When it comes to finding information on people, most internet users are familiar with services like Spokeo – a people search engine that aggregates public records into easy-to-read reports. But there are also powerful Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) tools like Lampyre that can serve as alternatives to Spokeo. Lampyre isn’t as widely known among casual users, yet it offers broad data-gathering capabilities and analytical features. This article will explain what both Spokeo and Lampyre are, and compare their features, pricing, and use cases in simple terms. Whether you’re an OSINT enthusiast or just someone starting out looking for people-search solutions, this comparison will help you understand how Lampyre stacks up as a Spokeo alternative.
What is Spokeo?
Spokeo is an online people search platform designed to find details about individuals using public data. It allows you to look up a person by entering a piece of information such as their name, email address, phone number, or mailing address. Spokeo then scours billions of public records – including phone directories, social media, property deeds, court records, and more – and compiles the results into an accessible report.
One of Spokeo’s strengths is its ease of use. You simply input one piece of information and Spokeo “handles the rest” by automatically aggregating data from its vast databases. The service has become quite popular in the United States, reportedly serving about 23 million users per month and processing roughly 500,000 searches a day. However, Spokeo’s comprehensive results apply only to individuals in the United States (or U.S. citizens).
On the financial side, Spokeo is a paid service (after a tiny teaser). It offers a 7-day trial for $0.95, after which a subscription is required. The pricing plans are subscription-based and relatively straightforward: a one-month membership costs about $19.95, or you can opt for a three-month plan which works out to $14.95 per month (billed as $44.85 every three months). For more demanding needs, Spokeo also has a Professional plan at $69.95 per month that permits up to 500 searches monthly.
What is Lampyre?
Lampyre is a multifaceted OSINT tool designed for data analysis, visualization, and investigation across a wide range of sources. Unlike Spokeo, which is a single website for people lookup, Lampyre is a software platform (available as a desktop application and also via web interface/API) that can collect and correlate information from over a hundred different data sources.
Users can start an inquiry with just one data point – for example, a person’s name, an email address, a phone number, or even technical identifiers like an IP address or a domain name – and Lampyre will sift through its many sources to retrieve relevant information. The tool then lets you organize and examine the results in various formats: you can view findings in tables, plot them on maps, or visualize connections on graphs.
Lampyre vs Spokeo: Pricing Breakdown
| Plan / Feature | Lampyre | Spokeo |
| Trial | $2.40 (30-day trial with limited queries) | $0.95 (7-day trial) |
| Basic / Lite Plan | $5.95/month (100 queries) | $19.95/month (100 searches) |
| Mid Tier | $59/month (1,000 queries) | $14.95/month billed quarterly ($44.85 every 3 months) |
| Top Tier / Pro | $89/month (Plus plan with higher limits & features) | $69.95/month (500 searches, Professional plan) |
| Pay-as-you-go Option | ✅ Available via Photons (credit-based) | ❌ Not available |
| Query Overages | Buy additional credits (Photons) | Must upgrade to higher plan |
| International Data Access | ✅ Yes (global sources) | ❌ U.S. only |
| Offline Use | ✅ Yes (desktop version) | ❌ No (web-based only) |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Lampyre | Spokeo |
| People Lookup | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Email/Phone/Name Search | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Global Data Sources | ✅ Yes | ❌ U.S. only |
| OSINT Capabilities | ✅ Extensive | ❌ Basic |
| Data Visualization | ✅ Graphs, maps, tables | ❌ None |
| Collaboration Tools | ✅ Available (web app) | ❌ Not supported |
| API Access | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Social Media / Dark Web Monitoring | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Data Import / Export | ✅ Yes | ❌ Limited |
Key Differences Between Spokeo and Lampyre
Data Coverage & Sources: Spokeo focuses on aggregating public records and personal data mainly within the U.S. Lampyre draws from over 100 data sources globally, including technical and open web sources.
Ease of Use: Spokeo is plug-and-play with instant results. Lampyre offers deeper functionality and analysis tools, which may require a learning curve.
Results and Analysis: Spokeo gives pre-packaged reports. Lampyre enables deep dives, pivoting between data points, and visualizing connections.
Geographic Focus: Spokeo is limited to U.S. records. Lampyre works globally.
Pricing Model: Spokeo uses fixed subscription plans. Lampyre offers flexible credit-based pricing with scalable options.
Privacy and Data Control: Lampyre allows offline use and user-defined data sources. Spokeo is fully cloud-based.
Reasons to Choose Lampyre as a Spokeo Alternative
Broader OSINT Capabilities: Lampyre can perform social media analysis, breach checks, and dark web queries, far beyond Spokeo’s people search.
Flexible and Potentially Cheaper Pricing: You can spend just a few dollars with Lampyre if you’re a light user. It’s scalable and avoids the flat-rate model.
In-Depth Analysis and Customization: Lampyre lets you visualize relationships and build complex investigations. Spokeo is more of a one-and-done report.
International and Niche Searches: If your investigation includes non-U.S. entities or specialized targets (like domains, IPs, crypto), Lampyre is the better fit.
Combining with OSINT Workflows: Lampyre integrates well into analyst workflows with export options, graphing, and scripting.
Conclusion
Spokeo is best for users who need a fast, straightforward people lookup tool focused on U.S. public records. Lampyre is a powerful alternative for those who want global access, deep-dive investigations, and flexible pricing. While Spokeo is easier to use, Lampyre gives you far more room to grow and dig deeper. Choose based on your needs, how much control you want over the investigation process, and your comfort level with using more advanced tools.