Website Snapshots and Reviews
Website Snapshots and Reviews
Elizabeth is right... there are lots of choices out there, and some are better than others, so as promised we’ve checked them out and present to you our findings. Here are just some of the criteria our team uses to compare and rate resources..,
1. One-stop services. We prefer to use sites that have databases with a wide variety of general information, such as birth, death and marriage records; international travel documents; and military records. This saves a lot of time and hopping around from one website to another. Yes, you can find a great deal of information for free, ask yourself if it’s worth spending three hours of your time to save $5 or $10 before going this route.
2. Affordable monthly or yearly access fees. Let’s face it, very few of us have enough time – or energy – to do all of our research in one big chunk. This is a little-here-little-there hobby and it’s frustrating and stressful to have limited access to data for short periods of time – OR be nickel-and-dimed to death for every scrap of information.
3. Current, thorough, and update information. We also sites that take keep their databases relevant and update them often – for instance, ones that take the time to convert old microfiche files to downloadable pdf files.
Also, you’ll find that some sites are better at one thing than another. For instance, some of the newer government record sites are best for more current information (e.g. cell phone number trace; reverse phone numbers; background checks; criminal records; missing people and the like), while other sites’ are geared more toward family genealogy and ancestral records. These sites usually have more specialized information so you can dig down deeper into topics such as Mormon genealogy, Irish or German ancestry, cemetery records, etc. They also have additional tools and resources like family tree makers, blogs and forums, and learning centers. You generally won’t find these types of extras on the quick-find US public records site... but each have their merits. You should choose one according to:
1. The type of information you’re seeking
2. Your budget
3. Your level of expertise and interest
4. How long and how much you’ll be using the site
Please note: There are many, many valuable resources and websites to obtain information – way too many to mention here. There are also lots of free resources for obtaining the same information such as the major search engines like Google, MSN, and Yahoo; Federal, state, and county public record sites (.gov); and various online and offline associations and organizations.
And while we have, and will continue to use some of these, we are doing so less and less, because we’ve found that they simply require too much time to navigate through and often lead to dead ends – and frustration. In our minds, they are best used as backups for obtaining very, very specific information such as photos of old buildings and towns or church membership logs.
Below are our picks for the best-of-the-best. Please rest assured that we have personally reviewed and used each and every one of these – and a whole lot more – and candidly and objectively endorse the following sites, without reservation. We hope you find this information helpful in choosing.
Ancestry and Genealogy Standouts
1. Ancestry.com
Databases, Tools, and Extras
- US and UK Census Data - - Birth, Marriage & Death Records
- US Military Records
- US Immigration Records
- Family Tree Maker
- Passenger Manifest Lists
- Learning Center
- Special Collections like Jewish, African American Family Records
- Community Forum and Blog
- Ability to upload and share photos and other documents
- Membership fees include unlimited access to all databases
- Y Chromosome (DNA) testing (additional cost)
- and more...
Membership Options and Fees
Annual: $12.95/month (pay all in advance)
Three month: $16.95/month
Monthly: $19.95
Annual: $24.95/month
Three month: $27.95/month
Monthly: $29.95
14-Day Free Trial – This is our only criticism with this site. The free trial does not include access to the really cool stuff – just the family tree making tool and photo and document uploading features, so you won’t get a true picture of how the site operates.
Suggestion: If you’re a beginner begin with the monthly or three month membership until you’re sure you’re sure they have the information you’re seeking and you enjoy your new hobby. It’s a little bit more, but not enough to make it too onerous.
2. Genealogy.com
Databases, Tools, and Extras
Same as above... they’re an offshoot of Ancestry.com
Membership Options and Fees
Again, their pricing is identical to Ancestry.com.
3. WorldVitalRecords.com
Databases, Tools, and Extras
This is a new – and growing – site with many of the usual databases, but pared down somewhat and with a few surprises and extras (e.g. The US Naval Academy yearbooks and “Genealogy News”) and is perfect for beginners! This is definitely worth considering and one we’ll be keeping our eyes on because we’re expecting more great things from this innovative group.
Membership Options and Fees
Annual: $3.33/monthly (billed in one payment)
Monthly: $5.95/month
- World Collection Membership
Annual: $8.33/month
Monthly: $14.95/month
Please note: They offer a 30-day full money back guarantee, which many do not.
Best Public Records Lookups
1. GovernmentRecords.com
This website has one of the best “crossover” databases on the internet (although we still haven’t found “the perfect” one-stop genealogy and quick lookup website, but we’ll keep looking!).
Databases, Tools, and Extras
This is an easy-to-navigate site, with super fast access to 150,000,000 current and past public records that are updated often, which include:
- Marriage, birth and death certificates
- Criminal, jail, sentencing, absconder, and inmate records
- Missing children and adults records
- Bankruptcy filings and other civil records
- Cell and telephone number lookups and records
- Genealogy, ancestry, and other family history records
and much more...
We highly recommend this site for those of you who are less interested in genealogical searches and more focused on reconnecting with people, searching criminal and court records, and/or finding the owners of cell and phone numbers.
Also, please note that searches on this site are limited to the United States.
Membership Options and Fees
(All are billed one time only)
- 5-year unlimited access $29.95 (includes all upgrades)
- 2-year standard membership $24.95
- 1 year Basic membership - $19.95
2. Gov-Records.com
This site is very similar to most of the others in terms of the types of information you can access, and is either a clone or owned and operated by GovernmentRecords.com.
Databases, Tools, and Extras
- Sex Offenders
- Past and Current Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records
- Prison and Inmate Records
- Civil and Criminal Court Records
- People Searches
Membership Options and Fees
(All are billed one time only)
- 5-year unlimited access $29.95 (includes all upgrades)
- 2-year standard membership $24.95
- 1 year Basic membership - $19.95
3.People-Records.net
Databases, Tools, and Extras
For the most part, they offer the same as GovernmentRecords.com. However, they also have their own private background search database which often results in learning more details for some searches. For instance, you more likely to come up with SSN verification information, driving directions, and older phone numbers when you conduct searches on this site.
Additionally, their prices are extremely reasonable (and much less than some), so this is definitely one we’ll continue to watch closely.
Membership Options and Fees
(All are billed one time only)
- 5-year unlimited access $29.99 (includes all upgrades)
- 2-year standard membership $24.95
- 1 year Basic membership - $19.95
4. PublicRecordsPro.com
This is a subsidiary of ReversePhoneDetective.com, one of the premier online reverse phone number search companies, so it’s one you can trust.
Databases, Tools, and Extras
- Search Birth, Death, Marriage, and Divorce Record
- Federal, State, and County public records
- Criminal background records
- Cemetery Records
- Local Newspaper Archives
Membership Options and Fees
Gold Membership: 1-year Unlimited Access - $34.50 ($2.95/month) Billed in one payment.
5. GovernmentRegistry.org
This is another excellent public records lookup site with robust databases. One of the things we like best about it, however, is that they’ve segmented their data into easy-to-understand groupings that make it easier – especially for beginners – to get to the right starting point.
Databases, Tools, and Extras
We like the way this online records retrieval company categorizes their databases into the following five main groups.
1. Background Reports
2. People Search
3. Criminal Records
4. Civil Records
5. Reverse Searches
This is great site for conducting quick lookups and you can download the records as well as view them. They also list all 50 states and you can search by counties within each state as well.
Membership Options and Fees
One-time Instant Searches: $39.95
One-Year Unlimited Search Pass: $49.90
** Please Note: As you can see, you’ll get a much better deal if you go with the one-year pass. You’ll recoup the difference on your second search!!
6. CourtRecords.org
As their name implies, this site specializes in criminal and court records searching and organizes their data by states. It’s one of the best US only background and missing person checking sites we’ve used.
Databases, Tools, and Extras
- 20-year Address Histories
- Arrests and Court Warrants
- Aliases and Maiden Names
- Property Ownership Records
- Birth, Marriage, Divorce, and Death Records
- Distinguishing Bodily Marks
- Roommates and Associates
- List of Relatives
- DUI Records
Membership Options and Fees
One-time Instant Searches: $39.95
One-Year Unlimited Search Pass: $49.90
Reverse Phone or Cell Number Searches
1. ReverseMobile.com
We’ve noticed that most reverse phone reviewers recommend sites that are “visible” instead of ones that provide the best results. So, even though you might expect our first choice to be ReversePhoneDetective.com (and we do like it... see our review below), we like this one best. Although their databases are nearly identical, their easy-to-view graphics and interfaces mean your searches will be quicker and simpler – and you’ll usually get more accurate results.
Databases, Tools, and Extras
In addition to finding the owners of landline or cell (mobile) numbers, you can also get the following.
- Their Address History
- Background Report
- Wireless Carrier
- Location Map
Membership Options and Fees
(All are one-time billing)
- One-Time Full Report for One Number: $14.95
- One-Year Unlimited Reverse Phone Lookups: $39.95
- One-Year Unlimited Access to Reverse Phone and Criminal Records Searches: $44.90
2. ReversePhoneDetective.com
This is one of the best online reverse phone search sites because they have an extensive database filled with millions of cell and landline phone numbers and their respective owners.
Databases, Tools, and Extras
- Owners’ Names and Addresses
- Other Household Members
- Phone Type (Landline or Cell)
- Location and Map
Membership Options and Fees
- Premium Membership: Full Phone Report for (703) 456-7867 + Unlimited Reverse Phone Lookups for 1 Year: $39.95
- Full Phone Report for One Person: $14.95
