PEXA Clear and AML Guard are both designed to help Australian property professionals meet their AML/CTF obligations under Tranche 2. But they are built on different foundations, serve different parts of the transaction lifecycle, and take different approaches to pricing, scope, and compliance depth.
This comparison is intended as a buyer’s decision aid. We have tried to be accurate and fair about both platforms. Where we are less certain about a PEXA Clear capability, we say so. If you find anything that needs correcting, please let us know.
Last reviewed: 13 September 2026
Update, September 2026: AML Guard has been in production with Australian reporting entities since Tranche 2 obligations commenced on 1 July 2026. It is offered month-to-month or on a 12-month term, whichever suits the firm. The agent portal now shows each agent the tipping-off-safe status of their own cases, with opt-in SMS updates, without exposing the underlying CDD record.
Background
PEXA Clear is a new AML/CTF compliance product from PEXA Group, built in partnership with FrankieOne. Registrations opened 31 March 2026. PEXA Group is best known for PEXA Exchange, the dominant electronic property settlement platform.
AML Guard is an AML/CTF compliance platform built by PKW Consulting, purpose-designed for Australian real estate agencies, conveyancers, and property lawyers.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | AML Guard | PEXA Clear |
|---|---|---|
| IDENTITY & SCREENING | ||
| Identity verification | Biometric face match via secure link or SMS. Client self-serves on their own device. Results flow back into the compliance case automatically. | Identity verification with selfies and government-issued IDs. Built in partnership with FrankieOne. |
| Sanctions & PEP screening | Global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media datasets including DFAT, UN, EU, and OFAC. | Sanctions, PEP, and adverse media screening included. |
| Adverse media | Included in all CDD checks. | Included. |
| Deceased checks | DVS integration for death register checks (Australian Death Check). | Not clearly described in current public materials. |
| Entity types | Individuals, companies, trusts, SMSFs. | KYB/KYC checks described. Specific entity types supported should be confirmed directly with PEXA Clear. |
| CLIENT ONBOARDING | ||
| Client intake portal | Client Intake Portal: agency-branded secure link or supervised tablet mode. Client self-enters personal details, declarations, and source of funds. Payment and biometric identity verification are linked in the same client flow. For entity matters, beneficial owner portal links are generated automatically from the initial submission. The officer receives a substantially complete, audit-ready case without manual re-entry. | PEXA Clear’s public materials describe identity verification and compliance workflows positioned alongside the settlement lifecycle. Whether PEXA Clear offers a self-service intake portal where the client self-enters personal details, declarations, and source of funds with payment and IDV in one linked client flow is not clearly described in current public materials. |
| BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP | ||
| UBO identification | Automated ASIC chain tracing, recursive company + relational extracts up to 5 levels deep. Interactive visual ownership tree with effective ownership percentages. | KYB checks described. Specific methodology for beneficial ownership tracing (manual vs automated ASIC tracing, ownership-tree visualisation) is not clearly described in current public materials. |
| RISK ASSESSMENT & MONITORING | ||
| Risk scoring | 48-factor risk scoring engine across six risk categories. Automated scoring with officer review. | Risk assessment with actionable guidance described. |
| Ongoing monitoring | Automated re-screening at risk-based intervals with change detection alerts. | Continuous monitoring included. |
| CDD & COMPLIANCE WORKFLOW | ||
| CDD workflow | Guided wizard: identity verification, screening, risk assessment, ECDD triggers, officer sign-off. Structured case lifecycle. | Compliance workflow with identity verification, screening, risk assessment, and audit trails. |
| AML/CTF program | Program document management with version control, approval workflows, and compliance calendar. | Broader program-governance tooling (document management, training registers, governance calendars) is not clearly described in current public materials. |
| Training | Training register with tracking, evidence, and completion records. | Not clearly described in current public materials. |
| CDD reliance register | Statutory reliance register (s37A/s38 AML/CTF Act) with cross-tenant secure evidence sharing. | Not clearly described in current public materials. |
| SMR/TTR reporting | Built-in tipping-off controls, officer approval workflow, and AUSTRAC submission support. | Not clearly described in current public materials. |
| Record keeping | 8-year tamper-evident encrypted vault with presigned URL access and full audit trail. | Audit trails described. |
| CRM INTEGRATION | ||
| Rex CRM | Rex CRM integrated (API-based, not native). Tip-off safe compliance status push-back, contact/listing data sync. | Not currently described as a CRM integration. Positioned alongside PEXA settlement ecosystem. |
| VaultRE / Other CRM | Not offered. | Not described as CRM integrations. PEXA Clear integrates with the PEXA Exchange settlement platform. |
| PRICING | ||
| Pricing model | Published pricing. $170/month for 3-user bundle. Per-check fees: $45 (individual), $90+ (company/trust). Customer-pays model. | Per-check pricing for individual and business verification. Complex structures priced separately. Continuous monitoring included. Confirm current pricing directly with PEXA Clear. |
| Who pays for checks? | Customer-pays via secure payment link. Credit-back offsets agency subscription. | Agent/practitioner pays. Confirm directly with PEXA Clear. |
| MARKET POSITION | ||
| Target market | Real estate, conveyancing, legal, accounting, and trust and company services. Built for property transactions first. | Real estate agents, conveyancers, settlement agents. Positioned alongside PEXA Exchange settlement ecosystem. |
| Platform partner | AWS Sydney. KMS encryption. Purpose-built. | PEXA Group + FrankieOne partnership. Registrations opened 31 March 2026. |
Pricing Model
PEXA Clear publicly indicates per-check pricing for individual and business verification, with more complex structures priced separately. Buyers should confirm current pricing and scope directly with PEXA Clear. Continuous monitoring is included at no extra charge.
AML Guard charges $170/month subscription with a customer-pays credit-back model. Individual CDD is $49.50 inc GST, paid by the customer via a secure payment link. Every customer-paid check earns credit against the subscription.
The key difference: with per-transaction pricing, the agent pays for every check. With AML Guard’s customer-pays model, the customer pays for their verification, and the agent’s subscription cost is offset by customer-paid checks.
The Timing Question
PEXA Clear is built on PEXA’s settlement infrastructure and positions itself as covering the property transaction lifecycle. AML Guard is built around the CRM and deal lifecycle, triggering compliance when the business relationship begins.
For agents, the timing question is more pointed: does your compliance workflow begin when the designated service begins, and can it operate effectively before settlement-stage activity becomes relevant?
The Program Question
Based on current public materials, PEXA Clear is positioned strongly around CDD execution, verification, monitoring, and transaction-aligned workflow support. The depth of broader AML/CTF program-governance tooling (such as document management, training registers, governance calendars, and board reporting) is not clearly described in current public materials.
If PEXA Clear is your CDD tool, you may still need a separate solution for program document management, training registers, AUSTRAC report drafting, and governance.
The Reliance Question
AML Guard includes a built-in CDD reliance register and outward evidence-sharing workflow. We could not confirm a dedicated CDD reliance register or outward evidence-sharing workflow from PEXA Clear’s current public materials. This may change at or after launch.
Methodology and Fair Dealing
This comparison was prepared based on publicly available information from pexaclear.com.au, pexa.com.au, PEXA Group press releases, FrankieOne public materials, and AUSTRAC reform guidance, all accessed in March 2026. If PEXA Clear or any reader identifies an inaccuracy, please contact us at [email protected].
Capabilities and pricing should be confirmed directly with each vendor before purchase decisions are made.
See How AML Guard Works
Tranche 2 obligations commence 1 July 2026.
Book a 20-minute demo to see how AML Guard supports your compliance from the moment your designated service begins.