Best OFAC Sanctions Screening APIs in 2026
Top APIs for integrating real-time OFAC/SDN screening into financial products. We tested pricing, API latency, setup friction, and screening coverage across wallet addresses, names, and jurisdictions.
Whether you're building a crypto exchange, a fintech dashboard, or an AI agent that transacts autonomously, you need an OFAC sanctions screening API that checks every counterparty before funds move. Under strict liability, the operator — not the payment rail — carries the compliance burden. Below are the four APIs we recommend in 2026, from free developer-tier tools to enterprise compliance platforms.
1. SanctionsAI
Free API · Agent-firstFree OFAC sanctions screening API purpose-built for developers and AI agents. Screens 782 OFAC-sanctioned crypto wallets across EVM, Bitcoin, Solana, and Tron — plus 19,086 SDN names and 16 embargoed jurisdictions — in under 100ms. Free tier gives 5 checks/day with no API key, no signup, and no sales call. Exposed as MCP tools, HTTP API, and CLI. Paid tiers from $19/month with audit logging and higher rate limits. MIT-licensed core available via pip install sanctions-mcp.
Best for: Developers, startups, AI agents that transact autonomously, and anyone who wants to prove compliance works before paying.
Pricing: Free tier · $19/mo Dev · $99/mo Pro
2. Chainalysis
Enterprise · Crypto focusChainalysis provides blockchain analytics, wallet screening, and transaction monitoring trusted by exchanges, DeFi protocols, and law enforcement. Their KYT (Know Your Transaction) and Reactor tools cover sanctions screening alongside broader blockchain intelligence. Pricing starts at approximately $50,000/year and requires a sales process — suited for organizations with dedicated compliance teams, not individual developers or agents. API response times are measured in seconds, not milliseconds.
Best for: Crypto exchanges, institutional DeFi, law enforcement investigations, and compliance teams needing full blockchain forensics beyond sanctions screening alone.
Pricing: Enterprise · ~$50,000+/year · Sales-led onboarding
3. Refinitiv World-Check
Enterprise data · Legacy standardRefinitiv World-Check (now part of LSEG) is the incumbent standard for PEP, sanctions, and adverse media screening. It covers over 1,400 sanctions lists globally and is used by most major banks for KYC and AML workflows. The data is comprehensive but integration is complex — designed for human analysts reviewing reports, not programmatic agent-payment flows. Pricing requires an enterprise contract; expect $20,000–$100,000+/year depending on data scope and user seats.
Best for: Banks, large financial institutions, and regulated entities that need broad global list coverage and have dedicated compliance operations teams.
Pricing: Enterprise · $20K–$100K+/year · Contract-based
4. ComplyAdvantage
AI screening · FintechComplyAdvantage uses AI to screen names against sanctions, PEP, and adverse media lists with automated risk scoring. Their API is developer-friendly compared to legacy vendors, and they offer a 14-day free trial with sandbox access. However, their screening is name-based — they do not cover crypto wallet addresses, which is a gap for any product handling on-chain payments. Pricing is usage-based, typically starting at a few hundred dollars per month and scaling with volume.
Best for: Fintechs, neobanks, and payment processors that need AI-powered name and entity screening with a modern API.
Pricing: Free trial · Usage-based from ~$200/mo
Comparison table
| Feature | SanctionsAI | Chainalysis | World-Check | ComplyAdvantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | ✅ 5 checks/day | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ 14-day trial |
| Crypto wallet screening | ✅ 782 addresses | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| SDN name screening | ✅ 19,086 entries | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| API latency | ✅ <100ms | Seconds | Seconds | Seconds |
| MCP support | ✅ Native | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Self-hosted | ✅ MIT · pip install | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Built for AI agents | ✅ Yes | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
How we evaluated
Each option was assessed on five criteria: (1) feature depth — does it cover wallets, names, and jurisdictions, not just one dimension; (2) pricing model and transparency — can you test before committing to a contract; (3) API latency — sub-second response is the bar for inline payment screening; (4) developer experience — is there an MCP server, pip package, or free tier with no signup; and (5) agent-readiness — can an autonomous AI agent invoke the API programmatically without human intervention in the loop. Options that required enterprise contracts or human analysts for triage were ranked lower.
See also: The 2026 Agent-Payment Sanctions Exposure Report for a quantitative framework (the agentmail Sanctions Exposure Index) for assessing your own deployment's OFAC exposure.