last name, email, and zip code.

After that, TruthFinder will display a series of loading screens and progress bars. However, although these pages are visually attractive, it’s hard to avoid the feeling that they are presented for show. There are also enticing statements about how you may be “shocked” to see what is in this individual’s report, and you also have to verify that you are over 18 years old. There is also some marketing as 5-star favorable service reviews are flashed non-stop during the process.

Eventually, TurthFinder will show you a list of candidates who match your search query. You can identify the correct person based on a few factors, such as address and social network. During our testing, TruthFinder successfully identified the majority of people we tried searching for.

Once you’ve found the correct person, you’ll have to pay for your report before opening it. The final report screen is a lengthy interactive document containing a wide range of information on your search subject, including location history, contact information, and possible relatives. Strangely, TruthFinder also includes extraneous information in reports, such as horoscopes and astrological signs.

TruthFinder: support

If you run into trouble or have any difficulty using TruthFinder, you can turn to the help section of the platform’s website. Unfortunately, the information presented here isn’t as detailed as we’d like, but there are some articles on essential topics such as “Cancel Account” and “Is TruthFinder Safe?” Consequently, If you need assistance, you’ll probably be better off contacting the service via the toll-free number, which is available Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 10 PM ET. TruthFinder support staff are available on weekdays and work extended hours, so your query will be responded to quickly.

There are not many companies that offer 24/7 customer support, and unfortunately, TruthFinder is not one of them.

We were disappointed to find limited other options, such as chat, videos, or a user forum. We also did not find a direct email or a support portal. While not perfect, the support system that is in place will surely answer your queries fairly quickly.

TruthFinder: security

The service offered is secure and private, ensuring that the person you’re looking up will never be able to know that you tried looking them up, using their phone, email, or any other personal information. Data protection is entrusted to the 256-bit encryption mechanism, an encryption protocol used by the US Army, which will safeguard all of your classified information. Moreover, the platform employs SSL certificates from Cloudfllare Inc. guaranteeing your privacy and data security. An additional layer of security can be obtained by utilizing the platform’s Dark Web Monitoring services, but if you’re a diligent and conscientious internet user, you can skip the expense.

TruthFinder: the competition

One major limitation of TruthFinder is that you can’t use the service to complete pre-employment background checks as it is not FRCA compliant. If you are looking for such a service, consider People Trail instead. People Trail is licensed to perform pre-employment background checks and doesn’t require you to sign up for a lengthy membership as TruthFinder does.

PeopleFinders is another background checking service in direct competition with TruthFinder. If you’re not keen on TruthFinder’s hefty monthly cost, you’ll be glad to hear that PeopleFinders’ prices start at a more budget-friendly $2.95.

TruthFinder: final verdict

TruthFinder is a highly useful tool designed to help users locate long-lost relatives, reconnect with friends, or verify the information available about themselves in the public domain. As one of the top-rated platforms for conducting background checks, it enables you to obtain comprehensive reports on individuals, which can include details such as criminal records, address histories, and social media profiles.

In addition to standard background checks, TruthFinder offers reverse phone lookup capabilities, allowing you to identify callers by entering their phone numbers. This feature can be particularly handy if you receive calls from unknown numbers or want to know more about who might be contacting you.

Moreover, TruthFinder provides a service that checks whether your personal information, such as email addresses or Social Security numbers, is being sold on the dark web. This feature is crucial for protecting your identity and personal data in an increasingly digital world.

The website is recognized for its reliability and security, ensuring that your searches are confidential and that your personal information is protected. However, it is important to note that a monthly membership fee is required if you wish to conduct unlimited searches. If you only need to perform a one-time search, it may be more cost-effective to explore alternative services that offer pay-per-report pricing, which allows you to obtain the specific information you need without committing to a monthly subscription.

We've also highlighted the best background check service for individuals.

Instant Checkmate is a people search tool that aggregates data from public records. The service is user-friendly and provides a wide range of information, including contact details and criminal records. However, the results are not instant, and the service requires you to answer numerous questions and navigate several warnings before receiving a report, which can be frustrating. Despite these inconveniences, the site is worth exploring, boasting over 1.4 billion recent searches.

In this Instant Checkmate review, you will discover whether this is the best option for conducting background checks or people searches.

Instant Checkmate: plans and pricing

Instant Checkmate offers subscription plans that allow for unlimited reports. A one-month subscription costs $35.47. Alternatively, you can sign up for three months at a rate of $28.38 per month, which requires a prepayment of $85.13. Additionally, there is an option to purchase reverse phone lookups for $5.99 each month. Unfortunately, individual reports for single cases are not available for purchase. However, you may be able to find a “trial offer” that significantly reduces the price.

Instant Checkmate: features

Instant Checkmate is a comprehensive online tool designed to help users search for individuals by entering their name, city, and state. In addition to name searches, the platform offers a reverse phone lookup feature, allowing users to identify unknown callers.

The service focuses exclusively on public records, meaning that all the information provided is available through other sources. However, Instant Checkmate is notable for its expansive reach, compiling a wide array of data in its reports. This includes details about owned properties, vehicles registered, past addresses, family connections, marriages, and bankruptcy filings. Furthermore, the platform can inform users if the individual in question is a registered sex offender, holds a gun license, or has any reported criminal, arrest, or traffic records.

It's crucial to understand that Instant Checkmate does not comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Therefore, it should not be relied upon for conducting background checks for employment purposes or rental applications, as it may not provide the legal protections or standards required for such processes.

Instant Checkmate: interface and in use

The user experience on Instant Checkmate can be somewhat cumbersome. Initiating a search is straightforward: you simply input the relevant information about the person in the search bar on the homepage. However, as you proceed, expect to encounter a series of pop-up prompts requesting additional details to help refine your results. These prompts may ask for information such as the gender of the individual you’re searching for and the names of known relatives.

During this process, users are often bombarded with warnings that graphic content may be included in the search results. These alerts are repetitive, with users potentially encountering up to five such notifications before being granted access to the report. While warning users about potentially sensitive content is important, the frequency and intensity of these alerts can feel excessive and somewhat distracting, detracting from the overall user experience.

As part of the registration process, you’ll need to provide your name and email address, and you will be required to consent to receive promotional emails from Instant Checkmate, which could be viewed as an annoyance by some users.

The experience does improve once you finally access a report. Users can expect to find primarily accurate information, although some mistakes can occur, particularly regarding address details. One noteworthy feature is that criminal records are accompanied by a likelihood score, serving as a reminder that while Instant Checkmate strives to provide accurate data, it can’t guarantee its correctness.

Overall, while Instant Checkmate offers a wealth of information that can be valuable, the user experience could benefit from a more streamlined process and fewer interruptions.

Instant Checkmate: mobile app

Instant Checkmate offers an Android app, but it does not have an iOS app, which is a drawback since iOS is another widely used smartphone platform. Users on the Google Play Store have given the app a high rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. They praise its ease of use and the accuracy of the data, although some users have expressed frustration with the login process and noted that the information provided lacks depth.

Instant Checkmate: support

Instant Checkmate provides support via phone and email from 10 AM to 10 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. If you encounter issues signing up for the service or locating a report, you can visit the online help center, which offers tutorial videos and answers to frequently asked questions. Additionally, canceling your Instant Checkmate subscription is straightforward and can be done at any time.

However, it's important to note that Instant Checkmate lacks additional support options, such as chat or a user portal, which are available in similar services.

Another significant advantage of Instant Checkmate is that it makes it easy to remove your information from its search database. Unlike many other people search tools that obscure this option, the opt-out request link is conveniently located in the footer of the Instant Checkmate website. Typically, your data is removed within two days after you submit an opt-out request.

Instant Checkmate: security

Instant Checkmate’s website is secured with Norton Symantec, and all payment data is transferred using 256-bit encryption. Since all of the information on the site is available through public records, there’s relatively little emphasis on keeping reports secure. The connection is also a secure SSL connection that uses “A private and safe 128-bit encrypted connection.”

Instant Checkmate: the competition

Instant Checkmate is one of the most reliable people search tools available. However, it tends to be more expensive compared to competitors like US Search. If your budget allows, choose Instant Checkmate, as the information provided is generally much more accurate than what you'll find with US Search.

If you require a Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) compliant background check, you might want to consider other services like GoodHire or Checkr. Both platforms are considerably more expensive and charge on a per-search basis, but their data is suitable for use in employment and rental application decisions.

Instant Checkmate: final verdict

Instant Checkmate is an accessible and budget-friendly people search tool that offers a wealth of information to users. One of its standout features is the extensive range of data available, surpassing many similar services in the market. From basic contact information to more in-depth records, it provides a comprehensive overview of individuals, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to reconnect with old friends, conduct background checks, or gather information for various reasons.

However, the user experience can be somewhat frustrating due to the cumbersome process involved in accessing reports. Subscribers often find themselves navigating through numerous pop-up ads and promotional screens before reaching the final results, which can be overly tedious and detracts from what is otherwise a straightforward search experience. This issue persists even for paying members, which could be disappointing for users who expect a smoother service.

Despite these annoyances, Instant Checkmate remains relatively user-friendly once you get past the initial hurdles. The platform typically delivers complete and accurate results, making it a worthwhile option for those who prioritize thoroughness over seamless navigation. For users willing to endure the pop-up barrage, Instant Checkmate can be an effective tool for uncovering detailed personal information. Overall, it balances affordability and depth of data, making it a notable choice in the realm of people search services.

We've also highlighted the best people search finder and best background check services for individuals.