Best FastBound Alternative: SafeOrStolen
FastBound is for licensed dealers only. SafeOrStolen lets consumers verify firearm serial numbers — plus phones, cars, and more.
FastBound
Who it's for: Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) — gun dealers, pawn shops, and manufacturers with an ATF license.
What it does: Electronic bound book (A&D Book), ATF compliance, 4473 form management, and NCIC stolen gun checks for dealer inventory.
Limitation: Consumers cannot use FastBound. You must be a licensed FFL.
SafeOrStolen
Who it's for: Anyone — consumers buying used firearms from private sellers, pawn shops, or online marketplaces.
What it does: Verifies firearm serial numbers against databases to check if a gun has been reported stolen. Also checks phones, cars, bikes, and more.
Advantage: No license required. Free searches available. Mobile app for in-person verification.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | SafeOrStolen | FastBound |
|---|---|---|
| Firearm Serial Check | ||
| Consumer Access | ||
| Free to Check | ||
| Phone IMEI Check | ||
| Vehicle VIN Check | ||
| Bicycle Check | ||
| Mobile App | ||
| FFL Compliance Tools | ||
| ATF A&D Book | ||
| 4473 Management | ||
| Instant Results | ||
| Report Stolen Items |
When to Use Each Tool
Use FastBound If:
- You're a licensed firearms dealer (FFL)
- You need ATF compliance software
- You manage dealer inventory and 4473 forms
- You need NCIC access for business operations
Use SafeOrStolen If:
- You're a consumer buying a used firearm
- You want to verify before a private sale
- You also need to check phones, cars, or bikes
- You want a mobile app for in-person meetups
The Consumer Gap in Firearm Verification
The NCIC stolen gun database is only accessible to law enforcement and licensed dealers. That means if you're buying a used gun from a private seller, you have no way to verify it's not stolen — unless you use SafeOrStolen.
We aggregate data from user-submitted reports, HotGunz, and other sources to give consumers a way to check firearm serial numbers before making a purchase.
Remember: If you unknowingly buy a stolen firearm, it can be confiscated by police — and you lose your money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use FastBound as a regular consumer?
No. FastBound requires an active Federal Firearms License (FFL). It's designed for gun dealers, not individual consumers. SafeOrStolen is available to everyone.
Does SafeOrStolen access NCIC?
SafeOrStolen uses multiple databases including user-submitted stolen reports and public registries. While we can't access NCIC directly (that's restricted to law enforcement), we provide valuable stolen status signals for consumer due diligence.
Is HotGunz better than SafeOrStolen?
HotGunz only checks firearms. SafeOrStolen checks firearms AND phones, cars, bikes, laptops, and more. Plus, we have a mobile app for verification at meetups. See our HotGunz comparison.
Verify Firearms as a Consumer
Don't risk buying a stolen gun. Check the serial number with SafeOrStolen before your purchase.