Comparison
A transparent alternative to Onfido for AML/KYC
Published pricing, a free plan with no credit card required, and an integrated compliance platform — no modular add-ons or enterprise sales calls required.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | CirclesCheck | Onfido |
|---|---|---|
| Transparent Pricing | Free plan, published pricing | Custom quotes only |
| Free Plan | Forever free, no CC | Sandbox only, needs sales |
| ID Verification | All major ID types | 2,500+ ID types |
| Sanctions Screening | 250+ lists, 11M+ PEPs | Separate module/cost |
| PEP & Adverse Media | 11M+ PEPs included | Modular add-on |
| Biometric / Liveness | Advanced detection | Atlas AI |
| Transaction Monitoring | Real-time included | Not available |
| Case Management | Built-in platform | Not included |
| Month-to-Month Billing | No contracts | Annual contracts typical |
| Phone Support | Available | Enterprise only |
| Platform Stability | 99.9% uptime | App crashes reported |
| Quick Integration | Self-service, hours | Multi-component setup |
| Workflow Automation | Built-in rules engine | Not available |
| CTR/SAR Filing | Included | Not available |
| Audit Readiness Score | Built-in (A+ to F) | Not available |
| Risk Questionnaires | Self-service CDD | Not available |
| Data Import/Migration | 30-minute switch | Manual only |
Why Choose CirclesCheck Over Onfido
Transparent Pricing
Free plan with 50 screenings/month and 5 KYC verifications/month. Paid plans from $79.99/mo. No sales calls needed.
Free Plan
Free plan — no credit card required. Onfido's sandbox doesn't let you test with real data.
Integrated Platform
All-in-one: KYC + sanctions + PEP + monitoring + case management. Onfido requires buying modules separately.
Flexibility & Speed
Month-to-month billing, self-service setup in hours. No annual contracts or professional services required.
Detailed Breakdown
Pricing & Contracts
- CirclesCheck: Free plan (50 screenings/mo), paid from $79.99/mo
- Onfido: Custom quotes, volume commitments
- CirclesCheck: No annual contracts required
- Hidden costs: Onfido charges separately for sanctions/PEP
Trial & Onboarding
- CirclesCheck: Free plan, no credit card required
- Onfido: Sandbox only, requires sales contact
- Setup: CirclesCheck 1–2 hours (self-service)
- Setup: Onfido weeks–months (professional services)
Feature Architecture
- CirclesCheck: Integrated platform (all features included)
- Onfido: Modular approach (separate costs per component)
- PEP screening: Extra cost at Onfido
- Case management: Not available in Onfido
User Experience
- CirclesCheck: Modern, intuitive interface
- Onfido: Complex legacy UI, steep learning curve
- Document rejection: Consistent at CirclesCheck
- App stability: 99.9% uptime vs reported crashes
Implementation Speed
- CirclesCheck: Self-service, hours to full deployment
- Onfido: Professional services, weeks–months
- API documentation: Clear and developer-friendly
- No specialist staff needed for CirclesCheck
Compliance Reporting
- CirclesCheck: Built-in case management & audit trails
- Onfido: External tools needed for case management
- SAR/STR templates included in CirclesCheck
- Regulatory docs: CirclesCheck ready-to-use
This comparison is based on publicly available information as of February 2026. Features and pricing are subject to change. Onfido is now part of Entrust. All trademarks are property of their respective owners.
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