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Cybersecurity · head to head

iDenfy vs Visual Studio

iDenfy logo

iDenfy

Cybersecurity

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

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Visual Studio logo

Visual Studio

Developer Tools

IDE for .NET and C++ development on Windows

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Visual Studio 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.; Visual Studio community edition is free only for individual developers, classroom use, academic research and open-source contribution, not general commercial use
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iDenfy and Visual Studio actually diverge.

Attributes where iDenfy and Visual Studio differ
AttributeiDenfyVisual Studio
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer verificationfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, APIWeb
CategoryCybersecurityDeveloper Tools

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 iDenfy

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

Only in Visual Studio

Nothing recorded that iDenfy does not also cover.

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 Visual Studio
  • A gambling operator in a regulated EU market needing age and identity assurance with EU data processingnot Visual Studio
  • A crypto platform with modest volume that cannot meet the minimum commitments larger vendors requirenot Visual Studio
  • A marketplace wanting NFC passport chip reading for higher assurance without an enterprise contractnot Visual Studio

Visual Studio

  • Managing complex, large-scale projects across multiple platformsnot iDenfy
  • Commercial development in small businessesnot iDenfy
  • DevOps and automated deployment workflowsnot iDenfy
  • Windows/SQL Server developer and tester rolesnot iDenfy
  • Short-term or month-to-month IDE access needsnot 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.

Visual Studio

  • Community edition is free only for individual developers, classroom use, academic research and open-source contribution, not general commercial use
  • Monthly subscriptions are $45 per user per month for Professional and $250 per user per month for Enterprise, and do not include perpetual use rights the way annual Standard subscriptions do
  • A standalone perpetually licensed Visual Studio Professional 2022 costs $499 as a one-time purchase, separate from the subscription tiers

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

Visual Studio

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Visual Studio review.

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 Visual Studio if

  • You want to start without paying.
Visual Studio review

Questions people ask

Is iDenfy or Visual Studio better?
Neither clearly leads. iDenfy starts at On request and Visual Studio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iDenfy or Visual Studio?
Visual Studio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for iDenfy and Free for Visual Studio.
Does iDenfy or Visual Studio run on more platforms?
iDenfy runs on Web, iOS, Android, API. Visual Studio runs on Web.
Can I use Visual Studio for free?
Yes. Visual Studio 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 Visual Studio is typically brought in for.
What can iDenfy do that Visual Studio cannot?
iDenfy covers Document verification, Human review on all cases, AML screening, Business verification.

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.

Visual Studio: What are the pricing differences between subscription types?

Standard subscriptions include access to more benefits, such as Azure dev/test pricing, monthly Azure individual credit, software and download access, services, training, and support. Monthly subscriptions offer flexibility but fewer benefits.

Source
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.

Visual Studio: Are discounts available for startups?

There aren't any discounts available to start-ups, however an unlimited number of users within an organization can use Visual Studio Community for specific scenarios like open source work.

Source
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.

Visual Studio: Who can use Visual Studio Community for free?

In non-enterprise organizations, up to five users can use it. Enterprise organizations (greater than 250 PCs or greater than $1M annual revenue) cannot use it beyond academic/open-source scenarios.

Source
Visual Studio: What's the renewal pricing structure?

Enterprise standard renews at $214.09/month (after initial $499.92); Professional at $66.59/month (after $99.99).

Source
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