At some point, we have all gotten absurd messages on our devices via dating sites, social media platforms, or even random text. If you’re big on personal security like me, you’d know that Social Catfish has been the number one go-to site if you don’t want to be a victim of internet scams.
Social Catfish is an online investigation service that verifies the identity of people you meet online, finds additional information about them using reverse search technology, and rekindles lost friendships. With this platform, you can avoid potentially dangerous situations if you ever meet up with someone online.
There are plenty of substitutes to Social Catfish such as BeenVerified, PeopleLooker, UserSearch etc. However, the best Social Catfish alternative is Spokeo which offers detailed information about people including their businesses, properties and other things.
Why try out alternatives to Social Catfish?
Social Catfish is not the most popular service in the market. This is mainly because it only provides the most basic information you can get from their social media accounts or Google if you know how to search well.
Secondly, it can take a lot of time to find who you’re searching for, mainly if you use the facial match feature.
Given these reasons, I decided to try out other alternatives to Social Catfish, and so far, I’ve been impressed.
Below are some of the top Social Catfish alternatives I recommend.
Best Social Catfish Alternatives You Should Try Out (Free Included)
1. TinEye – Free Social Catfish Alternative
If you need a website that will help you identify the verification of a person via their image, then you should check out TinEye.
Known for its expertise in Computer Vision, Machine Learning, and Pattern Recognition, TinEye is one of the leading investigative software.
It has several of the best image search tools, one of which is its highly accurate image recognition APIs. TinEye API lets you verify an image, track several sites where that particular photo has appeared, and prevent copyright issues.
You can also use the TinEye Alerts function to track your photos and prevent identity theft by tracking sites where your image has appeared online.
Another thing to like about the platform is its MulticolorEngine feature that ensures that the photos being searched or tracked come out with the best color grade.
Although TinEye only provides information based on image recognition, it is a preferable option to Social Catfish because it is 90% accurate with the images it tracks. With this platform, it’s very simple to upload an image from your photo library or files.
You also have the option of pasting the image URL, and in seconds, you’ve got what you need. TinEye is free to use and can be accessed via a web browser.
2. UserSearch
Another great online investigative service that’s a better alternative to Social Catfish is user search. It allows you to search for people by scoring hundreds of websites and databases to find out the identity of that person.
UserSearch uses an innovative search engine feature to discover the usernames linked to that person’s online ID.
I like that the website brings up accurate information that includes the person’s real name, possible addresses, and email address via a reverse email lookup feature.
You can get their phone numbers, online activity, and relationship status. You can also find out if they’re using false identities on other sites or find their hidden photos.
Unlike Social Catfish, UserSearch takes things up by accessing over 600 social network sites, dating sites, and even email lookups for the most thorough search.
I especially like that the platform doesn’t just let you search for people via social media, dating sites, or email. It lets you search for people via cryptocurrency forums or chat boards like GitHub and Reddit.
UserSearch is highly sought after because it lets you know if your email or social account security has been compromised and extracts emails from a particular website.
Best of all, it takes 15 to 20 seconds to get the information you seek once you use its search feature. It doesn’t require signup and can be accessed via a web browser.
3. Reverse Image Search
Reverse Image Search is another free site like Social Catfish that helps you track and identify images and where they appear. We can all agree that finding a particular image and its source can be tricky due to the millions of images available on the internet.
Thankfully, Reverse Image Search is powered by powerful artificial intelligence algorithms that match any image you search for with what is in several databases and URLs.
One thing I like about reverse image search is that it accurately matches an image based on the color scheme, shapes, and even objects. That way, you can avoid being scammed or catfished since you can detect if the picture matches the user’s ID.
I also like Reverse Image Search because it integrates all major search engines with the tool to ensure you get customized results. It also uses Image Annotation to eliminate any confusion or errors in image matching to ensure a precise result.
You can use this tool by inputting an image via photo library, Dropbox, Google Drive, keyword, or image URL. Select the search engine of your choice and click on the ‘Search Image’ button.
Reverse Image Search is a standalone website that doesn’t require signup. It works on Android, and iOS devices, laptops, and computers, and the best part is that it is free!
4. BeenVerified
BeenVerified is one of those software tools like Social Catfish aimed at providing everyday users with public data for their use.
If you’re looking to reconnect with lost friends/family members or find out if you’re being scammed, BeenVerified will provide you with the answers you need.
Whether you want to search via phone number, email, home address, social media, or even their vehicle, you can do all of these on BeenVerified.
You can also conduct username and property searches for the best and most accurate results. The main reason why I like BeenVerified is that you can carry out your searches anonymously, which is something some investigative sites lack.
I also like that it not only connects you with loved ones or prevents internet fraud but also protects you from dubious automobile dealers.
Through BeenVerified’s vehicle search feature, you can tell if several other sellers have posted a vehicle. You can also monitor your public information, and the best part is that you can even access court or criminal records.
Using the tool is quite easy as you need to type in the required name, phone number, email or home address, and even vehicle number into the search box.
BeenVerified doesn’t require a signup to use the online search service. However, it has mobile apps available on Google Play and App Store, which require you to create an account.
5. Spokeo
Spokeo is another impressive alternative to Social Catfish. It is a people intelligence platform that lets you identify unknown IDs, reconnect with loved ones, and even track your personal information.
Spokeo has over 13 billion records drawn from several websites and databases, which are transformed into simple data that you can use to find out more about a person.
With over 500,000 daily searches and 20 million monthly users, Spokeo is a more advanced version of Social Catfish.
You can confidentially search for people via phone numbers, email or home addresses, and even names. You can also unravel the identity behind certain usernames on social and dating sites.
You can find their location history, wealth data, and even family or associates. I also like that Spokeo provides criminal and court records, consumer records, business records, and even property records which Social Catfish lacks.
You can also hide your phone number or stop unwanted calls or texts by discovering the sender’s identity and calling security. You can use the tool by typing a name, phone number, email, or home address in the search box and get results in seconds.
Spokeo has a mobile available for Android use via Google Play or iPhone via App Store.
6. PimEyes
PimEyes is a great image-finding tool that lets you search for a person’s identity via their image. It is an online face search engine that uses face recognition technology and reverses image search, scouring the internet to find images that match the one uploaded.
You can use this tool to protect yourself from catfish accounts or internet fraud by discovering other sites or databases where the given image has appeared.
You also get to track your images on the internet and protect yourself from identity thieves using your pictures illegally.
This tool is simple, as you have to upload a photo via a photo library, image links, or file collection. You can also take a picture directly from the tool, which will be deleted afterward to guarantee your privacy.
After uploading the images, you can access the sources that contain the given image or link. You will also get alerts when a new result involves your image.
Furthermore, PimEyes lets you erase unwanted or illegal personal images from external websites permanently, a feature Social Catfish lacks.
Finally, the platform can be accessed via a web browser, whether on Android or iOS devices.
7. PeopleLooker
If you want background information on anyone, PeopleLooker is that tool to look out for.
If Google isn’t providing the information, PeopleLooker provides accurate reports on names, pictures, homes, email addresses, court records, family and relatives, and even court and professional records.
It works by allowing the users to input a certain name or keyword and get precise results in seconds. One thing to like about PeopleLooker is its simple and intuitive user interface.
You have access to a sea of information in the easiest way possible. The best part is that you are guaranteed quality information, unlike Social Catfish, which provides basic, almost non-vital information that’s required.
Using the online version is free and doesn’t require signup. A mobile app is available for download via Google Play for Android apps.
8. PeekYou
PeekYou is one of the leading search engine sites that provide public information about a person. It lets you find out the real identity behind an online ID as well as find distant family or friends.
I like this tool is simplified and intuitive for beginners new to online investigative sites. It focuses primarily on providing information based on the name or username provided.
All you need to do is provide a first and last name and location, and PeekYou will highlight people with similar names living in the given location.
You can also avoid catfish or scam accounts by searching for the identity behind these social or dating site profiles. PeekYou caters to over six million monthly users who come to find out about a relative or discover a hidden identity.
Although Social Catfish provides more options for search, PeekYou is a lot easier to maneuver, especially as a beginner. It doesn’t require signup and is free to use via a website browser.
9. Radaris
Radaris is a comprehensive public records search engine that provides comprehensive reports on people and businesses. It is the perfect tool for carrying out background checks on people you meet, both offline and online.
The search engine is also useful for finding and reconnecting with lost friends and relatives and monitoring your web presence.
You can unravel a person’s identity as the platform provides phone numbers, patent filings, location history, professional and property records, social media profiles, and images.
I like Radaris because its database includes 183 million unique names and has millions of records, including phone numbers, properties, street names, and business records, for the fastest and most accurate results.
Its features, like criminal records, sex offenders reports, reverse address lookup, and email and business checks, all guarantee a complete result. Radaris is a better option than Social Catfish because its database is updated regularly.
It also caries out universal searches, is very fast, and has in-house customer service ready to respond to your every need and inquiry. You can use Radaris by simply entering a first and last name and filtering the location for the best result.
Its website version doesn’t require signup, but it is required if you’re using its mobile app, which is available via Google Play or App Store.
10. Pipl
Pipl is a website dedicated to promoting transparency among internet users and eliminating fake profiles created for dubious reasons. Like Social Catfish, the platform features several verification tools that help you ensure the legitimacy of those you meet online and offline.
Pipl allows you to integrate an invisible trust API into third-party websites seamlessly. It also has a search API feature that lets you carry out extensive searches on a person, which provides both past and current information on the subject.
Pipl gathers information from public records, directories, and even listings to provide you with the most precise results.
I also like that it lets you check out profiles to be sure they’re the same on several platforms, which will build trust and mitigate the issue of identity theft.
The main difference between Pipl and Social Catfish is that the former has more advanced features for commercial and non-commercial users. Its web version is free and also has a mobile app available on App Store and Google Play.
11. CheckPeople
CheckPeople is a great alternative if you’re fed up using Social Catfish. Unlike the latter, CheckPeople provides accurate information on people without unnecessary high costs.
It is perfect for those seeking background information on someone without knowing how to access their public records. It is a fast, private and reliable search engine that provides accurate information in just a few minutes.
CheckPeople has millions of data in its database, which allows you to have access to not just basic information but even criminal records. Using the platform is easy as you only need a first and last name.
You can also verify phone numbers using the reverse phone lookup feature. CheckPeople also provides information on their social media accounts, and the great part is that you can do all of this in confidentiality.
I also like that CheckPeople has a 24/7 customer support system that caters to inquiries regardless of the time. It doesn’t have a mobile app as the web version is free and very easy to use at any time, anywhere.
12. People Finder
If you need a tool that makes it easy to get accurate information on anyone, consider checking out People Finder. The platform allows you to access basic information and classified criminal or police records.
I love that People Finder is super easy to use as it simply lets users have access to unlimited searches, and each result is gotten from a specialized source to ensure reliability.
I also like this search engine because it lets you carry out your searches cloaked in privacy, and the person being searched doesn’t get any alerts.
All you need to do to get the information you need is to enter a name, email address, or phone number, and you can get access to the information you never knew about. Best of all, People Finder is free to use and can be accessed via a web browser which doesn’t require signup.
13. TruthFinder
TruthFinder is a public record search engine that provides an extensive report on whoever is being investigated. You can search for anyone using their name, phone number, or email address and get answers in minutes.
Using TruthFinder allows you access even classified information like criminal and arrest records, licenses and bankruptcy records, location history, and even unveiling their social media pages which Social Catfish doesn’t necessarily provide.
One of the things I like about using TruthFinder is how fast it works. Since the search engine has access to public databases with billions of records, you can get what you need between 20 seconds and a minute.
I also like how it organizes the information it gets on the search subject and compiles them into an easy-to-understand report. You don’t have to be worried about your identity being revealed, as the search subject won’t be notified that they’re being searched.
The platform is user-friendly and intuitive, but if you ever find yourself having difficulty navigating the platform, a dedicated customer support group is always available for you.
Another icing on the cake is that TruthFinder is free of ads, viruses, malware, and bugs capable of ruining the user’s experience. The web version is free for basic information and doesn’t require signup.
There’s also a mobile TruthFinder app available on Google Play and App Store
14. Intelius
When it comes to the provision of public data for both commercial and non-commercial use, Intelius is easily a top provider. Like Social Catfish, you can look up anyone on Intelius and get useful data about them in just minutes.
The platform allows you to enjoy unlimited searches on lost contacts or someone you’re meeting via online dating sites.
Intelius is a great alternative to Social Catfish because whatever results you’re getting are from specialized and reliable sources to ensure they are useful to you.
One of the most distinctive attributes of Intelius is how it takes user privacy a notch by ensuring your searches are secured with a 256-bit encrypted connection. You can also be assured that the person being searched won’t get an alert on your activities.
To get started on Intelius, you need to enter a name, address, or phone number and get vital information instantaneously. Most of all, the platform is free and doesn’t require a signup to start searching for people.
15. Instant CheckMate
Instant CheckMate is dedicated to providing users with valuable and detailed information on anyone they’re searching for.
All it takes to get started is to enter the first and last name of the search subject in the search box, and immediately, you’ll get a report obtained from millions of public records.
Instant CheckMate is a great alternative to Social Catfish because it doesn’t just provide basic information like phone numbers, real names, emails, or social media accounts. You also get access to the subject’s criminal and sex offender records, if any.
I like Instant CheckMate for the simplicity of its web version, which means you never have to struggle to figure out how to use the search engine.
Also, the web version is free for basic information without signup, although there’s a mobile app version available on Google Play that requires creating an account.
Conclusion
All the platforms listed above are impressive alternatives to Social Catfish. However, my overall favorite would be Spokeo.
Aside from providing you with a person’s general information, the tool also lets you verify IDs based on vehicle, property, and even business, which makes it the best alternative if you want the most detailed and accurate information on anyone.
