CheckFile vs Onfido: complete comparison 2026

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or regulatory advice. Regulatory references are accurate as of the publication date. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

CheckFile or Onfido: which solution should you choose in 2026?

CheckFile and Onfido solve different problems with different approaches. Onfido, founded in 2012 in London, built its platform around biometric identity verification: facial recognition, liveness detection, and identity document analysis. CheckFile focuses on comprehensive document verification: OCR extraction, multi-document cross-validation, fraud detection across entire case files.

If your primary need is confirming that a person is who they claim to be via a selfie and an identity document, Onfido is a strong player. If you need to analyse a complete dossier — company registration documents, bank statements, payslips, proof of address, certificates — with customisable business rules and European hosting, CheckFile is built for that use case.

This comparison lays out the figures so you can make an informed decision.

Comparison table: CheckFile vs Onfido

Let us detail each criterion.

Document coverage: beyond the identity document

CheckFile covers more than 3,200 document types across two broad families: identity documents (national ID cards, passports, residence permits) and commercial documents (company registration extracts, bank statements, payslips, invoices, insurance certificates, rent receipts). Onfido covers approximately 2,500 document types, concentrated on official identity documents from 195 countries.

The difference is structural. Onfido was designed to answer one question: "is this person really who they claim to be?". CheckFile answers a broader question: "is this case file complete, consistent, and compliant?". For client onboarding in banking or insurance, which typically requires 4 to 8 different documents, CheckFile's extended coverage avoids assembling multiple solutions.

For firms regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, customer due diligence obligations extend well beyond a single identity check. Regulation 28 requires firms to verify the identity of beneficial owners and obtain information on the purpose and intended nature of the business relationship — demands that typically involve multiple document types.

Processing speed: 4.2 seconds versus 10-15 seconds

CheckFile processes a document in 4.2 seconds on average, from file receipt to structured result delivery. Onfido reports processing times of 10 to 15 seconds for a complete verification (document + biometrics).

The gap is explained by the nature of the processing. Onfido executes a heavier pipeline including biometric capture, facial comparison, and liveness detection. CheckFile focuses on document extraction and validation, enabling a faster pipeline. For significant volumes — several thousand verifications daily — those seconds accumulate and affect both user experience and team processing capacity.

OCR accuracy: the details that matter

CheckFile achieves 98.7% OCR accuracy measured across its entire range of document types, including complex cases (poor-quality scans, low-light photographs, non-standard formats). Onfido sits at approximately 97% on identity documents.

One percentage point may seem trivial. On 10,000 documents processed per month, the difference between 98.7% and 97% represents 170 additional errors requiring manual review. At an average cost of £4 to £12 per manual verification (industry estimates), the accuracy gap translates to £680 to £2,040 in additional monthly costs.

Pricing: transparency versus bespoke quotes

CheckFile charges on a pay-per-use basis with a starting rate of approximately £0.10 per document for automated processing. Pricing grids are public and degressive based on volume. Onfido also operates on a per-use basis, but with significantly higher rates, generally between £1 and £3 per verification depending on volume and activated features. Exact prices are available only on request.

For a business processing 5,000 cases per month (averaging 3 documents per case), the monthly bill with CheckFile starts at around £1,500. With Onfido, counting one identity verification per case at £2, the total reaches £10,000 for identity alone — without covering commercial documents. The gap widens as volume increases.

Hosting and GDPR compliance

CheckFile hosts all its data in France, within the European Union. GDPR compliance is native: encryption in transit and at rest, configurable automatic deletion, no data transfers outside the EU. This architecture simplifies compliance obligations under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Onfido, headquartered in London, uses a multi-cloud infrastructure. Since Brexit, the UK operates under its own data protection framework. For UK-based firms, this means Onfido's local hosting may simplify certain data residency considerations. However, for firms with EU clients or cross-border operations, the question of data transfers between UK and EU jurisdictions requires careful analysis following the UK adequacy decision.

A specific point merits attention: Onfido processes biometric data (facial prints), classified as special category data under Article 9 of UK GDPR. Their processing imposes enhanced obligations that client organisations must integrate into their Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA).

Fraud detection: two philosophies

CheckFile detects fraudulent documents with a recall rate of 94.8% and a false positive rate of 3.2%. These metrics cover document falsification detection (retouching, montage), data inconsistencies between documents, and format anomalies.

Onfido relies on its Atlas AI engine for identity fraud detection, combining documentary and biometric analysis. Performance metrics are not published. Onfido's approach is complementary: it excels at identity impersonation fraud (someone pretending to be someone else) whereas CheckFile targets document fraud (a document has been modified or fabricated).

Technical integration: API versus mobile SDK

CheckFile offers a documented REST API, webhooks for asynchronous processing, and native Salesforce and HubSpot connectors. Integration does not require a proprietary SDK: any HTTP client can call the API.

Onfido relies on native mobile SDKs (iOS and Android) that encapsulate document capture, selfie capture, and the verification flow in an embeddable component. For a consumer-facing mobile application, this is a genuine advantage: the SDK handles capture quality, user guidance, and compression optimisation.

For a back-office integration or an automated workflow without user interaction, CheckFile's REST API is more direct. The choice depends on your target architecture: mobile front-end with biometric capture (Onfido advantage) or back-end with automated processing of documents received via email or upload (CheckFile advantage).

Support and onboarding

CheckFile offers a free 48-hour pilot with a dedicated contact, priority support, and integration assistance included in the package. The objective is to enable a real evaluation before commitment.

Onfido offers standard support with paid premium tiers. Onboarding is structured but billed separately, which can add a non-negligible upfront cost for mid-market businesses.

When to choose CheckFile

CheckFile is the right choice if your needs cover at least one of these scenarios:

• Complete case file analysis — you need to verify more than the identity document: payslips, company registration extracts, bank statements, proof of address, certificates. CheckFile processes the entire set in one pass.
• UK and European regulatory compliance — you are subject to FCA oversight, MLR 2017 customer due diligence obligations, or the requirements of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. European hosting and a native audit trail simplify your obligations.
• High volume with budget constraints — at approximately £0.10 per document, CheckFile makes full automation viable where Onfido's unit cost limits the scope of what can be automated.
• Customisable business rules — your financial partners or your sector imposes specific validation rules. CheckFile's rules engine adapts without custom development.

When to choose Onfido

Onfido remains relevant in these cases:

• Biometric identity verification — your primary need is confirming that a person is who they claim to be, with facial recognition and liveness detection. This is Onfido's core business.
• High-volume B2C mobile application — you have a consumer-facing application and want an integrated identity verification flow with native mobile SDKs, capture guidance, and UX optimisation.
• Global identity document coverage — you operate in dozens of countries and need to recognise varied identity document formats. Onfido covers 195 countries with significant depth on official documents.
• Comfortable budget — the cost per verification is not a limiting factor and you prioritise the depth of biometric analysis.

Verdict

CheckFile and Onfido are not direct competitors in the strict sense. They cover different segments of a common problem: compliance verification.

Onfido answers the question "who are you?" with a strong emphasis on biometrics. It is an established player, operating for over a decade, with a strong brand in the Anglo-Saxon fintech ecosystem.

CheckFile answers the question "is your case file complete, authentic, and compliant?" with a comprehensive documentary approach. For UK and European businesses subject to the obligations of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 and the forthcoming requirements under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, it provides a more complete answer to the real problem of documentary compliance.

For organisations that need both — biometric verification and case file analysis — the two solutions are compatible via their respective APIs. Some clients use Onfido for the selfie check and CheckFile for the remainder of the case file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use CheckFile and Onfido together?

Yes. Both solutions have REST APIs and integrate easily into the same workflow. A common scenario involves using Onfido for initial biometric verification, then CheckFile for complete case file analysis (commercial documents, cross-validation, regulatory compliance).

Is CheckFile as reliable as Onfido for identity document verification?

CheckFile verifies identity documents with 98.7% OCR accuracy and detects document falsifications. However, it does not offer facial biometrics or liveness detection. If your process requires a selfie-to-document comparison, Onfido or a biometric partner completes the chain.

What is the real cost of migrating from Onfido to CheckFile?

Integrating the CheckFile API typically requires 2 to 5 days of development. The free 48-hour pilot allows you to test compatibility with your actual documents before any commitment. Migration can be progressive: start with commercial documents (not covered by Onfido) then extend to identity documents if results are satisfactory.

Is CheckFile compliant with FCA requirements?

CheckFile is hosted in Europe, GDPR-compliant, SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certified. The complete audit trail and configurable rules engine meet the traceability and vigilance requirements expected by the FCA for firms subject to the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 in the context of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing obligations.

Is Onfido compliant with UK GDPR?

Onfido is headquartered in London and subject to UK data protection law. For UK-based organisations, this simplifies certain data residency considerations. However, the processing of biometric data (facial prints) constitutes special category data under Article 9 of UK GDPR, imposing enhanced obligations. Each organisation should conduct its own DPIA to assess the risks.

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