Cybersecurity · head to head
IDnow vs Prettier
IDnow
Cybersecurity
Identity verification and qualified electronic signature for regulated European markets
- From
- On request
- Free plan
- No
The short version
- Only Prettier has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: IDnow agent-led video identification costs several times an automated check and depends on agent availability, so peak-time queues push abandonment up at exactly the moment conversion matters.; Prettier inflexible style rules that cannot be customized significantly, forcing teams to accept opinionated defaults
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which IDnow and Prettier actually diverge.
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 IDnow
- VideoIdent
- AutoIdent
- eSign
- eID and NFC
- Bank identification
- EU data processing
Only in Prettier
Nothing recorded that IDnow does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
IDnow
- A German bank opening regulated accounts where BaFin requires a recognised identification methodnot Prettier
- An insurer needing a qualified electronic signature that will survive challenge in a European courtnot Prettier
- A telecom operator meeting national SIM registration identity rules across several EU statesnot Prettier
- A lender wanting automated checks for low-risk applicants and video identification only for high-value casesnot Prettier
Prettier
- Automatically formatting TypeScript files to project style standardsnot IDnow
- Enforcing consistent HTML indentation across component filesnot IDnow
- Removing style-related comments from pull request reviewsnot IDnow
- Formatting GraphQL queries with consistent indentationnot IDnow
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
IDnow
- Agent-led video identification costs several times an automated check and depends on agent availability, so peak-time queues push abandonment up at exactly the moment conversion matters.
- Pricing is quoted with an annual volume commitment, so the accreditation advantage comes with a floor you pay whether or not you use it.
- The product is optimised for European regulatory regimes, so buyers verifying users in North America, Asia or Africa will find coverage and cost less competitive than global specialists.
- Qualified electronic signature is a separate licence from identity verification, which surprises buyers who assumed the accredited identity check made the signature capability included.
- Integration for the regulated flows is heavier than a simple SDK drop-in because the compliant journey, including consent and recording requirements, constrains the user experience you can build.
Prettier
- Inflexible style rules that cannot be customized significantly, forcing teams to accept opinionated defaults
- Developers must format entire files rather than selective line ranges in some contexts
- Limited language support compared to some alternatives, though it covers major languages
Pricing, plan by plan
IDnow
On request- IDnow Platform$undefined/year
- Per-identification pricing that differs sharply between automated and agent-led methods
- Annual volume commitment typically required
- Qualified electronic signature licensed separately
Prettier
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Prettier review.
Which should you pick?
Choose IDnow if
- You need videoident.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, API.
- You also want autoident.
Choose Prettier if
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on CLI, Editor Plugins, Build Tools.
Questions people ask
- Is IDnow or Prettier better?
- Neither clearly leads. IDnow starts at On request and Prettier at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, IDnow or Prettier?
- Prettier has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for IDnow and Free for Prettier.
- Does IDnow or Prettier run on more platforms?
- IDnow runs on Web, iOS, Android, API. Prettier runs on CLI, Editor Plugins, Build Tools.
- Can I use Prettier for free?
- Yes. Prettier has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. IDnow starts at On request.
- What is IDnow best used for?
- IDnow is most often used for a german bank opening regulated accounts where bafin requires a recognised identification method, an insurer needing a qualified electronic signature that will survive challenge in a european court, a telecom operator meeting national sim registration identity rules across several eu states, a lender wanting automated checks for low-risk applicants and video identification only for high-value cases. Of those, a german bank opening regulated accounts where bafin requires a recognised identification method and an insurer needing a qualified electronic signature that will survive challenge in a european court are not what Prettier is typically brought in for.
- What can IDnow do that Prettier cannot?
- IDnow covers VideoIdent, AutoIdent, eSign, eID and NFC.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
IDnow: Why choose it over a cheaper automated vendor?
Because in some European regimes the cheaper vendor is not legally permitted for the transaction. This is an eligibility question, not a quality one.
Prettier: Is Prettier free and open source?
Yes, Prettier is completely free and open source, available as an npm package with no licensing costs or subscriptions.
SourceIDnow: Is the electronic signature included?
No. Qualified electronic signature under eIDAS is licensed separately from identity verification.
Prettier: Can Prettier be integrated with ESLint?
Yes, Prettier integrates with ESLint by disabling ESLint formatting rules via eslint-config-prettier, allowing both tools to work together with Prettier handling formatting and ESLint handling code quality.
SourceIDnow: Where is the data processed?
In European data centres, which is a requirement rather than a preference for many of its regulated customers.
Prettier: Does Prettier support configuration customization?
Prettier is intentionally opinionated with limited configuration options to enforce consistency. You can create a .prettierrc file for basic customization, but Prettier does not support extensive rule customization like ESLint.
SourceRelated pages
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