Altova Regulatory Solutions

Altova Regulatory Solutions is a focused family of tools for producing XBRL and XML regulatory filings. It suits financial professionals and regulated companies whose obligations match its EBA, Solvency II, iXBRL or Country by Country workflows. The strongest case is a team wanting Excel-based filing work or a browser-based CbC process, provided its Microsoft Office requirements and subscription terms fit.

Overview

Altova splits regulatory work among dedicated products rather than presenting one universal reporting environment. EBA and Solvency II work takes place in Microsoft Excel, iXBRL tagging is handled by a free cloud application, and the Country by Country (CbC) application creates XML from entered values or an Excel template. It can also output PDFs for internal circulation.

The suite includes XBRL support, validation rules and regulator submission capabilities. That combination is relevant when a company already knows which filing regime it must satisfy; it is a narrower choice for organizations seeking coverage beyond the named EBA, Solvency II, ESEF, US GAAP iXBRL and CbC use cases.

Key features

EBA and Solvency II add-ins

The EBA Excel add-in builds filings compliant with EBA XBRL Filing Rules and imports existing XBRL filings into spreadsheets. The EIOPA add-in covers creation, validation, export and import of Solvency II XBRL reports. Keeping the workflow in Excel is sensible for finance teams whose source data already lives there, and the COM APIs can automate data entry and report generation. It is a poor fit for teams unable to standardize on supported Excel installations.

Tagging and CbC reporting

The free cloud XBRL Tagging app provides point-and-click tagging for ESEF and US GAAP iXBRL filings, lowering the barrier for users who do not want a developer-led tagging process. The CbC app produces XML from manual entry or an Excel template and generates PDFs for internal use. Browser access avoids local installation, while an in-house download is available for organizations requiring on-premises deployment. US- or EU-located datacenters provide a deployment choice, but Altova advises against entering personal or confidential information on Demo Sites.

Compatibility and editions

The Excel add-ins require Excel 2010 or later, including Microsoft 365; some Solvency II entry points require 64-bit Excel. EBA and EIOPA come in Basic, Enterprise and Consultant editions. Consultant is the relevant tier for filings involving third-party legal entities, while the lower tiers are aimed at organizations reporting their own entities.

Pricing

Altova uses a freemium model. The Excel add-in downloads include a fully functional 30-day trial, after which a license is requested by email. The CbC Reporting App subscription costs $999 a year, billed per user per year, with pricing starting at $999 / €799 per user. That recurring, per-seat charge matters for teams with many preparers; the free cloud tagging app is the lower-cost entry point, while the paid CbC subscription is the choice for producing CbC XML and internal PDFs.

Platforms

The suite spans API access, self-hosted deployment, web use and Windows. Excel-based products depend on Windows-compatible Excel, whereas the CbC app runs in a browser or can be installed in-house. Data exchanged between browsers and Altova sites is transmitted using at least TLS 1.2.

Who it's for

Choose Altova for regulated companies and financial professionals with EBA, Solvency II, ESEF, US GAAP iXBRL or CbC obligations, especially when spreadsheet-based processes and validation are priorities. It is less suitable when reporting regimes fall outside those areas, when Excel cannot be used, or when a per-user annual CbC fee is difficult to justify.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Dedicated EBA and Solvency II workflows combine Excel familiarity with XBRL validation and import/export.
• Pro: The free cloud tagger supports both ESEF and US GAAP iXBRL point-and-click work.
• Pro: CbC deployment can be browser-based or on-premises, with US and EU datacenter options.
• Con: Excel 2010-plus is mandatory, and some Solvency II functions need 64-bit Excel.
• Con: CbC costs $999 per user annually, which scales directly with the number of users.
• Con: Coverage is specialized rather than a broad solution for every regulatory regime.

Alternatives

Arelle is the better pick when a free, open-source XBRL platform with Linux, macOS, Windows, API and Docker options matters more than Altova's named filing workflows.

REGnosys suits teams wanting an open-source Rosetta DSL foundation and web, API or self-hosted deployment.

Elite Reporting Platform is an option for organizations that need paid reporting software across a wider range of desktop, mobile, web and self-hosted platforms.

FIS Data Integrity Manager is a paid, web-based alternative.

Reg360 is a paid web service with pricing available on request.

REGREP fits readers seeking freemium compliance services with small per-use TIN validation and an annual FATCA plan.

Amelkis XBRL is a paid web filing service offered by custom quote, with a free demo.

CoreFiling Seahorse is another paid web alternative.

Browse more options in Regulatory Reporting Software.

Verdict

Altova is a strong match for organizations with EBA, Solvency II, iXBRL or CbC duties that value Excel integration, validation and flexible CbC deployment. Choose it for those defined workflows; look elsewhere if you need broader regime coverage, cannot meet the Excel requirements, or want to avoid the 999.00 USD per-user annual CbC commitment.