10 Best Middesk Alternatives for KYB, EIN Lookup, and Business Identity Checks

by Nicolae Buldumac
· 12/12/2025 15:21 · 20 min read
10 Best Middesk Alternatives for KYB, EIN Lookup, and Business Identity Checks

The demand for fast, accurate, and compliant business identity verification has never been higher. Whether onboarding a new supplier, approving a business account, or evaluating a potential partner, companies must validate legal entities with precision and speed. In the U.S., Middesk has become one of the most recognizable players for EIN lookup, Secretary of State data aggregation, and KYB checks. Its focus on U.S. business identity has made it a popular choice for fintechs, payment providers, and enterprise onboarding teams.

However, as organizations expand across borders, automate onboarding workflows, and require deeper levels of corporate intelligence—beneficial ownership, group structure, global registry data, sanctions monitoring—many find that Middesk’s capabilities, pricing model, or geographic scope no longer fully align with their needs. This has led companies to explore more flexible, more global, or more data-rich alternatives.

In this article, we evaluate the 10 best Middesk competitors offering KYB, EIN verification, and business identity solutions. Each platform brings unique strengths: some excel in global registry coverage, others in workflow automation, UBO mapping, or real-time API performance. Our goal is to provide a clear, balanced, and comprehensive overview to help organizations choose the right partner for their onboarding, compliance, and risk management requirements in 2025 and beyond.

Middesk’s Strengths — and Its Limitations

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Middesk has established itself as a trusted provider of U.S. business identity verification, widely used by fintechs, banks, and B2B platforms that need reliable KYB data for American-registered companies. Its focus on U.S. Secretary of State filings, IRS information, and direct government data sources has positioned it as one of the strongest KYB solutions for domestic onboarding. However, as regulatory expectations evolve and businesses operate increasingly across borders, many organizations identify gaps between Middesk’s strengths and the broader capabilities they require.

Below is a balanced and fact-checked assessment of where Middesk performs well—and where its offering is naturally more limited.

Strengths

  1. 1. Strong Focus on U.S. Business Verification
    Middesk excels in validating U.S. entities, with full coverage across all 50 states through Secretary of State records and reliable EIN verification. For companies operating primarily in the U.S., this specialisation is a major advantage.

  2. High-Quality Data Directly From Government Sources
    The platform highlights its commitment to data accuracy and freshness, including frequent updates and direct connections to authoritative sources. This helps companies meet KYB and compliance requirements during onboarding.

  3. Developer-Friendly API and Fast Integration
    Middesk is recognised for offering one of the most streamlined API experiences in the KYB space. Its clear documentation and predictable response structure reduce engineering effort and speed up implementation.

  4. Effective for Core KYB Needs
    The solution provides essential business identity information such as company registration data, status, formation dates, and officer information—critical for financial services and regulated industries.

  5. Well-Adopted by Modern Fintechs
    Many U.S. startups and financial technology providers choose Middesk because of its simplicity, accuracy, and specialization in domestic business identity verification.

Limitations

  1. 1. Primarily Limited to the United States
    Middesk’s coverage is highly U.S.-centric. For companies onboarding merchants, suppliers, or partners outside the U.S., additional KYB vendors are needed. Organizations operating in multiple jurisdictions may outgrow a U.S.-only solution.

  2. Beneficial Ownership Coverage Is Limited to Domestic Entities
    While Middesk supports beneficial owner identification for U.S. companies (including through integrations such as Socure), it does not offer deep multi-layer UBO mapping across different countries. Businesses requiring global ownership structures often need supplementary tools.

  3. Limited Global Registry Connectivity
    Middesk does not position itself as a global registry provider. Companies looking for multi-country data or direct access to international corporate registries typically require alternative solutions with broader geographic coverage.

  4. Not a Full AML or Risk Screening Platform
    Although Middesk provides risk signals and watchlist indicators, it is not marketed as a comprehensive AML suite. Organizations often rely on separate providers for sanctions lists, PEP screening, adverse media, and ongoing global monitoring.

  5. Pricing Can Be Less Flexible for High-Volume Use Cases
    While exact pricing is not published publicly, third-party comparisons often note that Middesk may be less cost-efficient for high-volume verifications such as marketplace onboarding or bulk supplier checks. This can lead companies to evaluate vendors with more granular or usage-based pricing models.

Summary

Middesk is one of the strongest options for U.S. business identity verification, offering high-quality official data and an excellent API experience. However, its domestic focus, limited global ownership visibility, and narrower scope in AML and workflow automation mean that companies with broader or international KYB requirements frequently assess alternative platforms.

1. Global Database vs Middesk

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Global Database is one of the most comprehensive alternatives to Middesk for companies that require fully verified, registry-sourced KYB data across both the United States and international markets. While Middesk is strongly positioned for U.S.-only EIN verification and Secretary of State checks, Global Database differentiates itself with multi-country coverage, deep corporate intelligence, and extensive enrichment capabilities designed for onboarding, compliance, and risk analysis at scale.

Core Strengths

1. True First-Party, Registry-Sourced Data (100+ Countries)

Global Database aggregates business information directly from official government registries—not third-party compilations—across the U.S., Europe, LATAM, Africa, and APAC.

This gives companies access to verified corporate data suitable for:

  • KYB and onboarding

  • AML and compliance reviews

  • Supplier verification

  • Financial due diligence

This is a significant difference from Middesk, whose core dataset is U.S.-focused.

2. Deep Corporate Profiles Beyond Basic KYB

In addition to standard KYB fields (legal name, status, formation date, registration numbers), Global Database provides:

  • Historical and annual financial statements (20+ years where available)

  • Shareholder and beneficial ownership information

  • Corporate group structures

  • Director and officer details

  • Full U.S. EIN data

  • VAT and tax ID data across multiple jurisdictions

Businesses that require multi-layer UBO intelligence or corporate hierarchy mapping often prefer Global Database over Middesk.

3. Comprehensive KYB API for Automation

The Global Database API supports:

  • Real-time company verification

  • Global registry search

  • Beneficial ownership retrieval

  • Full financial statements

  • Risk and credit indicators

  • Digital insights (website traffic, technologies, etc.)

This makes it suitable for banks, fintechs, payment providers, and enterprise platforms that need automated onboarding across multiple countries.

4. U.S. EIN Lookup + International Tax ID Validation

While Middesk is often used for EIN verification, Global Database offers the same capability for the U.S.—plus:

  • VAT IDs

  • National business numbers

  • Local tax registration identifiers

  • Cross-border validation

Ideal for global marketplaces and suppliers.

5. Flexible Pricing for High-Volume KYB

Global Database offers usage-based pricing models designed for companies processing:

  • Large merchant onboarding volumes

  • Marketplace seller KYB

  • Supplier checks

  • Continuous monitoring

This can provide better cost efficiency compared to Middesk’s domestic-only model, especially for multinational operations.

Who Global Database Is Best For

Global Database is most suitable for organizations needing:

  • Global KYB, not just U.S. verification

  • Deep due diligence (financials, ownership, group structure)

  • Real-time registry data with guaranteed accuracy

  • Scalable API workflows for high-volume onboarding

  • Enterprise enrichment across CRM, risk, and compliance systems

It is used by companies such as banks, payment providers, B2B platforms, procurement departments, and enterprise data teams.

How It Compares to Middesk

Feature

Global Database

Middesk

Geographic coverage

100+ countries

U.S. only

EIN verification

Global tax IDs

Registry-sourced data

✔ (global)

✔ (U.S.)

UBO mapping

✔ multi-country

Limited (U.S. only)

Group structure

Financial data

✔ 20+ years

AML screening

Available via integrations

Limited

API KYB automation

✔ global

✔ U.S.

Best for

Global onboarding & compliance

U.S.-only entity checks

Summary

Global Database stands out as a strong alternative to Middesk for companies that need global coverage, deeper due diligence data, and first-party registry information across multiple jurisdictions. It provides broader intelligence, more data depth, and stronger capabilities for high-volume automated KYB use cases—making it one of the top choices for companies that have outgrown U.S.-only verification solutions.

2. Alloy vs Middesk

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Alloy is a leading identity decisioning platform that helps financial institutions and fintech companies automate onboarding, compliance, and ongoing customer monitoring. While Middesk focuses primarily on U.S. business identity verification, Alloy operates as a broader risk and identity orchestration layer—bringing together data sources, rules, and workflows to streamline KYC, KYB, and fraud prevention in one unified platform.

Alloy is not a direct data provider like Middesk or Global Database. Instead, it acts as a decisioning engine that connects to multiple third-party data partners—including business verification, sanctions, fraud, and document verification vendors—to automate risk decisions at scale.

Core Strengths

1. End-to-End Onboarding Orchestration

Alloy allows companies to automate the entire KYB/KYC flow, including:

  • Workflow configuration

  • Risk scoring

  • Data orchestration

  • Case management

  • Decisioning rules

  • Ongoing monitoring

For companies looking to centralise onboarding logic, Alloy provides capabilities that go far beyond Middesk’s data-focused model.

2. Integrates With Dozens of Data Providers

Alloy’s power lies in its marketplace of third-party integrations, enabling companies to plug in:

  • KYB / business identity data

  • UBO data

  • Fraud prevention signals

  • Sanctions & PEP lists

  • Document verification partners

  • Credit data and behavioral analytics

This makes Alloy a strategic choice for companies that need flexibility in how they build their KYB stack.

3. Strong Focus on Financial Services

Alloy is widely used by:

  • Banks

  • Fintech platforms

  • Credit and lending products

  • Embedded finance providers

  • Payment companies

Its infrastructure is specifically designed to support regulated industries with strict onboarding and compliance workflows.

4. Advanced Rules Engine

Compliance and risk teams can build custom rules without engineering involvement, including:

  • Automated approvals

  • Conditional verifications

  • Multi-step reviews

  • Triggered monitoring flags

This level of configurability is something Middesk does not aim to provide.

5. Ongoing Monitoring Across Data Sources

Alloy supports continuous monitoring for:

  • Business profile changes

  • Risk updates

  • Sanctions hits

  • Document expiry

  • Fraud indicators

This is essential for institutions under ongoing AML obligations.

Who Alloy Is Best For

Alloy is ideal for organizations that need:

  • Workflow automation across KYB, KYC, and fraud

  • Decisioning logic tied to multiple sources

  • Operational efficiency for compliance teams

  • A single platform to orchestrate onboarding

  • Flexible integration with many data vendors (including Middesk)

Many companies even integrate both Alloy and Middesk, using Alloy as the orchestration layer.

How Alloy Compares to Middesk

Feature

Alloy

Middesk

Geographic focus

Global (via data partners)

U.S.-only

Type of product

Decisioning + workflow platform

KYB data provider

KYB data

✔ (via integrations)

✔ U.S. only

EIN verification

Via partners

Registry data

Via partners

✔ U.S.

UBO / ownership

Via partners

Limited

Workflow automation

✔ advanced

Monitoring

✔ multi-source

Limited

Best for

Banks & fintechs needing orchestration

U.S. business identity checks

Summary

Alloy is not a direct KYB data competitor to Middesk, but rather a higher-level orchestration platform that integrates KYB, KYC, AML, and fraud signals into a unified decisioning engine. Organizations select Alloy when they need end-to-end onboarding automation, multi-source risk analysis, or a scalable compliance infrastructure that can incorporate multiple data providers—including Middesk itself.

3. Zephira.ai vs Middesk

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Zephira.ai is an API-first platform built for developers who need real-time, registry-sourced company data across more than 150 countries. Unlike traditional KYB providers focused on a single market, Zephira.ai delivers normalized, structured legal entity data through a unified API, enabling global onboarding, supplier verification, and compliance workflows at scale.

Its emphasis on direct registry connectivity and consistent schema mapping positions it as a strong alternative to Middesk, especially for companies expanding beyond U.S.-only coverage.

Core Strengths

1. API Access to Verified Registry Data Worldwide

Zephira.ai provides standardized corporate data collected directly from official government registries and statutory filings, including:

  • Legal entity names

  • Registration numbers

  • Business status

  • Incorporation dates

  • Registered addresses

  • Local tax identifiers

  • Business types

This ensures consistently verifiable information for compliance and onboarding workflows.

2. Lightweight, High-Volume KYB Checks

Zephira.ai offers an efficient Light KYB Check, returning essential fields such as:

  • Legal identity

  • Registration and active status

  • Key company identifiers

  • Basic ownership information (where publicly released)

  • Verification audit trail

Ideal for marketplaces, financial platforms, and SaaS providers performing large-scale entity checks.

3. Deep Corporate and Financial Data

Beyond basic KYB, the platform provides enriched data such as:

  • Industry classifications (NAICS, SIC, NACE, local codes)

  • Estimated company size indicators

  • Director and officer information

  • Full financial statements where published

  • Group structure context (where available)

This level of depth goes significantly further than Middesk’s domestic data scope.

4. Transparent Per-Request Pricing

Zephira.ai uses a clear, consumption-based pricing model with no seat limits or long-term commitments.

This is beneficial for:

  • Developers integrating global KYB

  • Platforms handling unpredictable volumes

  • Cost-sensitive high-throughput operations

The model is typically more flexible than Middesk’s structure for scaling international workloads.

5. Consistent, Audit-Ready Corporate Data

All information originates from official registries, statutory documents, and government-published sources, ensuring:

  • Full auditability

  • Compliance alignment

  • Local legal accuracy

This gives compliance teams confidence when validating entities across multiple jurisdictions.

Who Zephira.ai Is Best For

Zephira.ai is particularly valuable for:

  • Fintechs and payment companies expanding internationally

  • Marketplaces onboarding global sellers

  • Platforms verifying suppliers across multiple regions

  • Developers requiring a unified, API-first approach to KYB

  • Companies needing real-time, registry-based corporate intelligence

Its architecture is designed for organizations that want scalable global coverage without complex integrations.

How Zephira.ai Compares to Middesk

Feature

Zephira.ai

Middesk

Geographic coverage

150+ countries

U.S.-only

EIN verification

Global registry access

UBO / ownership

✔ (where legally available)

Limited

Financial data

Industry codes

✔ global

✔ U.S.-only

Pricing flexibility

High (per-call)

Moderate

Best for

Global platforms & developer-first products

U.S.-focused KYB

Summary

Zephira.ai is a powerful alternative to Middesk for teams requiring global KYB, developer-friendly APIs, real-time registry data, and flexible consumption-based pricing. Its depth of coverage and structured data delivery make it especially well suited for fintechs, marketplaces, and international platforms moving beyond U.S.-only operations.

4. Sumsub vs Middesk

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Sumsub is a global verification and compliance platform offering KYC, KYB, AML screening, and fraud prevention for regulated industries. Unlike Middesk—whose primary focus is U.S. business identity—Sumsub delivers business verification workflows across more than 220 countries and territories, making it a strong choice for organizations that need unified identity checks for both individuals and companies worldwide.

Its strength lies in combining identity verification, document checks, liveness, KYB, sanctions screening, and ongoing monitoring under a single, configurable platform. This makes Sumsub a comprehensive alternative for companies seeking more than basic business identity data.

Core Strengths

1. Global KYB Coverage

Sumsub supports business verification across a broad range of jurisdictions, allowing companies to:

  • Validate legal entities internationally

  • Collect and analyse corporate documents

  • Confirm registration details

  • Identify shareholders and controlling parties (where available)

For companies with global onboarding needs, this scope goes far beyond Middesk’s U.S.-only focus.

2. Combined KYC + KYB + AML Platform

Sumsub unifies multiple compliance functions, including:

  • Individual identity verification

  • Business verification

  • Document verification

  • Sanctions, PEP, and watchlist screening

  • Transaction monitoring workflows

This enables risk and compliance teams to work from a single platform rather than integrating multiple vendors.

3. Configurable Compliance Workflows

The platform provides customizable workflows for:

  • Business onboarding

  • Partner and merchant verification

  • Vendor and supplier screening

  • High-risk KYB flows

  • Corporate document collection

These workflows help automate complex multi-step processes that Middesk does not directly support.

4. Deep Fraud Prevention Capabilities

Sumsub includes advanced fraud detection signals, such as:

  • Forged document detection

  • Liveness and biometric checks

  • Behavioral risk indicators

  • Device and IP intelligence

This positions Sumsub as more than a data source — it is a full risk analytics system.

5. UBO and Shareholder Identification

Sumsub assists companies in identifying beneficial owners through:

  • Shareholding data (where legally accessible)

  • Corporate document extraction

  • Multi-layer ownership charts

Although not as registry-centric as some specialized UBO platforms, it provides more ownership visibility than Middesk.

Who Sumsub Is Best For

Sumsub is ideal for organizations that require:

  • A unified platform for KYC + KYB + AML

  • Global business verification across many jurisdictions

  • Fraud prevention integrated into onboarding

  • Document verification and liveness checks

  • Regulated, high-risk use cases (fintech, crypto, payments, mobility, marketplaces)

It is especially useful for companies looking to consolidate multiple vendors into a single compliance stack.

How Sumsub Compares to Middesk

Feature

Sumsub

Middesk

Geographic coverage

Global (220+ countries)

U.S.-only

KYB

✔ global

✔ U.S.

KYC

AML screening

Limited

Fraud prevention

✔ advanced

Workflow automation

✔ robust

Limited

Document verification

UBO tools

✔ multi-layer support

Limited

Best for

Global KYC/KYB & AML in one platform

U.S. business identity checks

Summary

Sumsub is a strong Middesk alternative for companies needing global coverage, integrated KYC and KYB, and a complete fraud and compliance workflow. While Middesk excels at U.S. business identity verification, Sumsub offers a broader, more comprehensive compliance infrastructure suitable for multinational onboarding and regulatory environments.

5. Trulioo vs Middesk

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Trulioo is one of the most established global identity verification providers, offering KYB, KYC, AML screening, document verification, and workflow orchestration through a unified platform. While Middesk is primarily focused on validating U.S. businesses through Secretary of State and IRS data, Trulioo covers more than 195 countries, making it a strong choice for organizations that require international onboarding.

Trulioo’s value lies in its broad data network—combining registry data, government sources, watchlists, and commercial datasets—alongside a flexible verification platform designed for enterprises, fintechs, and cross-border marketplaces.

Core Strengths

1. Global KYB Coverage Across 195+ Countries

Trulioo’s KYB product includes access to:

  • International business registries

  • Government databases

  • Licensing authorities

  • Corporate filings and public records

This makes it a powerful alternative to Middesk for companies verifying businesses outside the United States.

2. Unified Platform for KYB, KYC, and AML

Trulioo consolidates multiple compliance services, including:

  • Business verification

  • Individual identity verification

  • Document verification and eID checks

  • Watchlist, PEP, and sanctions screening

  • Ongoing monitoring

  • Adverse media checks

Companies often choose Trulioo to simplify vendor management by combining these capabilities into a single platform.

3. Extensive Data Network

Trulioo aggregates data from a wide range of authoritative and commercial sources, enabling:

  • Cross-border entity validation

  • Multi-layer ownership checks

  • Regulatory compliance for financial institutions

  • Enhanced due diligence for high-risk industries

This broad data foundation goes beyond Middesk’s U.S.-centric approach.

4. Beneficial Ownership Identification

Trulioo provides insights into corporate ownership and control, including:

  • Shareholder information (where legally accessible)

  • Top-level UBO visibility

  • Multi-country ownership checks

  • Document-based ownership verification

While not equivalent to specialized global UBO platforms, Trulioo offers stronger international ownership capabilities than Middesk.

5. Enterprise-Grade Features and Workflow Automation

Trulioo supports:

  • Custom onboarding workflows

  • Flexible API and SDK integrations

  • Case management

  • Continuous monitoring and alerts

  • High-volume verification pipelines

These features make it suitable for large organizations with complex compliance requirements.

Who Trulioo Is Best For

Trulioo is best suited for:

  • Global fintech and payment companies

  • Marketplaces onboarding sellers from multiple countries

  • Banks and financial services requiring AML checks

  • Platforms needing combined KYC + KYB in a single solution

  • Organizations expanding beyond the U.S. and requiring international registry access

Its scale and compliance depth make it a strong match for enterprises handling millions of verifications.

How Trulioo Compares to Middesk

Feature

Trulioo

Middesk

Geographic coverage

Global (195+ countries)

U.S.-only

KYB

✔ global

✔ U.S.

KYC

AML screening

✔ comprehensive

Limited

Ownership checks

✔ multi-country

Limited

Document verification

Workflow automation

✔ enterprise-grade

Limited

Best for

Global onboarding & compliance

U.S. business identity checks

Summary

Trulioo is a strong alternative to Middesk for companies needing global business verification, KYC/KYB unification, and enterprise-grade compliance tooling. Its broad international coverage and deep AML capabilities make it ideal for organizations operating across multiple jurisdictions or requiring more comprehensive compliance processes than Middesk typically provides.

6. Zavia.ai vs Middesk

zav.pngZavia.ai is an advanced UBO and corporate ownership intelligence platform designed to help organizations uncover, verify, and monitor complex business structures across the globe. While Middesk focuses on validating U.S. businesses, Zavia.ai specializes in identifying ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs), parent–subsidiary relationships, and multi-layered corporate hierarchies using data sourced from official government registries.

Powered by a proprietary engine that standardizes and reconstructs ownership chains from thousands of registry records, Zavia.ai enables risk, compliance, and investigative teams to map corporate structures with a level of depth that goes far beyond standard KYB checks.

Core Strengths

1. Advanced Global UBO and Ownership Mapping

Zavia.ai excels at reconstructing multi-layer ownership, including:

  • Shareholders and controlling interests

  • Intermediate parent companies

  • Cross-border corporate linkages

  • Multi-jurisdiction structure charts

  • Ownership percentages where available

This is a major differentiator from Middesk, which provides only U.S. officer data and does not support multi-country ownership mapping.

2. First-Party Registry-Sourced Ownership Data

The platform collects and processes ownership information directly from:

  • Local business registries

  • Official corporate filings

  • Government publications

  • Regulatory disclosures

This provides audit-ready ownership insights suitable for AML, KYB, and compliance processes.

3. AML & Risk Use Cases

Zavia.ai is built for scenarios where ownership and control are key risk factors:

  • High-risk customer onboarding

  • Enhanced due diligence (EDD)

  • Sanctions exposure analysis

  • Identification of politically exposed persons (PEPs) linked through ownership

  • Assessing indirect beneficial control

This allows compliance teams to identify hidden risks Middesk cannot uncover.

4. Automated Global Corporate Structure Diagrams

Zavia.ai automatically generates:

  • Complete parent–subsidiary diagrams

  • Ownership percentage maps

  • Multi-layer legal entity structures

  • Step-by-step transparency trails

This visualization capability is essential for regulated industries needing a clear audit trail.

5. API Access for Automated KYB/UBO Checks

The Zavia.ai API enables:

  • Instant UBO retrieval

  • Ownership structure extraction

  • Real-time risk checks

  • Bulk investigations

  • Integration with onboarding workflows

This makes it suitable for fintechs, RegTechs, and enterprise compliance systems.

Who Zavia.ai Is Best For

Zavia.ai is ideal for organizations that require:

  • Deep global ownership intelligence, not just surface-level KYB

  • Enhanced due diligence on high-risk entities

  • Cross-border UBO mapping for compliance and investigations

  • Parent and subsidiary identification at multiple levels

  • Regulatory-grade audit trails for AML frameworks

It is widely applicable in banking, payments, corporate intelligence, insurance, procurement, and investigative research.

How Zavia.ai Compares to Middesk

Feature

Zavia.ai

Middesk

Geographic coverage

Global

U.S.-only

Ownership depth

✔ full multi-layer UBO

✖ limited

Parent–subsidiary mapping

✔ automatic

AML support

✔ strong

Limited

Registry sourcing

✔ multi-country

U.S. only

Workflow automation

✔ via API

Limited

Best for

Deep UBO & risk analysis

Basic U.S. business identity checks

Summary

Zavia.ai is a strong alternative to Middesk for organizations needing global ownership transparency, multi-layer UBO mapping, and complex corporate structure analysis for compliance or investigative purposes. While Middesk excels in verifying U.S. legal entities, Zavia.ai delivers the depth of ownership intelligence required for modern AML, EDD, and risk workflows across multiple jurisdictions.

7. ComplyAdvantage vs Middesk

7.pngComplyAdvantage is a global AML and risk intelligence platform that provides sanctions screening, PEP monitoring, adverse media insights, and KYB/KYC verification. While Middesk focuses primarily on validating U.S. business registrations, ComplyAdvantage is designed for organizations that need to identify, assess, and monitor financial crime risk across multiple jurisdictions. Its data, analytics, and automation capabilities make it a strong fit for regulated industries.

Core Strengths

1. Extensive AML and Risk Intelligence

ComplyAdvantage maintains a large, continuously updated risk database including:

  • Global sanctions lists

  • Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs)

  • Adverse media monitoring

  • Law enforcement and regulatory actions

  • High-risk jurisdictions and state-owned entities

This enables a level of risk assessment that goes far beyond Middesk’s scope.

2. KYB with Integrated Risk Screening

The platform verifies businesses while simultaneously evaluating risk indicators, including:

  • Registration and incorporation details

  • Business status

  • Key officers and related individuals

  • Ownership links (where available)

  • Screening against AML datasets

This combined verification-and-risk approach is valuable for companies with compliance obligations.

3. Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts

ComplyAdvantage offers continuous monitoring across:

  • Sanctions updates

  • PEP status changes

  • New regulatory actions

  • Adverse media events

  • Emerging high-risk behaviors

This is essential for financial institutions required to maintain ongoing AML vigilance.

4. Compliance Workflow Automation

The platform provides tools to streamline compliance operations:

  • Case management

  • Automated decisioning rules

  • False-positive reduction

  • Investigation workflows

  • Unified dashboards for risk teams

These features make it easier for organizations to manage large-scale AML and KYB processes.

5. Broad Integrations and API Flexibility

ComplyAdvantage integrates with:

  • Banking and payment platforms

  • Lending and credit systems

  • Fraud and risk solutions

This allows companies to embed AML and KYB screening directly into onboarding or transaction flows.

Who ComplyAdvantage Is Best For

ComplyAdvantage is ideal for organizations that require:

  • Combined KYB + AML screening

  • Global risk insights

  • Continuous monitoring

  • Automated compliance workflows

  • Support for high-risk or regulated sectors

It is widely used in banking, fintech, payments, digital assets, and insurance.

How ComplyAdvantage Compares to Middesk

Feature

ComplyAdvantage

Middesk

Geographic coverage

Global

U.S.-only

KYB

✔ with risk scoring

✔ U.S. only

AML screening

✔ comprehensive

Limited

Sanctions & PEP monitoring

Adverse media

Continuous monitoring

Limited

Workflow automation

Minimal

Best for

AML-driven compliance

Basic U.S. business identity checks

Summary

ComplyAdvantage is a strong alternative to Middesk for companies that need global business verification combined with financial crime risk intelligence. Its breadth of AML data, monitoring capabilities, and workflow automation make it particularly well-suited for regulated industries that must assess and manage risk at every stage of the customer or merchant lifecycle.

8. Persona vs Middesk

pers.pngPersona is a flexible identity verification and compliance platform that supports both KYC and KYB through highly configurable workflows. While Middesk focuses on validating U.S.-registered businesses using government data, Persona positions itself as an orchestration layer that combines business verification, individual verification, document checks, and risk screening into a single environment.

Its modular design, strong developer experience, and customizable flows make Persona a strong alternative for companies that require tailored onboarding journeys rather than a fixed KYB process.

Core Strengths

1. Highly Customizable KYB Workflows

Persona enables companies to build KYB processes that match their exact requirements, including:

  • Business verification

  • Document collection and validation

  • Beneficial owner identification

  • Officer and shareholder checks

  • Risk scoring and custom review rules

This configurability goes far beyond Middesk’s standardized U.S.-only KYB response.

2. Unified KYC + KYB Platform

Persona supports both individual and business verification, allowing companies to:

  • Verify UBOs and directors

  • Combine KYC and KYB in one flow

  • Screen both entities and individuals

  • Collect identity, business, and compliance documents

This eliminates the need to integrate separate solutions for KYC and KYB.

3. Document and Data Verification Capabilities

The platform includes:

  • Document upload and extraction

  • Automated decisioning

  • Manual review tools

  • Biometric and liveness verification (for KYC)

These capabilities allow teams to onboard businesses that require document-based validation—not just registry-based checks.

4. Strong Developer Experience

Persona is known for:

  • Clean APIs

  • Detailed documentation

  • Flexible SDKs

  • Modular components

  • Customizable UI flows

Engineering teams often choose Persona when they need to embed identity workflows directly into their onboarding experience.

5. Risk Signals and Ongoing Monitoring

Persona provides ongoing monitoring for:

  • Sanctions hits

  • Adverse media changes

  • Known fraud indicators

  • Changes in UBO or business structure (where supported)

This gives compliance teams visibility into evolving risk factors.

Who Persona Is Best For

Persona is ideal for companies that need:

  • Customizable onboarding flows for both businesses and individuals

  • Integrated KYC + KYB in a single system

  • Document-based verification in addition to registry checks

  • Flexible workflows tailored to risk levels or industry needs

  • Infrastructure suited for fintechs, marketplaces, SaaS platforms, and Web3

It is often chosen by companies that want full control over the user experience and decisioning logic.

How Persona Compares to Middesk

Feature

Persona

Middesk

Geographic coverage

Global (via data partners + documents)

U.S.-only

KYB

✔ configurable

✔ U.S. only

KYC

Document verification

✔ strong

Workflow automation

✔ advanced

Limited

UBO verification

✔ configurable

Limited

Monitoring

Limited

Best for

Custom onboarding & combined KYC/KYB

U.S. business identity checks

Summary

Persona is a strong alternative to Middesk for organizations that require highly customizable KYB workflows, global verification capabilities, and combined KYC/KYB orchestration. Its flexibility and breadth of verification methods make it ideal for platforms that need to tailor onboarding journeys to different customer types, risk profiles, or regulatory environments.

9. Ondato vs Middesk

9.pngOndato is a verification and compliance platform offering a wide suite of KYC, KYB, document verification, and AML screening solutions. While Middesk focuses specifically on U.S. business identity data, Ondato delivers European-centric and global verification capabilities, making it a strong choice for businesses that onboard entities across multiple jurisdictions.

Ondato combines business verification, identity checks, document processing, and workflow automation into a single platform—making it suitable for fintechs, banks, and digital platforms that require structured and compliant onboarding processes.

Core Strengths

1. Strong KYB Coverage Across Europe and Key Markets Globally

Ondato provides business verification using:

  • National business registries

  • Corporate filings

  • Official public records

  • Document-based business checks

This makes it a powerful alternative for companies operating in or expanding to Europe, where regulatory requirements are stricter and more fragmented than in the U.S.

2. Combined KYC + KYB Platform

Ondato supports both individual and business verification, allowing organizations to:

  • Verify businesses and their representatives

  • Perform UBO and shareholder checks (where data is accessible)

  • Combine director and owner verification into a single flow

  • Meet EU and international AML requirements

This unified approach helps reduce vendor complexity.

3. Document and Identity Verification Tools

Ondato includes a full suite of identity and document verification capabilities:

  • Liveness detection

  • Biometric comparison

  • Automated extraction from corporate documents

  • ID document verification

  • Proof-of-address validation

These tools are valuable for onboarding entities that require manual documents (e.g., high-risk or newly formed companies).

4. AML Screening and Monitoring

Ondato provides:

  • Sanctions and PEP screening

  • Adverse media checks

  • Continuous monitoring for compliance changes

  • Risk scoring and automated alerts

This level of integrated risk analysis surpasses Middesk’s capabilities.

5. Off-the-Shelf and Customizable Workflows

The platform allows companies to tailor onboarding flows with:

  • Risk-based rules

  • Automated decisioning

  • Case management

  • Audit trails

  • Enhanced due diligence steps

This is important for regulated businesses that need configurable compliance logic.

Who Ondato Is Best For

Ondato is well suited for:

  • Fintechs and banks in Europe

  • Platforms onboarding international businesses

  • Companies requiring both KYC and KYB in one system

  • Organizations needing strong document verification

  • Regulated industries with strict AML obligations

Its breadth makes it a practical all-in-one solution for multi-market compliance.

How Ondato Compares to Middesk

Feature

Ondato

Middesk

Geographic coverage

Global, strong in EU

U.S.-only

KYB

✔ multi-country

✔ U.S. only

KYC

Document verification

✔ robust

AML screening

Limited

Workflow automation

Minimal

UBO checks

✔ where legally available

Limited

Best for

EU/global onboarding & AML

U.S. business identity checks

Summary

Ondato is a strong Middesk alternative for organizations that require European KYB coverage, document verification, and unified KYC/KYB/AML workflows. Its multi-country capabilities, combined with identity verification and compliance automation, make it especially valuable for businesses operating across borders or in tightly regulated industries.

10. iDenfy vs Middesk

10.pngiDenfy is an identity verification and fraud prevention platform offering both KYC and KYB solutions with a strong focus on automation, affordability, and risk management. While Middesk specializes in U.S. business identity verification based on government records, iDenfy provides global verification coverage, combining business registry data, document-based checks, sanctions screening, and ongoing monitoring.

Its competitive pricing and broad verification capabilities make iDenfy a popular choice for digital platforms, fintechs, and marketplaces requiring scalable KYB without heavy operational overhead.

Core Strengths

1. Global KYB Coverage

iDenfy supports KYB checks in multiple jurisdictions by combining:

  • Local business registry data

  • Corporate filings and public records

  • Document-based business validation

  • Ownership and management information (where available)

This gives it significantly broader international reach than Middesk’s U.S.-only approach.

2. Unified KYC + KYB + AML Screening

iDenfy offers fully integrated compliance capabilities, including:

  • Individual identity verification

  • Business identity checks

  • Sanctions and PEP screening

  • Adverse media monitoring

  • Ongoing watchlist updates

This unified approach reduces the need for multiple vendors.

3. Strong Document Verification Capabilities

The platform includes advanced document verification features such as:

  • OCR extraction

  • AI-based document analysis

  • Fraud detection signals

  • Manual review tools for compliance teams

  • Liveness and biometric verification for KYC

These capabilities support businesses that rely heavily on documentation rather than registry-only verification.

4. Automated Compliance Workflows

iDenfy enables companies to:

  • Build automated onboarding flows

  • Apply risk rules to approvals

  • Generate review tasks for compliance teams

  • Maintain audit-ready logs

  • Reduce manual KYB workloads

This helps organizations scale verification without expanding operations teams.

5. Cost-Effective Pricing Structure

iDenfy is known for offering:

  • Flexible consumption-based pricing

  • Competitive rates compared to larger identity vendors

  • No expensive commitment tiers

This makes it attractive for startups and digital platforms performing high volumes of checks.

Who iDenfy Is Best For

iDenfy is well suited for companies that need:

  • Global KYB and KYC in one platform

  • Cost-effective onboarding at scale

  • Automated document-based verification

  • Built-in AML screening and monitoring

  • Flexible integration for fintechs, SaaS, eCommerce, and marketplaces

Its balance of functionality and affordability makes it a practical choice for growth-oriented businesses.

How iDenfy Compares to Middesk

Feature

iDenfy

Middesk

Geographic coverage

Global

U.S.-only

KYB

✔ multi-country

✔ U.S. only

KYC

Document verification

✔ strong

AML capabilities

Limited

Workflow automation

Minimal

Pricing

Competitive, usage-based

Moderate

Best for

Global, cost-efficient verification

U.S. business identity checks

Summary

iDenfy is a strong alternative to Middesk for organizations seeking affordable global KYB, combined with KYC, AML screening, and automated workflow capabilities. Its breadth of verification methods, global coverage, and flexible pricing make it especially suitable for digital platforms onboarding both individuals and businesses across multiple regions.

Comparison Table Of Middesk VS Other Vendors

Provider

Geographic Coverage

KYB Depth

UBO / Ownership

Financial Data

KYC Support

AML / Screening

Workflow Automation

Ideal For

Middesk

U.S.-only

Basic U.S. KYB

Limited

Limited

Minimal

U.S. entity checks

Global Database

195 countries

Deep registry KYB

✔ Multi-layer (where available)

✔ Full financials (20+ years)

✔ AML (sanctions, PEP, watchlists)

✔ via API

Global onboarding, enrichment, AML & compliance

Alloy

Global (via partners)

Depends on partners

Depends on partners

✔ Advanced

Workflow orchestration & decisioning

Zephira.ai

150+ countries

Registry-sourced KYB

✔ (where available)

✔ Structured financial data

Limited

✔ API-first

Developer-first global KYB

Sumsub

220+ countries

Global KYB + documents

✔ Configurable

Unified KYC/KYB + AML

Trulioo

195+ countries

Global KYB

✔ Top-level

✔ Strong

✔ Enterprise

Large-scale global onboarding

Zavia.ai

Global

Deep UBO mapping

✔ Multi-layer

✔ Financial indicators

✔ Risk-focused

✔ API

Ownership mapping & AML

ComplyAdvantage

Global

KYB + risk scoring

Partial

✔ Comprehensive

✔ Strong

AML-driven KYB & monitoring

Persona

Global (data + docs)

Configurable KYB

✔ Configurable

✔ Highly customizable

Tailored KYC/KYB onboarding

Ondato

Global (strong EU)

KYB + documents

✔ (where available)

EU/global onboarding & AML

iDenfy

Global

KYB + documents

✔ (limited)

✔ Automated

Cost-efficient KYC/KYB

Best Choice by Use Case

Different organizations look for different capabilities when evaluating alternatives to Middesk. Below is a neutral, criteria-driven assessment of which vendors align best with specific operational, regulatory, and technical requirements.

5.1 When Global Registry-Sourced KYB Is Required

Most Suitable: Global Database, Zephira.ai

Companies needing direct registry-sourced KYB across many jurisdictions—rather than document uploads or partner-aggregated data—tend to prefer:

  • Global Database: 195-country coverage, structured registry data, multi-layer ownership (where available), full financial statements, and integrated AML.

  • Zephira.ai: API-first KYB with normalized registry data and consistent schema across 150+ countries.

Suitable for: Global onboarding, due diligence automation, enterprise enrichment, API-driven workflows.

5.2 When Ownership Transparency and Multi-Layer UBO Mapping Is the Priority

Most Suitable: Zavia.ai

Organizations analyzing complex corporate structures—especially across multiple jurisdictions—benefit most from:

  • Zavia.ai: Deep ownership reconstruction, multi-jurisdiction shareholder mapping, indirect control detection, and registry-sourced transparency trails.

Suitable for: AML teams, financial institutions, investigative units, enhanced due diligence.

5.3 When Integrated KYC + KYB + AML Is Needed in a Single Platform

Most Suitable: Sumsub, Trulioo, Ondato

Platforms that require both individual and business verification, plus sanctions screening and monitoring, typically adopt:

  • Sumsub: Strong workflow flexibility and global KYC/KYB coverage.

  • Trulioo: Enterprise-grade infrastructure and global verification pipelines.

  • Ondato: Particularly strong in Europe, with document and identity verification included.

Suitable for: Fintech onboarding, marketplaces, payment providers, mobility platforms.

5.4 When AML Risk Scoring and Financial Crime Detection Are Central

Most Suitable: ComplyAdvantage

For organizations where the primary requirement is sanctions, PEPs, adverse media, and risk classification, rather than just KYB:

  • ComplyAdvantage: Comprehensive AML coverage, real-time updates, global risk datasets, and integrated KYB scoring.

Suitable for: Banks, crypto firms, lenders, and regulated industries with high AML exposure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Middesk

  1. What is KYB and why is it important?
    KYB (Know Your Business) is the process of verifying a company’s legal identity, ownership structure, registration status, and potential risk exposure. It is required for financial institutions, payment companies, marketplaces, and organizations that must prevent fraud, money laundering, or onboarding high-risk entities.

  2. How is KYB different from KYC?
    KYC verifies individuals (identity, documents, biometrics), whereas KYB verifies legal entities (company registration, directors, shareholders, UBOs). Many platforms combine both processes when onboarding businesses and their beneficial owners.

  3. Why do companies look for alternatives to Middesk?
    Middesk provides strong U.S. business identity verification, but organizations often need:

  • Multi-country KYB coverage

  • UBO or ownership intelligence

  • Financial statements

  • AML, sanctions, and PEP screening

  • Combined KYC + KYB workflows

  • Customizable onboarding journeys

Alternative vendors provide broader functionality depending on the use case.

  1. Which Middesk alternatives offer global KYB coverage?
    Several vendors offer multi-country KYB, including Global Database, Zephira.ai, Trulioo, Sumsub, Ondato, iDenfy, and ComplyAdvantage. Coverage varies by jurisdiction and verification method (registry data vs. documents).

  2. Which vendors provide real financial data for KYB?
    Only three vendors in this article provide actual financial statements or structured financial metrics:

  • Global Database

  • Zephira.ai

  • Zavia.ai

Other platforms may offer financial risk indicators but not detailed financial reports.

  1. Does every KYB provider offer UBO information?
    No. Only some solutions support UBO or ownership insight.
    Deepest ownership mapping is provided by:

  • Zavia.ai (multi-layer global UBO)

  • Global Database (where legally available)

  • Zephira.ai (registry ownership data)

Others offer limited or document-based ownership checks.

  1. Which platforms combine KYB, KYC, and AML in one workflow?
    If an organization needs a single platform for individual, business, and sanctions verification, the most complete solutions are:

  • Sumsub

  • Trulioo

  • Ondato

  • iDenfy

  • ComplyAdvantage (strong AML + KYB)

  1. Do all KYB providers offer real-time registry data?
    No. Some vendors rely on documents, data aggregators, or manual review processes.
    Platforms offering direct registry-sourced data include:

  • Global Database

  • Zephira.ai

  • Zavia.ai

These provide higher accuracy and audit-ready information.

  1. Which solution is most suitable for onboarding sellers or suppliers globally?
    Companies onboarding international merchants or vendors typically prefer:

  • Global Database (registry + AML + financial data)

  • Sumsub or Trulioo (KYC + KYB + AML)

  • Zephira.ai (API-first global KYB)

Choice depends on whether the priority is compliance, automation, or developer experience.

  1. How should organizations choose the right KYB provider?

Selection depends on several factors:

  • Geographic coverage needs

  • Depth of KYB data required (registry, documents, ownership)

  • Regulatory obligations (AML, monitoring, sanctions)

  • Integration model (API-only vs. platform)

  • Need for financial data

  • Budget and scalability requirements

Companies should evaluate vendors based on their primary use case—global coverage, UBO mapping, KYC integration, risk scoring, or workflow automation.

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