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5 Best Private Investigator in New York (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

Fenris Morrow
By Fenris Morrow, Expert in Professional Services · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

Hiring a private investigator usually means dealing with something painful: a missing relative, a suspected affair, a custody dispute that needs documentation. Eleven firms offering this work in New York turned up enough client feedback to judge, and ratings across the five that made this list swing from 4.4 up to a perfect 5, a wider gap than you'd expect in a field this small. American Eagle Investigations leads with 130 reviews at 4.8, but a couple of smaller names on the page carry only a fraction of that, so the track record behind each one is worth a look before you call.

Short answer: American Eagle Investigations leads with 4.8 stars across 130 reviews, the largest base among the domestic and missing-person focused firms here. New York Intelligence Agency posts the highest rating at 4.9 on a smaller review count. All five require a phone consultation before pricing is discussed.
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How These NYC Investigation Firms Compare

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 American Eagle Investigations 4.8 130 Missing persons and domestic cases View ›
2 New York Intelligence Agency 4.9 74 Fast turnaround and personal involvement View ›
3 North American Investigations 4.7 64 Surveillance-heavy cases View ›
4 Michael McKeever Private Investigator 4.4 59 One-on-one, solo practitioner cases View ›
5 Intuit Investigative Resources 5.0 18 International or multi-jurisdiction cases View ›
5 Best Private Investigator in New York (2026)

Who to call, and for what

American Eagle Investigations logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

American Eagle Investigations

4.8130 Google reviews

American Eagle Investigations is a Financial District firm offering marital and infidelity investigations, missing person searches, polygraph testing, background checks, and computer forensics, with its own site describing decades of combined experience and a founder with a law enforcement background. It runs extended hours seven days a week and positions itself around domestic and family cases alongside standard business investigations. Reviewers most often describe missing person and family reunification cases, along with polygraph appointments.

What people praise

  • Reviewers describe successful outcomes on difficult missing-person and family location cases
  • Polygraph process described as clearly explained before the test begins
  • Communication described as consistent and reassuring during emotionally difficult cases
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.8 / 5
Review volume130 · 95th
Confidencemoderate
Recency8 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown94% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The largest review base among the family and domestic-focused firms here, with a rating to match. It's a strong first call for missing-person or infidelity cases specifically.

11 Broadway #830, New York, NY 10004

New York Intelligence Agency logo
#2🕑 Open 7 days

New York Intelligence Agency

4.974 Google reviews

New York Intelligence Agency is a Midtown firm run by David Schassler, whose own site describes an award-winning background in investigative work and positions the firm around discretion for both business and personal cases. Reviewers describe fast turnaround, in some cases results within 24 hours, and consistently credit Schassler directly by first name for handling their case personally. The firm covers divorce-related investigations, asset searches, and general fact-finding work.

What people praise

  • Results delivered within 24 hours in more than one reviewer account
  • Founder described as personally involved in each case rather than delegating fully to staff
  • Reviewers consistently describe discretion and clear communication
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume74 · 86th
Confidenceearly
Recency2 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown96% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It carries the highest rating of any firm here, though on a smaller review base than the top spot. The speed reviewers describe is a genuine standout.

555 5th Ave Fl 14 Suite 1401, New York, NY 10017

North American Investigations logo
#3🕑 Open 7 days

North American Investigations

4.764 Google reviews

North American Investigations, operating locally under its parent brand PVTEyes, runs a Midtown Manhattan office as part of a wider firm with additional locations across New Jersey, Long Island, and several other states, led by Chief Investigator Darrin Giglio. The company's own site describes over 45 years in business with a focus on surveillance work. Reviewers consistently name Giglio directly, describing careful intake processes that go beyond a photo request into full behavioral profiles before surveillance begins.

What people praise

  • Thorough intake process described as more detailed than competitors, including behavioral profiles before surveillance starts
  • Reviewers describe clear, ongoing communication throughout multi-day cases
  • Long-running firm with reviews describing cases going back several years
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.7 / 5
Review volume64 · 77th
Confidenceearly
Recency5 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown88% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: As a multi-location firm with deep surveillance experience, it's a solid pick for cases that need sustained, in-person monitoring rather than a quick records search.

260 Madison Ave #8085, New York, NY 10016

Michael McKeever Private Investigator logo
#4🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Michael McKeever Private Investigator

4.459 Google reviews

Michael McKeever runs a solo private investigation practice from a Broadway office in NoHo, with his own site describing more than 30 years of experience across matrimonial, custody, and employment background investigations in Manhattan and the surrounding area. He's been the subject of outside press coverage on what the job of a private investigator actually involves, referenced on his own site. Reviewers describe a personal, hands-on approach, being the sole point of contact from first call to case closure.

What people praise

  • Reviewers repeatedly describe being able to reach McKeever directly rather than a call center or intake staff
  • Pricing described as fair and often lower than competitors quoted
  • Missing-person cases described as resolved even with limited starting information

Worth knowing

  • As a solo practitioner, availability may be more limited during high-demand periods than a multi-person firm
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.4 / 5
Review volume59 · 68th
Confidenceearly
Recency2 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown83% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The lowest rating of the top four here, though still solidly positive, and the direct, one-on-one style reviewers describe is a real differentiator from the larger firms.

588 Broadway #1212, New York, NY 10012

Intuit Investigative Resources logo
#5🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Intuit Investigative Resources

5.018 Google reviews

Intuit Investigative Resources is a Rockefeller Plaza firm run by Eddie (Ed Dowd), working on both business and personal investigation cases with a stated focus on discretion and international reach. Reviewers describe the owner as personally involved in every case, with connections across New York law enforcement and corrections that help move cases forward. Several reviews are posted under names other than the actual client, a security precaution reviewers say the firm requested to protect sensitive cases.

What people praise

  • Every review in our data set rated 5 stars, with reviewers citing consistent professionalism
  • Described as effective in multi-country and multi-jurisdiction cases
  • Reviewers highlight strong relationships across New York law enforcement contacts

Worth knowing

  • The smallest review count on this list by a wide margin, all several years old, so treat the perfect rating as an early signal rather than a large-sample track record
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating5 / 5
Review volume18 · 59th
Confidenceearly
Recency5 years ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown100% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A perfect rating is easy to reach with only 18 reviews, and the most recent ones are years old. Worth a call, but verify current availability and pricing directly.

45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111

6

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How we score

Rating is each firm’s live Google average, and review volume shows how many clients actually left one, which we weigh against the rating for a confidence score. Recency checks how current the reviews are, and completeness confirms a working site, phone number, and posted hours are on file. None of these five numbers can be bought.

How much does a private investigator cost in New York? (2026)

Private investigation pricing in New York typically runs by the hour with a retainer up front, and the total depends heavily on case type: a records search costs far less than multi-day surveillance or an international search. None of the firms here publish a flat public rate, so a phone consultation is the standard way to get a number.

Private investigators across New York

These five firms cluster around the Financial District, Midtown, and NoHo, and several serve the wider metro area including New Jersey and Long Island rather than Manhattan alone. Whatever borough you’re calling from, expect a phone consultation before any of these firms discusses pricing or timeline.

What to ask before you hire a private investigator

  • Are you licensed to operate as a private investigator in New York State?
  • What’s included in the retainer, and what triggers additional charges?
  • Will evidence gathered hold up in court if I need it later?
  • Who specifically will work my case, and can I reach them directly?
  • How do you handle confidentiality and secure communication?
  • What’s a realistic timeline for a case like mine?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these five?

We compared private investigation firms serving New York and ranked by rating, review volume, and recency.

How often is this updated?

We last verified this list in July 2026.

Are private investigators licensed in New York?

Yes, private investigators in New York State are required to hold a license. Confirm active licensing directly with any firm before hiring.

Can a private investigator’s findings be used in court?

Sometimes, depending on how evidence is gathered and documented. Ask the firm directly how they handle evidence if a legal proceeding is a possibility.

The bottom line

American Eagle Investigations and New York Intelligence Agency carry the strongest combination of rating and review volume for domestic and missing-person cases. For sustained surveillance work, North American Investigations’ larger team is worth a call instead.

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