I decided to check the reliability of SpyFly — especially the free claim

Disclosure: Some links, like Social Catfish and Spokeo, are tools I’ve personally used and found helpful. If you use them, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. My recommendations are based on genuine experience.

Introduction: A Personal Quest to Reconnect

When I was seven years old, my world changed. My parents divorced, and my mother, citing my father's struggles with infidelity and drinking, gained custody of me. We left our home in Nevada City, California—a historic Gold Rush town in the Sierra foothills—and moved to New York, where my mother remarried a businessman. In an effort to move on, she destroyed all traces of my father, including photos and contact information, and changed our address and phone number to keep him at a distance. Growing up, I knew little about my father, only his name and that he once lived in Nevada City. By the time I turned 20, a deep desire to reconnect with him sparked a journey to find him—a journey that led me to explore people search websites like SpyFly, Spokeo, and Social Catfish. This is my story, shared in the hope that it helps others searching for lost loved ones while navigating the world of online people finders.

My Search Begins: Why People Search Websites?

At 20, with only my father’s name and his hometown to go on, I turned to Google for answers. My search for “how to find someone” led me to people search websites, which promised access to public records, addresses, phone numbers, and more. Among the top suggestions were SpyFly, Spokeo, and Social Catfish. These platforms claimed to help users locate individuals using minimal information, making them ideal for someone like me, with only a name and a vague memory of a place. However, I quickly learned that not all people search websites are created equal. Accuracy, cost, ease of use, and trustworthiness vary widely, and my experience with these platforms shaped my understanding of what works and what doesn’t.

SpyFly: My First Attempt and a Lesson in Caution

I started with SpyFly, drawn in by its promise of instant access to public records, including criminal histories, addresses, and phone numbers. The website, launched in 2012, seemed straightforward, and I hoped it would be a free or low-cost way to find my father. However, after entering his name and hometown, I hit a paywall. SpyFly offered a 7-day trial for $3, followed by a monthly subscription of $29.97. This was a surprise, as I had assumed it might be free or cheaper based on its marketing. I hesitated, unsure if SpyFly was legitimate or a potential scam.

To make an informed decision, I researched SpyFly’s reputation. On Trustpilot, I found only eight customer reviews, a small number for a website that’s been around for over a decade. Some users praised its ease of use and access to public records, but others reported serious issues, like unauthorized charges and inaccurate information. For example, one reviewer complained about a bankruptcy from 2001 still appearing on their profile, despite federal laws requiring such records to be expunged after 7–11 years. Another user described being charged $29.97 monthly for six months without receiving billing notifications, calling it a scam. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) gives SpyFly an “A” rating, but with only 12 complaints in the last year, the sample size felt too small to fully trust. Additionally, SpyFly’s lack of transparency about its data sources and the need to call customer service to cancel raised red flags.

Given the mixed reviews and the cost, I decided against using SpyFly. Its lack of popularity compared to other platforms and concerns about its reliability made me wary. I wanted a service that was both affordable and trustworthy, so I moved on to explore other options.

SpyFly is a people search service used to find public records, phone numbers, and addresses. It offers a low-cost trial but is not completely free—after the trial, a monthly fee applies. Although legit, SpyFly is not very popular in the USA, and some users report issues like unexpected charges and inaccurate data. If you’re considering it, read reviews and terms carefully before subscribing.

Spokeo: Affordable, Effective, and My Ultimate Choice

Next, I turned to Spokeo, a more popular people search platform known for aggregating public records, social media profiles, and contact information. Spokeo offered a 7-day trial for just $0.95—a fraction of SpyFly’s trial cost—making it an attractive option for someone on a budget. I signed up, entered my father’s name and Nevada City as the starting point, and within minutes, Spokeo delivered a comprehensive report. It included his current phone number, address, and even recent social media activity, which helped confirm I had found the right person. The interface was user-friendly, and the results were accurate, allowing me to reconnect with my father after 13 years apart.

Spokeo’s affordability and effectiveness stood out. Unlike SpyFly, Spokeo has thousands of reviews across platforms like Trustpilot and Sitejabber, with many users praising its accuracy and low cost. While some reports note occasional inaccuracies, my experience was overwhelmingly positive. Spokeo’s trial was truly affordable, and the subscription, if continued, was around $24.95 per month—still cheaper than SpyFly’s $29.97. The platform’s transparency about its subscription model and easy cancellation process (available online, unlike SpyFly’s phone-only cancellation) made it feel more trustworthy. For anyone searching for a lost loved one, Spokeo proved to be a reliable and budget-friendly choice.

Social Catfish: A Niche Option for Social Media and Dating Profiles

I also explored Social Catfish (Official website), a platform specializing in verifying identities for online dating and social media. While I didn’t ultimately use it, Social Catfish is highly regarded for its ability to search by phone number, email, or even images to uncover social media profiles and dating accounts. Its reviews on platforms like Trustpilot highlight its effectiveness in catching scammers and verifying identities, making it ideal for those concerned about online safety. However, for my purpose—locating my father with only a name and hometown—Social Catfish felt less relevant, as its focus is narrower than Spokeo’s broad public records search. Its pricing, starting at $5.73 for a 5-day trial and $27.95 monthly, was reasonable but not as competitive as Spokeo’s $0.95 trial.

Comparing SpyFly, Spokeo, and Social Catfish: What to Know

Here’s a breakdown of my findings to help you choose the right people search website:

SpyFly:

• Cost: $3 for a 7-day trial, $29.97/month thereafter.
• Pros: Access to public records, user-friendly interface, BBB “A” rating.
• Cons: Limited reviews (only 8 on Trustpilot), reports of unauthorized charges, inaccurate data, and a cumbersome cancellation process (must call customer service). Not as popular as competitors.
• Best for: Those needing frequent background checks and willing to verify results independently.
• Trustworthiness: Questionable due to mixed reviews and lack of transparency about data sources.

Spokeo:

• Cost: $0.95 for a 7-day trial, ~$24.95/month thereafter.
• Pros: Affordable, accurate, user-friendly, thousands of positive reviews, easy cancellation process.
• Cons: Occasional inaccuracies, subscription required for full reports.
• Best for: Budget-conscious users seeking reliable public records searches.
• Trustworthiness: Highly reliable, with a strong reputation and transparent pricing.

Social Catfish:

• Cost: $5.73 for a 5-day trial, ~$27.95/month thereafter.
• Pros: Excellent for social media and dating profile searches, strong user reviews, effective for verifying online identities.
• Cons: Narrower focus, less useful for general people searches.
• Best for: Those verifying online relationships or checking for scams.
• Trustworthiness: Trustworthy, especially for its niche purpose.

My Advice: Proceed with Caution and Choose Wisely

My journey to find my father taught me that people search websites can be powerful tools, but they require careful consideration. Here are my tips for anyone embarking on a similar search:

• Check Reviews: Look for platforms with a large number of customer reviews on trusted sites like Trustpilot or Sitejabber. SpyFly’s limited reviews (only 8 on Trustpilot) made it hard to gauge its reliability, while Spokeo’s thousands of reviews inspired confidence.
• Understand Costs: Many sites advertise “free” searches but require payment for full reports. SpyFly’s $3 trial and $29.97 monthly fee were higher than Spokeo’s $0.95 trial, and Social Catfish’s $5.73 trial was less competitive. Always read the fine print to avoid unexpected charges.
• Prioritize Accuracy: Test a platform by searching for yourself to verify its accuracy. Spokeo’s ability to find my father with limited information proved its effectiveness, while SpyFly’s reported inaccuracies deterred me.
• Consider Privacy: People search sites can expose your own information. If privacy is a concern, opt out of these databases (most offer a removal process) and use services anonymously. SpyFly, for example, has been criticized for making it hard to remove personal data.

Match the Tool to Your Needs: Spokeo was ideal for my broad search, while Social Catfish suits those focused on online identities. Choose a platform that aligns with your goals.

Conclusion: Spokeo Reunited Me with My Father

After years of wondering about my father, Spokeo helped me find him with just his name and hometown. Its affordability, accuracy, and ease of use made it the clear winner over SpyFly and Social Catfish for my needs. While SpyFly may work for some, its higher costs, questionable reviews, and reported billing issues make it a riskier choice. Social Catfish is excellent for niche searches but less versatile for general people-finding missions.

If you’re searching for a lost loved one, I recommend starting with Spokeo for its low-cost trial and proven results. My reunion with my father was worth every penny of that $0.95 trial, and I hope my story inspires you to take the first step in your own search. Just be cautious, do your research, and choose a platform that feels right for you.