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Government · head to head

DataSF vs Yoti

DataSF logo

DataSF

Government

San Francisco Open Data Portal

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Yoti logo

Yoti

Cybersecurity

Reusable digital identity, facial age estimation and identity verification

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only DataSF has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: DataSF covers Open Datasets, Yoti covers Facial age estimation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DataSF and Yoti actually diverge.

Attributes where DataSF and Yoti differ
AttributeDataSFYoti
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android, API
CategoryGovernmentCybersecurity
Founded2009Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in DataSF

  • Open Datasets
  • Data API
  • Visualizations
  • Data Catalog
  • Automated Updates
  • Socrata
  • ArcGIS
  • Analysis Tools

Only in Yoti

  • Facial age estimation
  • Reusable digital ID
  • Identity verification
  • UK right to work and rent
  • Digital ID for retail
  • Selective disclosure

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

DataSF

  • Citizen Servicesnot Yoti
  • Records Managementnot Yoti
  • Public Safetynot Yoti
  • Civic Engagementnot Yoti

Yoti

  • A social platform meeting UK Online Safety Act age assurance duties without collecting identity documents from teenagersnot DataSF
  • A supermarket removing staff interventions at self-checkout for age-restricted purchasesnot DataSF
  • A UK employer running digital right-to-work checks under the certified trust framework rather than inspecting passportsnot DataSF
  • A gambling operator needing an age gate with high completion rates before the account funding stepnot DataSF

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

DataSF

Nothing recorded yet. See the DataSF review.

Yoti

  • Age estimation returns a probabilistic range rather than a verified date of birth, so it only works with a safety buffer above the legal threshold and cannot prove an exact age.
  • Estimation accuracy varies by demographic and reported error margins widen at the age bands that matter most for eighteen-year thresholds, which pushes borderline users into a document fallback you still have to pay for.
  • Pricing is not published, so buyers cannot compare the cost of an estimation check against a document check without going through sales.
  • Regulatory acceptance of facial estimation differs by jurisdiction, so a method that satisfies Ofcom may not satisfy a regulator elsewhere and multi-market platforms need more than one approach.
  • The reusable digital identity app depends on consumer adoption, which is meaningful in the UK and thin elsewhere, limiting the reusability benefit outside its home market.

Pricing, plan by plan

DataSF

Free
  • Public AccessFree
    • Dataset Access
    • API Access
    • Visualizations

Yoti

On request
  • Yoti Age and Identity Services$undefined/year
    • Per-check pricing quoted by volume and method
    • Age estimation, document verification and digital ID priced differently
    • Right to work and right to rent checks quoted separately

Which should you pick?

Choose DataSF if

  • You need open datasets.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want data api.
DataSF review

Choose Yoti if

  • You need facial age estimation.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, API.
  • You also want reusable digital id.
Yoti review

Questions people ask

Is DataSF or Yoti better?
Neither clearly leads. DataSF starts at Free and Yoti at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DataSF or Yoti?
DataSF has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for DataSF and On request for Yoti.
Does DataSF or Yoti run on more platforms?
DataSF runs on Web. Yoti runs on Web, iOS, Android, API.
Can I use DataSF for free?
Yes. DataSF has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Yoti starts at On request.
What is DataSF best used for?
DataSF is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement. Of those, citizen services and records management are not what Yoti is typically brought in for.
What can DataSF do that Yoti cannot?
DataSF covers Open Datasets, Data API, Visualizations, Data Catalog. Yoti covers Facial age estimation, Reusable digital ID, Identity verification, UK right to work and rent.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Yoti: Does age estimation store my face?

The image is used to produce an estimate and then deleted rather than retained, which is the specific property that makes it usable for age assurance on minors.

Yoti: Is it accepted for UK Online Safety Act compliance?

Facial age estimation is one of the methods regulators have accepted as highly effective age assurance. Confirm the current position with your own counsel for your content category.

Yoti: Can it prove someone is exactly 21?

No. It gives a range. If you need a precise age you need a document or database check, which Yoti also sells.

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