By Arvin Wilderink ·

SanctScan vs Sanction Scanner: Which Sanctions Screening Tool Is Right for You? (2026)

Sanction Scanner is a cloud-native AML and sanctions screening platform based in Turkey, used by fintechs and SMBs worldwide. It offers sanctions, PEP, and adverse media screening through a per-query pricing model with bundled query packages.

SanctScan is a sanctions-focused screening platform with transparent published pricing, self-serve signup, and no sales calls required.

Both tools help you screen entities against sanctions lists. The question is which one fits your compliance requirements, budget, and workflow. This page compares the two side by side so you can make an informed decision.

Quick Comparison

SanctScanSanction Scanner
Starting priceFree ($0/month)Contact sales
Mid-tier price$29–$149/monthPer-query bundles (contact sales)
Pricing modelPublished monthly plansPer-query packages, sales-quoted
Sanctions screeningYesYes
PEP screeningNoYes
Adverse mediaNoYes
Sanctions lists7 major lists3,000+ lists
Continuous monitoringYesYes
Batch screeningYesYes
API accessYes (all plans)Yes
WebhooksYes (all plans)Yes
Setup timeMinutesDays–weeks
Contract requiredNoVaries
Self-serve signupYesNo (contact sales typical)
Best forSaaS, trade, professional servicesFintechs, regulated SMBs needing PEP/adverse media

The Core Difference

Sanction Scanner is a broader AML compliance suite. It bundles sanctions screening with PEP databases, adverse media monitoring, and transaction screening into a single platform — covering 3,000+ data sources. If your compliance program requires all of these capabilities, Sanction Scanner provides them in one place.

SanctScan is a sanctions-only platform. It screens names against the seven major global sanctions lists — OFAC SDN, US Consolidated Screening List, EU, UN, UK HMT, Australian DFAT, and Swiss SECO — with continuous monitoring, webhook alerts, and a full audit trail. It does this at a transparent, published price point that starts at zero.

If you need PEP screening and adverse media as part of your regulatory obligations, Sanction Scanner covers that. If your obligation is sanctions compliance only — and for most non-financial businesses, it is — SanctScan delivers the same core capability at a fraction of the cost with no sales process.

Pricing Comparison

SanctScan Pricing

PlanPriceScreens/MonthMonitored EntitiesAPI Rate Limit
Free$01001010 req/min
Starter$29/month1,00010030 req/min
Growth$149/monthUnlimited1,00060 req/min
EnterpriseCustomUnlimitedUnlimited300 req/min

All plans include: screening, monitoring, search history, PDF exports, API access, webhooks, and team accounts. No annual contract required. No implementation fees. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Sanction Scanner Pricing

Sanction Scanner uses a per-query pricing model where you purchase query bundles. Specific pricing is not published on their website — you need to contact their sales team for a quote. Pricing varies based on:

  • Query volume — bundles are sold in tiers
  • Feature set — sanctions-only vs. full AML suite (PEP + adverse media)
  • Contract terms — annual commitments may reduce per-query cost

Based on industry reports, per-query pricing models typically cost $0.05–$0.20+ per query depending on volume and features selected. For a company running 1,000 screens per month, that translates to roughly $50–$200/month for sanctions-only — but the actual figure depends on the negotiated bundle.

Cost Scenario

For a mid-market company screening 1,000 entities per month and monitoring 500 existing relationships:

  • SanctScan Starter: $29/month = $348/year
  • SanctScan Growth: $149/month = $1,788/year (unlimited screens, 1,000 monitored)
  • Sanction Scanner: Contact sales for quote — per-query bundles plus monitoring fees

The key difference: with SanctScan, you know the price before you sign up. There is no sales call, no negotiation, and no surprise invoices.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Sanctions List Coverage

ListSanctScanSanction Scanner
OFAC SDNYesYes
US Consolidated Screening ListYesYes
EU ConsolidatedYesYes
UN Security CouncilYesYes
UK HMT (OFSI)YesYes
Australian DFATYesYes
Swiss SECOYesYes
Additional national listsYes (3,000+ sources)
PEP databasesNoYes
Adverse mediaNoYes

SanctScan covers the seven sanctions lists that matter most for international trade, SaaS platforms, and professional services firms. Sanction Scanner's 3,000+ source count includes PEP databases and adverse media feeds — which adds breadth but also adds cost.

If your compliance obligation is OFAC and major multilateral sanctions lists, both platforms have you covered. If you need PEP or adverse media, Sanction Scanner includes it natively.

Continuous Monitoring

Both platforms offer continuous monitoring that re-screens entities when list data changes.

SanctScan triggers re-screening within hours of a list update. Alerts are delivered via email and webhook. Every alert is tracked in the dashboard with resolution status and audit trail.

Sanction Scanner also offers real-time monitoring with alert notifications.

API and Integration

Both platforms provide RESTful APIs for programmatic screening.

SanctScan provides API access on every plan — including the free tier. Rate limits scale with your plan (10 to 300 requests per minute). The average integration time from signup to first production API call is under 2 hours.

Sanction Scanner also offers API access with batch processing capabilities.

Audit Trail and Exports

SanctScan logs every screening with timestamp, query, result, and risk score. Results are exportable as PDF reports — useful for regulatory reviews and internal documentation. Audit logs are available on all plans.

Sanction Scanner provides screening history and reporting as part of its compliance suite.

What Sanction Scanner Has That SanctScan Doesn't

Sanction Scanner includes capabilities beyond sanctions screening:

  • PEP screening — Politically Exposed Person databases covering current and former officials
  • Adverse media monitoring — Automated scanning of news sources for negative coverage
  • 3,000+ data sources — Broader coverage including regional and sector-specific lists
  • Transaction screening — AML transaction monitoring for payment flows
  • Batch processing — Large-volume batch screening with file upload

If your compliance program requires PEP screening or adverse media monitoring — typically mandated for banks, payment processors, and other regulated financial institutions — Sanction Scanner provides these in a single platform.

What SanctScan Has That Sanction Scanner Doesn't

SanctScan's advantages center on simplicity and accessibility:

  • Published pricing — Every plan and its cost is visible on the website before you sign up
  • Free tier — 100 screens/month and 10 monitored entities at no cost, permanently
  • Self-serve signup — Create an account and start screening in minutes, no sales call
  • No contract — Monthly billing, cancel anytime, no annual commitment
  • Sanctions-only focus — You pay only for what you need, not for PEP and adverse media features you may never use
  • Webhooks on all plans — Real-time alert delivery included at every tier
  • Team accounts on all plans — Multi-user access without enterprise pricing

Who Should Use Which?

Choose SanctScan if:

  • You are a B2B SaaS company, marketplace, or platform screening users or vendors
  • You are an exporter, freight forwarder, or trade finance company
  • You are a law firm, accountant, or professional services firm
  • You need sanctions compliance but not PEP or adverse media screening
  • You already have a KYC vendor and need sanctions-only coverage as a separate tool
  • You want to start screening today without a sales process
  • You need transparent, predictable pricing you can budget for in advance
  • You want API access and webhooks without paying for an enterprise tier

Choose Sanction Scanner if:

  • You are a fintech, neobank, or payment company subject to full AML obligations
  • You need PEP screening as part of your customer due diligence program
  • You need adverse media monitoring integrated with sanctions screening
  • You need access to 3,000+ data sources including regional and sector-specific lists
  • You prefer a single vendor for your entire AML compliance suite
  • Your compliance team needs transaction screening alongside entity screening

Migration from Sanction Scanner

If you are currently using Sanction Scanner primarily for sanctions screening — and are not actively using PEP or adverse media features — switching to SanctScan is straightforward:

  1. Export your monitored entity list from Sanction Scanner
  2. Sign up for SanctScan (start with the free tier to validate)
  3. Import entities via SanctScan's API or dashboard
  4. Configure webhook endpoints for monitoring alerts
  5. Update your application's API calls to SanctScan's endpoint
  6. Decommission your Sanction Scanner subscription

Most migrations complete in a day. You keep equivalent sanctions coverage and gain published pricing with no contract.

FAQ

Is SanctScan as accurate as Sanction Scanner for sanctions screening?

For OFAC SDN and major multilateral sanctions lists, accuracy is comparable. Both platforms use fuzzy matching to handle name variants, transliterations, and alternate spellings. The difference is in breadth of data sources — Sanction Scanner includes PEP and adverse media, which are separate data products, not indicators of better sanctions accuracy.

Does SanctScan cover PEP screening?

No. SanctScan is a sanctions-only platform. If PEP screening is required by your regulator — typically under AML/CDD rules for banks, MSBs, and payment processors — you need a platform that includes PEP data. For most non-financial businesses, PEP screening is not a regulatory requirement.

Can I use SanctScan alongside Sanction Scanner?

Yes. Some organizations use SanctScan for high-volume sanctions screening (where transparent per-plan pricing is more cost-effective) and Sanction Scanner for PEP and adverse media checks. The two tools are complementary.

How does SanctScan's free tier work?

The free plan includes 100 screens per month, 10 monitored entities, API access at 10 requests per minute, webhooks, PDF exports, and team accounts. There is no time limit — it is a permanent free tier, not a trial. No credit card required to sign up.

Does Sanction Scanner publish its pricing?

No. Sanction Scanner uses a per-query pricing model with bundled packages that require contacting their sales team for a quote. Pricing varies based on volume, features, and contract terms.

What sanctions lists does SanctScan cover?

SanctScan covers seven major sanctions lists: OFAC SDN, US Consolidated Screening List, EU Consolidated Sanctions, UN Security Council, UK HMT (OFSI), Australian DFAT, and Swiss SECO. These lists cover the primary sanctions regimes relevant to international business.

Is SanctScan compliant with OFAC requirements?

Yes. SanctScan's screening, monitoring, audit logs, and documented processes are designed to satisfy OFAC's Framework for Compliance Commitments. Every screening is logged with timestamp, input, result, and risk score. Continuous monitoring ensures you catch designation changes for existing relationships.


Compare plans and start screening today — or contact us if you are evaluating sanctions screening tools and have questions.

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