Compared
Certaby vs SmartSearch
SmartSearch is a multi-sector AML platform serving over 7,000 UK regulated businesses (accountants, legal, financial services, property). Long-established and credible. SmartSearch does not publish a public rate card; it is sold on annual subscription contracts with per-check fees on top, and independent buyer reports put it well above per-check tools, with annual minimums that price out small independents.
Certaby is pay as you go with no annual minimum and no contract: 99p a person for the sanctions check (£1.39 with PEP and adverse media), so a let or sale with two people and the property risk pack is £3.27. SmartSearch is annual contract plus per-check and does not publish a rate card; buyer reports put the contract floor in the mid-hundreds per month, which prices out anyone running only a handful of checks. For a 5-let independent letting agent, Certaby is around £16.35 a month.
| Feature | Certaby | SmartSearch |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Pay per check: 99p a person, a let from £1.98, a sale from £2.78 | Annual contract + per-check fees (quote-only) |
| Annual minimum | None | Quote-dependent; reportedly a mid-hundreds/month floor |
| Contract length | No contract | Annual contract |
| AML depth (sanctions, PEPs, adverse media) | Official UK, UN, EU and US sanctions lists; PEP and adverse media as a 40p add-on | LSEG WorldCheck / Dow Jones (proprietary) |
| Property-risk overlay (MEES, flood, crime) | The property risk pack, in any let or sale | Not in AML product; separate environmental search |
| PSC tree walking for corporate landlords | Company and owners check: every director and owner screened | UBO check via separate KYB module |
| Audit-cert PDF format | Hash-bound + public verifier URL (7y) | PDF cert; format varies by module |
| Time to first check | Email sign-in, ~60 sec | Sales call + contract + implementation |
| Source transparency | Source list versions stamped on cert | Proprietary data layer (opaque) |
Where SmartSearch wins
- SmartSearch's multi-sector reach matters if you run a multi-line firm covering accountancy, legal services, and property under one MLRO. Certaby focuses on UK property compliance specifically.
- SmartSearch ships biometric identity verification (SmartDoc) inside the AML platform. Certaby has biometric IDV on the roadmap; if it is a binding requirement for your tenant onboarding workflow today, SmartSearch covers it.
- SmartSearch supports Source-of-Funds Open Banking on the conveyancing-side modules. Certaby has source of funds on its roadmap; if reg 33 enhanced cases need automated SoF today, SmartSearch ships it.
Ready to compare for real?
Run a Certaby check on a real prospect to see the output format, audit-cert PDF, and verify URL alongside your existing tooling. No card to view the result; no contract.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Certaby audit-cert PDF accepted by HMRC inspectors the same way as a SmartSearch report?
Yes. MLR-2017 specifies what evidence must be on file (the customer identifiers, the source list versions, the timestamp, the matcher result); it does not specify the vendor. Both Certaby and SmartSearch produce regulator-acceptable evidence. Certaby additionally ships a SHA-256 hash binding the cert to the underlying inputs, plus a public verify URL anyone can resolve for 7 years.
Why does SmartSearch require an annual contract while Certaby is PAYG?
SmartSearch buys its underlying data from LSEG WorldCheck or Dow Jones on enterprise licences and recovers that through an annual contract. Certaby charges per check with no contract, so you only pay when you run one. The trade-off: SmartSearch includes PEP screening in every check, where Certaby sells it as a 40p add-on to the sanctions check; Certaby names its sources and is cheaper at low volume.
Can I migrate from SmartSearch to Certaby without losing my audit trail?
Your historical SmartSearch reports remain valid evidence for the checks they recorded. New checks run on Certaby produce the audit-cert PDF for the file. You do not need to re-screen prior tenants unless their letting cycle requires a re-screen anyway.
Does Certaby cover the same range of regulated sectors as SmartSearch?
Today Certaby covers lets, property sales, and finance and business onboarding (clients, directors and counterparties), plus an AML compliance system for small firms. If you need multi-sector single-vendor coverage with ID verification today, SmartSearch is broader; if your firm is property-focused, Certaby is tighter to the workflow.
Or see the 5-vendor matrix to compare Certaby against all peers in one view, run the free suite demo for no card, or review pricing.