First: there are two different jobs to do
Before comparing tools, it’s important to understand that “AML identity verification” actually covers two distinct obligations under the AML/CTF Act — and they require different types of tools.
1. Identity verification (DVS): Confirming your client is who they say they are — by checking their ID documents against government databases. This is about document authenticity.
2. PEP and sanctions screening: Checking whether your client appears on lists of politically exposed persons, sanctioned individuals, or adverse media. This is about risk profile.
Both are required. A tool that only does DVS doesn’t satisfy your screening obligations. A tool that only does PEP/sanctions screening doesn’t satisfy your identity verification requirements. Most practices will need at least one tool from each category — or a single platform that covers both.
Common mistake: Some practices assume that sighting a passport or licence satisfies their AML/CTF identity verification requirements. Manual document sighting is legally acceptable, but electronic verification via a DVS-connected service provides a stronger, more defensible audit trail — and is faster for you and your client.
The tools reviewed
We’ve reviewed five tools currently available to Australian accounting practices. They fall into three categories: dedicated screening tools, full-service identity platforms, and CRM-embedded solutions.
NameScan is a dedicated PEP, sanctions and adverse media screening platform. It checks individuals against global watchlists including the DFAT consolidated sanctions list, UN Security Council, OFAC, and thousands of PEP and adverse media sources. It also provides DVS-connected identity verification for Australian documents. Pay-per-search pricing makes it accessible for practices of any size.
- Purpose-built for PEP and sanctions screening
- Covers DFAT, UN, OFAC and global lists
- DVS document verification available
- Pay-per-search — no minimum commitment
- Fast results — seconds per search
- Used directly from SimpleAML’s CDD section
- Not a full identity verification platform
- No reusable client wallet
- No CRM integration
- DVS is add-on, not core feature
Best for: Practices that want a fast, pay-per-search screening tool for PEP and sanctions checks. Works well alongside SimpleAML and a separate DVS provider for complete CDD coverage.
Visit NameScan →VerifiMe is an Australian platform purpose-built for Tranche 2 professional services. Its standout feature is the reusable identity wallet: clients verify their identity once and then securely share those verified credentials with multiple service providers — reducing the need for repeat verification across their accountant, lawyer, conveyancer and financial adviser. VerifiMe also includes PEP/sanctions screening, biometric checks, and a full AML/CTF compliance portal. Pricing starts around $50/month plus per-verification fees.
- DVS-connected identity verification
- Reusable wallet — clients verify once, share many times
- PEP and global sanctions screening included
- Biometric and liveness checks
- Full AML/CTF compliance portal
- Designed specifically for Tranche 2
- Australian data sovereignty
- Monthly subscription cost
- More complex than a simple DVS check
- Client needs to set up a wallet
- May be over-engineered for very small practices
Best for: Practices with a larger client base, high-value clients, or complex entity structures who want an end-to-end AML/CTF platform. Also ideal if your clients are shared with other professionals — the reusable wallet reduces friction for everyone.
View VerifiMe pricing →StackGo IdentityCheck embeds KYC and AML verification directly inside your CRM — HubSpot, Salesforce, or Xero. Rather than opening a separate portal, you trigger a verification from the client’s contact record, and the results write back automatically. A privacy layer keeps sensitive PII out of your CRM and behind MFA-authenticated admin access. Pricing is usage-based (pay per check), with PEP/sanctions screening available as an add-on from around USD$0.75 per check.
- No new software — runs inside your CRM
- Results written back to client record automatically
- Privacy layer keeps PII out of CRM
- Usage-based — no monthly minimum
- 200+ countries, 10,000+ document types
- Audit trail native to your CRM
- Only useful if you run HubSpot, Salesforce or Xero
- PEP/sanctions screening is an add-on, not included
- Initial configuration required
- Pricing in USD
Best for: Practices already running HubSpot, Salesforce or Xero as their main client management tool, who want verification to happen inside their existing workflow without a new platform.
View StackGo IdentityCheck →BGLiD is BGL’s built-in identity verification solution, integrated directly into Simple Fund 360 and Simple Invest 360. Powered by FrankieOne, it provides instant DVS identity verification, AI-powered biometric scanning, and AML/CTF screening against global sanctions and adverse news databases. Critically, it requires no additional subscription for existing BGL users — making it the most cost-effective option for SMSF-focused accounting practices already paying for BGL software.
- Included in Simple Fund 360 and Simple Invest 360
- No extra subscription cost for BGL users
- DVS-connected — instant government database check
- AI-powered biometrics and document scanning
- AML/CTF, sanctions and adverse news screening
- ATO and TPB compliant
- Only available to BGL software subscribers
- Not standalone — requires BGL subscription
- Limited to clients managed in BGL
- Not suitable as a primary tool for non-BGL practices
Best for: Accounting practices already using BGL Simple Fund 360 or Simple Invest 360 for SMSF administration. If you’re paying for BGL, BGLiD is essentially free — start here before considering a paid third-party tool.
Learn about BGLiD →OneClickVerify is an Australian-owned DVS gateway provider using five-factor authentication — knowledge, possession, biometrics, location and a one-time token. Endorsed by the Department of Home Affairs and ATO. Clients verify in under a minute and the verified credential renews automatically when their photo ID expires. Includes PEP, sanctions and adverse media screening against 366,000+ records. Pricing is by enquiry — contact them for rates.
- Australian-owned — no offshore data processing
- DVS gateway provider — government connected
- 5-factor authentication — highest assurance level
- PEP, sanctions and adverse media screening included
- NFC passport scanning and biometrics
- Automatic re-verification on ID expiry
- No published pricing — must contact for quote
- No CRM integration
- Smaller vendor than some alternatives
- Less accountant-specific marketing
Best for: Practices that place high value on Australian data sovereignty and want a high-assurance verification method with the strongest possible authentication factors. Worth contacting if data residency is a concern for your client base.
Get in touch with OneClickVerify →Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | NameScan | VerifiMe | StackGo | BGLiD | OneClickVerify |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DVS identity verification | Add-on | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PEP screening | ✓ | ✓ | Add-on | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sanctions screening | ✓ | ✓ | Add-on | ✓ | ✓ |
| Adverse media | ✓ | ✓ | Add-on | ✓ | ✓ |
| Biometric verification | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reusable client wallet | — | ✓ | — | — | — |
| CRM integration | — | API | ✓ Native | — | — |
| Australian data storage | ✓ | ✓ | Check | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pricing model | ~$1.80/scan min 50 scans |
~$50/mo + per-verification |
Pay-per-check USD pricing |
Free for BGL subscribers |
Contact for quote |
| No BGL required | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | BGL only | ✓ |
| No CRM required | ✓ | ✓ | CRM required | ✓ | ✓ |
Our recommendation by practice type
There is no single right answer — the best combination depends on your practice size, existing software, and client profile. Here’s our recommendation by situation:
Important: These tools handle identity verification and screening — they do not replace a full AML/CTF compliance system. You still need a documented AML/CTF program, risk assessment, staff vetting register, training records, and AUSTRAC enrolment. SimpleAML covers all of that for free.
Our recommendation for sole practitioners and small firms
If you are a sole practitioner or small accounting firm — under 10 staff, no CRM, not on BGL — the honest answer is simpler than the market makes it look.
NameScan for PEP and sanctions screening — VerifiMe for DVS identity verification. Between them, you have complete CDD coverage: identity verified against government databases, and clients screened against every major watchlist. No CRM required. No complex setup.
Why NameScan for screening
Pay-per-search with no monthly minimum means you only spend money when you actually onboard a new client. A small firm doing 50 new clients a year spends around 0 total on a scan pack — less than a tank of fuel. There is no subscription ticking over in quiet months, no annual contract, and no minimum commitment beyond the initial pack of 50 scans.
Why VerifiMe for identity verification
The reusable identity wallet is a genuine advantage for small practices. When you ask a new client to verify through VerifiMe, they create a wallet once. If they later engage a lawyer, conveyancer or financial adviser who also uses VerifiMe, they don’t need to verify again — they simply share their existing credentials. That is a real quality-of-service benefit you can explain to clients at onboarding.
The ~0/month subscription is the main cost to weigh. If you are bringing on fewer than five new clients a month, the per-client cost is relatively high. But for a small practice that values a clean, auditable, end-to-end verification process — and doesn’t want to stitch together multiple tools — VerifiMe is the most complete standalone option available.
Already on BGL? Adjust the combination
If your practice uses BGL Simple Fund 360 or Simple Invest 360 for SMSF administration, BGLiD is already included in your subscription at no extra cost. Use BGLiD for SMSF clients and NameScan for everything else. You may not need VerifiMe at all — BGLiD covers DVS verification and AML/CTF screening for your SMSF client base, and NameScan handles any clients outside BGL.
None of these tools replace SimpleAML. NameScan and VerifiMe handle identity checks — they do not build your AML/CTF program, manage your risk assessment, run your staff vetting register, or track your AUSTRAC enrolment. Use SimpleAML alongside whichever verification tool you choose to cover your full compliance obligations.
Need the rest of your compliance setup?
SimpleAML handles everything else — your AML/CTF program, risk assessment, staff vetting, training register, client risk profiling and AUSTRAC enrolment tracking. Free, browser-based, no account required.
Open SimpleAML → View all partner tools →