Argyle vs The Work Number

What the rubric says

Argyle and The Work Number are both scored in Verification & Data. Argyle carries an overall of 4.6, The Work Number an overall of 3.4. The widest gap between them is Return on spend, at 3.1 of a point. That axis measures what the spend returns, which is not the same as being cheap. Argyle takes it, 4.9 to 1.8.

Where the five axes separate

On Return on spend the record favours Argyle, 4.9 against 1.8. On Functionality and depth the record favours Argyle, 4.4 against 3.6. On Production impact the record favours Argyle, 4.8 against 4.1. On Adoption and support the record favours Argyle, 4 against 3.5. On Integrations and ecosystem the record favours Argyle, 4.5 against 4.3.

Pricing posture

Argyle does not publish pricing. Its listed model is quote only, usage based per verification. The Work Number does not publish pricing. Its listed model is quote only, priced per verification.

Deployment and who each one targets

Deployment for Argyle: Cloud API, embedded in LOS and point of sale. Deployment for The Work Number: Cloud, reached by REST API, batch SFTP, web portal or direct LOS integration. Segment focus for Argyle: Lenders replacing or supplementing instant-database VOIE with direct payroll connections. Segment focus for The Work Number: Any lender that needs instant employment and income data with GSE rep and warrant. The two entries name different buyers.

What each record credits

Argyle: Approved for Fannie Mae DU validation and supported in Freddie Mac AIM. Argyle: Names Encompass, Byte and Empower, plus point of sale links including nCino. Argyle: Pay per use, no subscription; lenders pay for verifications actually ordered. The Work Number: Authorized for Fannie Mae DU validation and Freddie Mac AIM, so hits bring relief. The Work Number: Equifax states 839 million-plus employee records from over five million contributing employers. The Work Number: Named Encompass and Empower connections, plus REST API, batch SFTP and portal access.

What each record holds against them

Argyle: A 55 percent published verification rate leaves half of attempts needing fallback. Argyle: The 80 percent cost saving figure is a vendor claim without audited benchmark. Argyle: Borrowers must authenticate into payroll accounts, adding drop-off database vendors avoid. The Work Number: Highest per-verification cost in the category; a class action alleges $17.85 rose to $66.45. The Work Number: The same complaint puts historical record pulls at up to $200 each. The Work Number: No pricing published; the site only splits card payment from monthly invoicing.

Which one fits which shop

Best fit for Argyle: A lender whose verification bill has outgrown the loan volume it supports. Best fit for The Work Number: Lenders who need the highest instant hit rate and have decided to pay.

What each entry concludes

Argyle: Argyle connects to a borrower’s payroll account, with permission, and returns income and employment data from the source. Argyle: That replaces querying a database of employer-contributed records. The Work Number: The Work Number is Equifax’s employer-contributed payroll database, and for most lenders a default rather. The Work Number: Equifax states it holds more than 839 million employee records from over five million contributing employers.

The short answer

Argyle finishes ahead on the published rubric, 4.6 to 3.4. The margin comes mostly from Return on spend. Same rubric, same weights, no sponsorships.