Head-to-head · Sanctions Screening Software
OFAC API vs OpenSanctions
OFAC API leads on 0 checks, OpenSanctions on 1, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreOFAC API · 8.0/10
- Free planonly OpenSanctions
- Free trialboth
OFAC API scores higher on our rubric for sanctions screening software: 8.0 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #11 and #12.
OpenSanctions offers free plan; OFAC API doesn't.
OFAC API is the better fit for API-first teams needing scalable screening. OpenSanctions is the better fit for cost-conscious developers and data teams.
- OFAC API fits best
API-first teams needing scalable screening
- OpenSanctions fits best
Cost-conscious developers and data teams
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Side by side
| Feature | OFAC API 8.0/10 Visit ↗ | OpenSanctions 7.9/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.0 | 7.9 |
| Ranking | #11 in Sanctions Screening Software | #12 in Sanctions Screening Software |
| Best for | API-first teams needing scalable screening | Cost-conscious developers and data teams |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | — | €0.10/unit usage-based |
| Free plan | — | ✓ (best) |
| Free trial | 30 days | 30 days |
| Free trial length | 30 days · no card needed | 30 days |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Support | Email, Docs | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features OFAC API 5/5 · OpenSanctions 5/5 | ||
| PEP screening | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ongoing monitoring | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transaction screening | ✓ | ✓ |
| API access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Batch screening | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| List management | Selectable | Selectable |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | OFAC API provides web and REST API tools for sanctions, risk, transaction, and recurring screening. It covers people, organizations, vessels, aircraft, identification documents, and cryptocurrency wallet addresses, supporting onboarding,… Read the review → |
OpenSanctions provides structured data for sanctions, politically exposed persons, enforcement watchlists, and related risks. It is designed for developers, data teams, compliance workflows, investigative products, and research use cases… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
OFAC API — where it wins
- Screens people, entities, vessels, aircraft, IDs, and crypto wallets
- Supports recurring checks and batch screening up to 100,000 records
- Offers REST endpoints with Swagger/OpenAPI and Postman examples
Where it doesn't
- No free plan is available beyond the time-limited trial
- Synchronous batch screening is capped at 500 cases
- PEP Screening and Overage Protection are limited to higher-tier plans
OpenSanctions — where it wins
- Free non-commercial access and €0.10-per-query API pricing
- Batch matching, selectable datasets, and continuous monitoring support
- Bulk downloads and self-hosted matching API deployment
Where it doesn't
- Workflow features are less extensive than the core data and API tools
- In-house screening and redistribution licenses require a quote
- Commercial API costs increase with query volume
- OFAC API8.0/10 · 30-day trial
A flexible screening API for teams embedding sanctions and transaction checks.
Visit OFAC APIFull verdict → - OpenSanctions7.9/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial
A flexible, developer-focused screening data platform with usage-based commercial API pricing.
Visit OpenSanctionsFull verdict →
All sanctions screening software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update