Stile.iD

Product Introduction

1. Definition: Stile.iD (also known as Stile) is a developer-first Identity Verification and Fraud Prevention API that provides infrastructure for identity verification. It enables applications to verify users in real-time using document capture, biometric liveness detection, face matching, mobile driver's licenses (mDL), and age checks. The platform delivers a signed pass/fail verification result via webhooks without requiring developers to store raw identity documents.
2. Core Value Proposition: Stile.iD exists to help businesses reduce identity fraud at critical points of action—such as user onboarding, account recovery, payout detail changes, and marketplace transactions. It offers a "Proof with Privacy" approach, deleting raw ID images and biometric templates after verification by default, while retaining a signed audit trail. With self-service, usage-based pricing and integration in minutes, it replaces expensive in-house verification infrastructure and reduces compliance risk.

Main Features

1. Multi-Modal Identity Verification: Stile.iD performs comprehensive identity checks by combining document capture, liveness detection, face matching, mobile driver's license (mDL) verification, and age checks. The process starts when a verification session is created via API, shareable link, or QR code. The user opens the link in their browser—no app download required—and scans a physical ID or presents a digital ID from Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Liveness detection (passive) and face match run on the server using Microsoft Azure Face liveness and document AI, and AWS face match. A full check resolves in approximately two seconds. The system supports ISO/IEC 18013-5 mDL and W3C Verifiable Credentials, ensuring interoperability with modern digital identity standards.
2. Privacy-First Data Handling and Signed Results: Unlike traditional identity verification services that store sensitive documents, Stile.iD deletes source images and biometric templates upon completion by default. The platform returns a signed webhook containing a clear pass/fail result and an audit trail, but never the raw identity files. The signed result is verifiable via a stile-signature, providing tamper-evident proof for compliance. Data retention policies are transparent: source images and biometric templates are delete-on-completion, while the pass/fail signal is retained as the customer's audit record. The infrastructure maintains TLS 1.3 in transit and AES-256 at rest, with GDPR readiness and SOC 2 readiness phase.
3. Flexible Triggering and Workflow Automation: Developers can trigger verification checks through three methods: a REST API call from their backend, a shareable link sent via SMS or CRM, or a QR code for in-person scenarios like pickup or delivery. The dashboard includes a drag-and-drop workflow builder that lets teams reorder verification steps (e.g., document scan → liveness → face match → age rule) without code. Jurisdiction rules can be applied per check, automatically enforcing age and identity requirements based on state or national regulations. The platform provides a sandbox environment, production API keys, and live session monitoring with real-time status.
4. Standards Compliance and Interoperability: Stile.iD supports major identity standards including ISO/IEC 18013-5 for mobile driver's licenses, W3C Verifiable Credentials for cryptographically signed identity claims, and credentials from Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. This ensures that businesses can accept digital IDs from wallets alongside physical documents. The platform is built on trusted infrastructure: Microsoft Azure for face liveness and document AI, AWS for face match and encrypted storage, Vercel for edge hosting, Fly.io for API and worker runtime, Neon for serverless Postgres, Stripe for usage-based billing, Cloudflare for bot defense, and Twilio for SMS link delivery. Accessibility is addressed with WCAG 2.2 AA compliance.

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: Identity fraud is a major problem for online businesses, especially during user onboarding, account recovery, payout detail changes, and marketplace transactions. Traditional verification methods are vulnerable to synthetic IDs, replayed identity documents, and deepfake attacks. In-house identity verification is expensive to build and maintain due to constantly changing document formats, evolving fraud patterns, shifting state and national regulations, and the need for audit evidence. Stile.iD addresses these pain points by providing a real-time, API-driven solution that reduces fraud, ensures compliance, and eliminates the burden of storing and securing sensitive identity data.
2. Target Audience: Stile.iD is designed for developers, product managers, fraud prevention teams, compliance officers, and operations leads at fintech companies, marketplaces, logistics platforms, age-restricted services, and any application where identity verification is critical. Specific personas include React or Node.js developers seeking a quick API integration, compliance managers needing jurisdiction-aware age verification, and marketplace operators requiring vendor onboarding and in-person pickup verification. The self-service model appeals to startups and scale-ups that need usage-based pricing without sales calls.
3. Use Cases: Key use cases include: (1) User onboarding for financial services or marketplaces, verifying identity before account creation; (2) Account recovery, ensuring the person requesting access is the legitimate owner; (3) Payout detail changes, preventing fraudsters from redirecting funds; (4) High-value transactions, adding a liveness and face match check before money moves; (5) Age-restricted purchases, such as alcohol, tobacco, or gambling, with jurisdiction-aware age checks at checkout or pickup; (6) Vendor onboarding for logistics and supply chain, verifying vendors and their representatives; (7) In-person verification at pickup, delivery, or entry using QR codes; and (8) Regulatory compliance audits, maintaining a signed audit trail for each check.

Unique Advantages

1. Differentiation: Stile.iD stands out from traditional identity verification providers by not storing raw identity documents. Its delete-on-completion default for source images and biometric templates is a significant privacy advantage. Unlike competitors that require lengthy sales processes and minimum commitments, Stile.iD offers transparent, public pricing with a free tier (100 full checks per month), pay-as-you-go at ~$0.38 per full check, and volume discounts. Integration is developer-friendly with a single API, shareable links, or QR codes, and no app download for end-users. The platform combines document verification, liveness, face match, mDL support, and age checks into one unified API, whereas many competitors require separate integrations.
2. Key Innovation: The core innovation is the "Get Proof with Privacy" architecture: Stile.iD performs biometric liveness and face matching on server-side AI from Microsoft Azure and AWS, then returns only a signed verification result via webhook, never the raw identity files. This approach reduces data breach risk and simplifies GDPR compliance. The use of ISO/IEC 18013-5 mDL and W3C Verifiable Credentials enables future-proof digital ID acceptance. The drag-and-drop workflow builder and jurisdiction rule engine automate complex compliance logic without code. The platform's ability to resolve a full check in about two seconds—with no app install—provides a seamless user experience that reduces drop-off during verification.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is Stile.iD and how does it work? Stile.iD is an identity verification and fraud prevention API that lets developers add ID checks, liveness detection, face matching, and age verification to their applications. To use it, you create a verification session via API, shareable link, or QR code. The user opens the link in their browser, scans a physical ID or presents a digital ID from a wallet, and completes a liveness check. The full check resolves in about two seconds, and you receive a signed webhook with a pass/fail result. Raw identity documents are deleted on completion by default.
2. How does Stile.iD protect user privacy and comply with data regulations? Stile.iD is designed with privacy-by-default: source images and biometric templates are deleted upon verification completion, and only the signed pass/fail signal is retained as an audit record. Data is encrypted with TLS 1.3 in transit and AES-256 at rest. The platform is GDPR ready and in SOC 2 readiness phase, with data residency options for enterprise customers. The signed webhooks provide tamper-evident audit trails for compliance.
3. What types of identity documents and digital IDs does Stile.iD support? Stile.iD supports physical document scanning (e.g., driver's licenses, passports) and digital IDs from mobile wallets, including ISO/IEC 18013-5 mobile driver's licenses (mDL), Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and W3C Verifiable Credentials. This allows users to verify with either a physical ID or a digital credential stored on their phone.
4. How much does Stile.iD cost and what is the pricing model? Stile.iD offers a free tier with 100 full checks per month forever, no credit card required. The pay-as-you-go plan is approximately $0.38 per full check (ID + biometric + age + liveness), with component pricing starting at $0.05 (liveness) and individual checks like ID document at ~$0.23, biometric face match at ~$0.10, and age check at ~$0.10. Volume discounts auto-apply, and there are no monthly minimums or sales calls required. Enterprise plans offer custom SLAs, data residency, and committed-volume rates.
5. How quickly can I integrate Stile.iD into my application? Integration is designed to be completed in minutes. Developers can use the public documentation and quickstart guide to create an account, get an API key, and make their first API call. The platform provides a sandbox environment for testing and production keys for live checks. You can trigger checks via REST API, shareable link, or QR code, and listen for signed webhooks. The dashboard includes a drag-and-drop workflow builder and live session monitoring.