Comparison
Verifyme vs collecting ID photos over WhatsApp
Many Sri Lankan businesses still ask customers to send a photo of their NIC over WhatsApp or email. It works, until a blurry photo, a borrowed card or a lost phone becomes a problem. Here is the difference.
| Verifyme | Manual ID checks over WhatsApp or email | |
|---|---|---|
| How customers send ID | ||
| How customers send ID | Guided capture on their own phone, with blur and glare checks | A photo sent in a chat or email |
| Is the person really there? | ||
| Is the person really there? | Live selfie with a face guide | Not checked |
| Languages | ||
| Languages | English, Sinhala and Tamil | Whatever the staff member writes |
| Result | ||
| Result | A clear outcome and a review queue for exceptions | A staff member’s judgement |
| Where records live | ||
| Where records live | One workspace with history, notes and downloadable reports | Staff phones, chats and inboxes |
| Personal data | ||
| Personal data | Only permitted fields kept, with access control | Full images copied across devices |
| Cost | ||
| Cost | Per-verification plans, free sandbox | Staff time |
Reviewed October 2026 from publicly available information. Features and prices change — check with each provider before deciding.
Choose Verifyme if
- You verify customers every week
- You need records you can show an auditor or partner
- You want to keep ID images off staff phones
Choose Manual ID checks over WhatsApp or email if
- You verify a few people a year
- You meet every customer in person and see the original card
Questions
Before you decide.
Does Verifyme work with old and new NICs?
Yes, as well as passports and driving licences, depending on the workflow you choose.
How does this help with the PDPA?
Verifyme keeps only the details you are permitted to keep, with access control and a history of changes — rather than copies of ID images on staff phones. Your legal adviser should confirm your obligations.
Can we add it to our website?
Yes — by link, an embeddable widget, a WordPress plugin or the API.
