AML & sanctions screening comparison

Best AML & Sanctions Screening Software (2026)

The best AML and sanctions screening software comes down to one question. Are you buying a full compliance platform or the screening data to build on? This guide compares five providers (dilisense, LexisNexis WorldCompliance, LSEG World-Check, ComplyAdvantage and Sanction Scanner) on coverage, pricing, integration and data residency, and links to a detailed head-to-head for each.

All five cover sanctions, PEP, criminal, adverse media and risk intelligence. They differ in how you buy and run them. LexisNexis and World-Check sell the broadest research-curated datasets through enterprise contracts. ComplyAdvantage and Sanction Scanner wrap screening in a full platform with transaction monitoring and case management. dilisense delivers the same five data pillars as a self-serve API with published per-call pricing and an on-premise option. The data layer, without the platform.

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Best AML & sanctions screening software, compared

The rows compare coverage, pricing, integration and data residency. Figures are each vendor’s own published material as of June 2026, with full sources on each head-to-head page.

dilisense

Our solution
Pricing / Transparency
Published. 100 free/mo, then €0.10 down to ~€0.01 at volume.
Access & Setup
No onboarding feeself-serve, pay-as-you-go, free trial
Integration
REST/JSON, free API key, ~150ms
Hosting & Data Residency
Cloud API or downloadable on-premise database. EU-hosted, GDPR-compliant, no query logging.
Update Frequency
Sanctions: hourlyPEP / Criminal / Risk Intelligence: dailyAdverse Media: near real-time
Best for
Best for teams that want reliable sanctions, PEP, criminal and adverse-media screening through a transparent, self-serve API, without an enterprise contract.
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LexisNexis

Pricing / Transparency
On request
Access & Setup
Enterprise contract, sales-led
Integration
Bridger platform / data file + implementation
Hosting & Data Residency
Cloud platform or offline data file
Update Frequency
Profiles updated daily; file delivered daily/weekly/monthly
Best for
Best for large institutions that need the broadest curated dataset and a global research team.
Compare

World-Check

Pricing / Transparency
On request
Access & Setup
Enterprise contract, sales-led
Integration
World-Check One platform + APIs
Hosting & Data Residency
Cloud / in-house / third-party integration
Update Frequency
Profiles daily; World-Check On Demand (API) real-time
Best for
Best for enterprises wanting the broadest, most established risk-intelligence dataset with a global research team.
Compare

ComplyAdvantage

Pricing / Transparency
Starter from $99/mo (100 to 2,000 entities). ComplyLaunch free for startups. Enterprise custom.
Access & Setup
Self-serve Starter or enterprise
Integration
REST API + Mesh platform
Hosting & Data Residency
Cloud SaaS
Update Frequency
Sanctions: minutes (real-time); PEP: daily
Best for
Best for teams that want an all-in-one, AI-native compliance platform, with screening plus transaction monitoring, case management and agentic workflows.
Compare

Sanction Scanner

Pricing / Transparency
On request
Access & Setup
Demo / sales-led (no self-serve)
Integration
REST API + webhooks, ~250ms
Hosting & Data Residency
Cloud (Azure); ISO 27001, GDPR
Update Frequency
Near real-time (~15 min)
Best for
Best for mid-market teams that want a full AI-native AML platform, with screening plus transaction monitoring, fraud and KYB.
Compare

Which one is right for you?

The five sort into three groups by what you’re actually buying.

Broadest curated dataset

LexisNexis WorldCompliance · LSEG World-Check

Two decades of research-curated data and global analyst teams. Best when maximum breadth matters more than self-serve access or published pricing and you have the budget for an enterprise rollout.

All-in-one AML platform

ComplyAdvantage · Sanction Scanner

Screening plus transaction monitoring, case management and KYB/fraud in one system. Best when you want to run your whole compliance workflow on a single platform rather than assemble it yourself.

Screening-data layer (developer-first)

dilisense

The same five data pillars as a REST API, with published per-call pricing, a free key and an on-premise download. Best when you want reliable, source-traceable screening data to build into your own stack and to see the price before you talk to sales.

How to choose

  • Platform or data layer? Choose a platform like ComplyAdvantage or Sanction Scanner if you want transaction monitoring and case management built in. If you already run your own stack, a screening API is lighter and cheaper.
  • Few vendors publish their pricing. dilisense and ComplyAdvantage’s Starter plan list their rates. The others quote on request, so budgeting starts with a sales call.
  • Time-to-first-screen ranges from same-day to weeks. A self-serve API gives you a key and live screening the same day. Sales-led vendors start with a demo and a contract before you reach any data.
  • If customer data can’t leave your network, you need on-premise or data-residency hosting. Not every provider offers it.
  • Your volume picks the pricing model. Pay-per-check suits low or spiky usage. A per-entity subscription fits a steady book of customers.

Compare dilisense head-to-head

Each page puts dilisense next to one provider on the full criteria, with sources.

dilisense vs LexisNexisThe transparent, self-serve alternative to WorldCompliance.Read the comparison →dilisense vs World-CheckA developer-first alternative to the LSEG database.Read the comparison →dilisense vs ComplyAdvantageThe data-layer alternative to the all-in-one platform.Read the comparison →dilisense vs Sanction ScannerA published-pricing alternative to quote-only access.Read the comparison →

Frequently asked questions

What is the best AML screening software in 2026?

There isn’t one. For the broadest curated dataset, LexisNexis WorldCompliance and LSEG World-Check lead. For an all-in-one platform with transaction monitoring, look at ComplyAdvantage or Sanction Scanner. For a transparent, self-serve screening API with published pricing and on-premise hosting, dilisense. Pick the category you’re actually buying, then the tool.

What’s the difference between a screening API and a compliance platform?

A screening API returns sanctions, PEP, criminal and adverse-media matches for a name or entity. You build the workflow around it. A platform adds transaction monitoring, case management and reporting on top, as one system. dilisense is the API. ComplyAdvantage and Sanction Scanner are platforms.

Which AML screening providers offer an API?

Most do, but access differs. dilisense is API-first. It is a REST/JSON sanctions, PEP, criminal and adverse-media screening API with a free key, published per-call pricing and ~150ms responses, plus an on-premise database option. ComplyAdvantage and Sanction Scanner offer REST APIs as part of their platforms. LSEG World-Check offers World-Check One APIs including a real-time option. LexisNexis integrates via its Bridger platform or a data file, both sales-led.

Which AML screening tools publish their pricing?

dilisense publishes per-call pricing. The first 100 screenings a month are free, then €0.10 down to about €0.01 at volume. ComplyAdvantage publishes a Starter plan from $99/month, priced per monitored entity. LexisNexis, LSEG World-Check and Sanction Scanner quote on request.

What is the cheapest AML screening software?

dilisense has the lowest entry cost. You get 100 free screenings a month, then €0.10 per check, falling toward €0.01 at volume, with no minimum commitment. ComplyAdvantage’s Starter plan starts at $99/month, priced per monitored entity. LexisNexis, LSEG World-Check and Sanction Scanner quote on request. Which works out cheapest depends on your volume and pricing model. A free tier plus pay-as-you-go usually wins at low to moderate volumes, while a per-entity subscription can come out lower at high, steady volume.

Do any offer a free tier or on-premise hosting?

dilisense offers both. You get a free API key with 100 screenings a month and a downloadable on-premise database that is EU-hosted, GDPR-compliant, with no query-content logging. Sanction Scanner has a free web tool for OFAC, UK and EU lists but no free API tier. The others are subscription or enterprise.

How often does sanctions data update?

Faster than most vendors imply. It varies by data type. dilisense refreshes sanctions hourly, adverse media in near real-time and PEP and criminal data daily. ComplyAdvantage updates sanctions in minutes. Sanction Scanner runs near real-time (about 15 minutes). LexisNexis and World-Check update profiles daily. World-Check also offers a real-time API.

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