Spokeo is great. It finds people by their phone number, but at what cost? 20 bucks a month, to be precise, and some privacy concerns.
It makes you commit to a monthly subscription, and the data isn’t always accurate. These are the best Spokeo alternatives for reverse number lookups:
| Yes/No? | CatfishNumr | SocialCatfish | TruthFinder | Apollo | NumLookup | IPQS | Melissa |
| Low cost | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Global reach | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Accuracy | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Free | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Business | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Individual | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Security | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
1. CatfishNumr: The Best Reverse Number Lookup
🥇 What it’s for: Global, casual, and short-term searching. Works with numbers, emails, and photos. Pay-for-search instead of a monthly subscription.
CatfishNumr is a reverse number search tool that uses OSINT and millions of accurate records to identify phone number owners, so it finds information like:
- Real name and usernames;
- Social media accounts;
- Profile photo and location;
- VoIP status and number type, etc.
Unlike Spokeo, which works in the US only, CatfishNumr is truly global – it works for international numbers, fast, even from remote countries.
It doesn’t require monthly subscriptions (thankfully), so you either pay $5.95 for 2 searches or $9.95 for 5 searches. No hidden fees or privacy concerns.
CatfishNumr is one of the few tools that excels at detecting VoIP, fake phone numbers – it shows you scam signals and real user reports.
Process: Copy-paste any number, select the country code, and hit search!
2. SocialCatfish: Similar to Spokeo’s People-Search Tool

🥈 SocialCatfish is an all-around people-search tool like Spokeo. It offers number lookups, as well as name, email, image, username, and address searches.
It’s pricier than Spokeo – SocialCatfish costs $36/mo, but you get various search tools (number, name, email, etc.) and premium data:
- Full names;
- Social media;
- Criminal records;
- Addresses, and more available info.
User intent: SocialCatfish is better than Spokeo for finding identities and detecting scams, which is likely why you’re searching numbers to begin with.
It may work internationally in some cases, though SocialCatfish is more effective for finding data on US citizens.
Use SocialCatfish for reliable identification on US callers, mainly if you want a thorough, pricier report with more search features.
3. TruthFinder: Multi-Purpose Number Search Tool

🥉 TruthFinder is a multi-purpose search tool that’s mainly used for its reverse number search function by millions in the US.
The pricing is especially convenient since you’re paying for number lookups only – this specialized plan costs 5 bucks per month, and reports may include:
- Names;
- Addresses;
- Photos;
- Social media profiles;
- Location history, and more.
It won’t find top-secret information on unknown callers, like criminal history, but it’s one of the best tools for casually verifying a number owner’s identity.
4. Apollo.io: Reverse Number Search for Businesses
Apollo is a sales intelligence platform used for B2B, and perfect if you’re a business owner or recruiter. It offers 4 subscription tiers:
- Free
- Basic – $49/mo per user
- Professional – $79/mo per user
- Organisation – $119/mo per user
*The higher the tier, the more perks you get.
Among many features, it has a reverse number lookup function for businesses to find information associated with numbers: name, emails, job titles, etc.
Just put the number in the search bar for leads to come up. Perfect for connecting with professionals. It’s quick, accurate, and built for heavy duty.
If number searches are all you need, it’s a waste to pay for a subscription. I recommend Apollo only if you’re a business using it for legitimate reasons.
5. NumLookup: Free with Decent Global Reach

NumLookup is a free reverse number lookup tool, so right from the get-go, it’s cheaper than Spokeo, especially without the add-ons.
Price: $20-$50/mo for extra features, but you don’t have to if you’re looking up regular info on real numbers, like full name, location, carrier, and socials.
The privacy NumLookup offers is more rock-solid than Spokeo’s, and no registration is required for the free version of the site.
NumLookup’s global coverage is wider than Spokeo’s, too, though not perfect – it works for numbers from the US, UK, Canada, India, Germany, and more.
❌ NumLookup is not the top pick for serious searches or professional-grade use because it’s free, hence limited. Don’t use it as your sole tool for hiring or debunking catfishes, scammers, or dangerous individuals.
6. IPQS: For Heightened Protection Against Spam
IPQS is a bit different from the other entries in this list because it is a reverse number search tool that specialises in fraud detection.
You can use it for free, with 1,000 credits hitting your account each month (1 lookup costs 1 credit). It assesses high-risk numbers and suspicious behavior.
The number lookup reports may include available data on unknown numbers, like names, carrier details, line type, and location. However…there are caveats.
⚠️ To view the full report and for maximum accuracy, you have to create an account on IPQS, which means you’re compromising some of your privacy.
– Is IPQS accurate?
Yes! IPQS, in general, is a highly accurate tool that’s available in 100+ countries. Though false positives and old data may still show up for certain numbers.
7. MelissaLookups: Better for Bulk Number Searches

MelissaLookups is an online identity verification tool that uses personal info like names, numbers, emails, addresses, and more, to find intel on people.
If you’re reverse-searching a number on Melissa, you’ll find the holder’s name, number type, carrier details, and locations for 10 credits per search.
You’re given 1k credits, meaning you can use 100 phone searches a month, with the option to top up your account. Registration and a small fee are required.
Melissa number lookups are used for both US and international numbers – information is pulled from the Melissa database, which is vast and updated.
👥 MelissaLookups performs better in-bulk, for businesses than for individual use. The cheapest subscription goes for $40, but it can reach $5k-$16k yearly.
Which Spokeo Alternative Should You Avoid?
I’ve tested and ranked 7 of the best Spokeo alternatives in terms of price, accuracy, user intent, and efficiency. But that doesn’t mean everything will work for everyone.
If the number you’re searching isn’t American, avoid US-based tools like TruthFinder or USPhoneBook (not in this list).
Looking to reliably identify unknown callers? Avoid free tools like NumLookup due to low costs, which impact the accuracy and completeness of reports.
To assess a number’s risk score, don’t use services with no security features. Opt for tools with built-in risk-scoring systems, like IPQS and CatfishNumr.
If you’re a business, avoid tools built for individual use, like CatfishNumr. Go for services like Apollo and Melissa that offer business-use or in-bulk searches.
For low-cost, no-strings-attached number lookups, you won’t need heavy-duty, expensive tools. IPQS and NumLookup are free, and CatfishNumr has a pay-per-search pricing system.
Determine what your needs and budget are, and pick your Spokeo alternative!


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