Comparison · Category-level (not a vendor review)
BastionLog vs. manual checks and commissioned investigations
Both produce a written counterparty report. They diverge on per-use cost, turnaround time, and the degree to which the output can be re-run or archived.
Why this comparison exists
A small trading desk needs a counterparty record before every new supplier onboard. A traditional provider quotes $300 and a two-week turnaround for a full package; the same desk needs the same package ten times a quarter.
Manual checks / commissioned investigation · When this fits
Analyst-led primary research. Sources are cited, but the working papers stay inside the final PDF.
Each engagement is scoped, priced and run by named analysts. Useful when the transaction is large enough to justify a multi-week engagement, when on-site visits or interviews are required, or when the deliverable must carry professional indemnity and a named signature.
BastionLog · When this fits
A configuration-driven log assembled from public sources, queryable on demand and re-pullable.
BastionLog configures its registry and footprint source mix once, then reproduces the same dated record for every query. The same engagement can be re-pulled on demand by anyone on the team without re-scoping and without a new invoice.
Side-by-side comparison
| Source traceability | Manual checks / commissioned investigation | BastionLog |
|---|---|---|
| Source traceability | Primary-source research by analysts; sources are usually cited but live only inside the final PDF. | Every fact is tied to a public source URL with an ISO 8601 timestamp. No un-sourced claim is published. |
| Decision labelling | Typically issues an overall recommendation: proceed, proceed with conditions, or do not proceed. The reader relies on the analyst's judgement. | No overall pass / fail, no scoring band, no traffic-light signal. Each source only says whether it was found, not found, or temporarily unavailable. |
| Price & access | Project-based pricing, typically $150 – 300 per full package, with minimum-spend or retainer terms common. | Full reports are bought per report (single or in packs). Current prices are on the pricing page. Document extraction is free. |
| Reproducibility | Final PDF only. Underlying work-papers are internal; re-running for a different question means a new engagement. | Dated PDF with raw field values, source URLs, and audit-trail entries. Re-running the same query yields the same factual record. |
When each is the right tool
Manual checks / commissioned investigation · When this fits
Commission an investigation when the transaction is large enough to justify a multi-week engagement, when on-site visits or interviews are required, or when the deliverable must carry professional indemnity and a named analyst signature.
BastionLog · When this fits
Use BastionLog when the workflow repeats: a new supplier onboarded every week, a payment screening before every wire, a monthly diff against a watched counterparty. Pay-per-use, no minimum spend, and the same record can be re-pulled or archived indefinitely.
Frequently asked questions
Does BastionLog replace a firm I would hire to investigate a company?
No. BastionLog shows the public records about a company, each with its source; it is not an investigation report or a regulated professional deliverable, and it gives no conclusion. For high-stakes transactions that require on-site interviews, professional indemnity, or a named analyst, hire a professional firm.
Can a traditional firm and BastionLog be used together?
Yes. Many teams check every new supplier with BastionLog, and keep commissioned investigations for their most important counterparties or for transactions above an internal threshold. The free preview can also help you list the questions to send to the firm.
Is the BastionLog output acceptable evidence in a dispute?
The Terms of Service state that BastionLog is a reference tool, not a legal, financial, or compliance deliverable. For matters that require evidentiary weight, retain a licensed professional and rely on their signed work-product, not on a BastionLog report.
See also
Ready to leave a paper trail?
New accounts receive 3 full reports once their e-mail address is confirmed (not refilled monthly). Each report covers identity, network, reputation and linked companies; add a BIC or IBAN and it also checks operations. No credit card needed.