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. Sells on annual subscription contracts with per-check fees on top, typically £5+VAT per individual check or £10+VAT per business check, with annual minimums that price out small independents.
Certaby is per-check PAYG from £2.95 with no annual minimum and no contract. SmartSearch is annual contract plus per-check; the contract floor effectively prices out anyone running fewer than ~50 checks per month. For a 5-let independent letting agent, Certaby is around £15 per month; SmartSearch typically opens at the £500-£700 per month enterprise tier with seat licences and minimums.
| Feature | Certaby | SmartSearch |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per-check PAYG from £2.95 | Annual contract + per-check £5-£10+VAT |
| Annual minimum | None | Quote-dependent; typically £500-£700/month floor |
| Contract length | No contract | Annual contract |
| AML depth (sanctions, PEPs, adverse media) | OpenSanctions + OFSI + UN + EU | LSEG WorldCheck / Dow Jones (proprietary) |
| Property-risk overlay (MEES, flood, crime) | Built in to every letting-agent check | Not in AML product; separate environmental search |
| PSC tree walking for corporate landlords | Recursive to depth 5, every UBO 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.
- Their enterprise-tier KYB depth (Companies House plus filed accounts plus officer history) is fuller than what Certaby ships in v1.
- For a firm running 500+ checks per month, the contract pricing per check can fall below Certaby PAYG.
- SmartSearch has 20+ years of regulator-acceptance evidence; some MLROs prefer the established vendor.
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.
Run a Certaby check (no card to view result) →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 flat enterprise licences; passing that cost into a contract model gives them margin certainty. Certaby uses OpenSanctions on a per-call retail-priced licence (around €0.10/call), so we can pass that cost through directly and scale with revenue. The trade-off: SmartSearch may have slightly more PEP records in their licensed dataset; Certaby names its source 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 focuses on letting agents (S1) and conveyancers (S2). Accountant client onboarding (S3) is on the roadmap. If you need multi-sector single-vendor coverage 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 a free FCA check for no card, or review pricing.