The Sumsub Alternative for Regulated Businesses in Europe

Sumsub ends up on a lot of shortlists. The brand is well-known, the feature set is broad, and it covers enough ground that it feels like a safe choice at the start of an evaluation.

The problems tend to show up later. Based on user’s reviews on G2, the verification process is strict and complex, which results in false rejection. Non-technical users find Sumsub more complex and teams then require extra orientation. Users also say that the prices are high, which compromises affordability, especially for small firms that need to level up.

This article is not here to talk down on Sumsub. For some teams, it is the right fit. But for regulated businesses in Europe that need fast integration, clear control over the onboarding flow, and a cost model that supports growth — there is a better alternative.

That alternative is Allpass.ai.

Who Sumsub Is Built For

Sumsub has real strengths in specific areas. For the right use case, it is a great choice.

Crypto and VASP compliance. Sumsub built early momentum in crypto verification and has mature tooling for exchanges and trading platforms. Their Travel Rule compliance is well-developed. If the business operates entirely within the crypto or trading ecosystem, that vertical depth is relevant.

High-volume automated pipelines. Sumsub's automated verification handles large throughput efficiently. For businesses where speed matters more than edge-case accuracy, and where the false positive trade-off is acceptable, that is a practical advantage.

Enterprise procurement. In larger organizations, having a well-known vendor name on the compliance stack can simplify internal approval processes. That is a legitimate consideration, separate from product quality.

So, the product has real strengths but it also has its weaknesses.

Why Regulated Businesses Look for an Alternative to Sumsub

The reasons regulated businesses start looking for a Sumsub alternative have usually fall into one of the following categories. Again, these are all taken from real user reviews.

Pricing that Changes Without Warning

Some reviewers report their monthly fees doubling without prior notice. On top of that, Sumsub’s pricing model also has paywalls, so you don’t actually pay per verification. Certain essential features, like AML screening and ongoing monitoring, are available in higher plans. So, there’s a change that you’ll need to upgrade for one or two features, and pay for others you don’t need.

Complexity that Slows Down Non-technical Teams

Platform complexity and lack of transparency in compliance logic come up repeatedly as day-to-day friction points. A steep learning curve at the start is a consistent pattern across reviews. For an AML officer or an analyst without a technical background, that often means depending on engineering for changes that should be routine.

Verification Logic that is Hard to Interrogate

The platform is described as too polished in a way that makes it difficult to dig into the underlying data which is not well suited for deep-dive Enhanced Due Diligence. When a verification fails or a suspicious user gets through, it is not always clear why. 

Several reviewers note that it is genuinely confusing to understand which KYC and AML rules are being applied and how. For a regulated business that needs to explain a specific decision to an auditor, that is a practical problem.

False Positives and Inconsistent Outcomes

Reviews flag a strict verification process that results in legitimate users being rejected, while some applicants who should not have passed get through. Both scenarios have a cost, either as lost conversions or as compliance exposure.

Support that Does not Move at Your Speed

Users describe support as slow and indifferent, with a standard response of redirecting to another party that also cannot help. That is manageable when everything is working. When something breaks in a live onboarding flow, it is not.

What is Allpass.ai and Who Stands Behind the Company?

Allpass.ai is a Ukrainian-founded KYC and AML platform. It was started in 2021 by Denys Galenko and Viktor Plotnikov with one goal in mind: give early-stage companies a KYC tool that actually fits how small teams work.

The product has since grown to serve larger clients too, but the core design principle has not changed — it should be easy to use without a technical team behind you.

Allpass.ai was built alongside AML practitioners, which shaped the interface and the workflow from day one. The result is a single platform that covers everything a compliance team needs:

• Identity verification (KYC);
• Business verification (KYB) with fully customizable questionnaires;
• AML and sanctions screening;
• Crypto transaction monitoring;
• Proof of Address;
• Case management and no-code flow builder.

Real Scenarios Where Allpass.ai Wins

You need to start verifying users before you're ready to integrate

Most KYC vendors assume you have an engineering team standing by. We know that’s not always the case. A team that is just getting started can build a verification flow, send users a link, and process applications manually — no integration required. When volume grows and automation makes sense, the API is there. But day one does not have to wait for a development sprint.

You are an AML officer working across multiple companies

Fractional compliance officers and external consultants often have real influence over which tools their clients use. If you are managing KYC and AML for several businesses at once, Allpass.ai gives you one place to run all of those engagements without juggling separate platforms for each client. One login, full toolkit, every project.

Your business operates across multiple markets

Allpass.ai covers 250 countries and territories, which means full document support across Europe and beyond. More importantly, the verification flow is fully configurable — requirements, document types, and risk rules can be adjusted for each market without rebuilding from scratch. Different regulatory contexts, one platform.

You want pricing that reflects what you actually use

Sumsub's pricing tiers determine which features you can access — some tools are only available on higher plans. Allpass.ai pricing works differently: every plan includes the full feature set, with tiers based purely on verification volume. A team at the lowest plan gets the same tools as an enterprise client. You are not paying for a feature unlock — you are paying for successful checks processed.

How to Export Data from Sumsub

When switching from Sumsub you not only need to consider the technical and operational sides of migration but also the legal obligations.

Under AMLD5, regulated businesses must retain customer due diligence records for five years after the end of a business relationship. Some jurisdictions extend that to ten years. That means you cannot simply turn off one system and start fresh. Your existing verification records need to move with you.

Sumsub allows full data export via API which includes applicant profiles, document images, verification results, review statuses. For those who have large volumes of data, our team can help with the technical side of data migration.

Here is what the process looks like in practice.

Step 1: Audit before you move

Before moving anything, get a full picture of your current setup.

On the data side: how many verified applicants are in Sumsub, what document types were used, whether there are open or pending cases.

On the integration side: every place Sumsub touches your product — session creation calls, SDK instances in mobile and web, webhook handlers, compliance team workflows, and any reports that pull from Sumsub. You need a complete inventory to properly plan the migration.

Step 2: Set up Allpass.ai in parallel

Do not switch off Sumsub before Allpass.ai is live. Create your verification flows in Allpass.ai, configure your rules, and run both systems simultaneously. New verifications start going through Allpass.ai immediately and existing records stay in Sumsub until the migration is complete.

Step 3: Integrate Allpass.ai

Allpass.ai has detailed documentation integration. The documentation is written to be used by your development team without hand-holding. For most teams, integration takes up to two weeks, though it can move faster depending on your stack.

Step 4: Migrate historical data from Sumsub

With both systems running, export your Sumsub applicant data using the API and import it into Allpass.ai using the migration script. Verified statuses, document records, and review results transfer across. Users who are already verified do not need to go through the process again.

Step 5: Cut over and wind down

Once the historical data is in place and new verifications are flowing through Allpass.ai, you can disable the Sumsub SDK and webhooks. Keep your Sumsub account accessible for the legally required retention period if you need it as an archive.

The Bottom Line

Sumsub is a solid platform for the right buyer. But if you are a regulated business in Europe that is still growing, does not want to pay for features it will never use, and needs a compliance tool that works for the people actually running it day to day then you should try Allpass.ai.

Book a demo with our AML specialist or create an account and try Allpass.ai for free right away.