AML Buddy vs SmartSearch
SmartCredit Limited, trading as SmartSearch (Companies House 05534508, Ilkley), says it is trusted by over 7,000 regulated businesses. It completed its acquisition of Credas in January 2026. Facts checked on 24 October 2026, with sources.
How SmartSearch and AML Buddy differ
SmartSearch is a large, sales-led platform with quote-based Starter, Growth and Enterprise plans and no published prices. AML Buddy publishes one price, £4.50 + VAT per check, with no contract.
SmartSearch does more: credit-bureau checks, international and business checks, open banking, integrations and a dedicated customer success manager. AML Buddy suits small firms that are happy for clients to verify themselves by secure link.
AML Buddy wrote this page. We’ve tried to be fair and like-for-like; if anything is out of date, email hello@amlbuddy.com.
AML Buddy and SmartSearch side by side
SmartSearch serves: Estate & letting agents, Accountants & bookkeepers, Solicitors & conveyancers, IFAs. Numbers in brackets link to the sources below.
| Feature | AML Buddy | SmartSearch |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing | £4.50 + VAT (£5.40 inc. VAT) per check | No — "fully modular… not a fixed rate card"[1] |
| Plans | Prepaid packs of 10 / 20 / 50 / 100 checks (£54–£540 inc. VAT) | Starter, Growth and Enterprise, priced on request[1] |
| Free checks | 5 free checks, once, on sign-up | None published (demo-led)[1] |
| Subscription / contract | None — no subscription, contract or monthly minimum | Not published[2] |
| Users | Unlimited team members, no per-user fee | Not published[1] |
| Electronic (credit-bureau) check | No — the client self-verifies by link | Yes, triple bureau (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion)[3] |
| ID document + selfie | ID document + selfie via one secure link (no liveness check) | Yes (SmartDoc document and biometric verification)[1] |
| PEP and sanctions screening | Included in every check | Yes (global sanctions, PEPs, RCA and SIP)[1] |
| Adverse media | Included in every check | Ongoing adverse media monitoring listed under Enterprise[1] |
| Ongoing monitoring | Ongoing re-screening | Daily monitoring for the lifetime of your contract[3] |
| Ambiguous matches | AI asks the client clarifying questions | Not described on its site[4] |
| KYB / UBO | Coming soon | Yes, UK and international business checks, directors and UBO[1] |
| Source of funds (open banking) | Not offered | Yes (Growth)[1] |
| Integrations | None yet | REST API, SSO; Advanced, Alto, Wealth Dynamix, Salesforce, Worxinfo, Intelliflo[5] |
Where SmartSearch is stronger
- Electronic AML checks against three credit bureaux that return a result in seconds.
- UK and international business checks, director and UBO checks, and individual checks covering over 200 countries.
- Open banking source of funds, fraud checks, risk assessments and enhanced due diligence.
- A REST API, SSO, integrations including Alto, Salesforce and Intelliflo, and a dedicated customer success manager on every tier.
Where AML Buddy is different
- A public price, £4.50 + VAT per check, so you can work out your cost before you speak to anyone.
- No contract, and unlimited team members at no extra cost.
- 5 free checks on sign-up, without a sales demo.
- AI asks the client clarifying questions when a PEP or address result is ambiguous.
Who should choose which
- Mid-size and large firms with high volumes.
- Firms that need bureau checks, international or business checks, or open banking.
- Firms that want back-office integration and a named account contact.
- Small firms with occasional checks.
- Firms that want a public price, no contract and no user limits.
- Firms happy for clients to verify themselves by secure link.
AML Buddy vs SmartSearch: questions
How much does SmartSearch cost?
SmartSearch doesn’t publish prices. It recommends a plan (Starter, Growth or Enterprise) and a price based on your organisation. AML Buddy costs £4.50 + VAT per check, bought in packs, with no subscription.
Does SmartSearch require a contract?
SmartSearch doesn’t publish its contract terms, so ask about the minimum term, renewal notice and what happens to unused credits. AML Buddy has no contract or platform fee.
Is Credas part of SmartSearch?
Yes. SmartSearch completed its acquisition of Credas Technologies in January 2026 and said it would combine Credas’s technology and brand with its own platform. Credas still sells under its own name — see AML Buddy vs Credas.
Can AML Buddy run a check without the client doing anything?
No. Clients verify themselves through a secure link with an ID document and a selfie. If you need credit-bureau electronic checks, SmartSearch offers them.
Does AML Buddy do business (KYB) checks?
Not yet; they are coming soon. SmartSearch offers UK and international business checks today.
Is AML Buddy cheaper than SmartSearch?
We can’t say, because SmartSearch’s prices aren’t public. Compare your quote against £5.40 inc. VAT per check, and include any platform, user or set-up fees.
Can I switch from SmartSearch to AML Buddy?
Yes, once your contract allows. Keep your existing SmartSearch records for five years after the business relationship ends (MLR 2017 regulation 40). You can check new clients in AML Buddy straight away, with 5 free checks to start.
Sources
All accessed 24 October 2026. SmartSearch is a trademark of its owner; prices and features as published on its website on that date.
Comparing SmartSearch and AML Buddy?
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