OneID review: UK age checks via banks and mobile networks

OneID and Ofcom’s highly effective age assurance

OneID markets its adult offer around the UK Online Safety Act, and says Ofcom recognises its bank-based check as highly effective, with 99.99% accuracy. Its identity service is certified under the UK government’s Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework, audited by ACCS for age and identity assurance, and Cyber Essentials certified.

Around Ofcom’s 25 July 2025 deadline, OneID reports more than 4.5 million age checks between 24 and 28 July, up to one million a day and a peak of 140 transactions per second.

How does OneID work?

The visitor clicks the OneID button, logs in to their mobile or online banking app, and consents to share confirmation that they are 18+. OneID is an FCA-registered account information service provider, firm reference 928911, and says it does not access, store or share any transaction details. The site only receives the age answer, and OneID says visitors are not tracked.

Twenty banks are supported, including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, Santander, Monzo, Revolut and Starling, which OneID puts at about 50 million UK adults. Visitor data is only kept when the visitor chooses “Remember me”, if the site offers it.

The OneID mobile network check

The visitor enters their phone number and a one-time passcode, and OneID retrieves the relevant data from the mobile operator. The top four UK networks are covered, about 76 million subscribers and roughly 60% of UK adults. Mobile checks also work in parts of the US. A site can set a fallback, so a visitor who fails the first method can pick another in the same journey.

OneID for visitors outside the UK

The bank check only works for people with a UK bank account. For other visitors, OneID offers Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian eIDs and an ID document scan, but only if the site has switched them on. A US site gets partial mobile coverage and nothing else document-free.

Is OneID trustworthy?

OneID Limited is an FCA-registered account information service provider, certified under the UK’s digital identity trust framework and audited by ACCS, and it says it never sees transaction details. Visitors do not always know that. A UK Shopify merchant wrote in October 2024 that the automatic check works well, but that customers asked to verify through their online bank push back, because most have never heard of OneID and fear a scam. A site using it should explain on its age gate who OneID is and what the bank shares.

How much does OneID cost?

Without a form, OneID shows prices for its Shopify app: a free plan at $0 per check, Premium at $0.35 and Premium Persist at $0.45. For other integrations, the pricing page asks for a business email and monthly volume before showing a price. A sandbox is available for testing. The Shopify app launched in November 2021 and has two reviews averaging 4.7.

OneID Limited is registered in England and Wales under number 11800511, with its office in Manchester.

OneID strengths and limitations