Below are affordable, small‑firm–friendly AML/KYC solutions (identity verification, sanctions/PEP screening, transaction monitoring or combinations) with their key strengths, approximate entry pricing where available, and quick pros/cons so you can compare them and pick what fits your firm.

Short recommendation up front

• If you need low cost per check and fast onboarding: consider iDenfy, ComplyCube, ComplyCube‑style vendors or pay‑as‑you‑go KYC providers (good for low monthly volumes). (cotocus.com)
• If you need simple filings / BOI help (non‑technical) and low cost: FinCEN Shield / filing services can be inexpensive for specific US filings. (tekpon.com)
• If you expect growth or need enterprise‑grade global data, budget for Trulioo, ComplyAdvantage, LexisNexis or Sumsub—these are powerful but often have higher, custom pricing. (Contact sales for exact quotes.)

1. ComplyCube — balanced, low entry, good for small fintechs

• What it does: ID verification, biometric/liveness, sanctions & PEP screening, ongoing monitoring, no‑code automation rules and a developer API/SDK. Marketed for startups/SMBs with a low point of entry. (ComplyCube.com)
• Why it’s good for small firms: Built for quick onboarding and lower volumes; ranked well for ROI and ease of implementation. (ComplyCube.com)
• Pricing: Marketed as “low point of entry” — you will need to contact sales for exact small‑business plans; many vendors offer pay‑as‑you‑go or starter tiers. (Vendor pages usually give quotes). (ComplyCube.com)
• Pros: Fast setup, good support, low friction for customers. Cons: May have limits on advanced transaction monitoring without add‑ons.

2. iDenfy — low per‑check cost, fast verifications

• What it does: ID document verification, liveness checks, AML screening (sanctions/PEP), supports many ID types and countries. (cotocus.com)
• Why it’s good for small firms: Specifically noted as budget‑friendly for startups/SMBs; some vendors advertise checks starting ≈ $0.20 each (varies by region and check type). (cotocus.com)
• Pricing: Often pay‑as‑you‑go or low monthly plans; check vendor pricing page for current per‑check rates. (cotocus.com)
• Pros: Low cost per check, quick integration. Cons: KYB (business) features may be weaker; larger enterprise features limited.

3. Shufti Pro, Veriff, Vouched — straightforward IDV with usage pricing

• What they do: Document verification, biometrics, AML/sanctions screening add‑ons; developer APIs and prebuilt UI. (sourceforge.net)
• Why for small firms: Clear usage‑based pricing models, flexible scaling as volumes grow. (sourceforge.net)
• Pricing: Many start with modest monthly fees + per‑check cost; specifics vary by region and check complexity. (sourceforge.net)
• Pros: Transparent usage billing, simple integration. Cons: You may need separate transaction‑monitoring/AML rules engine if you need deeper monitoring.

4. ComplyCube/ComplyCube‑like RegTechs & AML Wizard — low monthly starter plans

• What they do: All‑in‑one screening (sanctions/PEP), CDD/CDD+EDD options, some include templates and compliance support. AML Wizard advertises starter tiers around $50–$150/month for small profile counts (vendor claims). (amlwizard.com)
• Why for small firms: Bundled compliance features, predictable monthly pricing at low volumes. (amlwizard.com)
• Pricing example: AML Wizard lists Starter $50/mo (up to 1,000 profiles) and Small Business $150/mo plans on its pricing page — verify current pricing with vendor. (amlwizard.com)
• Pros: Good value for bundled features; Cons: Must confirm coverage of required watchlists for your jurisdictions.

5. FinCEN Shield / specialist filing & BOI services — for specific US regulatory tasks

• What it does: Focused services like BOI filings and specific compliance paperwork for US entities; low per‑filing pricing options. Good complement if you only need US filing support rather than full AML stack. (tekpon.com)
• Pricing: Example vendor lists plans starting at $149 per filing (single owner). (tekpon.com)
• Pros: Very low cost for limited, specific regulatory tasks. Cons: Not a complete KYC/transaction monitoring solution.

Other vendors to consider (often higher cost or enterprise): Trulioo, ComplyAdvantage, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Sumsub — excellent coverage and data depth but usually require custom quotes and higher budgets for comprehensive coverage.

How to choose the right affordable solution (quick checklist)

• Scope: Do you need only onboarding (ID checks) or full AML (sanctions/PEP screening + ongoing transaction monitoring + SAR reporting)? Pick a provider that matches scope.
• Volume & pricing model: Low volume = pay‑as‑you‑go/per‑check is usually cheapest. Predictable monthly volumes = a capped monthly plan can be more cost‑efficient.
• Jurisdiction & watchlists: Confirm the vendor covers the sanctions/PEP lists and country ID types you need (US OFAC + local/state lists, plus any international lists relevant to your customers).
• KYB needs: If you onboard businesses, verify KYB support for beneficial owner checks and corporate searches.
• Integration: Look for SDKs, low‑code/no‑code flows, and sandbox/test environment to accelerate deployment.
• False positives & case management: Good rule engines and case‑management reduce manual review time (and cost).
• Data retention, privacy & vendor contract: Ensure data residency and retention meet US/regulatory requirements and examine SLAs for uptime and support.
• Trial & references: Use free trials or sandbox credits and ask for small‑firm references.

Next practical step (fast)

• Shortlist 2–3 vendors above (e.g., ComplyCube or iDenfy + Shufti Pro or Vouched), request pricing for your expected monthly checks, ask for a sandbox and a written list of covered watchlists/PEP databases, then run a pilot with real sample data to measure false positive rates and onboarding time.

Sources / where I pulled pricing and claims

• ComplyCube — vendor positioning and SMB suitability, G2 recognition. (ComplyCube.com)
• iDenfy — described as budget‑friendly for startups/SMBs; per‑check pricing reference. (cotocus.com)
• AML Wizard — example starter pricing tiers (vendor pricing page). (amlwizard.com)
• Shufti Pro / AML Wizard / general small‑business lists — aggregated vendor listings and comparison pages. (sourceforge.net)
• FinCEN Shield — example BOI filing pricing for US filings. (tekpon.com)

If you want, I can:

• Narrow this to vendors that explicitly publish small‑business starter pricing and prepare a 2‑column comparison (features vs approximate costs) for 3 finalists; or
• Draft an email/RFP template you can send to vendors to get comparable quotes and SLAs.

Which follow‑up would you prefer: a short comparison table for 3 vendors (I’ll pick likely best matches) or a vendor RFP/email template?