Melissa Lookups is a reverse data tool that can identify people by phone number, but its pricing is a little complex: costs can shift, and it’s easy to overpay.
It’s designed for teams rather than single users, so if you’re looking for casual number lookups or better Melissa alternatives, refer to the table below. 👇
| Tool | Personal Use | Business Use |
| CatfishNumber | ⭐ Best for individuals; fast, accurate, pay-per-search. | ⚠️ Can work for lead checks, but not ideal for bulk or teams. |
| Trestle | ❌ Not built for casual use; requires API setup. | ⭐ Best for enterprise; deep enrichment, scalable API. |
| SearchBug | ⭐ Flexible pay-per-use; great detail when possible. | ⭐ Bulk tools + APIs; strong for CRM cleaning, lead gen. |
| WhitePages | ⭐ Good for quick checks or deeper reports. | ⭐ Pro API + bulk; useful for enrichment and verification. |
| Intelius | ⚠️ Pricey and slower; US/Canada only. | ⭐ Unlimited reports; strong for repeated checks. |
| Ekata | ❌ No personal use; no identity data. | ⭐ Best for fraud/risk scoring; real-time, global. |
| Searqle | ⚠️ Expensive; limited free version. | ⚠️ Limited & shallow bulk searches. |
| NumLookup | ⭐ Good free option for light use. | ⚠️ Affordable, but limited depth and reach. |
1. CatfishNumber: Best Accurate Reverse Number Search Tool
CatfishNumber is an accurate reverse number search tool that delivers results in seconds and keeps your search history private.
The pricing on CatfishNumber is credit-based and very affordable (it doesn’t force subscriptions!):
- $6.95 for 2 searches
- $11.95 for 5 searches
The phone reports surface names, social profiles, and addresses, which are useful for spotting scams and reconnecting with people.
CatfishNumber flags whether a number is VoIP or disposable, identifies its carrier, and checks for spam or fraud. It works in 100+ countries, not just the US!
It may be used by both individuals and businesses (for dating, unknown calls, or leads), but CatfishNumber is better than Melissa Lookups for occasional number lookups because it doesn’t offer number lookups in bulk.
2. Trestle: Best for Enterprise Contact Enrichment
Trestle is an API-driven data engine that builds identity reports based on numbers. It’s used by businesses for deeper data on numbers, not just validation.
Trestle also finds names, addresses, demographics, alternate numbers, carrier info, prepaid status, and more.
This number-lookup tool performs strongest in the U.S., but it also works in 100+ countries for customer checks, fraud detection, and onboarding.
You get a free 14-day trial (25 queries per API). After that, it’s pay-per-search, and much like Melissa, the number lookups are low in price.
- $0.015/query for telco info (carrier, line type, and phone activity).
- $0.07/report for caller identity and demographics.
- +$0.005 for add-ons (litigator checks and email info).
(The more you use Trestle, the cheaper it gets.)
The Self-Serve plan on Trestle has a pay-per-search model with 10 queries, whereas the Enterprise one may be customized in terms of solutions, pricing, and number of queries.
3. Searchbug: Best Deal for Number Searches in Bulk
Searchbug is a people-search API that pulls caller data from public and proprietary sources – with no commitment.
You run a number and get names, aliases, address history, relatives, emails, carrier info, etc. The results aren’t always plentiful, but when it works, it works well.
Unlike Melissa Lookups, Searchbug has a pay-per-lookup pricing model, where you pay $1.95 per number search; you don’t have to pay if no results are found!
The prices drop the more numbers you reverse search ($0.07 to $0.70 per record), depending on volume and depth.
Searchbug gives users the option to choose what they want to learn about the numbers they look up: be it caller identity or carrier/line type.
Searchbug is mostly US-focused, and some reports come back thin, but it’s one of the best Melissa alternatives for flexible pricing and solid details.
4. Whitepages: Best for Directory-Style Service for Number Lookups
Whitepages is a reverse number search tool that blends classic phone directories with modern data. It runs on a huge public compilation of identity records gathered over decades.
Free lookups cover the basics, but if you want the full picture (cell data, address history, relatives, emails, property records, and more), you need to pay.
- $5.99/month for basic access
- $10.99 for 20 monthly lookups
- $119/mo for 500 number reports
- $11.99 for 1 background report
(A 5-day trial with full contact info is available for $1.)
Whitepages’s results come fast, and the Pro API is useful for business owners who need to handle enrichment, verification, or fraud prevention.
Overall, Whitepages is useful for quick checks or deeper dives, but cell data isn’t always reliable, and it’s very US-focused, so it loses value elsewhere.
5. Intelius: Best for Unlimited Number Reports (US & Canada)
Intelius is a report-based people search tool used for repeated number lookups and background checks, with inputs like names, addresses, and criminal records.
Although it doesn’t perform as well as Melissa Lookups with international numbers, Intelius is effective for reverse searching US and Canadian (+1) numbers.
Intelius generates detailed reports: names, photos, emails, addresses, and social profiles, but the process is slower and more thorough.
Intelius is a solid fit for business use because it easily handles frequent lookups like lead checks or customer screening, with unlimited reports included.
- $0.95 trial for 5 days
- $35.30 monthly
- Add-on: $3.99 for a downloadable PDF
However, Intelius’s caller data isn’t always fresh because some reassigned or recycled numbers can show outdated info.
6. Truecaller: Best for Caller ID and User Protection
Truecaller is a screening app that helps ID callers globally in real time while also keeping users safe from spam and scammers.
If you have the app, Truecaller reverse searches incoming callers and finds linked names, locations, and the number type.
If you don’t have the Truecaller app, just go to the website on your desktop, write the number in the search bar, and press the button!
You can pay 10 bucks monthly or opt for one of the annual plans to remove ads, enable the Caller ID feature and Spam Blocking, and other features.
- $74.99/yr
- $99.99/yr
- $249/yr
(Prices may change depending on the region.)
As opposed to Melissa Lookups, which focuses on identities, Truecaller detects numbers’ fraud and spam scores.
7. Searqle: Best for US-Based Number Searches (If Paid)
Searqle is a US-based reverse phone lookup tool that offers basic reports. To unlock the in-depth results, you’ll need one of its monthly paid plans:
- $14.90/week ➡️ 4 credits
- $39.90/mo ➡️ 20 searches
- 10, 25, or 50 extra lookups for $24.90, $49.90, or $89.90, respectively.
Searqle offers a $1 7-day trial before deciding on a monthly subscription.
It delivers quick results like names, origin, and addresses, but stays fairly surface-level, which is better than Melissa for simple phone checks.
Note: Although Searqle claims to work globally, it only finds data on US numbers. Not recommended for serious business use.
8. NumLookup: Best for Occasional, Low-Cost Lookups
NumLookup is a quick number lookup tool that offers a free plan for short-term use, but in-depth data requires an upgrade. Pricing is pretty affordable:
- $10 for 40 lookups
- $20 for 80 lookups
- $50 for 200 lookups
– The paid plans mainly improve speed and report depth.
The free version of NumLookup gets the job done, but it’s slower and more limited, so it’s not better than Melissa for work-related searches.
NumLookup is a basic reverse number lookup tool, not fit for deep investigations, so it works best for fast checks or small business use.
Just keep in mind that the coverage can be limited depending on the region.
👉 Take a look at the list, see which Melissa Number Lookup alternative fits your needs, and begin your reverse number search journey!
🤔 Answering Your Questions
1. What should I use to reverse search numbers as a business owner?
Go for business-use number lookup tools, like Trestle and Searchbug, which are built for thorough, consistent lookups with tailored pricing plans and advanced technology.
2. I only need to reverse search one number. What do I do?
Use individual-use tools like CatfishNumber because they give quick results, have low-commitment pricing, and require no setup.
3. Can I look up a number on Google?
Yes, you can find surface-level info on a number by looking it up on Google, but you won’t reliably identify callers unless the number appears online (e.g., on LinkedIn).
4. Which is the best Melissa Lookups alternative for verifying identities?
If you need names, locations, and such, go for advanced reverse number search engines like CatfishNumber or background-check tools like Whitepages!
Leave a Reply