Certivus vs SmartSearch: which AML software is right for UK accountants?
Certivus offers flat, public monthly pricing with no subscription with a standard identity and AML check included in the check price. SmartSearch is an established UK AML and KYC platform with quote-only, demo-led pricing (no public rate card) that can grow with your client volume.
Answer-first summary
How does Certivus compare with SmartSearch?
Certivus is purpose-built for UK HMRC-supervised accounting practices with flat, public per-check pricing; £10 of free credit (4 full checks) and no subscription, just £0.99 to £2.49 per check; and a standard identity and AML check included in the check price. SmartSearch is a well-established UK AML and electronic ID verification platform serving accountants, law firms, financial businesses, and estate agents, but it does not publish pricing (quote-only, modular, demo-led) and it is demo-only with no self-serve free credit. For accountancy practices that run regular checks, Certivus typically offers more predictable, transparent costs and a more focused workflow.
- Choose Certivus for flat, public pricing, an included standard check, free credit to start, and same-day setup built around UK accountants.
- Consider SmartSearch if you operate across multiple regulated sectors and want the established market leader.
- SmartSearch pricing is quote-only; verify current figures direct with their team before deciding.
TL;DR: Quick Summary
- •Certivus is flat and public: £10 of free credit (4 full checks), then £0.99 to £2.49 per check, with a standard identity + AML check included in the check price.
- •SmartSearch is the established market leader but demo-only and doesn't publish pricing; figures like ~£500/user/yr or £3.75–6/search are industry estimates, not SmartSearch's published rates, and there's no self-serve free credit.
- •ongoing monitoring is £0.99 per client per year with Certivus, and you can bill a recommended ~£15/client/yr back to your clients; SmartSearch also includes monitoring in its subscription.
- •Certivus has unlimited users for every firm and a 14-day money-back guarantee; the honest trade-off is that SmartSearch is the older, broader multi-sector leader.
Feature
Certivus
SmartSearch
Pricing
Flat monthly, public; £10 of free credit (4 full checks), then £0.99 to £2.49 per check. No sales call.
No public rate card; quote-only and demo-led (modular pricing). Figures like ~£500/user/yr or £3.75–6/search are industry estimates, not rates published by SmartSearch.
Free to start / self-serve
£10 of free credit, no card, plus a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Demo-only; no public free credit or self-serve signup.
Standard check (identity + AML)
Included in the check price.
Per-search pricing applies; costs increase with screening volume.
Ongoing monitoring
£0.99 per client per year, billable back to your clients (recommended ~£15/client/yr).
Ongoing monitoring included in the subscription.
Unlimited users
Unlimited team members for every firm, at no charge.
Priced per user seat; verify current terms.
Target customer
UK accountants managing 10–500 clients.
Broader market; accountants, law firms, financial businesses, estate agents.
Setup
Same-day; sign up, import, verify.
Account setup required; typically 1–2 business days.
Audit export
1-click PDF; timestamped, HMRC-ready.
Reports available; verify format and HMRC suitability.
UK-specific design
Built for UK HMRC-supervised accountancy practices.
UK platform; serves multiple regulated sectors.
Founder background
Built by a UK accountant.
Founded by compliance and technology specialists.
The rough maths at 2,000 checks a year
SmartSearch doesn't publish pricing, so there's no like-for-like figure to quote. On common third-party industry estimates (not SmartSearch's published rates), ~2,000 checks a year could land somewhere around £7,500–12,000 once seats and per-search fees are added. The same 2,000 checks on a Certivus retainer draw £5,000 of wallet credit, which a £300/month retainer covers for £3,600 a year, plus £0.99 per client per year for ongoing monitoring; and it's public and self-serve, with no sales call. See Certivus pricing.
When to choose each platform
Choose Certivus if...
- Transparent, public flat pricing matters; you want to budget from a pricing page, not a quote.
- You want a standard identity and AML check included in your plan, plus Ongoing monitoring £0.99 per client per year.
- Quick same-day, self-serve setup is important; no demo gate or waiting for account activation.
- Your practice needs AML workflows built specifically for accountancy, not a multi-sector platform.
Consider SmartSearch if...
- You operate across multiple regulated sectors; not just accountancy; and need one platform that covers all of them.
- You want the long-established market leader with a broad, mature feature set and are comfortable with a quote-based contract.
- You need electronic verification for non-standard ID types beyond the typical accountancy client.
- You require integration with broader property, estate agency, or financial services workflows.
Who should compare Certivus with SmartSearch?
The best AML software choice changes depending on who carries the risk, who controls the budget, and who has to run the work every week.
Managing partner
Compare predictable cost, inspection exposure, client acceptance risk, and whether the tool will be adopted across the firm.
ContinueMLRO / MLCO
Compare evidence quality, risk decisions, escalation routes, sanctions audit trail, and SAR-ready record keeping.
ContinueOperations lead
Compare setup time, client friction, staff training load, exports, and how cleanly the workflow fits day-to-day onboarding.
ContinueDecision checklist before choosing Certivus or SmartSearch
- Ask for the current pricing model in writing, including checks, screening, users, exports, and support.
- Run one realistic client file through each workflow: individual, company, higher-risk client, and evidence export.
- Check whether the AML record would satisfy HMRC, SRA, or professional-body inspection without manual reconstruction.
- Use SmartSearch where you need a broad, established multi-sector AML platform and are comfortable validating usage-based costs; use Certivus where UK-accountancy workflow, transparent pricing, and audit-ready evidence are the deciding factors.
Certivus vs SmartSearch: common questions
Is Certivus cheaper than SmartSearch?
Certivus uses flat, public monthly pricing: a £10 of free credit (4 full checks), then £0.99 to £2.49 per check with no subscription, and bonus credit on larger top-ups. SmartSearch does not publish a public rate card; its pricing is quote-only and demo-led. Figures such as ~£500 per user per year or £3.75–6 per search are third-party industry estimates, not rates published by SmartSearch, so verify current figures directly with them. For most accountancy practices running regular checks across a client book, Certivus tends to be more predictable and transparent, with no sales call required.
Does SmartSearch charge per PEP/sanctions check?
SmartSearch does not publish pricing, so how PEP and sanctions screening is charged is not publicly stated; verify current pricing directly with SmartSearch. With Certivus, a full KYC and AML check including PEP and sanctions screening is £2.49 of wallet credit, and an AML screening on its own is £0.99.
Which is better for a UK accountancy practice?
Certivus is purpose-built for UK HMRC-supervised accountancy practices. The workflows, audit trail, and evidence vault are designed around what UK accountants need to demonstrate AML compliance. SmartSearch is a strong UK platform but serves multiple regulated sectors; accountants, law firms, estate agents, and financial businesses; so the product is broader in scope. If accountancy AML is your primary use case, Certivus is the more focused fit.
Can I switch from SmartSearch to Certivus?
Yes. Certivus supports CSV client import so you can migrate your existing client list quickly. Same-day setup means your team can be running live checks within hours of signing up. Export any historical AML evidence from SmartSearch before closing your account to ensure you retain your compliance records.