Onfido
AI-powered identity verification platform for KYC and AML compliance that verifies identity documents and biometrics, with a REST API for programmatic applicant creation, check orchestration, and result retrieval.
Score Breakdown
⚙ Agent Friendliness
🔒 Security
Bearer tokens for API access. Biometric and identity document data — extremely sensitive. SOC2 Type II, ISO27001, GDPR by design. Data processed in regulated jurisdictions. Retention policies built-in.
⚡ Reliability
Best When
You're in fintech, banking, or a regulated industry and need enterprise-grade identity verification with global document coverage and configurable KYC workflows via API.
Avoid When
Your use case doesn't require KYC compliance, or you need faster/cheaper checks without full identity document verification.
Use Cases
- • Automating identity document and biometric verification for new user onboarding
- • Orchestrating multi-step KYC workflows (document + selfie + database checks)
- • Retrieving check results and report details for compliance decision workflows
- • Triggering re-verification flows when regulatory or risk requirements change
- • Building audit trails for identity verification events in compliance-regulated systems
Not For
- • Organizations without KYC/AML compliance requirements
- • Simple age gate verification without regulatory mandate
- • Real-time fraud scoring requiring sub-second decisions
- • Low-budget or high-volume consumer apps where cost per check is prohibitive
Interface
Authentication
API token in the Authorization header. Sandbox and live tokens are separate. SDK tokens (JWT) generated server-side for secure client-side integration. Protect live token as it provides full API access.
Pricing
Sandbox environment is free. Production requires account approval and payment. Enterprise contracts available for volume pricing. No self-service sign-up for production.
Agent Metadata
Known Gotchas
- ⚠ Production API access requires account approval — budget for sales process before building automation
- ⚠ Applicant IDs should be linked to your user IDs — Onfido doesn't deduplicate by email/name automatically
- ⚠ Check results are not immediate — webhook delivery is the correct pattern, not polling
- ⚠ Webhook events require validation via HMAC signature — implement signature verification before processing
- ⚠ Report sub-results (document authenticity, face similarity) are separate API calls — aggregate for full decision
Alternatives
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Scores are editorial opinions as of 2026-03-06.