Tools for researching companies, business registries, financial records, sanctions lists, and trade data.
Choosing Tools
- Start with official registries and filings for a company or officer; use sanctions, ownership, trade, and blockchain sources to extend the picture.
- Match entities by jurisdiction, registration number, and dates rather than name alone.
Tools
| Tool | Best for | Cost | Description | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 527 Explorer | ProPublica's 527 Explorer is a database that allows users to examine the finances of… | Free | ProPublica's 527 Explorer is a database that allows users to examine the finances of organizations known as 527s in t... | Details |
| BlockExplorer | Following a bitcoin trail or following a bitcoin account? | Free | Following a bitcoin trail or following a bitcoin account? | |
| China-related resources | Resources for research on companies in China. | Resources for research on companies in China. | ||
| Companies House | Search companies and individuals in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar. | Free | Search companies and individuals in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar. | Details |
| EDGAR | Database of corporate filings for the US | Free | Database of corporate filings for the US | Details |
| EDGAR Command Line Interface (edgar-tool) | Tool for the retrieval of corporate and financial data from SEC's EDGAR (Electronic Data… | Free | Tool for the retrieval of corporate and financial data from SEC's EDGAR (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Ret... | Details |
| Etherscan | An explorer that allows researchers to track wallets, transactions and more on the… | Free | An explorer that allows researchers to track wallets, transactions and more on the Ethereum blockchain. | Details |
| EU consolidated corporate registers | Consolidated company registers covering most of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. | Free | Consolidated company registers covering most of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. | Details |
| EU Sanctions Map | Database of sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United Nations | Free | Database of sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United Nations | Details |
| Global Suppliers Online | A site dedicated to connect suppliers and buyers of goods from all over the world. | Partially Free | A site dedicated to connect suppliers and buyers of goods from all over the world. | Details |
| ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database | Find out who’s behind more than 810k offshore companies, foundations and trusts from the… | Free | Find out who’s behind more than 810k offshore companies, foundations and trusts from the Panama Papers, the Offshore ... | Details |
| ImportGenius | Commercial supplier of trade data for 23 countries. | Paid | Commercial supplier of trade data for 23 countries. Paid service but journalists can ask for free access. | Details |
| ImportYeti | Search 60 million US customs sea shipment records, find company suppliers. | Free | Search 60 million US customs sea shipment records, find company suppliers. | Details |
| LittleSis | Connects the dots between influential / wealthy individuals in (mostly US) politics and… | Free | Connects the dots between influential / wealthy individuals in (mostly US) politics and business. | Details |
| Lumen | A research project collecting and publishing legal takedown notices for online content… | Free | A research project collecting and publishing legal takedown notices for online content transparency | Details |
| North Data | Search for people and companies in EU corporate and trade registers + visualize… | Partially Free | Search for people and companies in EU corporate and trade registers + visualize relationships | Details |
| OCCRP Aleph | Aleph offers a way to research sanctions lists, corporate registries, leaks, and more | Free | Aleph offers a way to research sanctions lists, corporate registries, leaks, and more | Details |
| Open Ownership | Links to beneficial ownership registers. | Free | Links to beneficial ownership registers. | Details |
| OpenCorporates | Comprehensive repository of company registries around the world | Partially Free | Comprehensive repository of company registries around the world | Details |
| OpenSanctions | Open-source international database of sanctions data, persons of interest and politically… | Partially Free | Open-source international database of sanctions data, persons of interest and politically exposed persons. | Details |
| OpenSecrets | Data on campaign finance, lobbying, and spending in U.S. | Free | Data on campaign finance, lobbying, and spending in U.S. politics | Details |
| Osint Tools Map | An interactive map serving as a curated archive of country-specific OSINT resources,… | Free | An interactive map serving as a curated archive of country-specific OSINT resources, including business registries, c... | Details |
| RuPEP | Online database of politically exposed persons in Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and… | Free | Online database of politically exposed persons in Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. | Details |
| SanctionsExplorer | A comprehensive database of current and historical OFAC/UN/EU sanctions | Free | A comprehensive database of current and historical OFAC/UN/EU sanctions | Details |
| UN Comtrade Database | United Nations free database of global trade. | Free | United Nations free database of global trade. | Details |
| Wikipedia list of registers | Wikipedia list of official business registers around the world. | Free | Wikipedia list of official business registers around the world. | Details |
Investigation Tips
- Start with OpenCorporates for the most comprehensive global company registry lookup
- Search offshore databases (ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database, OCCRP Aleph) for hidden ownership
- Use EDGAR for US company filings and financial disclosures
- Cross-reference sanctions lists (EU Sanctions Map, OpenSanctions, SanctionsExplorer)
- Check trade data (ImportYeti, UN Comtrade) to trace supply chains and business relationships
- For EU companies, use the EU consolidated corporate registers and North Data