SanctScan vs sanctions.io: API-First Sanctions Screening Compared (2026)

Both SanctScan and sanctions.io are built for developers who want to integrate sanctions screening via API. Neither is a bloated AML suite — both focus on screening names against global sanctions lists and returning structured results.

But the two platforms differ meaningfully in pricing model, monitoring capabilities, and how they fit into a compliance workflow beyond the initial API call. This page breaks down the differences so you can choose the right tool for your use case.

Quick Comparison

Pricing Comparison

sanctions.io Pricing

sanctions.io uses a usage-based pricing model where you pay per screening check. Exact pricing is not published on their website — you need to contact sales or sign up to see rates. This per-check model can work well for low-volume or unpredictable workloads, but costs become harder to forecast as volume grows.

There is no publicly listed free tier.

SanctScan Pricing

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

Cost Predictability

With usage-based pricing, your monthly bill scales directly with volume. This is flexible but makes budgeting harder — a spike in screenings means a spike in cost. SanctScan's flat tiers give you a fixed monthly cost regardless of usage within your plan. At Growth ($149/month), screens are unlimited.

For a company running 2,000 screens per month, the annual cost with SanctScan Growth is $1,788. With per-check pricing, the equivalent cost depends entirely on sanctions.io's rate card, which is not public.

The Core Difference

Both platforms solve the same initial problem: take a name, check it against sanctions lists, return results via API.

The difference is what happens after that first check.

sanctions.io is a screening API. You send a request, you get a response. It is fast, developer-friendly, and focused on that single transaction. If you need to re-check entities over time, you build that logic yourself — scheduling, diffing results, alerting on changes.

SanctScan is a screening and monitoring platform. Beyond the initial API call, you can add entities to continuous monitoring. When sanctions lists update, SanctScan automatically re-screens your monitored entities and sends alerts via email and webhooks if anything changes. Resolution tracking, audit logs, and PDF exports are built in.

This matters because sanctions compliance is not a one-time check. Sanctions lists change constantly — OFAC alone updates the SDN list multiple times per month. If you screen a customer on day one and never check again, you are exposed to risk the moment a new designation is published.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Sanctions List Coverage

Both platforms cover the major multilateral and national lists that most businesses need. sanctions.io advertises broader list coverage, which may matter if you operate in jurisdictions requiring screening against less common national lists.

For OFAC SDN, EU, UN, and UK — the lists that cover the vast majority of compliance obligations — both platforms provide equivalent coverage.

Continuous Monitoring and Alerts

This is where the platforms diverge most significantly.

SanctScan re-screens monitored entities automatically when list data updates. If a previously clean entity appears on a sanctions list, or if a match score changes, you receive an alert via email and/or webhook. You can resolve alerts in the dashboard with notes, creating a documented audit trail.

sanctions.io does not offer a continuous monitoring product. To achieve ongoing screening, you would need to build your own scheduling system that periodically re-calls the API, compares results to previous checks, and triggers your own alerting pipeline. This is engineering work that SanctScan handles out of the box.

API and Developer Experience

Both platforms offer clean REST APIs designed for developers. sanctions.io advertises a ~350ms response time, which is competitive.

SanctScan's API is designed for same-day integration. The average time from signup to first production screen is under 2 hours. API documentation is public, and no sales call is required to get started.

Dashboard and Team Features

SanctScan includes a full team dashboard where multiple users can run screenings, review monitoring alerts, manage monitored entities, and export audit reports. Role-based access supports owners, billing admins, and viewers.

sanctions.io is primarily an API product. While it provides a developer dashboard for managing API keys and viewing usage, it is not designed as a team-facing compliance workspace.

Audit and Compliance

SanctScan logs every screening with timestamp, input data, match results, and risk score. Screening results can be exported as PDF reports for regulatory review. Monitoring alerts include a resolution workflow with notes and timestamps.

For teams that need to demonstrate a documented sanctions compliance program — as OFAC's Framework for Compliance Commitments expects — this audit trail is built in rather than assembled from API logs.

What sanctions.io Does Well

sanctions.io has genuine strengths that are worth acknowledging:

• Fast response time — ~350ms advertised response time is competitive for high-throughput integrations
• Developer-first design — Clean API, good documentation, focused on the developer experience
• Usage-based flexibility — Pay per check means you pay nothing in months with low volume
• Broad list coverage — Advertises coverage beyond the major multilateral lists
• Frequent data updates — 60-minute update cycle keeps data current

If your use case is purely transactional — screen at point of onboarding, no ongoing monitoring needed, developer building a custom pipeline — sanctions.io is a solid choice.

Who Should Use Which?

Choose SanctScan if:

• You need continuous monitoring, not just one-time screening
• You want alerts when sanctions lists change and a monitored entity is affected
• You need a team dashboard where compliance staff can review results
• You want PDF exports for audit documentation
• You prefer predictable flat pricing over usage-based billing
• You want to start with a free tier and upgrade as you grow
• You need webhooks for automated compliance workflows
• You are a SaaS company, marketplace, exporter, or professional services firm

Choose sanctions.io if:

• You are building a custom compliance pipeline and only need a screening API
• You have unpredictable, low-volume screening needs where per-check pricing is cheaper
• You need coverage of niche national sanctions lists beyond the major 7
• You have engineering resources to build your own monitoring, alerting, and audit systems
• You prefer usage-based billing and are comfortable with variable monthly costs
• Your compliance workflow is entirely API-driven with no need for a team dashboard

Migrating from sanctions.io

If you are currently using sanctions.io for screening and want to add continuous monitoring without building it yourself, migrating to SanctScan is straightforward:

1. Sign up for a SanctScan account (start with the free tier to test)
2. Update your API calls to use SanctScan's screening endpoint
3. Add entities that need ongoing monitoring via the dashboard or API
4. Configure webhook endpoints for automated alert delivery
5. Set up team access for compliance staff who need dashboard access

Most integrations complete in a day. You gain continuous monitoring, webhook alerts, PDF exports, and a team dashboard — capabilities you would otherwise need to build and maintain yourself.

FAQ

Is SanctScan as fast as sanctions.io for API screening?

Both platforms return results quickly. sanctions.io advertises ~350ms response time. SanctScan is optimized for fast screening as well. For most compliance workflows, the difference in response time is not meaningful — the value is in accuracy and what happens after the initial check.

Does sanctions.io offer continuous monitoring?

No. sanctions.io is a screening API — you send a check, you get a result. If you need ongoing monitoring, you would need to build scheduling, result comparison, and alerting yourself. SanctScan includes continuous monitoring with email and webhook alerts on all plans.

Can I use SanctScan's free tier in production?

Yes. The free tier includes 100 screens per month and 10 monitored entities with full API access, webhooks, and PDF exports. It is designed for small teams or for testing before upgrading. There is no credit card required and no time limit.

Does SanctScan support usage-based pricing?

SanctScan uses flat monthly tiers. The Growth plan at $149/month includes unlimited screens. For most businesses, this is more cost-effective and predictable than per-check pricing, especially as screening volume grows.

Which platform has better sanctions list coverage?

Both cover OFAC SDN, EU, UN, UK HMT, and Australian DFAT. SanctScan covers 7 major lists including the US Consolidated Screening List and Swiss SECO. sanctions.io advertises broader coverage of additional national lists. For the lists that matter to most businesses — OFAC, EU, UN, UK — coverage is equivalent.

Do I need a sales call to get started with SanctScan?

No. SanctScan is fully self-serve. Sign up, get your API key, and run your first screen in minutes. No demo required, no contract negotiation, no implementation timeline. Enterprise plans with custom volume are available by contacting the team.

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Start screening for free today — or compare all plans to find the right tier for your team.