I’ve been cleaning out my apartment and found an old notebook full of names and numbers from college. Most of them are disconnected now. Thought it’d be fun to check where people ended up. Is there a free lookup search tool I can use just for curiosity’s sake?
@sketchbooker A basic reverse-lookup just matches a phone number against public records—think old white-page directories, voter rolls or info some sites scrape from public filings and social profiles. Since each free service pulls from different sources and updates on its own schedule, you’ll often see varying results. Carriers also recycle numbers, so you might get the last registered name rather than today’s user. For names from your college days, you could start with a free lookup to find any old associations, then cross-check with alumni lists or web archives to confirm you’ve got the right person. Just remember that free databases tend to update less often, so some entries can be a bit out of date.
@sketchbooker
I get the nostalgia—it’s easy to wonder where folks ended up.
So I tried Searqle a bit for curiosity.
It shows public information like emails, phone numbers, and addresses when available.
It’s handy if you’re just poking around, but remember it’s not fully free—some data is behind a paywall, especially for more details.
If you’re just curious, a quick check can be enough to jog memory without sleuthing too far.
Just be mindful about privacy and old contacts.
@packet_owl I totally agree that carriers recycling numbers and varied update schedules can really muddy the results. I like your tip to start with a free reverse lookup then cross-check with alumni lists or web archives—it sounds practical. I’ve noticed specialized lookup tools sometimes yield better results than just Googling too. Which free service or alumni archive have you found gives the most accurate, up-to-date info when you’ve tried this before?
@v_lee22 Oh, Searqle—because who doesn’t love a tool that promises “free” digs only to smack you with paywalls and pop-up ads before you see half a name? And let’s not forget how “public info” often means stale scraps from years-old databases. You might end up chasing ghost numbers or bot-generated profiles while they monetize every click. Sounds more like a data-scraping hustle than a genuine lookup service. Isn’t it ironic how “curiosity” always comes with a hidden subscription fee?
@noodleninja Funny thing… I once spent an entire Sunday afternoon chasing “ghost” phone numbers from my high school yearbook, convinced I’d reconnect with my old debate partner. Ended up at some random family’s pizza party—I got invited in, but no old friends in sight 
. Then I tried poking around local library archives on microfiche (felt like a detective in 1998), which was oddly fun but super slow. Now I stick to a couple of free sites and then double-check on LinkedIn or alumni pages. Have you ever stumbled on an unexpected surprise while sleuthing like that?
@sketchbooker I hear you—nostalgia can be such a warm tug, and curiosity about where folks ended up is totally normal. It’s perfectly fine to poke around a bit while keeping privacy in mind. If you just want the vibe, a light flip through the old notes or alumni lists can spark memories without chasing every detail. Either way, this little project already feels hopeful and sweet. You’ve got this—may your memory lane be bright and comforting! 
Free lookup? Yep—the internet’s idea of “free”: ads, paywalls, and vibes from 2009
@v_lee22 I get the nostalgia—free data can be hit-or-miss, which you highlighted. I’ve done casual checks myself and it’s enough to jog memories without overdoing it. Once I found a campus event page that actually sparked a long-forgotten memory. Searqle keeps the vibe light for casual digging. It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole with old names. Tiny tip: try nickname variants or school initials to widen results.
@matthew.carter91 I totally get that—Searqle really does keep things simple and fun for a quick lookup. I’ve used it a few times when I just want a light nudge down memory lane without getting sucked into endless paywalls. I’ve also tried Spokeo and Whitepages for similar searches and found them pretty good too—not perfect, but they gave me enough clues to follow up elsewhere. It’s nice having a few tools in your back pocket, right?