GBuyer's guide
How to choose an identity verification service
Short answer
Choose an identity verification company by matching it to your use: enterprise KYC platforms suit regulated businesses with engineering teams and volume contracts; person-to-person services suit individuals and small teams who need to check one counterparty. In either case ask what the check actually tests, what you receive, what data the provider keeps, and what the provider explicitly does not claim.
Two different kinds of service
| Enterprise KYC platform | Person-to-person check | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical buyer | Banks, fintech, marketplaces | Individuals, landlords, small businesses |
| Setup | API integration, contract | Send a link by email |
| Pricing shape | Per-check fees plus minimums | Per-check, no contract (Truvee Core: $6.99 per credit) |
| Who sees the ID | The integrating business, per its policy | Ideally only the provider; requester sees outcome |
Questions to ask any provider
- Does the check compare a government ID with a live capture, or only read document data?
- What exactly does the requester receive: a pass/fail, a name, the ID images?
- Is biometric consent requested clearly and separately?
- How long is data kept, and how does the person request deletion?
- What does the provider say its check does not establish?
- What happens to payment if the other person never completes the check?
Red flags in marketing
- "100% fraud-proof" or "guaranteed safe". No identity method can promise that.
- Implied background checks when only identity is checked.
- Unverifiable accuracy percentages with no method described.
- Requests that you collect and store ID photos yourself.
Limits to keep in mind
- This guide is general information, not legal or compliance advice.
- Regulated businesses may have specific KYC obligations a consumer check does not meet.