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Cybersecurity · head to head

iDenfy vs Ory Kratos

iDenfy logo

iDenfy

Cybersecurity

Identity verification and AML screening bundled into a single per-verification price

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ory Kratos logo

Ory Kratos

Cybersecurity

Headless identity and user management API

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Ory Kratos has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: iDenfy rates are quoted rather than published on an accessible page, so despite the marketing emphasis on transparency you still need a sales conversation to get a number.; Ory Kratos headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
  • They diverge on capability: iDenfy covers Document verification, Ory Kratos covers Headless API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iDenfy and Ory Kratos actually diverge.

Attributes where iDenfy and Ory Kratos differ
AttributeiDenfyOry Kratos
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer verificationOpen-source self-hosted, with a paid managed network
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, APILinux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted

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

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 iDenfy

  • Document verification
  • Human review on all cases
  • AML screening
  • Business verification
  • Proof of address
  • NFC chip reading

Only in Ory Kratos

  • Headless API
  • Self-service flows
  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Pluggable identity schemas

What people use each for

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

iDenfy

  • A European fintech that needs KYC and AML screening and wants one price rather than four line itemsnot Ory Kratos
  • A gambling operator in a regulated EU market needing age and identity assurance with EU data processingnot Ory Kratos
  • A crypto platform with modest volume that cannot meet the minimum commitments larger vendors requirenot Ory Kratos
  • A marketplace wanting NFC passport chip reading for higher assurance without an enterprise contractnot Ory Kratos

Ory Kratos

  • Products needing complete control over the look and flow of authenticationnot iDenfy
  • Applications that must not hand user identity data to a third partynot iDenfy
  • Teams building identity as infrastructure across several servicesnot iDenfy

Where each one falls short

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

iDenfy

  • Rates are quoted rather than published on an accessible page, so despite the marketing emphasis on transparency you still need a sales conversation to get a number.
  • It is a smaller vendor than the market leaders, which makes it a harder sell through enterprise vendor-risk review even when the product performs well.
  • Human review on every case caps throughput in a way fully automated competitors are not constrained by, which shows up as latency during volume spikes.
  • Coverage and accuracy are strongest on European documents; performance on some Asian, African and Latin American document types trails specialists in those regions.
  • The bundled AML screening uses its chosen data sources, so institutions mandated to use a specific list provider such as Dow Jones cannot substitute it and end up paying twice.

Ory Kratos

  • Headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
  • More moving parts than a monolithic IAM: Kratos handles identity, and OAuth2 needs Ory Hydra alongside
  • Documentation assumes real familiarity with identity concepts and is not a gentle introduction
  • Self-hosting identity carries the security and availability burden that hosted providers absorb

Pricing, plan by plan

iDenfy

On request
  • iDenfy Verification$undefined/verification
    • Volume-tiered per-verification rates quoted on request
    • AML screening bundled rather than charged per check
    • No monthly minimum advertised

Ory Kratos

Free
  • Self-hostedFree
    • Full identity server
    • All flows
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose iDenfy if

  • You need document verification.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, API.
  • You also want human review on all cases.
iDenfy review

Choose Ory Kratos if

  • You need headless api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
  • You also want self-service flows.
Ory Kratos review

Questions people ask

Is iDenfy or Ory Kratos better?
Neither clearly leads. iDenfy starts at On request and Ory Kratos at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iDenfy or Ory Kratos?
Ory Kratos has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for iDenfy and Free for Ory Kratos.
Does iDenfy or Ory Kratos run on more platforms?
iDenfy runs on Web, iOS, Android, API. Ory Kratos runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
Can I use Ory Kratos for free?
Yes. Ory Kratos has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. iDenfy starts at On request.
What is iDenfy best used for?
iDenfy is most often used for a european fintech that needs kyc and aml screening and wants one price rather than four line items, a gambling operator in a regulated eu market needing age and identity assurance with eu data processing, a crypto platform with modest volume that cannot meet the minimum commitments larger vendors require, a marketplace wanting nfc passport chip reading for higher assurance without an enterprise contract. Of those, a european fintech that needs kyc and aml screening and wants one price rather than four line items and a gambling operator in a regulated eu market needing age and identity assurance with eu data processing are not what Ory Kratos is typically brought in for.
What can iDenfy do that Ory Kratos cannot?
iDenfy covers Document verification, Human review on all cases, AML screening, Business verification. Ory Kratos covers Headless API, Self-service flows, Multi-factor authentication, Pluggable identity schemas.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

iDenfy: Is AML screening included in the verification price?

That is the pitch, screening bundled rather than sold as a per-check add-on. Confirm which sanctions and PEP data sources are behind it before you rely on it.

Ory Kratos: Is Ory Kratos free?

Yes, open source and free to self-host. Ory Network is a paid managed service.

iDenfy: Is there a monthly minimum?

iDenfy markets itself as having no monthly minimum, in contrast to competitors charging $49 to $299 a month. Get that in writing in the contract.

Ory Kratos: What does headless mean here?

Kratos provides identity flows as APIs and no user interface. You build the login, registration and recovery screens yourself.

iDenfy: Where is data processed?

iDenfy is established in Lithuania and processes in the EU, which simplifies GDPR transfer assessments compared with United States-headquartered vendors.

Ory Kratos: Does Kratos do OAuth2?

No. Kratos handles user identity; OAuth2 and OpenID Connect provider functionality is Ory Hydra, a separate component.

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