Sift vs Kairos
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Sift starts at See pricing page and Kairos starts at $49/mo. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Real-time risk scoring
- Payment fraud protection
- Account takeover defense
- Fake account detection
- Automated decision workflows
- AI agents for fraud teams
- Selfie-to-ID verification
- Face recognition API
- Real-time image processing
- On-premise deployment
- Free API tier
| Feature | Sift | Kairos |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Machine-learning fraud prevention for payments and user accounts | Face-based identity verification and recognition API |
| Category | Legal, finance & HR | Legal, finance & HR |
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting price | See pricing page | $49/mo |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Made by | Sift | Kairos |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Sift starts at See pricing page and Kairos starts at $49/mo. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Free
Free
- 100 identity verification calls
- No credit card
IDV Pro
$49/mo
- Includes 100 API calls
- Full biometric identity verification
- Price drops with volume
On-Prem
Contact sales
- Face recognition on your servers
Prices in USD, checked Oct 29, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Sift
- Covers payments, logins and sign-ups
- Network data from many businesses
- Documented score API
- Expert services available
- No public pricing
- Demo required before buying
- Needs engineering work to send events
Kairos
- Free calls to test before paying
- Can be installed on-premise
- Volume discounts on transactions
- Pro plan includes only 100 calls
- Face data raises privacy duties
- Few details on supported SDKs
Which one should you choose?
Choose Sift if you want:
- Covers payments, logins and sign-ups
- Network data from many businesses
- Documented score API
Watch out: no public pricing.
Choose Kairos if you want:
- Free calls to test before paying
- Can be installed on-premise
- Volume discounts on transactions
Watch out: pro plan includes only 100 calls.
Sift vs Kairos FAQ
What is the difference between Sift and Kairos?
Sift: Machine-learning fraud prevention for payments and user accounts. Kairos: Face-based identity verification and recognition API. Both are legal, finance & hr tools.
Is Sift or Kairos cheaper?
Sift starts at See pricing page and Kairos starts at $49/mo. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Sift and Kairos have free plans?
Sift: No. Kairos: Yes.
Who makes Sift?
Sift is made by Sift, based in United States.
Who makes Kairos?
Kairos is made by Kairos, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Sift or Kairos?
Choose Sift if you value covers payments, logins and sign-ups and network data from many businesses. Choose Kairos if you value free calls to test before paying and can be installed on-premise.