Altova Regulatory Solutions

Altova Regulatory Solutions is a suite of tools for business users preparing XBRL and XML regulatory filings. It suits financial professionals and regulated companies whose work matches its EBA, Solvency II, ESEF, US GAAP iXBRL or Country by Country workflows. Its focused tools are useful, but Excel compatibility and the per-user CbC subscription are important constraints.

Overview

Altova splits its reporting work across Excel add-ins, a cloud tagging app and a Country by Country (CbC) reporting app rather than putting every filing task in one workspace. The suite supports XBRL, validation rules and regulator submission. That makes it a sensible shortlist candidate when its specific reporting workflows match your obligations; it is less suited to teams looking for a general-purpose workspace spanning other regulatory regimes.

Key features

EBA and Solvency II reporting in Excel

The EBA add-in creates reports compliant with EBA XBRL Filing Rules and can import existing XBRL filings into Excel. The EIOPA add-in lets users create, validate, export and import Solvency II XBRL reports there. These tools suit teams already managing reporting data in spreadsheets, and their COM APIs can automate data entry and report creation. The trade-off is a firm dependency on Excel 2010 or higher, including Microsoft 365; some Solvency II entry points also require 64-bit Excel. Check that compatibility before committing.

Both add-ins come in Basic, Enterprise and Consultant editions. Consultant editions support filings for third-party legal entities, which makes them the relevant choice for consultants working on behalf of other organizations. A fully functional 30-day trial is available for the add-in downloads; the software requests a license by email after it starts.

Cloud XBRL tagging

The free cloud XBRL Tagging app provides point-and-click tools for ESEF and US GAAP iXBRL filings. It is a useful entry point for teams with those tagging needs that do not want to pay for this app, but its stated scope is those filing types rather than broad coverage of every XBRL regime.

Country by Country reporting

The CbC app turns manually entered data or an Excel template into XML reports and can also produce PDFs for internal use. Browser access avoids software installation, and Altova offers US- or EU-located datacenters. An in-house installation is also available for organizations that prefer an on-premises deployment. Altova says browser-to-site data is transmitted using at least TLS 1.2 and advises against entering personal or confidential data on Demo Sites. Customers can contact support to request additional country-specific CbC rules.

Pricing

Altova offers a free plan and a 30-day trial, although the available pricing details do not assign a price to the EBA or EIOPA editions. The Excel add-in trial is fully functional for 30 days, so teams can assess the relevant workflow before seeking a license.

The CbC Reporting App subscription costs $999 a year, billed per user, per year; pricing starts at $999 / €799 per user. This per-user annual charge matters when estimating costs across a reporting team. The subscription is the clearest fit for organizations that need the CbC app's XML output, internal PDF reports or browser and in-house deployment options; it is a poor match if those workflows do not justify a recurring individual license.

Platforms

The suite spans web, Windows, API and self-hosted options. The EBA and EIOPA add-ins run inside Excel, while the CbC app works in a browser or can be installed in-house. The cloud tagging app is browser-based. In practice, the desktop reporting tools suit Excel-centered teams, while CbC offers the clearest choice of cloud or in-house deployment.

Who it's for

Altova is best for financial professionals and regulated companies with filing obligations that align with its named tools: EBA, Solvency II, ESEF, US GAAP iXBRL or CbC reporting. It is particularly relevant to spreadsheet-based reporting teams, and its Consultant editions address third-party legal-entity filings. Teams using other regimes, or unable to meet the Excel requirements, should compare alternatives before choosing.

Pros and cons

• Pros: EBA and Solvency II work stays inside Excel, including import and validation tasks, and COM APIs can automate data entry and report creation.
• Pros: The free cloud tagging app covers ESEF and US GAAP iXBRL, and the CbC app offers browser and in-house deployment.
• Pros: Consultant editions support filings for third-party legal entities, and customers can request additional country-specific CbC rules.
• Cons: The Excel add-ins require Excel 2010 or higher, with some Solvency II entry points requiring 64-bit Excel.
• Cons: The CbC subscription is billed per user each year, which can make team costs a key part of the decision.
• Cons: The workflows are focused on named filing types, so teams with different regulatory needs may need another tool.

Alternatives

Regulatory Reporting Software is a useful starting point for comparing the category. Choose Arelle instead if you want a free, open-source XBRL platform with desktop builds, a Python package, a Docker image and community plugins, and do not need Altova's specified Excel or CbC workflows.

REGnosys is worth considering if the open-source Rosetta DSL and its connection to the ISDA Common Domain Model released in 2019 better fit your needs. For a paid web-based alternative with no free plan, consider FIS Data Integrity Manager. Amelkis XBRL offers custom-quote pricing for its Amelkis Filing plan and a free demo; choose it if that sales-led route better fits your evaluation.

CoreFiling Seahorse is another paid web option. Elite Reporting Platform is a paid alternative spanning mobile, web, desktop, API and self-hosted platforms. Finguine has self-hosted and web options, including an On-Premise plan at ₹120,000 a year and an Enterprise plan at 300000.00 INR. LSEG Corporate Treasury Risk is a paid web product with pricing available by contacting sales.

Verdict

Choose Altova Regulatory Solutions if you are a financial professional or regulated company with a defined EBA, Solvency II, ESEF, US GAAP iXBRL or CbC workflow, especially if your reporting already centers on Excel. Its main strength is the range of specific filing tools, including a free tagging app and CbC deployment choices. Look elsewhere if your Excel setup is incompatible, your filing regime falls outside that scope, or per-user CbC pricing does not suit your team.