Maigret: how to use it, and a Maigret alternative online

Maigret started as a Sherlock fork and grew into one of the deepest open-source username tools around. It checks thousands of sites, pulls details out of the profiles it finds, and can follow new usernames it discovers. Here is how it works, how to run it, and how it compares with a browser checker.

Username search (CLI and web UI). Project: github.com/soxoj/maigret · License: MIT · Last reviewed 2026-10-13

What is Maigret?

Maigret is a Python tool by soxoj, released under the MIT license. Its README says it supports about 5,900 sites. A default run checks the 500 highest-ranked sites by traffic, and the -a flag scans everything. You can also narrow a run with tags for site category or country.

What sets it apart is extraction. When it finds an account, it tries to read the profile owner's details from the page or the site's API, including links to other accounts, and it can search recursively on any new usernames or IDs it turns up. It also works with Tor and I2P sites and tries to detect blocks and CAPTCHAs.

Maigret now ships a local web interface (including a Docker image that starts it) and can be imported as a Python library. Its README also points to a community Telegram bot and cloud shell options for people who cannot install anything.

How to use Maigret

Make sure you have Python 3.10 or newer, then install Maigret from PyPI. A snap package and Docker images are also available.
Run maigret with a username. Add -a to check every site in the database instead of the top 500.
Ask for a report (for example --html) to get a file you can review and keep with your notes.
Use the soxoj/maigret:web image if you prefer a local web interface to the terminal.

Example commands from the project's README (check it for the current version):

pip install maigret
maigret YOUR_USERNAME
docker run -p 5000:5000 soxoj/maigret:web

Maigret vs WhatsMyName Apps

Feature	Maigret	WhatsMyName Apps
Sites checked	About 5,900 in its database; 500 by default, all with -a	3,166 sites, merged from the WhatsMyName, Sherlock and Maigret lists
Setup	pip, snap or Docker; local web UI available	Nothing to install. It runs in the browser
Profile details	Extracts owner details and linked accounts	Name, avatar and bio where a found profile exposes them
Recursive search	Yes, on discovered usernames and IDs	No
Result states	Found or not found, with block and CAPTCHA detection	Four statuses: found, not found, blocked, unknown
Export	Several report formats, including HTML	JSON and CSV (no PDF)
Tor and I2P sites	Yes	No
Automation	CLI and Python library	No API and no CLI
Price	Free, open source	Free, no sign-up

Based on Maigret's own documentation as of 2026-10-13. Tools change; the project page is the final word.

Pros and cons of Maigret

Pros

Very large site database, with tags to focus on a category or country.
Extracts profile details and follows linked usernames recursively.
Reports in several formats, a local web UI, and a Python library.
Free and open source under MIT.

Cons

Needs Python 3.10+ or Docker; the full -a scan takes a while.
Recursive searches can wander into unrelated accounts if you do not review each step.
More options than a casual user needs.

Who Maigret is for

Maigret is a good fit for investigators who want depth: recursive pivots, extracted profile data and formal reports, all on their own hardware. For a fast first look at a handle without installing anything, a browser checker is simpler.

Try a username search in your browser

Free, no sign-up. Checks 3,166 sites; the username is not stored or logged.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Maigret online version?

The project itself is a tool you run, though its README mentions a community Telegram bot and cloud shells. For a plain browser search, our tool checks a merged list that includes Maigret's sites, with no install.

How do I install Maigret?

With Python 3.10 or newer, run pip install maigret and then maigret followed by a username. Docker images (soxoj/maigret, and soxoj/maigret:web for the web UI) and a snap package are also available.

Maigret vs Sherlock: what is the difference?

Maigret began as a Sherlock fork. It has a much larger site database, extracts profile details, and can search recursively. Sherlock is simpler and lighter.

Maigret vs WhatsMyName Apps: which is better?

Maigret is deeper if you can install it and want recursive pivots and reports. WhatsMyName Apps is quicker for a browser check with four clear statuses and JSON or CSV export.

Related tools and guides

Sherlock: Username search (CLI)
WhatsMyName: Open username dataset
Social Analyzer: Profile finder (API, CLI, web app)
Blackbird: Username search (CLI)
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Names and trademarks belong to their owners. WhatsMyName Apps is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Maigret or its authors.