The Best Level 2 Background Check Sites for 2024 | Top 5 Reviewed and Compared

Background checks are essential to the modern hiring process, so you might wonder which website is best for a Level 2 Background Check in Florida. Carrying out a Level 1 Check isn’t very difficult, but there’s far more time and effort to perform a Level 2 Background Check. Before you head down to your local DMV for a Level 2 Background Check, it’s best to carry out your own preliminary background checks online.

In this quick breakdown of the Top 5 Best Level 2 Background Check Sites in 2024, we’re comparing and reviewing the best of the best to find the sites that are thorough, easy to use, and fast. When hiring employees, these sites can catch criminal backgrounds and other potential issues in an employment history before you do the full Level 2 Check. Scroll down to see how providers like Certn, Intelius, and Checkmate can streamline the hiring process.

Top 5 Best Level 2 Background Check Sites for 2024 | Quick Answer

Although there are plenty of providers to choose from, separating the good from the bad can be hard at first glance. Unfortunately, you can’t conduct a full Level 2 Background check entirely online because you’ll have to hand your fingerprints over to a law enforcement agency. Still, plenty of excellent background check services let you get the ball rolling with preliminary criminal record and employment history checks. We found that Certn is the best #1 pick for a Level 2 Background Check while reviewing these services, but here’s a quick shortlist of the best ones we’ve reviewed:

1. Certn — Our Top Pick for the Best Level 2 Background Check Site – Try It For Yourself, Absolutely Free.
2. CheckMate — The Most Integrated Background Checker
3. TruthFinder — The Background Checker with the Most Detailed Reports
4. US Search — The Best Value for Money for a Background Checker
5. Intelius — The Fastest Background Checker

Top 5 Background Check Level 2 Services in 2024| Reviewed

We’ll review each of our top 5 below in a little more detail to give you the information you need to decide the best one for your needs.

1. Certn — The Best Overall Quality Background Check in 2024

Certn is at the top of our list because it’s quick, simple, and inexpensive. One of the other services in our list may be better suited if you have specialist needs, but for a general background check package, Certn is unmatched. Consider that there’s also access to 24/7 support, and you can see why Certn ranks at the top of our list. You can even try Certn for free before spending your hard-earned cash to ensure it’s right for you.

Certn isn’t as old as some of the other competitors on our list, but the WFH revolution has driven Certn to incorporate additional features that make hiring easier than ever.

In addition to the new features poised to let Certn become a world leader in the background screening market, Certn has expanded its support staff to give worldwide coverage. No matter when you need to carry out a background check, Certn is there for you.

Highly Integrated Systems

The best employment background check services let you check several integrated streams of information, and Certn is no exception. When you run a background check using Certn, all relevant information to hiring is presented to you, whether it’s identity confirmation, employment history, education credentials, or even a criminal record.

Even better, this service allows you to seamlessly integrate Certn’s background checks into existing hiring systems you may already use.

Automation is the name of the game for Certn. OneID simplifies the entire process to a single email you send out to your potential employee, after which all identity checking is handled by Certn. On top of this, there are additional automated checks by email and phone and a customizable API that allows you to integrate Certn into your other services. Certn gives businesses the technology to streamline hiring screenings as much as possible.

Best of all, it’s both FRCA and GDPR compliant. This means that the intelligence Certn gives you can be used during the hiring process, and you can be confident that your employee data is being handled securely.

Suited for All Businesses

Certn accommodates all businesses, big and small. While Certn primarily offers pre-employment screening, there are also a bunch of tools dedicated to property management. Using Certn lets you judge the trustworthiness of a tenant using credit reports, criminal records, and more.

Certn is also great for larger businesses with multiple locations in different countries. For one, it offers a fairly involved background check in Canada. More than that, it has branches all over the world, with local teams that can guide you through unique legal circumstances of hiring in countries where you might not have local expertise or knowledge on the employment process.

Pricing

Certn’s offers depend on how many checks you need to perform in the year, so you can get the right price for your business size.

Simply put, for less than 50 background checks a year, the price goes as low as $4.99 for simple identity verification.

A criminal background check will range from $24.99 to $44.99, depending on how in-depth you need to go. Furthermore, other parts of the background screening can be added for an additional fee.

Larger companies, who’ll need to conduct more than 50 checks annually, can contact Certn’s sales department to work out a customized plan. If you need to perform over 50 checks/year, Certn can build a plan just for you, with a price to match.

2. CheckMate — The Most Integrated Background Checker in 2024

Checkmate is the best background check software for a simple service that prioritizes ease of use and integration with your company’s existing infrastructure. Clearly visible processes allow you to streamline the hiring process, so you can save money and time by cutting down on how long it takes to perform a background check. More features are on the way; you can even try it for free on the website if you’re not convinced.

Checkmate gives you all the tools necessary to automate pre-employment screening using a cloud-based background check service. Although this might take more time to set up than your average background check service, you’ll save far more time in the long run by taking advantage of their automated services.

Moreover, Checkmate uses over 4,000 international background checks and is available in over 190 countries worldwide. Verifying new employees from abroad can be a challenging process, but Checkmate draws on worldwide expertise to make sure you’re hiring the right people.

Custom Reference Questionnaires

The main reason Checkmate stands out from the competition is the use of highly customizable questionnaires. There are a few pre-made surveys that come with the default subscription to give you an idea of how the software works, but the real power of Checkmate comes from using the thousands of inbuilt settings to make sure each survey you use is tailored directly to your business.

For example, you can use Checkmate to verify:

And many more. If you can think of it, Checkmate already has it covered. Going beyond just verifying trustworthiness, there are also many options to verify employee skill and suitability for the job.

Streamlined Screenings

Starting the process is as easy as entering the candidate’s basic contact information. Your custom questionnaire is then sent to the candidate to fill out, which is verified against Checkmate’s internal background checks. The system even automatically contacts the candidate’s referees in parallel to verify extra information while the background check is being carried out.

These background checks can be carried out in bulk if you’ve got several employees you’d like to check at the same time. All you have to do is send a spreadsheet of contact details over to Checkmate, and they carry out the rest, automating the whole process. In this way, you can carry out the whole hiring process online, which saves both precious manpower and internal resources better spent elsewhere.

There’s even the ability to check in on a reference in progress, so you can see how much of the application process is left to complete. Ideal for when you’re working to a strict time limit!

Pricing

If you’re using Checkmate for private purposes, the pricing is pretty straightforward: $17 for individual checks or $145 for a batch of 10. This works out at a $25 discount over buying each check individually.

In the case of businesses trying to hire, you’ll find that the costs change depending on your questionnaire specifications. For more information, contact Checkmate’s sales team to understand how their pre-employment screening process can help you.

You can try before you buy: Up to three personal checks for free before you have to start paying for verification.

3. TruthFinder — The Background Checker with the Most Detailed Reports in 2024

When you need a background check with the most detailed reports out there, TruthFinder might be what you’re looking for. Although it’s more expensive than some of the other competitors in this list, TruthFinder is unmatched for the sheer depth of information you get access to. Unlike most other background check services, Truthfinder goes the extra mile by including dark web sources in its online search.

This also makes for a unique use case — you can use TruthFinder to carry out personal background checks on yourself to make sure you haven’t been a victim of identity theft. TruthFinder also offers deals regularly for non-members, so make sure to check out their site to see which multi-search deals are in effect.

It can be hard to stand out among the competition for background check services. At first glance, Truthfinder is just like any other website, albeit a good one. However, spend enough time with it, and you’ll see what makes Truthfinder so special.

Self-Monitoring

As far as search options are concerned, TruthFinder is nothing, if not thorough. With both public and not-so-public information used as a basis for its reports, you almost get too much.

Of course, the usual is there, like names, addresses, criminal records, employment, qualifications, or social media.

But TruthFinder goes the extra mile by including even tangentially related information, like associated people and businesses, any license acquired, and bankruptcies — going even as far as including horoscopes.

All this, combined with dedicated tools, makes TruthFinder especially suited for self-monitoring. With it, you can easily tell how much of your information is out there.

Dark Web Search

Part of the scouring happens on the dark web. Whereas most background check tools won’t even acknowledge it, TruthFinder recognizes that your information might have its way to these not-so-easily accessed websites.

Without your knowledge, someone might have sold your identity, which could be used for nefarious purposes, while you have to shoulder the blame. But even in less extreme scenarios, the dark web is a treasure trove of information that adds to the extensive reports of TruthFinder.

Pricing

TruthFinder’s pricing options are, contrary to the report’s completeness, lacking in options. For one, there’s simply no way to buy a single background check, even if you want a sneak glimpse of your online presence.

The only options involve subscribing for a month for $28.85, or 2 months for the slightly better value price of $46.56. Should you only want reverse phone number searching, the price drops significantly to $4.99 a month, which is far more reasonable.

There are also some interesting add-ons. Downloadable reports are $3.99 each, but you must have a subscription first. There are also dark web search tools, which cost an additional $2.99 monthly.

Considering this protects you against hackers by giving you instant notifications when your details are leaked, we think this one is worth it.

4. US Search — The Best Value for Money for a Background Checker in 2024

US Search is a great option if you’re on a tight budget but still need an accurate assessment of someone’s background. As a low-cost option with searches costing as little as $1.45, it offers a straightforward service. With that said, it’s best kept for personal use or small startups.

US Search is one of the oldest publicly available background check services. Launched in 1993, the website’s streamlined interface is somewhat evocative of the 90s itself. Don’t mistake this for a negative, as while the design isn’t exactly what you’d call fancy, it is readable and gets to the point.

Search Options

Despite the simple user interface, US Search’s search options are plentiful. You can, of course, look for someone’s information with their names, even being able to check their aliases.

More than that, you can see who’s been calling you with the reverse phone number search or check every person that lived at a specific address by entering it into the reverse address lookup.

The property records lookup even lets you find information on the property itself, such as maps or deeds. Beyond that, you can see someone’s emails and social network accounts and, of course, check criminal records. These include:

Note that criminal records can only be found in 43 states. Furthermore, US Search doesn’t provide employment records or credential verification.

Report Accuracy

As mentioned above, the reports from the search don’t contain all the information you’d ideally want for pre-employment screening. The lack of educational or employment confirmation is unfortunate, but at the very least, you’ll get criminal records.

When it comes to accuracy, however, US Search performs well. Its sources are reliable, if not necessarily up to date. This means that more recent information might not necessarily appear, but older information should and will be accurate.

Another consequence is that US Search doesn’t comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and, therefore, cannot be used as a basis for not hiring someone. With that said, it can be an incredibly useful tool for an initial assessment.

Free Results

Perhaps one of the most notable aspects of the results provided by US Search is the absence of a customer funnel. Unlike other providers, US Search doesn’t paywall the results of its searches, meaning that you can make sure the person you’re looking up exists on the database and verify basic information before needing to pay for the full report.

Pricing

There are a few options for pricing, generally on the low side. It goes as low as $1.45 for a single basic level 1 background search if you take advantage of the OmniSearch bundle discount.

You can include the criminal history for $14.94 or a discounted $9.85. The complete background search is the most expensive option, sitting at $39.95 or $29.95 with the bundle discount.

Other search options have prices ranging between these values. Alternatively, you can subscribe to get unlimited reports for $19.95 per month or a slightly better value of $49.95 for 3 months.

For basic checks, US Search is by far the most affordable option, but for more involved searches, another on this list might be better.

5. Intelius — The Fastest Background Checker in 2024

One of the most popular background check sites we’ve reviewed is Intelius, which stands out from its competitors due to a very quick turnaround on reports. Its Fast Pass feature allows users to conduct extensive background checks in a short amount of time, making it a highly impressive service.

First-time customers can even benefit from a 50% discount on the premium options, including subscriptions for unlimited background checks.

Intelius, established in 2003, is a more popular background check service. This success can be attributed in no small part to the sheer speed of the results. While the service isn’t perfect, it’s hard to argue against the fastest provider on the market.

Some providers can take days to return results on an individual, but Intelius cuts through the waiting period, which can be essential when you need to hire employees fast.

Fast Pass

As noted above, Intelius is by far the fastest background check website available. With its Fast Pass feature, you can remove any of the usual waiting periods and get your results in a matter of seconds.

Intelius does this by asking you questions about the individual you’re searching for as it scans an extensive database of criminal records, divorce records, housing certificates, and employment history.

This way, you can assist Intelius in finding the results you need faster and cut out many potential false positives.

Extensive Checks

Intelius provides thorough background checks that highlight potential issues with hiring an employee. The usual information like identity, address, and contacts are, of course, included, but you’ll also get the history of these details and criminal records.

Intelius, however, isn’t always at the accuracy required to comply with FRCA, so you won’t be able to deny a potential hire based on its results alone. Employment law is very serious in America, so when deciding not to hire someone, make sure you have an FRCA-compliant provider.

The full Level 2 Background Check is FRCA compliant, but you must hand over your fingerprints to a law agency in person.

Pricing

Intelius has a few offers on display depending on how many searches you need to make. You can perform basic searches for $3.95 or upgrade it to $9.95 to include social media.

For court records, you’ll have to pay as high as $49.95. Also, a subscription model is available at $19.95 per month, although it can be challenging to find.

Best Level 2 Comparison Table

Before we delve into key considerations you need to bear in mind when making your decision, here’s a quick head-to-head comparison of the top Level 2 Background Check sites:

What’s the Difference Between Level 1 and Level 2 Background Checks?

What constitutes any background check level can change depending on who you ask, and it can be confusing to wrap your head around it. Simply put, the term is only officially used in Florida.

According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), a Level 2 Background Check consists of a simple verification of your:

• Identity
• Employment history
• A National Sex Offender check

This can be performed online, as it’s just a check against a piece of ID like your Driver’s License.

On the other hand, a Level 2 Background Check involves all the above, as well as a run-through of both the FDLE and the FBI’s database based on fingerprints. Local criminal records may also be included as part of either check.

The main purpose is to prevent felons or criminals with a related history from working with vulnerable people such as the elderly or children.

Outside of Florida, the term is a bit more loosely defined. Informally, a level 1 background check will usually refer to a basic identity check, whereas a level 2 check will include criminal records and potentially both employment and educational records.

The latter two may be part of what some refer to as a level 3 check, but again, it depends on the person asked and local customs.

Why You Need a Level 2 Background Check

You might need a Level 2 Background Check for many reasons, but the key one is that it’s necessary if you’re employed in Florida and work with vulnerable people. This could be young children, the elderly, or some disabled people.

In these cases, you’ll need to submit your fingerprints to a licensed law authority in Florida so a full Level 2 Background Check can be carried out. However, as an employer, there are many reasons you might want to carry out a Level 2 Background Check:

Know Your Employees

A fairly obvious benefit of running a background search is that you know more about those you’re working with. If you’re going to work with someone for a lengthy period, you want to make sure you can trust them.

Perhaps you’re a freelancer who wants to ensure their new client doesn’t have a history of skipping on the pay. Or maybe, you’re concerned for your female employees and want to proactively avoid any issue that could result from hiring a convicted sex offender.

You can better protect your employees and yourself with a level 2 background check.

Sensitive Data

All businesses handle sensitive data from third parties or internal corporate secrets. GDPR and similarly inspired laws in the US massively increased the penalties for knowingly allowing sensitive data to be handled insecurely.

When the stakes are so high, it’s vital to trust your employees with information that can often be life-changing. Background checks allow you to verify every employee, so you can be confident you’re not hiring someone with a history of theft from the workplace.

Cybersecurity is vital in modern office life, especially when each employee hired could be a potential inside threat that compromises your exterior security effortlessly.

Working With Vulnerable People

One of the primary reasons the Level 2 Background Check exists is to create additional trust in the healthcare industry. After all, Florida is one of the top retirement destinations in the United States, so it has a huge industry for end-of-life care.

If your industry involves working with children, the elderly, or the infirm, you certainly want to avoid hiring people with a history of violence or domestic abuse. Background checks help filter out those unsuitable for working with vulnerable people before you get to the interview stage.

Personal Use

Even if you’re only using a background check service because you want to reconnect with an old friend or see how one of your high school pals is doing now, there’s nothing illegal about using background checks for personal use.

That said, if you’re being harassed by people across the internet or over the phone, it might be helpful to look them up with a full background check before you hand their details over to the police so you’re not wasting everyone’s time.

A deep background search will help you find whoever you’re looking for, even if it’s just yourself. It’s hard to know how much information is available about you online at a moment’s glance, but with a background check service you can get the complete picture of how much of your personal information is available online.

Background Check Level 2 FAQs