UK firms regulated under MLR 2017 must run customer due diligence, screen against sanctions and PEP lists, and maintain ongoing monitoring. SmartSearch and Veriphy are dedicated AML platforms used widely across UK accounting and legal practices. Accupe takes a different posture: AML lives inside the practice manager, surfaced through Compliance Radar with OpenSanctions screening. This comparison explains the trade-offs honestly.
SmartSearch: The Established UK Player
SmartSearch offers identity verification combining electronic ID checks against credit reference agency data, address verification, sanctions and PEP screening, ongoing monitoring with daily refreshes, and a clear audit trail. It is widely recognised by supervisors as a credible AML solution.
The cost is real: per-check pricing typically runs £3-£7 per identity verification with subscription tiers on top. For high-onboarding firms this becomes a significant line item.
Veriphy: The Property and Conveyancing Favourite
Veriphy is particularly popular in conveyancing and law firms. It offers similar ID verification, source-of-funds checks, and risk-based onboarding. Like SmartSearch, it works on a per-check model and integrates with various practice tools.
Accupe Compliance Radar: AML Within Practice Management
Accupe ships with OpenSanctions screening built into client onboarding. OpenSanctions aggregates the consolidated sanctions lists from OFSI, the EU, the UN, OFAC and more, and is a recognised credible data source. Compliance Radar surfaces screening status, KYC document expiry, risk scores and ongoing monitoring posture across the entire client base in one live dashboard.
Honesty matters here: Accupe does not currently provide the same depth of electronic ID verification as SmartSearch or Veriphy. We screen against sanctions and PEP data and we track KYC documents, but we do not run live credit-reference-agency ID checks. For firms that require electronic ID verification as their CDD method, a dedicated AML tool is still needed.
Document-Based KYC
Many firms do CDD via document collection - passport, proof of address, beneficial ownership declarations. Accupe excels here. The Client Hub captures documents securely, expiry dates are tracked, and Compliance Radar flags renewals before they lapse. For document-led CDD, Accupe alone is often sufficient.
Ongoing Monitoring
MLR 2017 requires ongoing monitoring throughout the business relationship. SmartSearch and Veriphy refresh ID data daily. Accupe screens against OpenSanctions on a recurring basis and flags any change. For sanctions exposure, Accupe is competitive. For ongoing electronic ID monitoring (e.g. mortality screening, credit changes), the dedicated tools go further.
Pricing
SmartSearch and Veriphy typically cost £200-£600+ per month depending on volume. Accupe Compliance Radar is included on all plans starting at £20/month for the Solo tier. For firms doing document-led CDD with sanctions screening, Accupe alone is dramatically cheaper.
When to Run Both
Many UK firms sensibly run a dedicated AML tool for electronic ID verification at onboarding and Accupe for ongoing operational posture, document tracking and sanctions screening. The two are complementary rather than strictly competitive.
Verdict
If electronic ID verification is core to your CDD methodology, keep SmartSearch or Veriphy. If your CDD is document-led with sanctions and PEP screening, Accupe Compliance Radar covers the ground at a fraction of the cost and integrates AML into the daily operational view rather than treating it as a separate quarterly chore.