Best AML Software for 2026: Top 8 Solutions Compared
Money laundering is a $2 trillion annual problem, representing roughly 2-5% of global GDP. That’s why choosing the right Anti-Money Laundering (AML) software is the first line of defense against financial crimes. With the EU’s new Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) set to issue strict guidelines by July 2026 and regulators worldwide no longer accepting “we didn’t know” as an excuse, choosing the right AML software is a critical step that can shield your business from criminal prosecution and even license revocation.
In this article, we’ll explore the best AML software providers for 2026, compare their features and ratings, and analyze how to choose the right AML solution for your needs.
How to Choose AML Software
The AML software automates the detection, investigation, and reporting of suspicious financial activities that could indicate money laundering, terrorist financing, or other financial crimes. It helps your business flag anomalies and maintain audit trails that satisfy regulators.
Before diving into the reviews, let’s clarify what actually moves the needle, i.e. key criteria you should consider when evaluating AML solutions:
Detection accuracy or low false positive rates
The industry average for false positives can be as high as 90%. You want software that catches genuine threats without drowning your compliance team in false positives. The best tools use AI to filter out this noise, saving your analysts from being overwhelmed by irrelevant alerts.
Regulatory compliance
Your AML software must align with relevant frameworks, whether that’s Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations, the EU’s 6th Anti-Money Laundering Directives (6th AMLD), FinCEN requirements in the US, or local regulations in your operating regions.
Real-time monitoring
Batch processing is dead. Your AML system should analyze transactions as they occur, providing instant alerts when suspicious activity is detected, especially for instant payments, like SEPA Instant or FedNow.
Seamless integration
Can the AML solution of your choice plug into your existing Core Banking or CRM via a simple API, or will it require a six-month IT project? The best AML software should seamlessly integrate with your existing Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, banking systems, and CRM platforms, and create a unified compliance ecosystem.
Automation and AI
Manual transaction monitoring is no longer feasible at scale. Modern AML software uses automation and machine learning to identify patterns, adapt to emerging threats, and significantly cut investigation time.
Overview: Comparing AML Software Providers
To make your research easier, here’s a comparison of nine leading AML software providers and how they stack up.
| Provider | G2 score | Key features | Key strengths | Best for |
| Ondato | 4.8/5 (High Performer) | All-in-one AML/KYC, AI-powered risk scoring, real-time monitoring, PEP/sanctions screening | All-in-one OS, 99.8% accuracy, central hub. | Full compliance coverage (SMEs to enterprise) |
| ComplyAdvantage | 4.5/5 | Dynamic risk database, AI-driven screening, transaction monitoring | Real-time risk data, “hyperscale” screening. | FinTechs and scale-ups |
| NICE Actimize | 4.4/5 | Enterprise-grade platform, behavioral analytics, SAR automation | Deep AI analytics, end-to-end fraud suites. | Large banks and enterprises |
| SAS AML | 4.3/5 | Advanced analytics, network analysis, comprehensive reporting | Advanced visualization, complex scenario handling. | Data-heavy institutions |
| LexisNexis | 4.6/5 | Extensive data coverage, entity resolution, watchlist screening | Massive data depth, “RiskNarrative” orchestration. | Global corporations |
| Dow Jones | 4.3/5 | Premium watchlist data, third-party risk, regulatory intelligence | Premium data quality (sanctions/PEPs), few errors. | Strict compliance teams |
| Sanction Scanner | 4.8/5 | Cost-effective screening, API-first approach, PEP/sanctions checks | Simple UI, API-first, affordable. | Startups and mid-market |
| Oracle | 4.2/5 | Integrated financial crimes suite, scenario library, case management | Graph analytics, seamless banking integration. | Banks using Oracle Core |
Note: G2 Scores are based on user reviews and are subject to change.
Evaluation Criteria for AML Tools
Here are several core criteria to consider when selecting the right AML software for your business. All of them are crucial to your AML program’s success and what your compliance teams actually need in 2026:
- Real-time transaction monitoring. How effectively does the system detect suspicious patterns as they occur? We looked at processing speed, alert generation, and the ability to handle high transaction volumes without lag.
- Sanctions and PEP Screening. Screening against sanctions lists, Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) databases, and adverse media is fundamental. We evaluated database coverage, update frequency, and screening accuracy.
- Reporting accuracy. When it’s time to file a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) or comply with an audit, your documentation needs to be airtight. We assessed how well each platform supports compliance documentation and regulatory reporting.
- Case management: Once an alert is triggered, what happens next? Strong case management tools help investigators efficiently review, document, and resolve cases with full audit trails.
- AI-driven automation: Modern AML software should learn from your organization’s patterns, reduce false positives through adaptive algorithms, and free your team to focus on genuine threats rather than routine reviews.
- User experience: Even the most powerful software is useless if your team struggles to use it. Consider interface design, learning curve, and the availability of training resources.
Each of these criteria plays a role in how well an AML software will perform in practice. An ideal solution scores well across the board.
The Best AML Software for 2026
After extensive research and analysis, we present the top 8 AML software providers for 2026. These solutions are selected based on their features, innovation, user feedback, and ability to address the evolving challenges of AML compliance.
#1 Ondato
Ondato offers a genuinely unified compliance platform that handles both identity verification and ongoing AML monitoring without forcing you to juggle multiple vendors. It’s a full-scale Compliance OS that stands out due to its functionality, which treats compliance as a lifecycle, not a one-off check.
Its “Central Hub” approach allows you to manage KYC, AML screening, and lifecycle management in one dashboard, drastically reducing tool fatigue. Ondato’s main strength lies in the seamless integration of all core compliance modules, providing a unified workflow for businesses.
Key features
- End-to-end identity verification and AML (KYC, KYB, biometric checks, sanctions/PEP/adverse media, ongoing monitoring).
- 99.8% verification accuracy, coverage in 192+ countries, onboarding decisions in under 30 seconds.
- Configurable risk scoring and workflows that support FATF-aligned, EU AMLD, and FinCEN-style risk-based programs.
Compliance and certifications
- GDPR, eIDAS, ISO 27001, iBETA ISO Level 1 & 2, and has tech evaluated against NIST standards.
- Recognized by G2 with multiple AML and identity-verification awards (Summer 2024 reports), reinforcing strong user satisfaction.
Integrations
- Modern REST APIs and SDKs to plug directly into mobile apps, core banking, PSPs, and CRMs.
- Works as the central compliance layer, so you don’t need separate tools for KYC and AML.
Pricing
- Custom enterprise pricing based on volume and features.
Best for: FinTechs, banks, PSPs and digital platforms that want one vendor for KYC + AML with a strong certification story and a top G2 track record.
#2 ComplyAdvantage
ComplyAdvantage has built its reputation on dynamic risk intelligence, because their database doesn’t just compile static lists but actively monitors news, sanctions updates, and emerging risks in near real-time.
Key features
- Real-time sanctions, watchlist, PEP and adverse media screening, payment and transaction monitoring, “ComplyLaunch” for startups, and a visual rule-builder that doesn’t require coding.
- AI-sourced, human-verified risk data (ComplyData) to keep watchlists fresh.
Compliance coverage
- Designed to support global AML/CTF requirements with risk-based rules and flexible thresholds.
Integration options
- API-first platform; integrations with systems like Salesforce and others.
Certificates and recognition
- ISO 27001, CSA STAR. Repeatedly placed in G2’s Leader quadrant for AML products, reflecting strong market presence and customer satisfaction.
Pricing
- Mid-to-high tier, volume-based pricing.
Best for: Institutions that already have KYC solved and want a strong standalone financial crime intelligence layer for screening and monitoring.
#3 NICE Actimize
NICE Actimize represents the enterprise-grade end of the AML spectrum, offering a comprehensive financial crimes platform trusted by many of the world’s largest banks. They excel at holistic financial crime management, blending AML with fraud detection to see the bigger picture.
Key features
- Autonomous AML platform combining AI, ML, and intelligent automation for end-to-end AML management.
- Complete AML coverage (KYC, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, CTR/STR automation) for large, complex firms.
Compliance coverage
- Built for global banks needing consistent programs across multiple regulators and jurisdictions.
Integrations
- Deep integrations into core banking, payments, and legacy risk systems; often deployed as part of a wider financial crime suite.
Certificates and recognition
ISO 27001 certified, with additional financial services security certifications. Undergoes regular audits by major banking clients.
Pricing
- Premium enterprise pricing for large institutions.
Best for: Tier-1 and Tier-2 banks that need an enterprise-grade, highly customizable AML compliance platform with strong AI capabilities.
#4 SAS AML
SAS AML is known for its analytics expertise in AML compliance, offering sophisticated modeling capabilities that appeal to organizations with strong data science teams. Perfect for institutions that want to visualize complex, multi-step money laundering networks.
Key features
- ML-driven transaction monitoring, anomaly detection, dynamic risk scoring, and network analytics.
- Focus on reducing false positives and improving regulatory report “conversion” (i.e., more genuinely suspicious activity in the alerts that end up as SARs).
Compliance coverage
- Used across hundreds of institutions globally; supports FATF-aligned and local regulatory regimes with configurable models.
Integration options
- Often integrated into existing SAS analytics environments and data warehouses.
Certificates and recognition
- ISO 27001 certified with comprehensive security documentation. Regular independent security assessments performed.
Pricing
- Enterprise-level investment required.
Best for: Large financial institutions with strong data teams that want to leverage advanced analytics and ML on top of big, complex datasets.
#5 LexisNexis Risk Solutions
LexisNexis is known for its massive database of public records, corporate registries, and other data sources to provide exceptional entity resolution and background intelligence. Their RiskNarrative platform creates a “single decisioning” workflow, orchestrating multiple checks (identity, fraud, AML) into one smooth process.
Key features
- Watchlist, sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media screening with ongoing monitoring.
- Rich global risk-intelligence datasets and flexible workflows.
- Bridger Insight XG (screening), massive physical identity data (phone, address history), and risk orchestration.
Compliance coverage
- Supports global AML regulations with particularly strong coverage in mature regulatory environments like the US, UK, and EU.
Certificates
- SOC 2 Type 2 compliant with regular security audits and penetration testing.
Integration options
- Often plugged into banks’ own platforms or third-party screening tools via RESTful APIs.
Pricing
- Mid-to-high range, typically volume-based.
Best for: Organizations that want top-tier data and screening and may already have their own case-management or monitoring system.
#6 Dow Jones Risk & Compliance
Dow Jones has leveraged its journalism heritage to create one of the most respected watchlists and risk intelligence databases in the industry. Their research team manually verifies high-risk profiles, meaning you get far fewer false positives caused by bad data.
Key features
- Global sanctions, PEP, and watchlist data, covering millions of entities and 30+ risk categories in 60+ languages.
- Factiva-powered adverse media screening, “Sanction Alert” feeds, and high-precision lists.
Compliance coverage
- Global coverage with strength in identifying emerging risks before they appear on official sanctions lists.
- Supports compliance with all major regulatory frameworks
- Specialized in anti-bribery, corruption (FCPA), and sanctions compliance.
Certificates and recognition
- SAE 3000 assurance.
- ISO 27001 certified with stringent data quality and security protocols.
Integration options
- Typically consumed via partners or directly through APIs and data feeds.
- Can be used as a standalone screening solution or as a data source feeding into other AML systems.
- Feeds available in XML, CSV, or via API.
Pricing
- Premium pricing for data access
Best for: Financial institutions that want high-quality, globally trusted risk data to power their own or third-party AML solutions.
#7 Sanction Scanner
Sanction Scanner is known for being affordable, transparent, and incredibly easy to set up. It’s a “plug-and-play” solution that is perfect for smaller firms or mid-sized companies that need robust protection without enterprise complexity. It’s an accessible, API-first AML solution that delivers core AML functionality without enterprise complexity or pricing.
Key features
- AML name screening, sanctions/PEP/adverse media checks, transaction monitoring, fraud detection, and KYB/KYC tools.
- 3,000+ sanction lists, real-time API scanning, and a user-friendly dashboard.
- Includes basic transaction monitoring and case management tools.
Compliance coverage
- Covers major global sanctions regimes and supports compliance with FATF recommendations and regional regulations.
Certificates
- ISO 27001 certified with SOC 2 compliance, demonstrating commitment to security despite more accessible pricing.
Integration options
- Developer-friendly REST APIs with comprehensive documentation.
- Webhooks enable real-time notifications.
- Pre-built plugins are available for common platforms.
Pricing
- Affordable to mid-range, scalable plans,
Best for: Small to mid-size firms needing an affordable, easy-to-deploy AML stack with good UX.
#8 Oracle Financial Services AML
Oracle brings its enterprise software expertise to AML compliance with a comprehensive platform designed for large financial institutions. It uses graph analytics to detect hidden relationships between accounts, making it highly effective for detecting money laundering rings within traditional banking ecosystems.
Key features
- Part of the Oracle Financial Crime & Compliance Management suite with AI/ML-driven analytics for AML, KYC and sanctions.
- Graph analytics, built-in scenario library, and seamless connection to Oracle Core Banking.
- Designed to support very high transaction volumes and complex entity structures.
Compliance coverage
- Targets global systemically important banks (G-SIBs) and other large players with multi-jurisdictional AML/CTF requirements.
- Regular audits by financial institution clients.
Certificates
- Federal standard compliance.
- ISO 27001 certified with additional financial services security certifications.
Integration options
- Tightly integrated with Oracle’s broader technology stack; connects into cores, data warehouses, and other Oracle modules.
- APIs support connection to non-Oracle systems.
- Professional services available for implementation.
Pricing
- High-end enterprise pricing.
Best for: Established large banks standardized on Oracle infrastructure that want AML tightly integrated into the rest of their risk and operations stack.
Top 3 Reasons Why AML Software Matters in 2026
The AML compliance is changing fast. In 2025, regulators and international bodies like FATF imposed even stricter rules, hoping to better fight rampant financial crimes. Only cryptocurrency-related money laundering reached $31.5 billion back in 2023, while traditional channels continue to be exploited through increasingly sophisticated schemes.
And that’s why AML software has become non-negotiable.
Reason 1. Global regulators are coordinating their actions more than ever. The EU’s 6th Anti-Money Laundering Directive already expanded criminal liability to include negligence, meaning “we didn’t know” is no longer a defense, and financial institutions face not just fines but potential criminal prosecution for compliance failures. And by July 10, 2026, the EU’s new AML Authority (AMLA) will issue strict guidelines on business-wide risk assessments, in which non-compliance will pose a risk of license revocation.
Reason 2. A mid-sized bank might process millions of transactions monthly, but reviewing each manually would require an army of analysts. AML software can screen thousands of transactions per second, flagging only those that genuinely warrant investigation. And the faster you detect suspicious activity, the more likely you are to prevent financial loss and satisfy regulatory requirements for timely reporting.
Reason 3. Traditional rule-based systems flag transactions that meet predetermined criteria, such as any transfer exceeding $10,000. Criminals quickly learn these thresholds and structure their activities accordingly. Modern AI-powered systems can come to the rescue and identify anomalies by understanding normal behavior patterns for each customer, making it far harder for bad actors to game the system. Moreover, modern AI-driven AML software can help combat AI-driven crime, such as deepfakes and synthetic identities, by detecting complex, non-linear patterns that human rules would miss.
Final Verdict: Choosing the Right AML Software for Your Business
The right AML software depends on your specific situation. Here’s how you may approach your choice:
- For comprehensive, all-in-one coverage: Ondato delivers exceptional value by combining KYC and AML in a single platform. If you’re building a compliance program from scratch or consolidating vendors, this unified approach reduces complexity while ensuring nothing falls through the cracks between systems. The AI-powered risk scoring adapts to your business, making it particularly valuable for growing organizations whose risk profiles evolve.
Ondato is particularly useful for those operating across multiple regions who need a wide compliance coverage (FATF, EU, etc.) and value having everything integrated. It’s user-friendly and comes with strong certifications (eIDAS, ISO 27001) that give confidence in security and compliance. Ondato can suit banks, fintech startups, payment companies, and even crypto platforms looking for full compliance coverage without stitching together many vendors. - For a digital-focused institution (fintech, neo-bank, crypto exchange): Sumsub is a great fit, as its blend of smooth customer experience and robust compliance makes it perfect for high-growth tech companies. Sumsub will let you onboard users globally with minimal friction while still performing thorough AML checks in the background. The fact that it’s blockchain-aware and popular among crypto firms means it’s keeping pace with new forms of financial services.
- For large banks or enterprises needing an advanced, scalable system: NICE Actimize and Oracle FCCM (AML) are top contenders. NICE Actimize is often favored by tier-1 banks for its breadth and proven track record in enterprise fraud and AML management. It’s best for organizations that need enterprise-wide coverage, integration with fraud systems, and have the resources to manage a comprehensive system. Meanwhile, Oracle’s AML suite is ideal for banks that may already be utilizing Oracle infrastructure or those seeking cutting-edge technology, such as graph analytics and AI, integrated into their compliance programs. Oracle FCCM is known for massive scalability, supporting millions of transactions and very high throughput.
- For businesses seeking analytics and reducing false positives: SAS AML is a good choice, particularly for institutions with strong data science teams or a desire for customization. SAS’s analytics-driven approach means it will allow you to fine-tune detection to your particular risk environment better than almost any off-the-shelf system. This is great for banks dealing with unique customer segments or transaction types where custom models can significantly outperform generic rules. So, for financial institutions that want an “analytics-first” solution and have the resources to leverage it fully, SAS AML is the best fit.
- For smaller banks, FinTechs, or EMIs on a budget: Sanction Scanner is for you, as it provides big-league compliance tools in a small-league package. It offers an affordable yet effective way to meet AML obligations. You get real-time sanctions/PEP screening and transaction monitoring with customization, all in a cloud service that doesn’t require heavy IT investment. It’s easy to implement and use, which is crucial if you have a small compliance team.
- For those who need rich risk data and due diligence capabilities: Dow Jones Risk & Compliance and LexisNexis Risk Solutions are the best fits. These are not transaction monitoring systems per se, but rather critical supplements for screening and research. If you already have a transaction monitoring engine but need to enhance your screening and KYC, implementing Dow Jones or LexisNexis data would be the way to go. And if you lean towards data richness, consider using Dow Jones or LexisNexis, or use them in conjunction with another tool.
Finally, the best AML solution should help you stay compliant, ward off fraud and other crimes, automate tasks, reduce manual workload, and make your customers’ onboarding experience stress-free. Therefore, carefully evaluate your needs before making such an important investment.
If you’re looking for a solution that covers all bases from KYC to ongoing AML, with cutting-edge tech and a user-friendly approach, explore Ondato’s AML compliance solution and see how you can automate your risk management today.
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