SmartSkip vs TLO: Professional-Grade Skip Tracing Without the License Requirements
TLO is known as an industry-standard tool for licensed professionals—but what if you don't have a PI license? This comparison breaks down how SmartSkip delivers comparable data quality with public access, better pricing, and more relative data.
Quick Comparison: SmartSkip vs TLO at a Glance
| Feature | SmartSkip | TLO |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk Skip Tracing | Yes | No |
| Manual Skip Tracing | Yes | Yes |
| Price Per Search | $0.15 | $1.50 |
| Data Quality | High | High |
| Relative Data | Yes | Yes |
| Associate Data | Yes | Yes |
| Relative Data Cost | Free | $1.50 extra |
| Associate Data Cost | Free | $1.50 extra |
| Public Access | Yes | No (License Required) |
| Dynamic Interface | Yes | No |
| Record Storage | Yes | No |
| Average Relatives Returned | More | Fewer |
| Relationship Status Included | Yes | Limited |
Already decided to move off TLO? Read our TLO alternative guide for what switching looks like in practice.
The Licensing Barrier: Who Can Actually Use TLO?
TLO Requires Professional Licensing
- Not publicly accessible
- Must be a licensed PI, attorney, or collections agency
- Most people do not qualify for access
- Application requires credential verification
- Onboarding takes time even if you qualify
SmartSkip: Public Access, No Barriers
- No license required—sign up and start immediately
- Built for anyone who needs skip tracing
- All the contact data you need without hoops
- No credential verification or waiting period
- Professional-grade data for everyone
What TLO's Licensing Gets You
For licensed PIs working criminal cases or attorneys doing deep investigations, TLO provides valuable restricted data including license plate lookups, vehicle registration information, and access to additional restricted databases.
But Most People Don't Need That
Most skip tracing users need phone numbers, emails, addresses, and relatives. You're trying to reach people—not run vehicle registrations. The restricted data TLO offers is overkill for most outreach needs. Paying for a PI license (or hiring one) just to find contact information is unnecessary.
TLO is built for licensed investigators. SmartSkip is built for everyone else. You shouldn't need a PI license to find someone's phone number.
Pricing Comparison: 10x the Cost for Similar Data
per search (everything included)
per search (base only)
The Cost of Relative & Associate Data
SmartSkip: $0.15 total
- ✓ Relative data: Free
- ✓ Associate data: Free
TLO: $4.50 total
- • Base search: $1.50
- • Relative data: +$1.50
- • Associate data: +$1.50
SmartSkip is 97% cheaper for equivalent contact data.
Cost Breakdown: 500 Searches
| Scenario | SmartSkip | TLO |
|---|---|---|
| 500 Basic Searches | $75 | $750 |
| 500 Searches + Relatives + Associates | $75 | $2,250 |
| Your Savings with SmartSkip | — | $2,175 |
For the cost of 50 TLO searches, you could run over 330 complete searches on SmartSkip—with relatives and associates included.
Data Quality: How Do They Actually Compare?
Both Rated High Quality
Let's be transparent: both SmartSkip and TLO deliver high-quality data. TLO has long been considered an industry standard, and SmartSkip matches that quality for skip tracing needs.
Phone Number Coverage: Back and Forth
After comparing searches across both platforms, results go back and forth. SmartSkip has some phone numbers TLO doesn't have. TLO has some phone numbers SmartSkip doesn't have. Neither platform has 100% coverage—no skip tracing service does. Both deliver strong, comparable results.
Where SmartSkip Wins: Relative Data
SmartSkip consistently returns more relatives than TLO. After comparing searches across both platforms:
- SmartSkip provides almost every relative that TLO provides
- On average, SmartSkip returns more relatives per search than TLO
- SmartSkip includes relationship status for every relative (spouse, child, sibling, parent, etc.)
- TLO's relationship status data is more limited
Why More Relatives Matter
Property owners don't always answer unknown numbers. Relatives can pass along your message or provide updated contact info. Heirs, spouses, and adult children often have decision-making power. More relatives = more contact angles = higher chance of connecting. Relationship status helps you personalize outreach ("Hi, I'm trying to reach your father about his property on Main Street...").
Pro Tip: Many Users Use Both
We have many users who have access to TLO and still use SmartSkip to ensure they're getting the best possible data. Running a search through both platforms can catch phone numbers and relatives that one service might miss—and SmartSkip's pricing makes this cross-referencing affordable.
When it comes to the data that matters most—phone numbers, emails, and relatives—SmartSkip delivers comparable or better results at a fraction of the cost.
Features Comparison
Bulk Skip Tracing
SmartSkip: Upload lists of hundreds or thousands of records
TLO: Manual searches only, one at a time
Manual Skip Tracing
SmartSkip: Yes
TLO: Yes
Dynamic Interface
SmartSkip: Modern, intuitive dashboard
TLO: Older, investigator-focused design
Record Storage
SmartSkip: All searches saved and accessible
TLO: No record storage
Relationship Status
SmartSkip: Full relationship status for all contacts
~TLO: Limited relationship status data
Processing Speed
SmartSkip: Bulk results in minutes
—TLO: Manual only (no bulk)
What TLO Offers That SmartSkip Doesn't
License Plate & Vehicle Registration Data
TLO provides access to license plate lookups, vehicle registration information, and DMV-sourced data. This is valuable for:
- • Private investigators working surveillance cases
- • Attorneys tracking down defendants
- • Collections agencies locating assets
Additional Restricted Databases
Licensed users may access additional databases not available to the public, including certain court records and financial data.
However: If you're looking for contact information, you don't need this data—and you can't access it anyway without professional licensing.
Who Should Use TLO vs SmartSkip?
TLO Is Right for You If:
- •You're a licensed Private Investigator
- •You're an attorney needing deep investigative data
- •You're a collections agency with proper credentials
- •You need license plate or vehicle registration lookups
- •You're working one-off investigative cases
- •Budget is not a primary concern
SmartSkip Is Right for You If:
- You need to find contact information for people
- You need bulk skip tracing for lists
- You want high-quality data without licensing requirements
- You need relative and associate data for multiple contact angles
- You want to save 90%+ on skip tracing costs
The Verdict: Why People Choose SmartSkip Over TLO
TLO is an excellent tool for licensed professionals who need restricted data. But for anyone who needs contact information, SmartSkip delivers comparable results at a fraction of the cost—with no barriers to entry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready for Professional-Grade Data Without the Barriers?
- ✓ High-quality skip tracing data comparable to industry-standard tools
- ✓ No PI license, no attorney credentials, no waiting for approval
- ✓ More relatives, full relationship status, bulk processing
- ✓ Save thousands compared to TLO pricing