What Is Max Intel?
Max Intel is a free, browser-based open source intelligence (OSINT) suite that gives investigators, journalists, researchers, and cybersecurity professionals instant access to 25+ investigation tools — all from a single interface. Each tool aggregates links to dozens of public data sources, so you can search people by name, investigate email addresses, look up domain registrations, trace IP addresses, analyze threats, research businesses, and much more without switching between sites.
Every tool on Max Intel is free, requires no registration, and works directly in your browser. There are no API keys to manage, no accounts to create, and no data stored about your searches. The suite also includes 18 downloadable Python desktop applications for offline OSINT investigations. We also publish original research on the OSINT tool ecosystem, tracking which tools shut down, go paid, or get acquired so investigators always know what still works.
Why We Built This
OSINT research typically requires investigators to navigate dozens of separate websites, each with different interfaces, signup requirements, and search parameters. Max Intel eliminates that friction by generating direct search links to every relevant data source from a single input field. The goal is simple: save investigators time by centralizing access to publicly available information.
The project was founded in 2025 by cybersecurity and OSINT professionals who experienced this fragmentation firsthand. Every tool in the suite reflects real investigative workflows — the sources included are the ones that professional investigators actually use daily.
How Max Intel Works
Max Intel does not store or index data. Instead, each tool takes your search input (a name, email, domain, IP address, etc.) and generates direct search links to relevant public databases. When you click a link, you are taken directly to the third-party source with your search pre-filled. This means Max Intel never holds your data — it simply connects you to publicly available information faster than doing it manually.
Who Uses Max Intel?
The suite is designed for anyone who conducts research using public data: private investigators, journalists conducting background research, cybersecurity analysts tracking threats, legal professionals conducting due diligence, academic researchers, HR professionals verifying credentials, and individuals looking up their own digital footprint. All use of Max Intel tools must comply with applicable laws and the site's terms of service.
Open Source and Ethical Use
Max Intel is committed to ethical OSINT practices. All tools access only publicly available data — no scraping, no hacking, no unauthorized access. Users are expected to use these tools responsibly and in accordance with local laws. For legal details, see our legal disclaimer and privacy policy.
About the Author
Max Intel is built and maintained by Ned Walsch, an open-source intelligence practitioner who develops the site's browser-based tools and writes its guides and references. Ned started Max Intel to make professional-grade OSINT techniques available for free — no sign-ups, no paywalls — and keeps the tools and the research current as platforms, data sources, and the law change.
Every guide on this site reflects hands-on testing of the tools it describes, and every recommendation is something Ned actually uses in investigative work. If a tool changes or a technique stops working, the relevant page gets updated rather than left to rot. Found the tools useful? You can support the project at buymeacoffee.com/glutenscreen.
Contact
For questions or feedback, use the thumbs-down button on any tool page to flag issues, or write to us at hello@maxintel.org.