If you’re here, you’re done with FirmCheck. Or at least done considering it.
Maybe you tried it, and it did not click. Maybe the per-client pricing started adding up faster than expected. Maybe you loved what it promised but found it too narrow, too limited, or just not the right fit for where your firm is heading.
Whatever brought you here, the reason does not matter. What does matter is that you have options, and one stands clearly above the rest.
That option is FigsFlow, the number one FirmCheck alternative for accounting firms across functionality, cost-effectiveness, compliance coverage, and day-to-day practicality. Here is how FirmCheck compares to FigsFlow and six other platforms, where each one pulls ahead, where they fall short, and what features actually matter.
What Is FirmCheck?
FirmCheck is a compliance and client-checking tool used by accountancy practices to help manage client verification, AML-related checks, client due diligence, and onboarding records.
For UK accountants and bookkeepers, FirmCheck is mainly relevant at the start of the client relationship, when the firm needs to check who the client is, assess risk, collect required information, and keep evidence of compliance steps.
In simple terms, FirmCheck helps with the “checking” side of client onboarding. However, many practices may still need a wider workflow tool for engagement letters, document requests, approvals, client follow-ups, and repeatable onboarding processes.
Why Firms Search for FirmCheck Alternatives
Firms may look for FirmCheck alternatives when they want:
- More than checks and verification
FirmCheck may help with compliance-related checks, but firms often need support for the wider onboarding process.
- Better client onboarding
Practices want a smoother way to collect information, send documents, and get clients ready before work begins.
- Easier engagement letter management
Many firms still create and send engagement letters manually using Word, PDFs, and email.
- Reusable templates
Firms want standardised templates to reduce repeated work and keep documents consistent across the practice.
- Clearer approval tracking
Teams need to see what has been sent, what has been approved, and what is still waiting for client action.
- Less email chasing
Manual follow-ups can take too much time, especially when clients delay sending documents or signing forms.
- Better control over document workflows
Firms want one clear process for preparing, sending, tracking, and managing client-facing documents.
- A focused alternative to heavy practice management software
Some practices do not need a full all-in-one system. They only need a simpler way to manage onboarding, engagement letters, approvals, and document workflows.
FirmCheck Alternatives at a Glance
Before we get into the full breakdown, here is a quick look at how all seven FirmCheck alternatives stack up across compliance fit, usability, platform breadth, and pricing.
7 FirmCheck Alternatives (Detailed Overview)
The numbers give you a starting point, but a score only goes so far. Below, we have broken down each firmcheck alternative in full so you can see exactly what it does, what it costs, who it is built for, and where it falls short compared to FirmCheck.
FigsFlow
FigsFlow is a proposal, pricing, engagement letter, and AML compliance platform built specifically for accountants, bookkeepers, and tax advisers. It brings client onboarding together in one place: professional proposals with a built-in pricing engine, regulated engagement letters with e-signature support, KYC and AML checks, risk assessments, and integrations with Xero, QuickBooks, GoCardless, and Companies House.
With a full practice management system on the way, FigsFlow is already the most complete firmcheck alternative available and is only getting more capable.
Quick Facts
- Cost: Starts at £8 per month. AML checks from £2.10 per check. 30-day free trial available.
- Ratings: 4.7/5 on Trustindex(75 ratings)
- Who’s For: Accountants, bookkeepers, and tax advisers wanting an all-in-one practice platform
- Best At: End-to-end client onboarding from proposal to payment, with compliance built in
Key Features of FigsFlow
- Manage the full client lifecycle from one platform, covering proposals, engagement letters, AML, risk assessments, invoicing, and payments
- Generate compliant proposals and engagement letters automatically for ACCA, CIOT, AAT, and other regulated bodies with full e-signature support
- Run AML, KYC, PEP, and sanctions checks in minutes with automated document verification, selfie matching, and a complete audit trail retained on every client profile
- Calculate service fees accurately with a built-in pricing engine that supports brackets, minimum and maximum ranges, custom conditions, and client-specific fee adjustments
- Automate reminders, onboarding links, and follow-ups so proposals get signed, compliance information gets collected, and nothing requires manual chasing
Pros & Cons of FigsFlow
- Covers compliance and practice management together
- Built-in pricing engine handles complex fee structures
- E-signatures remove paper from the onboarding process
- Comprehensive AML checks with full audit trail
- Client portal centralises all communication and documents
- 30-day free trial available
- Broader scope than a pure compliance tool
- AML checks are priced per verification
Xama
Xama is a UK-based AML compliance platform built specifically for accounting firms, bookkeepers, and other professional services. It covers identity verification, biometric checks, PEP and sanctions screening, ongoing monitoring, client risk assessments, compliance document templates, and a built-in AML training academy. Trusted by over 2,000 professional firms, Xama is a firmcheck alternative that has been designed with accountants as the primary user, with native integrations into practice management tools already used by most UK firms.
Quick Facts
- Cost: Starts at £13 per month. Free plan available. Credit-based checks from £2.10 per AML check.
- Ratings: 5/5 on Glassdoor(2 ratings)
- Who’s For: UK accounting firms, bookkeepers, and legal and property professionals
- Best At: Accountancy-specific AML compliance with built-in staff training and practice management integrations
Key Features of Xama
- Run comprehensive AML checks with ACSP-ready identity verification, including document checks, biometric verification, cryptographic feature validation, and address confirmation
- Monitor clients continuously against PEP, sanctions, and adverse media databases with real-time alerts and Companies House notifications when directors or persons of significant control change
- Assess client risk using pre-built templates designed for accounting practices with rule-based assessments that can be customised to match your firm’s own risk appetite
- Train your team through a fully managed AML Academy delivering role-specific, continuously updated content with automated reminders, completion tracking, and audit-ready records
- Integrate directly with practice management tools already in use, including Karbon, QuickBooks Practice Manager, Pixie, Socket, and FYI, with no double data entry required
Pros & Cons of Xama
- Built specifically for UK accounting firms and bookkeepers
- Free plan available with no contract or minimum spend
- AML Academy included with Core plan for ongoing staff training
- Native integrations with leading accounting practice management platforms
- Unlimited users, clients, and risk assessments on all plans
- Advanced checks and monitoring are credit-based and add to monthly costs
- Focused on AML only with no proposal, pricing, or engagement letter functionality
- For firms wanting more than a firmcheck alternative for compliance alone, the scope is limited
Thirdfort
Thirdfort is an FCA-regulated client verification platform built for regulated businesses across legal, property, and accountancy. It combines ID verification, document verification, PEP and sanctions screening, source of funds analysis, and ongoing monitoring in one app-based platform. Trusted by over 1,500 regulated businesses and having verified over three million individuals, Thirdfort stands as a capable firm check alternative for accounting firms that want government-grade verification with a smooth client-facing experience.
Quick Facts
- Cost: Starts at £83 per month. Custom pricing available for larger firms.
- Ratings: 4.3/5 on Trustpilot
- Who’s For: Accounting firms, legal, conveyancing, and estate agency businesses
- Best At: App-based client verification with source of funds analysis and ongoing monitoring
Key Features of Thirdfort
- Verify client identity through a secure mobile app using NFC technology to read e-passports and check thousands of identity documents from issuing governments worldwide
- Screen clients against PEP and sanctions lists using live data sources updated every few minutes, with ongoing monitoring and instant alerts if a client’s status changes
- Analyse source of funds without manual back and forth by accessing client bank statements instantly via open banking, with red flags and transaction risks highlighted automatically
- Verify businesses and beneficial owners rapidly through KYB checks covering directors and persons of significant control
- Share verified reports securely across firms through a network of over 1,000 regulated businesses, eliminating repeated checks for the same client
Pros & Cons of Thirdfort
- FCA regulated and certified by the UK Government's Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework
- Source of funds verification is a clear differentiator from FirmCheck
- Smooth app-based journey for clients reduces onboarding friction
- Ongoing monitoring runs automatically with instant status alerts
- Unlimited users on all plans
- Pricing starts higher than some firmcheck alternative options
- Primarily built for the legal and property sectors, not accounting specifically
- No proposal, engagement letter, or broader practice management tools
SmartSearch
SmartSearch is an award-winning AML and compliance platform trusted by over 7,000 regulated businesses across the UK. Built for firms that need fast, thorough identity verification, it covers KYC, KYB, sanctions and PEP screening, document verification, ongoing monitoring, and enhanced due diligence all within a single platform. For accounting firms evaluating a firmcheck alternative with strong international coverage and enterprise-grade capability, SmartSearch is a well-established option worth considering.
Quick Facts
- Cost: Custom pricing.
- Ratings: 4/5 on G2(30 ratings)
- Who’s For: Accounting firms, legal, financial services, and other regulated businesses
- Best At: High-volume AML verification with UK and international coverage
Key Features of SmartSearch
- Complete AML checks on individuals in under two seconds by entering name, address, and date of birth against triple bureau data from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
- Verify businesses and all associated stakeholders through KYB checks that cover directors, shareholders, and persons of significant control
- Screen clients against global sanctions and PEP lists with ongoing monitoring that runs nightly and alerts your firm to any change in client status
- Trigger enhanced due diligence automatically when a client matches a sanctions, PEP, SIP, or RCA list, removing the need for manual escalation
- Integrate with existing back office systems in as little as 24 hours to carry out compliance checks using your own client data files
Pros & Cons of SmartSearch
- Trusted by over 7,000 regulated businesses
- UK and international AML checks in one platform
- Ongoing monitoring runs automatically every night
- Enhanced due diligence triggered without manual intervention
- Fast integration with existing systems
- Pricing not publicly listed
- Built for multiple industries, not accounting firms specifically
- Broader than a pure firmcheck alternative for smaller practices
Credas
Credas is a UK-based identity verification and AML compliance platform used across 40 sectors, including accountancy and tax advisory. It combines biometric ID checks, document verification, KYB reports, PEP and sanctions screening, source of funds analysis, and ongoing monitoring in one configurable platform. For accounting firms that need a firmcheck alternative with highly customisable screening profiles and a client-facing mobile app, Credas brings both flexibility and depth to the compliance process.
Quick Facts
- Cost: Contact for pricing. No setup fees. Credit-based pricing per check.
- Ratings: 3.3/5 on Trustpilot
- Who’s For: Accounting firms, financial advisers, legal, property, and corporate services
- Best At: Configurable AML and ID verification with biometric facial recognition across 40 sectors
Key Features of Credas
- Verify client identity using just a name and email address with biometric facial recognition, NFC document scanning, and liveness detection across 2,500 supported identity documents
- Screen clients against PEP and sanctions lists with tailored risk profiles, choosing from ten preconfigured screening levels to match your firm’s own risk appetite
- Run KYB checks on companies and all associated individuals with instant access to over 400 million private and public companies across 200 countries, including UBO identification and corporate sanctions screening
- Analyse source of funds via Open Banking, connecting with over 90 UK account providers to deliver verified, automatically categorised transaction reports without chasing paper statements
- Recover compliance costs through built-in payments by charging clients directly within the verification journey using an integrated, fully managed payments solution
Pros & Cons of Credas
- Certified against the UK Government's Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework
- Highly configurable PEP and sanctions screening tailored to the firm's risk appetite
- Source of funds and KYB checks go well beyond what FirmCheck offers
- Built-in payments module helps offset compliance costs
- No setup fees and quick account configuration within 24 to 48 hours
- No free trial available
- Pricing requires a demo before any figures are shared
- Broader multi-sector platform rather than a purpose-built firmcheck alternative for accountants specifically
Verify 365
Verify 365 is a client onboarding and AML compliance platform developed by legal experts, combining ten tools into one unified system: biometric ID verification, address verification, KYB checks, PEP and sanctions screening, source of funds analysis via Open Banking, e-signatures, digital payments, and e-forms. It covers the finance sector, including accountants and mortgage brokers. Firms searching for a firmcheck alternative that also handles e-signatures and digital payments within the same onboarding journey will find Verify 365 worth evaluating.
Quick Facts
- Cost: Contact for pricing. No upfront implementation costs. Free trial available.
- Ratings: 4.4/5 on G2(11 ratings)
- Who’s For: Legal firms, conveyancers, estate agents, and finance businesses, including accountants
- Best At: All-in-one client onboarding combining AML, e-signatures, and digital payments in a single journey
Key Features of Verify 365
- Verify client identity using proprietary biometric technology, checking over 10,000 government-issued documents from 200 countries, with 98% automated decisions and NFC chip reading
- Analyse source of funds through FCA-regulated Open Banking, extracting transaction and balance data from multiple accounts using bank-side authentication without manual statement chasing
- Screen clients against global PEP, sanctions, and adverse media lists with real-time monitoring across over 100,000 records updated monthly and ongoing monitoring as standard
- Run KYB checks on businesses and connected individuals to identify directors, shareholders, and persons with significant control and link them directly to AML checks
- Collect e-signatures and digital payments within the onboarding journey through qualified e-signatures and a secure FCA-regulated payment portal built directly into the client workflow
Pros & Cons of Verify 365
- Ten compliance tools unified in one platform
- Proprietary UK-developed technology adapts quickly to regulatory changes
- E-signatures and digital payments go beyond what FirmCheck offers
- Free trial available with no upfront implementation costs
- Unlimited users at no extra cost on all plans
- Built primarily for legal firms, not accounting practices specifically
- Pricing requires direct contact with no published figures
- Sector focus means accounting firms may find some features less relevant
NorthRow
NorthRow is an enterprise-grade AML compliance and client onboarding platform serving regulated businesses across financial services, property, professional services, and accountancy. It automates KYC, KYB, digital identity verification, PEP and sanctions screening, ongoing monitoring, and AML workflows through a single interface, drawing on over one billion entities across 220 jurisdictions. For accounting firms that handle complex corporate structures or international clients, NorthRow represents a firmcheck alternative built for scale and precision.
Quick Facts
- Cost: Contact for pricing across Standard, Premium, and Enterprise plans.
- Ratings: 4/5 on G2 (1 ratings)
- Who’s For: Regulated businesses in financial services, professional services, property, and accountancy
- Best At: Automated KYB and KYC compliance with global coverage and a false positive rate below 2%
Key Features of NorthRow
- Automate KYB checks on businesses and all connected individuals, identifying ultimate beneficial owners, directors, and persons of significant control across 220 jurisdictions in seconds
- Verify individual identities digitally using over 13,000 supported documents, with clients self-verifying on their own device, anywhere and at any time, through the RemoteVerify mobile application
- Screen against global PEP, sanctions, and watchlists with a false positive rate below 2%, drawing on over 1.5 million daily news articles and intelligence-sharing agreements with law enforcement agencies
- Monitor clients continuously with automated risk profile alerts, flagging changes in political exposure, sanctions status, or adverse media in real time across both individuals and companies
- Reduce compliance costs and onboarding time by up to 85% through end-to-end process automation that frees teams to focus only on cases requiring manual review
Pros & Cons of NorthRow
- Global coverage across 220 jurisdictions with over one billion entities available
- False positive rate below 2% reduces the manual review burden significantly
- Explicitly lists accountancy as a supported use case
- Intelligence-sharing agreement with law enforcement agencies
- ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials certified
- Pricing not published and requires direct contact
- Enterprise platform with a steeper learning curve than simpler firmcheck alternative options
- Better suited to larger or more complex firms than sole practitioners or small practices
How to Choose the Right FirmCheck Alternative for Your Firm
The right FirmCheck alternative depends on the problem your practice is trying to solve. Some firms need a full practice management platform, while others simply want to remove friction from engagement letters, onboarding, client approvals, or document workflows.
Here is a simple way to compare the options based on the main need.
For many accountancy practices, the best choice is not the biggest platform with the longest feature list. It is the tool that solves the most painful workflow problem.
If your practice is mainly struggling with engagement letters, onboarding documents, client approvals, manual follow-ups, and scattered document processes, FigsFlow is the most focused option on this list. It gives firms a practical way to improve the client-facing parts of onboarding without moving straight into a heavy all-in-one practice management system.
Conclusion
There are plenty of FirmCheck alternatives available, and many of them outperform FirmCheck in specific areas. But the right choice depends on what your practice actually needs.
Start with the reason you began looking for an alternative. Is it slow workflows, too much manual admin, poor visibility, or disconnected processes? Once you know the real problem, it becomes much easier to choose a tool that solves it properly.
And if you want one platform that handles it all without the usual trade-offs, FigsFlow is a strong choice.
Book a free 30-minute demo, share your bottlenecks, and see how FigsFlow can help your practice work better.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
FigsFlow is the most complete FirmCheck alternative for accounting firms. It covers proposals, engagement letters, pricing, AML, and invoicing in one platform. For firms that only need AML compliance, Xama is purpose-built for UK accountants and offers a free plan with no contract required.
FirmCheck’s per-client pricing model can become costly as a client base grows. Larger firms often find the costs add up quickly and the feature set too narrow for their needs, which is why many look for a firmcheck alternative that offers more capability at a predictable price point.
No. FirmCheck is an AML-only platform. It does not cover proposals, engagement letters, pricing, or invoicing. Firms that need compliance alongside their broader onboarding workflow will need a separate tool or a platform like FigsFlow that covers all of it.
No. FigsFlow has AML compliance built directly into the platform. You can run KYC, AML, PEP, and sanctions checks from the same place you send proposals and engagement letters, with a full audit trail retained on every client profile.
Start with what FirmCheck was missing for your firm. If it were pricing, look for flat fee or credit-based models. If it were features, look for platforms that go beyond AML. If it were accounting fit, prioritise tools built specifically for UK accounting practices.
Yes. FigsFlow and Xama are both built with bookkeepers in mind, alongside accountants and tax advisers. Most other platforms on this list serve broader regulated sectors and can be used by bookkeeping practices without any restrictions.
