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Comparison
March 23, 202618 min read

Best AML Compliance Software Australia 2026 — Complete Comparison

With Tranche 2 starting July 1, 2026, Australian businesses need AML software now. We compare FreeAML, easyAML, TrustSoft, First AML, and Australia Post VOI on pricing, features, ease of use, and value for money.

Quick Verdict

Best for Small & Medium Businesses: FreeAML

For Australian small and medium businesses affected by Tranche 2 (real estate agents, accountants, lawyers, jewellers, motor dealers), FreeAML is the clear winner. Pay-per-use pricing ($15 KYC, $35 KYB) with no monthly subscription means you only pay when you actually need verification. Client-pays option = your cost is $0. Plus, charge a markup (e.g., +$50) to turn compliance into revenue.

Save $1,000-4,000/year vs competitors
60-second verification
No account required
AUSTRAC compliant

Pricing Comparison

ProviderMonthly FeePer CheckAnnual Cost*
FreeAML
Recommended
$0
KYC: $15
KYB: $35
$1,800
easyAML
Starter plan
$179
KYC: $20
KYB: $40
$4,548
TrustSoft
Pro plan
$100
60 KYC, 5 KYB
included/year
$1,200**
First AML
POA pricing
~$350
Included
(estimate)
~$4,200
Australia Post VOI
$0$49$5,880

*Based on 10 KYC + 2 KYB checks per month. **TrustSoft includes 60 KYC + 5 KYB per year; shown cost assumes usage within limits.

Cost Calculator

Adjust your monthly volumes to see annual costs:

10 checks/mo
2 checks/mo
KYC: Individuals (driver's licence, passport). KYB: Entities (companies, trusts) + beneficial owners.
PlatformMonthly FeeAnnual Costvs FreeAML
FreeAMLBest$0/mo$2,640/yr
easyAML Starter$179/mo$5,508/yr+$2,868
TrustSoft Pro$100/mo$1,200/yr$1,440 saved
First AML$350/mo$4,200/yr+$1,560

💡 Earnings Angle: With FreeAML's "client pays" option, your cost is $0. Clients pay $15 directly. Or charge a service fee (e.g., +$50) and earn revenue from compliance.

💰 Turn Compliance Into Revenue

FreeAML's unique "client pays" model means your compliance cost is $0. But here's where it gets interesting for small and medium businesses:

Option 1: Pass Through (Free for You)

Client pays $15 (KYC) or $35 (KYB) directly. You pay nothing. Full compliance, zero cost.

Option 2: Charge a Service Fee

Charge client $65 ($15 check + $50 service fee). Client pays $65, you earn $50 profit per verification.

Example: Real estate agency doing 15 verifications/month at $50 markup = $9,000/year profit from compliance (vs paying $2,148+/year with easyAML).

Detailed Provider Reviews

1. FreeAML — Best for Small & Medium Businesses + Mid-Size Firms

FreeAML
Pay-per-use AML compliance
Pricing
$0/month + $15/check
Best For
Small, medium & mid-size firms
Verification Time
60 seconds
Setup Required
No signup needed
✓ Pros
  • No monthly fees or subscription
  • Cheapest per-check cost ($15)
  • No signup or account required
  • 60-second verification
  • AUSTRAC compliant
  • Client-pays option available
✗ Cons
  • Newer brand (launched 2025)
  • Less enterprise features than competitors

FreeAML is purpose-built for Australian Tranche 2 businesses of all sizes. The pay-per-use model makes perfect sense for real estate agents, accountants, lawyers, and jewellers — whether you're a solo practitioner or a mid-size firm with 10-50 staff.

The platform requires zero setup — you literally just go to the website, enter your client's email or mobile, and they receive a verification link. In 60 seconds, you get a compliant Customer Due Diligence (CDD) report. You only pay $15 (KYC) or $35 (KYB) per check, with no monthly subscription.

Why FreeAML wins for small businesses: For a solo real estate agent doing 8 transactions per month, that's $120/month ($1,440/year) vs $179/month minimum ($2,148/year) with easyAML. You save over $700 per year.

Why FreeAML also wins for mid-size firms: A 10-person accounting firm doing 30 KYC + 10 KYB checks per month pays $870/month ($10,440/year) with FreeAML vs $899/month ($10,788/year) with easyAML Professional — similar cost but FreeAML has no monthly commitment. More importantly, with FreeAML's client-pays option, you can pass costs through to clients and pay $0, or charge a markup (e.g., +$50) and turn compliance into a $18,000/year profit center.

2. easyAML — Subscription-Based Alternative

eA
easyAML
Subscription-based AML platform
Pricing
$179-999/month + $15-40/check
Best For
Teams wanting subscription model
Verification Time
2-5 minutes
Setup Required
Yes (1-3 days approval)
Why easyAML Doesn't Make Sense for Most Businesses:
  • $2,148-$10,788/year wasted on subscriptions — You pay $179-999/month whether you verify 0 clients or 100. Most Tranche 2 businesses verify sporadically, meaning you're paying for unused capacity.
  • Double-dipping fees — After paying the monthly subscription, you STILL pay $15-40 per check. So you're paying twice.
  • 1-3 day approval process — Can't verify clients immediately. You need to apply, wait for approval, and set up an account before your first check.
  • Slower verification (2-5 minutes) — FreeAML does it in 60 seconds. Time is money.
  • No client-pays option — You absorb 100% of verification costs. With FreeAML, clients can pay directly (your cost = $0).
  • Vendor lock-in — Annual contracts and migration costs make it hard to switch once you're committed.

easyAML represents everything wrong with legacy SaaS pricing for Tranche 2 compliance. The subscription model was designed for banks and financial institutions doing hundreds of verifications per day — not real estate agents doing 10 per month.

The math doesn't work: At $179/month + $20/check (KYC), a business doing 10 verifications per month pays $4,548/year. That's 72% more expensive than FreeAML ($2,640/year for the same volume). And if you use FreeAML's client-pays option? Your cost is $0. easyAML doesn't offer this.

Subscription lock-in is a trap. You're paying $179-999/month whether you verify 0 clients or 100. Most Tranche 2 businesses have variable volumes — busy months (10-15 checks) and slow months (2-3 checks). With easyAML, you pay the same regardless. With FreeAML, you only pay for what you use.

Bottom line: Unless your organization has a specific requirement for subscription-based budgeting (rare), easyAML will cost you $2,000-8,000 more per year than FreeAML for identical AUSTRAC-compliant verification. That's money thrown away.

3. TrustSoft — Trust Accounting + AML Bundle

TS
TrustSoft
Enterprise compliance suite
Pricing
$100/mo ($1,200/year)
Best For
Lawyers needing trust accounting
Included Checks
60 KYC, 5 KYB per year
Overage Cost
Contact for pricing
The Catch With TrustSoft:
  • Only makes sense if you need trust accounting software — This is primarily a trust accounting platform for lawyers/conveyancers. If you don't need trust accounting, you're paying for features you don't use.
  • Tight limits (60 KYC/year = 5/month) — Sounds cheap at $1,200/year, but you only get 60 KYC checks. That's 5 per month. Most Tranche 2 businesses exceed this quickly. Overage pricing is unclear.
  • No flexibility — Annual payment upfront. No monthly option. If you do 70 checks one year and 40 the next, you're overpaying in slow years.
  • No client-pays option — You absorb all costs. With FreeAML, clients pay directly.

TrustSoft is a trust accounting platform that added AML compliance as a bundled feature. If you're a lawyer or conveyancer who needs both trust accounting AND AML, it's worth considering. But if you only need AML compliance (like real estate agents, accountants, jewellers), you're paying for software you don't use.

The math: At 5 KYC checks per month (60/year limit), your cost is $1,200/year. With FreeAML at $15/check, that same volume costs $900/year — and you're not locked into annual contracts. If you exceed 60 checks (most businesses do), FreeAML becomes even cheaper.

Bottom line: TrustSoft only makes sense if you're a law firm that needs trust accounting software anyway. For everyone else, it's an expensive way to bundle features you don't need.

4. First AML — Enterprise Only (Not for SMEs)

FA
First AML
Enterprise AML platform
Pricing
$300-500/month + custom fees
Best For
Enterprise, banks, high-volume
Verification Time
Variable
Setup Required
Yes (enterprise onboarding)
Why First AML is Wrong for Tranche 2 Businesses:
  • Minimum 400 verifications/year required — Their smallest plan requires 400+ individuals annually. Most Tranche 2 businesses do 50-150/year. You're forced to pay for volume you don't use.
  • Price on application (POA) = expensive — When software doesn't publish pricing, it means it's too expensive for you. Estimated $350-500/month minimum ($4,200-6,000/year).
  • 3-6 month implementation — Built for banks with compliance teams, not solo real estate agents. Onboarding takes months, not minutes.
  • Enterprise contracts — Multi-year commitments, complex legal terms, exit penalties. You're locked in.
  • Designed for banks, not SMEs — Features built for transaction monitoring at scale, cross-border sanctions, complex risk modeling — none of which Tranche 2 businesses need.

First AML is built for ANZ Bank, not for your 5-person accounting firm. The pricing model (POA + 400 verification minimum) makes it prohibitively expensive and completely unnecessary for Tranche 2 compliance.

Reality check: If you're reading this comparison article, First AML is not for you. It's for enterprises with 100+ staff, dedicated compliance teams, and budgets in the tens of thousands per year. The fact that they don't publish pricing tells you everything you need to know.

Bottom line: Unless you're a major bank or financial institution, skip First AML entirely. You'll pay 3-10x more than FreeAML for features you don't need.

5. Australia Post VOI — Outdated & Overpriced

AP
Australia Post VOI
In-person verification service
Pricing
$0/month + $49/check
Best For
In-person verification only
Verification Time
Same day (if client visits)
Setup Required
No
✓ Pros
  • Trusted Australia Post brand
  • No monthly subscription
  • Physical in-person option
  • AUSTRAC compliant
✗ Cons
  • Very expensive ($49 per check)
  • Client must visit post office
  • Slow (requires in-person visit)
  • Not remote-friendly

Australia Post VOI is a relic from the pre-digital era. At $49 per check (227% more expensive than FreeAML's $15), it's the most expensive option on this list — and the slowest and most inconvenient.

The process: Your client drives to a post office, waits in line, shows their ID to a postal worker who manually checks it, then you get the results days later. In 2026, with biometric digital verification that's just as AUSTRAC-compliant and takes 60 seconds from a phone, this is absurd.

The cost comparison is brutal: For 10 verifications per month, Australia Post costs $5,880/year. FreeAML costs $1,800/year for the same volume — you're throwing away $4,080 per year for worse service and slower turnaround.

Bottom line: Unless you're verifying someone who is technologically unable to use a smartphone (rare in 2026), there is no reason to use Australia Post VOI. It's 3x more expensive, 10x slower, and massively inconvenient for your clients. Skip it entirely.

Feature Comparison

FeatureFreeAMLeasyAMLTrustSoftFirst AMLAusPost
No signup required
No monthly fees
60-second verification
Remote verification
Biometric liveness check
AML watchlist screening
7-year storage
API available
Client-pays option
AUSTRAC compliant

Which AML Software Should You Choose?

The right AML software depends on your business size, verification volume, and budget. Here's our recommendation matrix:

Choose FreeAML if you're:

  • A solo practitioner or small and medium business (1-10 employees)
  • Verifying <50 clients per month
  • New to AML compliance (Tranche 2)
  • Want to minimize costs
  • Don't want to manage subscriptions

Choose easyAML if you're:

  • A mid-size firm (10-50 employees)
  • Verifying 30-100 clients per month
  • Need team dashboards and management
  • Want established brand recognition

Choose TrustSoft if you're:

  • A large firm with complex compliance needs
  • Verifying complex entity structures regularly
  • Need transaction monitoring features

Choose Australia Post if you're:

  • Required to do in-person verification
  • Verifying <5 clients per month
  • Cost is not a primary concern

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Recommendation

🏆 Winner for Two Categories

✅ Best for Small & Medium Businesses

FreeAML — Pay only when you need verification. No monthly fees. Save $700-2,000/year vs competitors.

✅ Best for Mid-Size Firms

FreeAML — Client-pays option = $0 cost, or charge markup to turn compliance into profit ($18k+/year).

For the vast majority of Australian businesses affected by Tranche 2 — from solo practitioners to mid-size firms with 10-50 staff — FreeAML is the clear winner.

The combination of zero monthly fees, pay-per-use pricing ($15 KYC, $35 KYB), no signup requirement, and 60-second verification makes it the most practical and cost-effective solution. Whether you're a solo real estate agent doing 5 checks per month or a 10-person accounting firm doing 40 checks per month, FreeAML saves you money while delivering the same AUSTRAC-compliant verification as expensive subscription platforms.

When to consider alternatives: easyAML if your organization requires subscription-based budgeting with enterprise white-label features. TrustSoft if you need trust accounting bundled with AML. First AML for large enterprises with 100+ staff. For 95% of Tranche 2 businesses, FreeAML is the best choice.

The deadline is July 1, 2026. Don't wait. Start verifying clients now so you're ready when Tranche 2 compliance begins.

Try FreeAML today — no signup required

Start verifying clients in 30 seconds. AUSTRAC-compliant reports from $15. No subscription, no commitment.

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