AML compliance tools compared: managed-service markup vs self-serve control
AMLwise charges for managed compliance. AML Assured and AML Simple both start at A$79/month. Here is what you actually get for your money — and why self-serve gives small agencies more control, not less.
AML compliance tools compared: managed-service markup vs self-serve control
You are researching AML compliance tools for your agency ahead of 1 July 2026. You have probably come across at least two pricing models: platforms that sell managed compliance services, and self-serve software tools where you and your team do the work inside the platform.
AML Simple is a self-serve tool. Start with the program wizard free, no card needed, and your agency owns the compliance process from day one.
This post compares the two models factually — what you get, what you give up, and what the realistic costs look like for a small real estate agency.
Two pricing models, one deadline
Managed compliance services handle your AML obligations on your behalf — building your program, running checks, filing reports. Self-serve platforms give your agency the tools to do those things yourselves.
AMLwise is a managed service targeting real estate agents and other Tranche 2 businesses. They build your AML policy, handle risk assessments, and submit suspicious matter reports to AUSTRAC on your behalf.
AML Assured and AML Simple are both self-serve platforms. Both start at A$79/month for a basic tier. They are not the same product — the differences matter.
What AUSTRAC actually requires your agency to own
Under the AML/CTF Act 2006, your agency is the reporting entity. Regardless of which tool or service you use, you remain legally responsible for:
- Your AML/CTF program — documented policies and controls
- Your risk assessment — written analysis specific to your business
- Staff training — completed before 1 July 2026 and annually after
- Customer due diligence (CDD) — for every client before you broker their transaction
- Beneficial ownership checks — for company and trust clients
- Sanctions and PEP screening — DFAT consolidated list and politically exposed persons
- SMR and TTR filing — suspicious matter reports and threshold transaction reports
- 7-year record keeping
- Annual Compliance Report lodged with AUSTRAC
This matters when you evaluate managed services: a provider can do the work, but your agency holds the obligation. If AUSTRAC audits your business, it is your compliance program, your records, and your responses that are reviewed — not your service provider's.
The managed-service model: AMLwise
AMLwise's positioning is "done-for-you" compliance. They build your AML program, run your training, handle your KYC/identity infrastructure, and submit AUSTRAC reports on your behalf.
What managed services offer:
- Less internal work — you do not need to learn the platform
- A provider who handles the complexity on your behalf
What managed services cost: Managed compliance services are typically priced significantly above self-serve software — often 3 to 5 times more than a standalone platform — because they include professional services time, not just software access. AMLwise does not publish specific pricing on their website; you would need to contact them for a quote.
What you give up with a managed service:
- Visibility: You may not have a clear view of what checks have been run, what records exist, and what is outstanding. AUSTRAC audits require you to produce records — if those records sit primarily with a service provider, access can be delayed.
- Internal capability: Your staff do not build familiarity with CDD processes. When the service provider is not available, your team may not know what to do.
- Cost predictability: Managed service pricing often changes with business volume. Transparent, flat-rate subscription pricing is easier to budget for a small agency.
The self-serve model: AML Assured and AML Simple
Both AML Assured and AML Simple start at A$79/month. They are both self-serve tools. Here is where they diverge.
AML Assured — Compliance Lite (A$79/month)
| What's included | Details |
|---|---|
| AML program builder | Yes |
| Risk assessment | Yes |
| Team training | Yes |
| PEP / Sanctions screening | Yes |
| KYC identity verification | Not included on Lite tier |
| KYB business verification | Not included on Lite tier |
| Client limit | Not stated — quota model applies on higher tiers |
| Permanent free tier | No — free access ends 1 July 2026 |
AML Assured's A$79/mo Compliance Lite does not include KYC identity verification. To run electronic identity checks on clients, you move to their Essentials tier at A$149/month — which includes 5 KYC and 2 KYB checks, with overages at A$13.20/KYC and A$28/KYB.
Their model is quota-based at every paid tier: you have a monthly allowance of verification checks, and you pay per check above the allowance.
AML Simple — Starter (A$79/month)
| What's included | Details |
|---|---|
| AML program generator (wizard + PDF) | Yes — consistent with AUSTRAC's Program Starter Kit structure |
| Risk assessment | Basic (guided wizard, 4 AUSTRAC categories) |
| Staff training | Basic self-training module |
| DFAT sanctions screening | Yes — included, all tiers including Foundation (free) |
| PEP screening | 5 checks/month included; A$2/check above that |
| Electronic ID verification (eKYC/DVS) | A$5/check (not included in monthly fee — add as needed) |
| Client limit | Unlimited clients on all paid tiers |
| Permanent free tier | Yes — Foundation tier, always free, up to 5 clients, no card |
At AML Simple's Starter tier, you can onboard as many clients as your agency handles without hitting a quota. Electronic identity checks cost A$5 each — you pay for what you use, not a monthly credit pack.
Cost comparison at realistic volumes
Scenario: Solo buyer's agent, 10 new clients per month, 10 PEP screens, 5 eKYC checks
| AML Simple (Starter) | AML Assured (Essentials) | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | A$79 | A$149 |
| PEP screening | A$10 (5 included, 5 × A$2) | Included (within 5 KYC bundle) |
| eKYC / identity verification | A$25 (5 × A$5) | A$39.60 (3 overage × A$13.20) |
| Total | A$114/month | A$188/month |
To access electronic identity verification at all on AML Assured, you need their Essentials tier (A$149/mo) — not their Lite tier (A$79/mo).
Scenario: Small agency, 3 staff, 30 new clients per month, 20 PEP screens, 15 eKYC checks
| AML Simple (Professional, A$149/mo) | AML Assured (Professional, A$349/mo) | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | A$149 | A$349 |
| PEP screening | Included (20/mo) | Included (within 12 KYC bundle) |
| eKYC / identity verification | A$25 (5 over included 10, × A$5) | A$154 (11 overage × A$13.20 + 2 KYB overage × A$28) |
| Total | A$174/month | ~A$503/month |
At this usage level, AML Assured's Professional tier costs approximately 3× more than AML Simple's Professional tier. The gap is driven by their per-check overage pricing structure.
All prices sourced from publicly listed AML Assured pricing as of 7 June 2026. Verify current pricing at amlassured.com before making purchasing decisions.
The permanent free tier difference
AML Simple's Foundation tier is permanently free — not a time-limited promotion that ends 1 July 2026.
- Up to 5 clients
- DFAT sanctions screening included
- AML/CTF program preparation checklist
- No credit card, no expiry
After 1 July 2026, AML Simple Foundation remains free. AML Assured's free access period ends on 1 July 2026; from that date, their platform is paid-only.
For agencies that want to test a compliance tool before committing, the permanent Foundation tier is a genuine try-before-you-buy option — not a ticking clock.
What to look for when comparing any AML tool
When evaluating compliance software for your agency, check these before deciding:
- Does the entry tier include identity verification, or is it quota-gated to a higher tier? At AML Simple, electronic identity checks are A$5/check on Starter — you pay per use, not per tier jump.
- Is there a client limit? Quota-based models penalise growth. AML Simple Starter has unlimited clients.
- Does the platform generate an AML/CTF program document? AML Simple's program wizard produces a PDF consistent with AUSTRAC's Real Estate Program Starter Kit structure. Not all platforms include this.
- Is pricing transparent? If you cannot find a price on the website, expect a sales process and negotiated pricing.
- What happens to your records if you stop using the platform? Your agency needs 7-year record access regardless of which tool you use.
Which model is right for your agency?
Choose a managed service if: your agency has no capacity to run compliance processes internally, and you are willing to pay a significant premium for someone else to handle it. Verify that you will have access to your records for AUSTRAC purposes, and understand exactly what your liability position is if the service provider makes an error.
Choose self-serve software if: you want to own the process, build internal capability, and control costs. Most small real estate agencies — 1 to 10 staff — can meet their AUSTRAC obligations using a self-serve tool without compliance expertise. The AML/CTF Act requires you to do the work; the right tool makes that work manageable.
AML Simple is built for independent real estate agencies with no existing compliance infrastructure. The program wizard walks your team through every AUSTRAC obligation. The Foundation tier is free to start — no card, no deadline.
Related reading
- AUSTRAC Tranche 2: the complete guide for real estate agencies — every obligation, every deadline, what happens if you miss them
- PEXA Clear vs AML Simple: identity check vs full compliance program — how verification-only tools relate to full compliance platforms
- What is an AML/CTF program and does your agency need one?
- Customer due diligence for real estate agencies: a complete guide
This content is general information only and does not constitute legal or AML/CTF compliance advice. AML Simple is a compliance workflow tool — your agency remains responsible for meeting all AUSTRAC obligations under the AML/CTF Act 2006. Competitor pricing sourced from publicly listed information as at 7 June 2026; verify current pricing directly with each provider before making purchasing decisions. AML Simple does not claim AUSTRAC endorsement — our program wizard is designed to be consistent with AUSTRAC's Real Estate AML/CTF Program Starter Kit structure.