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Why the Pay-Per-Verification Model Is Costing Businesses Thousands – And What to Do Instead

Why the Pay-Per-Verification Model Is Costing Businesses Thousands – And What to Do Instead

If you run a website that sells adult content, vapes, gambling products, CBD, or anything age-restricted in the UK, you’re likely exploring ways to stay compliant with the new age verification laws coming into effect on 25 July 2025.

But here’s the problem: most age verification providers use a pay-per-check model — and it can seriously damage your bottom line.

🚨 The Problem with Pay-Per-Verification Pricing

Most providers charge between £0.50 and £2.00 per verification check. That might sound reasonable… until your website starts to scale.

Let’s say you get:

  • 1,000 visitors/month: £500 – £2,000/month
  • 10,000 visitors/month: £5,000 – £20,000/month
  • 100,000 visitors/month: £50,000 – £200,000/month

You’re essentially being penalised for your own growth. The more popular your site becomes, the more you pay — even though you’re offering the same product or service.

💸 Real Price Comparison: Pay-Per-Check Providers

ProviderPer Check PriceMonthly Min.Annual Cost @ 10k checks/month
AgeChecked£0.25None£30,000
Sumsub£1.35£150/month£162,000+
Yoti£30 per bundleN/APrice depends on usage
Trust Swiftly£0.25£49/month£30,000+
Jumio£310/month + usage feesYesVaries based on scale

✅ The 18Verified Advantage: One Price, Unlimited Growth

18Verified flips the model. We’re the only age verification gateway that charges the user, not the business.

  • Users pay just £2/month
  • Businesses pay a flat yearly fee
    • £300/year for Plug & Play
    • £500/year for API access
  • Unlimited verifications
  • One login for all 18Verified sites
  • No per-check fees
  • No growth penalties

This fixed-cost approach gives your business a sustainable, compliant future — especially as traffic increases.

🔒 What’s Included with 18Verified?

  • Full compliance with UK’s Online Safety Act & Ofcom guidelines
  • Card or ID-based verification — no face scans
  • GDPR-compliant data handling
  • Seamless user experience
  • Access to our growing network of 18+ businesses

🧠 Why This Matters Now

As the 25 July 2025 deadline approaches, businesses are racing to become compliant. But if you choose a pay-per-check provider, your long-term costs could spiral.

Switching to a subscription-based model like 18Verified means:

  • No stress about traffic volume
  • No surprise invoices
  • No scaling costs
  • Just simple, affordable compliance

✅ Ready to Save Thousands?

Join 18Verified today — and stop paying for every visitor.

👉 Get Started Now


Why Age Assurance Technology Is Key to Safety by Design | 18Verified

Why Age Assurance Technology Is Key to Safety by Design and Age-Appropriate Online Experiences

Published on 20 November, the UK Government’s Draft Statement of Strategic Priorities for Online Safety outlines its goals for creating safer digital environments. At the core of these priorities is age assurance technology—a key enabler of age-appropriate, privacy-first online experiences.

Understanding the Government’s Online Safety Priorities

  • Safety by Design: Build safer platforms by default, especially for children, and eliminate safe havens for illegal content such as abuse or disinformation.
  • Transparency & Accountability: Ensure tech companies are held responsible for their safety outcomes.
  • Agile Regulation: Monitor and tackle emerging threats like AI-generated content and fraud.
  • Inclusivity & Resilience: Promote digital literacy and social resilience against online harms.
  • Innovation: Encourage the growth of online safety technologies to protect users and promote digital trust.

The Role of Safety by Design

Safety by Design is a proactive framework that integrates safety features from the start of digital product development. However, designing effective safeguards depends on knowing the age of users. Without it, platforms can’t provide suitable protections for children, teens, or adults.

What Is Age Assurance?

Age assurance includes technologies that verify or estimate a user’s age to ensure access to age-appropriate content. These include:

  • AI-powered age estimation (facial or behavioural)
  • ID verification checks
  • Email-based age estimation

Unlike outdated self-declaration methods (“Are you 18+?”), modern age assurance is privacy-preserving, accurate, and designed to minimise friction for users.

How Age Assurance Supports Safer Online Experiences

1. Preventing Harmful Content Exposure

Platforms can restrict adult content, ads, and interactions for under-18s, shielding them from inappropriate material.

2. Tailored Experiences by Age

Children can access curated content and strict privacy controls, while teens may receive tools like reporting features or limited messaging options.

3. Empowering Parental Controls

Accurate age data enables effective parental oversight while supporting a child’s independence.

4. Legal Compliance

Regulations like the UK Online Safety Act and EU Digital Services Act require platforms to design with minors in mind. Age assurance is mandatory for regulatory compliance.

5. Building Trust and Transparency

With stronger protections, users and parents can trust platforms more, strengthening brand loyalty and industry credibility.

Balancing Safety with Privacy

Effective age assurance must respect user privacy. At 18Verified, our solutions include anonymised and GDPR-compliant tools like:

  • Email-based age estimation
  • Photo ID matching
  • Facial age estimation
  • Mobile network and credit card checks

The Future of Age Assurance Technology

As safety standards evolve, age assurance is becoming the digital default. Platforms that adopt these technologies now will stay ahead of compliance demands, avoid fines, and provide better user experiences.

Powered by AI and machine learning, tools like email-based age estimation are fast, frictionless, and preferred by users worldwide. With 99.94% of users having email access, it’s the most inclusive option on the market today.

Conclusion: Age Assurance Is a Digital Imperative

Age assurance technology isn’t just about compliance—it’s about responsibility. It’s the cornerstone of delivering age-appropriate, inclusive, and safe online spaces. As outlined in the Government’s strategy, platforms must act now to embed age assurance into their services by design.

At 18Verified, we help businesses implement highly effective age assurance systems that comply with UK regulations while protecting user privacy. Contact us today to learn more.