Top Choice
Instant Checkmate
Criminal-record and social-profile search option.
View RecordsBackground Checks
Cheap Background Reports
For a known federal case, courthouse viewing and PACER court opinions can provide no-fee access; printing or other electronic retrieval may cost money.
Direct answer
What to use for cheap background reports
A lower price is useful only if the result meets your purpose. Start with the narrow official record you actually need, check whether viewing is sufficient, and price any required report or certified copy separately.
Route
Official sources that can answer different questions
| Need | Official source | What it can establish |
|---|---|---|
| Federal/state route. | FBI - Identity History Summary Checks FAQs. | The FBI direct Identity History Summary fee is currently $18. |
| Rights or scope check. | FBI Identity History Summary Checks. | FBI Identity History Summary requests are fingerprint based. |
| Navigation layer. | USAGov - State and local governments. | USA.gov provides a directory for locating state and local government websites; the directory itself does not establish record-specific access rules. |
Important
A background check is not one universal record
Check the published fee. Tie each published price to the source and record product that lists it. Do not generalize one agency fee to unrelated court, fingerprint, copy, or delivery services.
Check
What to verify before treating the result as complete
- Define the purpose. Decide what would count as a complete answer. The sources can then be selected for the specific facts they publish.
- Separate additional steps. Keep outside service steps visible rather than hiding them in one total. That keeps the cost estimate tied to the actual workflow.
Avoid paying for the wrong coverage
For a known federal case, courthouse viewing and PACER court opinions can provide no-fee access; printing or other electronic retrieval may cost money. Using a known case number and narrowing the docket date range can avoid broad chargeable searches. This route supplies federal court information, not a complete personal background report.
If you need your own FBI history, the direct request is $18 before possible fingerprint-service charges. If you cannot pay, ask the FBI about its fee-waiver instructions before submitting. Do not buy that product for an employer or licensing requirement without confirming the required process.
For a state or local record, compare the responsible office’s current viewing, copy and certification options. A free index may only locate a file. Check recurring charges, extra jurisdictions and delivery before accepting a low advertised price. No cheapest provider, paid offer or universal free report has been established here.
Official guidance: PACER pricing; FBI Identity History Summary FAQs.
Related Record Guides
Sources
Authoritative next stops
Official federal criminal-history source; United States
FBI - Identity History Summary Checks FAQs
FBI own Identity History Summary process; fingerprint requirement; current $18 FBI request fee; waiver instructions.
United States
Official federal source; United States
FBI Identity History Summary Checks
FBI Identity History Summary personal review process and fingerprint-based identity history.
United States
Official federal directory; United States
USAGov - State and local governments
Directory only: identifies and links state and local government websites; does not establish record-specific rules.
United States