Identity data and fraud
Tessio vs GBG
GBG is a large, listed identity data and fraud company built on a global data network. Tessio is a narrow age verification API that stores no documents or dates of birth and checks age with the EU age verification app (the EU Digital Identity Wallet follows once our access certificate is issued). These two are about as far apart in approach as this list gets.
GBG verifies people against a huge network of over 200 data partners, adds location intelligence through Loqate and layers fraud prevention on top. It is an enterprise scale, data network approach that is strong for data driven, low friction verification and address validation across many markets.
Tessio does not touch a data network. It proves one claim, over 18, from a user wallet credential and returns a signed yes or no with no document or date of birth kept. Where GBG matches you against large identity databases, Tessio asks the user to prove age from a wallet they control.
Tessio and GBG, side by side
| Tessio | GBG | |
|---|---|---|
| Core approach | OpenID4VP presentations from the EU age verification app (EU Digital Identity Wallet to follow) | Data and database identity checks across 200 plus partners, plus location intelligence and fraud tools |
| What you get back | A signed over 18 yes or no | A data driven identity or address verification result |
| Personal data stored | The yes or no and your reference. No date of birth, no document image, no selfie | Checks people against partner identity data; retention is set by GBG |
| EU Digital Identity Wallet | The EU age verification app works today. The EU Digital Identity Wallet follows once our access certificate is issued. | No EUDI native wallet verifier we could find. The model is data network centric, so verify |
| Self hosting | Yes. Open source .NET core under Apache-2.0 | No. Hosted service |
| Full KYC and AML | No. Age assurance only | Yes. Identity and fraud |
| Built on | Open source ASP.NET Core (OpenID4VP, SD-JWT VC, mdoc) | Proprietary |
| Primary market | EU age assurance for regulated platforms | Enterprise identity data and fraud prevention |
We try to keep this fair and current from public sources. If something about GBG is out of date, tell us at hello@tessio.eu and we'll fix it.
Where GBG is strong
- A massive global identity data network plus Loqate location intelligence, strong for low friction data driven checks.
- Public company scale and breadth, with a combined identity, fraud and location suite.
- Well suited to large enterprises, banks, telco and retail that need data based verification.
When to choose GBG over us
If you want data network identity verification, address validation and fraud prevention, GBG offers a breadth Tessio doesn't try to match. When your job is large scale identity and fraud rather than a privacy minimal age gate, a data network provider is the right tool.
When teams pick Tessio
Pick Tessio when the requirement is age and you would rather prove it from a wallet than match against identity databases. You get a signed over 18 boolean with no documents or dates of birth stored, and the .NET core is open source and self hostable.
Frequently asked
Is Tessio a GBG alternative?
For age verification, yes, though the approaches are very different. GBG matches people against large identity data networks, while Tessio proves age with the EU age verification app and stores no documents or dates of birth. For a privacy minimal age gate Tessio fits; for enterprise identity and fraud GBG does far more.
Does GBG support the EU Digital Identity Wallet?
We could not find a native EUDI Wallet verifier from GBG, whose model is data network centric. If native EUDI support matters to your project, confirm the current state with GBG directly.
Can I use both?
Yes. GBG can handle enterprise identity and fraud where you need it, while Tessio handles the age gate where a wallet native yes or no is enough and you want to keep no documents or dates of birth.
Compare and explore
Age verification API
See if Tessio fits
Signup is open and a test project works as soon as you create one. Sending real traffic needs us to switch your organisation to live mode, so that part stays a conversation. Pricing is published, with no quote needed.