Onfido vs Stytch: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Onfido positions itself as "real identity at global scale" while Stytch goes after "authentication infrastructure for modern apps" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. They take different commercial approaches — Onfido uses a enterprise-based model and Stytch a freemium approach, which affects how costs scale as your team grows. Stytch lets you start for free, which means you can validate the fit before committing budget. Onfido requires a paid commitment upfront, so make sure it matches your workflow before signing. Onfido (founded 2012) has had more time to build out its ecosystem and integrations, while Stytch (2020) tends to move faster on modern UX and newer workflows.
At a glance
| Onfido | Stytch | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 79/100 | 82/100 |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Best for | Real identity at global scale | Authentication infrastructure for modern apps |
Pricing comparison
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Onfido | Stytch |
|---|---|---|
| ID document verification | Yes | No |
| Biometric verification | Yes | No |
| Liveness detection | Yes | No |
| 160+ countries | Yes | No |
| KYC workflows | Yes | No |
| Magic links | No | Yes |
| Passkeys | No | Yes |
| OAuth | No | Yes |
| SMS/TOTP MFA | No | Yes |
| Session management | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing Onfido means going without Magic links, Passkeys, OAuth (which Stytch offers). Choosing Stytch means losing ID document verification, Biometric verification, Liveness detection. These are the features that typically drive the final decision — check whether your workflow depends on any of them before committing.
What company size tells you
Stytch (51-200 employees) has the engineering bench to ship features across many fronts but may iterate slower on individual requests. Onfido (501-1000 employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.
Choose Onfido if...
- You're ready to invest from $null/mo
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Choose Stytch if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
Frequently asked questions
Is Onfido or Stytch better?
Stytch scores 82/100 compared to Onfido's 79/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Onfido excels at ease of use (7/10) while Stytch scores 9/10.
How much does Onfido cost compared to Stytch?
Onfido starts at free. Stytch starts at free (free tier available). Onfido is the more affordable option.
Does Onfido or Stytch have a free plan?
Stytch offers a free tier. Onfido does not — its cheapest plan starts at $null/mo.
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