The Searchbug API helps businesses determine if a SSN is valid and who it belongs to. Results include full name, associated aliases, date of birth, last reported address history, and phone numbers. Also alerts you if multiple names found for the SSN. You can search by name, address or phone number too.
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- Verify SSN Owner Info In Real Time
- Ease the pain of Online Fraud and
Identity Theft - Validate People in Seconds
- Avoid making Irresponsible Hiring decisions
XML or JSON Format
Fast & Reliable
No Contracts
Minimum $5
Secure and Private
Data Handling
API - People Search (api_ppl)
The People Search API helps you verify SSN owner and find contact information and background details for people in US.
Results typically include: names, aliases, current and previous addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, date of birth, date of death if deceased, relative names and DOB, SSN, SSN issue date and state, as well as personal bankruptcies, liens and judgements. Driver license info is also available is some states.
Person ID obtained from People Search can be used to access Background Report with even more details (employment info, business associations, evictions, criminal records, personal lien, judgment and bankruptcy filings, licenses, etc.).
Supported search input options:
- SSN
- Last 4 of SSN + First and Last Name (all 3 are required)
- First and Last Name (middle name is optional) + DOB
- First and Last Name (middle name and DOB are optional) + Address, City, State (zip is optional)
- First and Last Name (middle name and DOB are optional) + City, State (zip is optional)
- First and Last Name (middle name and DOB are optional) + State (zip is optional)
- Address, City, State (zip is optional)
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Driver's License Number
SSN and Driver's License Number information, and search by SSN are available only to verified businesses. Review Restricted Access application process below.
Cost is $0.79 to $0.33 per hit, depending on the volume and the plan selected. No charge, if info not found.
API Plans:
- Monthly (default). No minimums, no commitment - just pay for what you use. The rate automatically goes down as your monthly volume increases. The price resets on the 1st of each month.
- Annual. One-year commitment at a fixed discounted rate. The minimum annual commitment is $2,400. Apply for Annual Plan.
Estimate your cost
API - PEOPLE TRACE (api_trace)
This API is a professional Skip Trace tool typically used by collection agencies to locate debtors and is now available to ALL our Verified Business Clients with Restricted Access. Results from this API typically include Names, Aliases (aka), Death Records Search, Current Address, Previous Addresses, and phone numbers associated with the SSN when available.
What makes this Skip Trace API the Skip Trace?
Online Skip Tracing from other vendors often turns up data from digital databases, but are you getting the right data? Results often depend on the data quality and the search technology. Searchbug has been online since 1998. We know data. Our Skip Trace services are used by government offices, law enforcement, private investigators, and many other analysts that require a technology that sorts, filters, matches, and looks for the high probability when delivering results.
This API is restricted and available only to verified businesses. Review Restricted Access application process below.
Average match rate: 90%.
Price is $1.97 to $1.17 per hit, depending on the volume and the plan selected. No charge, if info not found.
API Plans:
- Monthly (default). No minimums, no commitment - just pay for what you use. The rate automatically goes down as your monthly volume increases. The price resets on the 1st of each month.
- Annual. One-year commitment at a fixed discounted rate. The minimum annual commitment is $2,400. Apply for Annual Plan.
Output example: XML
API - Match Name and SSN (api_ssnn)
This API is specifically designed to verify if an SSN provided by your customers, employees, or contractors matches their name. This tool is ideally suited for identity verification, issuing 1099s during tax season, and KYC compliance.
There are two options for verifying the Social Security Number (SSN): 1) submitting the last name and full 9-digit SSN or 2) submitting the first and last name and partial SSN (last 4 digits only).
If a match is found, the API returns the name associated with the SSN, recorded dates of birth, cities lived, state and year of issuance, and SSN status (active or deceased).
This API is available only to users approved for SSN Verification Access
Cost is $0.79 to $0.33 per query (match or no match), depending on the volume and the plan selected.
API Plans:
- Monthly (default). No minimums, no commitment - just pay for what you use. The rate automatically goes down as your monthly volume increases. The price resets on the 1st of each month.
- Annual. One-year commitment at a fixed discounted rate. The minimum annual commitment is $2,400. Apply for Annual Plan.
Estimate your cost
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose between Searchbug’s People Search API (api_ppl), Contact Info API (api_contact), and Name, Address, Phone & Email API (api_nape)?
Use the People Search API (api_ppl) when you need the highest match accuracy, deeper background indicators, and the option to add Restricted Access for SSN and driver’s license data in high‑stakes workflows like fraud prevention, skip tracing, and compliance checks.
Choose the Contact Info API (api_contact) for everyday identity verification, CRM cleanup, and lead enrichment where you want strong match rates and good value without paying premium people‑search pricing.
Use the Name, Address, Phone & Email API (api_nape) for economical, high‑volume contact discovery and list cleanup where broad coverage is more important than the deepest possible data.
For a detailed comparison of when each API is best, see our guide on Searchbug People Search APIs.
How can I optimize People Search API costs using Searchbug’s api_ppl, api_contact, and api_nape without sacrificing data quality?
A common way to lower your effective cost per result is to design a workflow that uses lower‑priced APIs as a first pass and escalates only the “no‑hit” records to the premium People Search API (api_ppl).
For example, you might start high‑volume lists with Name, Address, Phone & Email (api_nape) at the lowest price point, then send unresolved records to the Contact Info API (api_contact), and finally route the most critical or still unresolved records to the People Search API (api_ppl) where you need the deepest data and strongest match accuracy.
High‑volume users can also combine this workflow with annual plans to lock in lower per‑hit rates.
Our People Search API Cost Optimization white paper shows specific scenarios, blended‑cost examples, and workflow diagrams to help you design a cost‑effective implementation.
Are Searchbug APIs suitable for KYC compliance?
Yes. Many financial and insurance organizations use them to validate customer information before onboarding.
How do I pay for API services?
All APIs operate on a prepaid balance. Load between $10 and $5,000, and each successful query deducts from your balance. When funds run low, your balance automatically replenishes with your preset amount.
How does the API pricing work?
When a query is successful (called a "hit"), charges apply. There is no charge if there is no information found on a query. Some APIs like Criminal Check are priced per search, where No Results means that a person does not have a criminal record, which is considered a successful query with useful information.
The API price decreases as your monthly volume increases, making it cost-effective for businesses handling high search volumes. You can also apply for Annual Plan if you want to lock in your rates and save up to 60% compared to a non-commitment monthly plan.
Can I test the API before purchasing?
Yes! We offer free API testing for qualified users. Register for a no-obligation Sandbox API Test Account, and you'll receive a limited number of live queries to evaluate the quality of our data before fully integrating.
How often is the data updated?
Searchbug uses multiple data sources and advanced algorithms to ensure data is fresh, accurate, and continuously updated.
Need Something Custom?
If you don't see the exact API you need, Searchbug can build a custom API tailored to your workflow or data challenges. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
