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Guide · Open source

How to use Maigret: username search, reports and tips

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Maigret is an open-source Python tool that takes a username and checks whether accounts with that name exist on a large list of websites, then collects public information from the profile pages it finds. It is built for open-source intelligence (OSINT) research into a person's online footprint. This guide shows you how to install it, run a first search, understand what a default run covers and use the report output.

Maigretsoxoj/maigret · ★ 39.6k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Check Python. Confirm you have Python 3.10 or higher installed before continuing.
  2. 2Install Maigret. Run pip install maigret to install the package from PyPI.
  3. 3Run a search. Run maigret YOUR_USERNAME with the handle you are researching.
  4. 4Widen the scope if needed. Add -a to scan all supported sites, or --tags to filter by category or country.
  5. 5Review the results. Check the findings and any links to other accounts that the tool extracted from profile pages.
  6. 6Save a report. Use the report options, such as the HTML output on Windows or the web interface, to keep a copy of your results.

Install Maigret with pip

Maigret is installed from PyPI with the Python package manager. You need Python 3.10 or higher before you start.

If you do not want to install anything, the README points to a community Telegram bot and to Cloud Shells or Jupyter notebooks. On Windows you can also download the standalone exe from the Releases page.

  • Check that Python is version 3.10 or higher.
  • Install the package from PyPI.
  • On Windows, the alternative is maigret_standalone.exe from Releases.
pip install maigret

Run your first username search

Pass a username to the maigret command. Replace YOUR_USERNAME with the handle you are researching. Maigret checks sites for accounts with that name and prints what it finds.

A default run checks only the 500 highest-ranked sites by traffic, not the full list. This keeps runs shorter but means results are not complete.

maigret YOUR_USERNAME

Choose which sites to check

The project supports about 5,900 sites, and the full list is in sites.md in the repository. Use the -a flag to scan everything, or --tags to narrow the search by category or country.

Running more sites takes longer and is a wider search, so pick the scope that fits your research question.

  • -a: scan all supported sites instead of the default top 500.
  • --tags: filter by site category or country.

Save reports in HTML, PDF or other formats

Maigret produces reports in several formats. The Windows standalone exe accepts an --html flag to also save an HTML report. The README's demo links show PDF and HTML reports, and an XMind 8 report screenshot.

The built-in web interface can browse results as a graph and download reports in every format from one page. See the documentation for the exact report options available to you.

  • HTML report: shown in the README demo.
  • PDF report: shown in the README demo.
  • Web interface: graph view and downloads from one page.
maigret_standalone.exe USERNAME --html

Use Maigret from Python code

Maigret can be imported as a Python library, so you can run searches from your own scripts. The README links to a library usage page in the documentation for details.

Use this route if you are building a larger project and need username lookups as one step in it.

import maigret

Understand what Maigret does and does not do

Maigret collects information by username only and states that no API keys are required. It can also follow recursive searches using discovered usernames and other IDs, and it can use an optional AI analysis mode (--ai) that uses an OpenAI-compatible API.

It is meant for legitimate OSINT research. The project is built to profile people by username, so use it only when you have a legitimate purpose and a right to do the research.

  • Collects public information from profile pages and site APIs.
  • Fetches an auto-updated site database once per 24 hours and falls back to the built-in database offline.
  • Works with Tor and I2P websites and can check domains.

What people use it for

  • An investigator mapping where a username appears across public websites during an OSINT case.
  • A security researcher checking where a handle is used to assess their online footprint.
  • A developer embedding username lookups into a Python project through the library interface.
  • An analyst who wants an HTML or PDF report from a username search to share with a team.

Frequently asked questions

Is Maigret free to use?

Maigret is released under the MIT licence, as listed in the project details. The README states that no API keys are required for its core search.

What do I need to install Maigret?

You need Python 3.10 or higher. Install the package with pip install maigret, then run maigret YOUR_USERNAME from the command line.

Why did Maigret not find every account?

A default run checks only the 500 highest-ranked sites by traffic. Use -a to scan all supported sites, which covers more of the roughly 5,900 sites in the list.

Can I use Maigret without installing Python?

Yes. The README lists a Windows standalone exe (maigret_standalone.exe), a community Telegram bot, and Cloud Shells or Jupyter notebooks as options.

How is Maigret different from Sherlock?

Both are username search tools. The project lists Sherlock, WhatsMyName, Holehe and Social Analyzer as comparable projects. Maigret adds features such as recursive search, information extraction from profiles, and report output, as described in its README.

Does Maigret have a web interface?

Yes. The README says it ships with a web interface for browsing results as a graph and downloading reports in every format from one page.

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Our verdict

Maigret suits investigators, security researchers and developers who need username-based OSINT research with multiple report formats and a Python library. It is a poor fit for anyone who cannot install Python or use a command line, unless they use the Windows exe or a web option, and for anyone who needs guaranteed complete results from a default run. Anyone without a legitimate research purpose should choose a different approach.

Install options & downloads