ProofAge vs AgeChecker.net
More defensible age verification
A lookup can approve an order. A document-and-biometric flow gives merchants stronger proof of who completed it.
Why AgeChecker.net leaves a gap
Understanding the method — and what it can't prove
AgeChecker.net method
- 1 Ask customer to enter their date of birth
- 2 Ask customer to check a box confirming their date of birth
- 3 In some cases, ask for name and address
- 4 In rare cases, ask for a government ID fallback only
- 5 Selfie + face match against ID photo — only if merchant explicitly enables it (most don't) rarely configured
The structural gap
A database match proves a record exists — not that the person placing the order is who they claim to be.
- — No photo required — by default
- — No liveness check — by default
- — No document ever seen
- — Nothing ties the transaction to a physical person
As US regulation moves toward explicit document-based checks — including the FDA's 2026 photo ID rule1 for tobacco and vape — this gap becomes a direct compliance liability.
ProofAge gives your business stronger proof of age for every order.
More defensible verification, at a lower cost.
| AgeChecker.net* | ProofAge | |
|---|---|---|
| Default verification method | Date of birth matched against public records | Biometric ID verification |
| Government ID required by default | No — only as fallback | Yes — every new buyer |
| Orders completing without any ID presented | 90%+3 | 0% |
| Selfie + face match | Configurable, not default | Included by default |
| Liveness detection | Not publicly disclosed | Yes |
| White-label verification flow | AgeChecker-branded | Yes — buyer sees your brand |
| Pricing model | Monthly base + per-verification billing Billed on every accepted verification, including repeat orders from the same buyer | Monthly base + per verified buyer Returning buyers are not re-billed — costs decrease as your customer base grows |
| Supported languages | 1 | 25 |
What happens during a regulatory audit
A regulator requests your transaction records. Here is what each approach produces.
AgeChecker.net audit outcome
- Record shows a database match was found — no document, no photograph, no face match
- Cannot demonstrate who placed the order was the person in the record
- For 90%+ of transactions: no identity document was ever involved
- Under the FDA's 2026 rule, absence of a photo ID check is itself a violation — regardless of whether a minor actually purchased1
Biometric ID audit outcome
- Every transaction has a government-issued document on record
- Face match and liveness check confirm the buyer presented their own document in real time
- Verification ID stamped on the order — a complete, defensible audit trail per transaction
- Designed to meet FDA photo ID requirements and state-level explicit ID mandates1
U.S. age verification enforcement: what changed in 2026
US regulation is moving toward explicit, document-based age verification. The following are facts about existing laws and documented enforcement actions.
Photo ID checks for buyers under 30
FDA rules require retailers to check a photo ID for buyers under 30 purchasing cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and covered tobacco products. Compliance checks apply to both brick-and-mortar and online retailers. Fines reach $10,000 per violation.1
Louisiana, Virginia, Utah
These states have enacted laws mandating explicit ID-based age verification for online access to age-restricted content and products. More states are actively considering similar legislation.
Merchant enforcement actions
California's Attorney General has brought enforcement actions against online merchants for insufficient age verification. Merchants do not need to wait for a minor to complete a purchase — the absence of adequate controls is itself the basis for action.2
Regulatory expectations have shifted
Regulators are increasingly focused on whether merchants have meaningful age-verification controls in place — not only on whether a specific underage purchase can be proven after the fact.
Addressing the conversion concern
"Won't requiring an ID on every order hurt my conversion rate?" — It's a fair question. Here is a factual answer.
Buyers expect ID checks
Customers purchasing age-restricted products — tobacco, vape, alcohol, adult goods — already expect to verify their age. The friction of presenting an ID is not surprising to this buyer; it is part of the purchase category.
Lookup-first still drops ~10% to an ID step
When a database match fails or is uncertain, lookup-first verification falls back to an ID request. Roughly 1 in 10 of your buyers still hits an ID step — unpredictably, mid-flow. ProofAge is predictable friction for all, not unexpected friction for some.
Compliance risk changes the trade-off
In regulated categories, conversion rate is not the only metric. Merchants also need a verification flow they can defend if challenged.
Stronger controls support expansion
A defensible verification model makes it easier to launch new age-restricted SKUs, enter new markets, and satisfy platform or payment processor requirements.
See ProofAge in action
Tell us your store and platform — we'll set up a walkthrough tailored to your current setup.
* Information about AgeChecker.net is based on publicly available materials on agechecker.net. Last reviewed: April 16, 2026. ↑
1 FDA requirements for photo ID verification of tobacco and vape purchasers under 30: fda.gov — Tobacco 21. Penalty amounts per the FDA civil money penalties framework. Verify current enforcement guidance at fda.gov for your specific product category. ↑
2 California AG enforcement actions against online e-cigarette retailers for insufficient age verification: oag.ca.gov — press release. ↑
3 AgeChecker.net states on their website: "90%+ of customers are verified instantly from their billing or shipping information." Source: agechecker.net.
Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Consult qualified legal counsel for guidance specific to your business and jurisdiction.