Age-gate + ID verification, Veratad vs Yoti vs AgeChecker.net, and when do you use 21+ vs 18+?

Three vendors, three trade-offs:

• AgeChecker.net, CBD-industry default. Database-driven (matches name + DOB against credit-bureau and public records). ~$0.40 per check. Fastest checkout integration (one Magento extension). Lowest-friction but also lowest defensibility if an AG challenges you. Good fit for <$2M GMV.
• Veratad, broader database coverage (credit-bureau + DMV + utility records). ~$0.85 per check. API-based integration. Better defensibility. Good fit for $2M, $20M GMV.
• Yoti, photo-ID + selfie + liveness check. ~$1.50 per check. Most defensible (you have a photo of the ID and the buyer’s face). Higher friction at checkout (~30s extra) but the right call for delta-8 / delta-9 / high-THC products where an AG letter is a real risk. Magento integration via API.

Threshold by state: 21+ for any THC-containing product in CO, CA, WA, OR (matches adult-use cannabis rules in those states). 21+ for delta-8 / delta-9 / hemp-derived THC in most states regardless of CBD age limits. 18+ for CBD-only in most states. We wire the threshold into the matrix so it flips based on cart contents + ship-to state.

Every verification attempt logs to a compliance audit table (timestamp, customer ID, vendor used, result, IP, products in cart), defensible if challenged.