Sherlock: how to use it, and a Sherlock alternative online
Sherlock is the best-known open-source username finder. You give it a handle in a terminal and it reports which of its supported sites have a profile at that name. This page covers how it works, how to run it, where it shines, and when a browser tool is the quicker option.
Username search (CLI). Project: github.com/sherlock-project/sherlock · License: MIT · Last reviewed 2026-10-13
What is Sherlock?
Sherlock is a Python command-line program maintained by the Sherlock Project on GitHub under the MIT license. Its README describes it as a way to hunt down social media accounts by username across 400+ social networks. For each site it builds the profile URL, requests it, and decides from the response whether an account exists.
Because it is a CLI, Sherlock fits into scripts. You can pass several usernames in one run, limit the search to specific sites, send traffic through a proxy, and write results to CSV or Excel files. That flexibility is why it shows up in so many OSINT courses and Linux security distributions.
We use Sherlock's site list (with the WhatsMyName and Maigret lists) as one of the data sources for our own checker, so the two tools overlap a lot in coverage. The difference is mostly in how you run them.
How to use Sherlock
- Install it with pipx, pip or uv, or run the Docker image. The project also lists community packages for Debian, Ubuntu, Homebrew, Kali and BlackArch, which it does not maintain itself.
- Run sherlock followed by one or more usernames.
- Read the found URLs in the terminal or in the saved results file, then open each one and check it by hand.
- Run sherlock --help for options such as --site, --proxy, --csv and --xlsx.
Example commands from the project's README (check it for the current version):
pipx install sherlock-project
docker run -it --rm sherlock/sherlock
sherlock user123
sherlock user1 user2 user3Sherlock vs WhatsMyName Apps
| Feature | Sherlock | WhatsMyName Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Sites checked | 400+ social networks per its README | 3,166 sites, merged from the WhatsMyName, Sherlock and Maigret lists |
| Setup | Python (pipx, pip, uv) or Docker | Nothing to install. It runs in the browser |
| Automation | Full CLI, easy to script | No API and no CLI |
| Result states | Found or not found | Four statuses: found, not found, blocked, unknown |
| Profile details | Profile URL only | Name, avatar and bio where a found profile exposes them |
| Export | Text file, CSV, XLSX | JSON and CSV (no PDF) |
| Proxy or Tor support | Yes, via --proxy | No |
| Self-hosting | Yes, runs locally | No. It is a hosted web tool |
| Price | Free, open source | Free, no sign-up |
Based on Sherlock's own documentation as of 2026-10-13. Tools change; the project page is the final word.
Pros and cons of Sherlock
Pros
- Free and open source under MIT, with a large contributor community.
- Scriptable: batch usernames, choose sites, use a proxy, export CSV or XLSX.
- Runs on your own machine, so no third-party web service sees your queries.
- Packaged for many Linux distributions and Docker.
Cons
- Needs Python or Docker and some comfort with a terminal.
- Results are found or not found; there is no separate status for blocked or rate-limited checks.
- Shows URLs only, without profile names, avatars or bios.
- Sites change their pages often, so some checks go stale until someone fixes them.
Who Sherlock is for
Sherlock suits analysts, students and developers who live in a terminal and want to automate username checks or chain them into other scripts. If you just want to look up one or two handles from a phone or a locked-down work laptop, a browser tool will be faster.
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
Can I use Sherlock online without installing it?
The Sherlock Project ships a command-line tool, not a hosted website. If you want a browser-based option, our username search checks 3,166 sites, including the sites on Sherlock's list, without any install.
How do I install Sherlock?
The README recommends pipx install sherlock-project (pip or uv work too) or the Docker image sherlock/sherlock. Community packages exist for several Linux distributions and Homebrew.
Is Sherlock free?
Yes. It is open source under the MIT license and costs nothing to use.
Sherlock vs WhatsMyName Apps: which should I use?
Use Sherlock when you need scripting, proxies or local control. Use WhatsMyName Apps when you want a quick search in the browser with blocked and unknown results kept separate, plus profile details and JSON or CSV export.
Does a Sherlock hit prove who owns an account?
No. A match only means a profile answered at that URL. Common handles are shared by many unrelated people, so verify with photos, links and dates before drawing conclusions.
Related tools and guides
- Maigret: Username search (CLI and web UI)
- WhatsMyName: Open username dataset
- Blackbird: Username search (CLI)
- Social Analyzer: Profile finder (API, CLI, web app)
- All OSINT tools compared
- OSINT username search · Reverse username lookup · Platform username checkers
- Username OSINT for beginners
Names and trademarks belong to their owners. WhatsMyName Apps is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Sherlock or its authors.