How Do I Access OSINT? Free and Paid Options

You access OSINT by finding relevant public or commercially available information, then checking and analyzing it. There is no single OSINT database or universal account to unlock it.

You can begin with public websites and free tools. Other sources require registration, a subscription, or specific eligibility. Access conditions, local law, and the intended use still matter.

Three useful routes are manual research, free previews, and a platform that brings supported sources together.

Option 1: search public sources yourself

A first collection pass can start in a browser:

For domain registrations, RDAP is the current source for generic top-level domains following ICANN's transition from WHOIS. A registration record, IP address, or certificate does not by itself identify the person operating a site.

Many manual sources are free. Others charge for access. Manual research helps you understand sources, but checking many platforms individually takes time.

Option 2: run a free preview on Osintly

Osintly Search offers a limited preview for a username or email address, without requiring an account:

1. Open osint.ly/search.

2. Enter a pseudonym or full email address.

3. Select Run free preview and complete the human verification.

4. Review the limited results in the same browser session.

Guests can run 2 previews in a rolling hour and 3 in a rolling 24-hour period, shared by devices on the same IP address. Signed-in accounts without a paid app plan have the same per-account limits, with shared network limits of 6 per hour and 12 per 24 hours. Service capacity can also affect availability.

Previews use their own quota rather than credits. They may show cached results, remain accessible in that browser session for 15 minutes, and are not saved to History. Full details, raw leak datasets, exports, and AI Analyst are excluded. See the free preview documentation.

Option 3: run full searches with a plan

Full app searches require an active subscription in the selected personal or organization workspace. They query the sources available for the identifier, your plan, and your module selection. Results stream as sources respond; unavailable providers can leave gaps.

Saved searches appear in History. Reopening an existing result does not spend another credit or refresh its data. A fresh full search costs one credit. Paid temporary searches also cost one credit but do not save results to History.

Osintly supports research from usernames, email addresses, and cryptocurrency wallets, subject to plan access. For domains and IP addresses, the Search documentation directs users to the dedicated Domain Intelligence and IP Intelligence tools.

The listed monthly personal plans are:

The pricing page has the current comparison and separate Organization plans. App subscriptions, focused-tool limits, and API plans have different allowances; one does not grant unlimited use of the others.

Focused tools for a specific lead

Osintly's focused tools offer a dedicated lookup interface rather than a full multi-source Search job:

Tool access and limits depend on the operation and plan. Missing or historical data should not be treated as a live negative finding.

Access Osintly from ChatGPT

Osintly Assistant brings targeted Osintly tools into ChatGPT, including IP and domain intelligence, supported platform lookups, individual modules, and the Radar feed.

The original GPT page currently points to the Osintly Assistant plugin, with GPT access available during the transition. Follow that page for the current access option and requirements. ChatGPT and connected-service limits still apply. Use the Osintly website when you need the full multi-source investigation interface.

Access Osintly from your own code

Developers can use the Osintly API. The Free API plan currently provides authenticated Radar access; it does not grant full Search API or Tools API execution. Those require an eligible API plan, separate from an app subscription. See API plans and capacity.

Before you start

Run your first search

Start with an identifier you control. Enter your own username or email on Osintly Search, review the available preview, and check the findings against the original sources.