Vendor Comparison · Live Scan Fingerprinting
PrintScan vs IdentoGO: The Vendor Comparison Nobody Talks About
Both names appear in fingerprinting research. Both are marketed in ways that create confusion about what they actually do. Here’s the honest breakdown of how PrintScan and IdentoGO differ — and what that means for anyone building a fingerprinting business or just trying to get fingerprinted in Florida.
PrintScan and IdentoGO occupy very different corners of the fingerprinting world — but they both show up in the same searches, which is why entrepreneurs and clients alike end up comparing them. Here’s the reality: these two platforms are solving completely different problems. Knowing which problem each one actually addresses is the most useful takeaway from this comparison.
The key insight before you read further: Neither PrintScan nor IdentoGO is the ideal platform for most entrepreneurs building an independent fingerprinting business. IdentoGO is essential to understand because of its state contract exclusivity. PrintScan is worth knowing about primarily so you can avoid its documented pitfalls. The platform most fingerprinting entrepreneurs should actually build on is Certifix — covered in our Live Scan Fingerprinting Course.
At a Glance: PrintScan vs IdentoGO
| Category | PrintScan | IdentoGO |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Model | Hardware/software seller + consumer service | State government contract operator |
| State Contracts | None exclusive | ✓ Exclusive in 40+ state programs |
| FBI Certified | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Florida Agency Acceptance | ⚠️ Documented rejection issues | ✓ Mandated for FL insurance licensing |
| Entrepreneur Partner Model | Hardware sale + training upsell | IdentoGO Center partner program |
| Entry Cost for Entrepreneurs | $4,000–$6,000+ hardware + training | Equipment provided via partner program |
| Consumer Review Score | ✗ Poor — consistent complaints | Mixed — varies by location |
| Set Your Own Pricing | ✓ Yes | ✗ Fixed by IdentoGO/agency |
| Our Recommendation | ⚠️ Avoid | Understand it — essential knowledge |
Platform 1: The Government Giant
IdentoGO by IDEMIA
State-contract dominant — essential to understand, impossible to ignore
Know This
IdentoGO’s power in the fingerprinting industry comes entirely from one thing: exclusive state government contracts. When a state signs with IdentoGO for a specific agency program, that state is telling applicants: use IdentoGO, period. No substitutions. The agency directs the client, the client pays IdentoGO’s fee, and no other vendor can capture that submission.
In Florida, this most visibly affects insurance license applicants — they must submit fingerprints through IdentoGO and pay $49.50 directly to them. Similar exclusivity exists across 40+ state programs nationwide. This is why every fingerprinting entrepreneur needs to understand IdentoGO regardless of which platform they build their business on: their clients will occasionally encounter submissions that require IdentoGO, and knowing that in advance is the difference between routing those clients correctly and losing their trust when a submission gets rejected.
For entrepreneurs: IdentoGO’s partner program allows existing businesses to become IdentoGO Centers, earning per-applicant fees for state-mandated submissions processed at their location. The model is supplemental — it layers onto an established business and generates additional income from client types that Certifix can’t serve. It’s not a foundation for building an independent fingerprinting operation, but it’s a legitimate revenue layer for operators who already have one.
✓ What IdentoGO Has Going For It
- Exclusive state contracts — the only option for many mandated submissions
- 40+ state programs route through their platform
- Highly trusted by state agencies and licensing boards
- Partner program adds revenue without requiring independent platform build
- Florida insurance licensing — exclusive, mandated, consistent volume
✗ IdentoGO Limitations
- Not a platform for building an independent fingerprinting business
- Partner pricing is fixed — no margin control
- You operate inside their brand for those submissions
- Partner approval is selective
Which Florida Agencies Route Through IdentoGO — And Which Don’t?
Our course maps the complete Florida agency submission landscape so you know exactly which vendor handles which program before you set up your intake process.
Platform 2: Buyer Beware
Editorial note: What follows is based on publicly documented consumer reviews and observable business model patterns. We have no affiliation with any vendor and no financial incentive in this assessment.
PrintScan (First Advantage)
Heavy marketing, documented service problems — know what you’re evaluating
Buyer Beware
PrintScan — now part of First Advantage — operates in two distinct ways: as a consumer fingerprinting service through 700+ locations including UPS stores, and as a platform that sells live scan hardware and software to entrepreneurs who want to start fingerprinting businesses. Both sides of that operation have documented concerns that any serious entrepreneur should evaluate before investing.
PrintScan vs IdentoGO on State Contracts
This is the most important structural difference in this comparison: PrintScan holds no exclusive state contracts. Anywhere IdentoGO has a mandatory state program, PrintScan cannot serve that client. Anywhere Certifix is FDLE-certified for Florida, PrintScan has documented Florida acceptance issues. The gaps in PrintScan’s submission acceptance are exactly what make Certifix and IdentoGO the more reliable choices for different segments of the market.
The Consumer Service Record
PrintScan’s consumer Trustpilot reviews reveal a consistent pattern of concerns: appointments scheduled at locations that were closed on arrival, fingerprints captured but not submitted to agencies, print cards produced on non-standard colored paper that got rejected by receiving agencies, and customer service that multiple reviewers describe as dismissive and unresponsive. For a service where accuracy and reliability are the entire value proposition, this track record is significant.
The Entrepreneur Model
PrintScan’s business pitch to entrepreneurs starts at around $5,000 for hardware and software, then layers in training programs that cover knowledge available freely through industry resources. The upsell model — selling training before the entrepreneur has even verified that PrintScan’s platform is accepted by their target agencies — is the pattern that draws the most consistent criticism from operators who’ve gone through their funnel.
That criticism matters most in Florida: multiple consumer reviews specifically note that Florida agencies rejected PrintScan submissions and directed clients to FDLE-approved providers or law enforcement. An entrepreneur who invests $5,000+ in PrintScan hardware for a Florida fingerprinting operation and then discovers their target agencies don’t accept the submissions has made an expensive and avoidable mistake.
✓ What PrintScan Does Have
- FBI-certified live scan systems
- 700+ consumer locations including UPS network
- Broad service menu: FINRA, ATF, apostille, ink cards
- Pricing flexibility for operators who use their system
✗ Documented Concerns
- Florida state agency acceptance issues — multiple reports
- No exclusive state contracts — IdentoGO covers mandated programs
- Poor consumer Trustpilot score — consistent service complaints
- $4,000–$6,000+ entry cost with aggressive training upsell
- Prints not submitted after capture — reported by multiple consumers
- Non-standard print card paper rejected by agencies
The Practical Takeaway
So Where Does That Leave You?
If you’re an entrepreneur researching this comparison, here’s the actionable summary:
- PrintScan — Approach with significant caution. Verify Florida acceptance with your specific target agencies before spending anything. The documented service issues and acceptance concerns in Florida make Certifix the more reliable choice for most Florida operators.
- IdentoGO — Understand it thoroughly. Know which submissions in your market route through their exclusive contracts. Consider their partner program as a supplemental revenue layer once your Certifix operation is established.
- Certifix — Your primary platform. FDLE-certified, AHCA-authorized, entrepreneur-friendly, 1,200+ location network. This is where independent Florida fingerprinting businesses are built.
The real comparison that matters: Not PrintScan vs IdentoGO — but which combination of platforms covers your market most completely. Our course maps exactly that for Florida operators, so you know before you invest which vendors you need, which ones you should know about, and which ones to avoid.
Common Questions
PrintScan vs IdentoGO — FAQ
IdentoGO holds exclusive state government fingerprinting contracts in 40+ states and processes state-mandated submissions for licensing boards and healthcare agencies. PrintScan is a consumer and entrepreneur-facing platform that sells live scan hardware to independent operators and offers consumer fingerprinting services. They serve different purposes — and neither is the ideal primary platform for most entrepreneurs, who are better served by building on Certifix and understanding IdentoGO as a supplemental layer.
They serve different functions and aren’t meaningfully comparable. For state-mandated submissions, IdentoGO is the only option — PrintScan can’t substitute. For building an independent fingerprinting business, PrintScan’s documented service quality issues and Florida acceptance concerns make it a poor choice compared to Certifix. IdentoGO is better understood as a supplemental layer on top of a Certifix-based operation.
PrintScan offers Florida fingerprinting services, but multiple consumer reviews report that Florida state agencies rejected their submissions and directed clients to FDLE-approved providers. Before investing in PrintScan for a Florida operation, verify acceptance with your specific target agencies directly. Certifix is FDLE-certified and has a cleaner Florida submission track record.
Build your primary operation on Certifix — FDLE-certified, AHCA-authorized, entrepreneur partner network with 1,200+ locations. Understand IdentoGO’s state contract landscape and consider their partner program as a supplemental layer for state-mandated submissions your Certifix platform can’t process. Approach PrintScan with significant caution given documented Florida acceptance issues.
The Bottom Line
Know Every Vendor — Build on the Right One
PrintScan and IdentoGO represent two different failure modes for fingerprinting entrepreneurs: one you should avoid investing in, and one you should understand deeply without mistaking it for your primary platform. The vendors worth building on — Certifix as your foundation, IdentoGO as a supplemental layer — are the ones that give you the most control over your business and the broadest coverage of your client’s actual submission needs.
Build on the Right Platform From Day One
Our course covers every major vendor, Florida-specific submission requirements, and the complete business model for profitable live scan fingerprinting operations.
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