How Much Does Skip Tracing Cost? Per-Record Pricing Compared
Skip trace costs range from free (low accuracy) to $0.25+ per record (premium multi-source). The right provider depends on your volume, accuracy needs, and budget. This guide compares pricing across provider tiers and shows you how to calculate your true cost per successful contact.
Skip trace pricing by tier
| Provider Type | Per Record | Typical Hit Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free (TruePeopleSearch) | $0 | 30-50% | Spot-checking 1-5 records |
| Budget batch | $0.02-$0.05 | 55-70% | Large lists, some waste acceptable |
| Mid-tier | $0.05-$0.15 | 65-80% | Standard wholesaling workflows |
| Premium multi-source | $0.10-$0.25 | 75-85% | High-value targets |
| Platform-included | In subscription | Varies | Integrated workflows |
True cost per contact
The per-record price is misleading. What matters is your cost per successful contact:
Budget provider: $0.03/record × 100 records = $3.00. Hit rate 60% = 60 numbers. Contact rate 40% = 24 valid contacts. Cost per contact: $0.125
Premium provider: $0.15/record × 100 records = $15.00. Hit rate 80% = 80 numbers. Contact rate 55% = 44 valid contacts. Cost per contact: $0.34
The premium provider costs 2.7x more per contact, but you get 83% more valid contacts. If those contacts lead to deals, the premium data pays for itself quickly.
Batch vs. individual pricing
- Individual lookups: $0.10-$0.25/record. Best for verifying specific contacts.
- Batch (50+ records): $0.02-$0.15/record. Significantly cheaper per unit. Best for list processing.
What affects price
- Data sources: More sources = better accuracy = higher cost
- Volume commitments: Prepaying for credits often reduces per-record cost
- Bundling: Platforms that include skip tracing in subscription pricing (like Deal Run) eliminate per-record costs entirely up to your plan's investor limit
For a complete overview of how skip tracing works, see our skip tracing guide. For provider recommendations, see best skip trace services.
Key insight: The cheapest per-record price is not always the best value. Calculate cost per successful contact, not cost per record, when comparing providers.