Unlimited skip tracing: is it real?
By Josh MillerUpdated 4 min readRarely in the literal sense: most plans sold as unlimited include a monthly allowance of data credits or a fair-use limit, like DealMachine's 10,000 data credits a seat on its $99 Basic plan. Read what a trace costs in credits and what happens when they run out, then compare the plan to paying 12 to 15 cents a record.
"Unlimited skip tracing" is a strong line on a pricing page. In the published terms it's usually something narrower: a monthly allowance, or a fair-use limit. That can still be a good deal. You just have to know which one you're buying.
What "unlimited" usually means
- A credit allowance. DealMachine's pricing page, checked October 20, 2026, lists 10,000 data credits per seat a month on Basic ($99), 20,000 on Pro ($149), and 100,000 records per package on Scale ($599). The page doesn't say how many credits a trace uses.
- A fair-use cap in the terms, often tied to list size or "reasonable use."
- Unlimited lookups, limited exports: you can view numbers on screen but pay to export them.
Do the math
| Traces a month | Pay as you go | Break-even flat plan |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | $75 | Under $75 a month |
| 1,000 | $150 | Under $150 a month |
| 3,000 | $450 | Under $450 a month |
| 10,000 | $1,500 | Under $1,500 a month |
If you trace a few hundred owners a month, paying per record is usually cheaper. If you trace thousands, a plan with a big enough allowance can win, as long as the quality holds.
Questions to ask
- How many credits does one trace use? One owner, or one phone number?
- What happens when the allowance runs out?
- Can I export the numbers, or only view them?
- Is the data the same quality as the per-record service?
Quantity isn't the goal
Unlimited traces on a list of owners who aren't selling is unlimited calls to the wrong people. Start with a list that sells. In the county records, expired listings and foreclosure filings sold off-market at 12 to 13 of every 100 within a year; free and clear owners at about 1.5. And check how fresh your list is.
Questions investors ask
Is there truly unlimited skip tracing?
Some plans market it, but the published terms usually set a monthly credit allowance or a fair-use limit. Read the plan page and terms for the cap.
Is a skip tracing subscription cheaper than paying per record?
At high volume, often. At 15 cents a record, 1,000 traces a month is $150. If a flat plan costs less than what you'd trace, and the cap covers you, the plan wins.
What happens when skip tracing credits run out?
Depends on the plan: some stop, some charge per extra trace, some upgrade you. Ask before you sign.
Are unlimited skip tracing results worse?
Not necessarily, but quality varies by source. Test any plan on your own list and count right-party contacts.