Key takeaways
- AQF scores 13 of 18 on our rubric. Clear To Load scores 10.
- AQF's published starting price is US$298 per man-day all inclusive, and it says the price varies by country. It does not publish an India-specific price. Clear To Load is US$199 in Bands A and B and US$249 in Band C, plus travel outside Jodhpur and Jaipur.
- AQF offers an online booking platform, same-day reports (conditions apply), lab testing and social audits. Clear To Load offers none of these in-house.
- AQF lists India as one of 14 Asian countries it covers but names no Indian cities. Clear To Load is based in Jodhpur, with inspectors in named Indian production cities.
Clear To Load vs AQF at a glance
Disclosure: Clear To Load publishes this page and is one of the two companies compared. Every statement about AQF comes from AQF's own website, checked on 26 Oct 2026 and listed under Sources. If anything here is out of date, email hello@cleartoload.com and we will correct it.
| Criterion | AQF (Asia Quality Focus) | Clear To Load |
|---|---|---|
| Who they are | Quality control company founded in 2007 in Shenzhen as China Quality Focus; renamed Asia Quality Focus in 2011; part of Worms Safety since 2014 | Independent inspection company in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, founded 2017 |
| India presence | India listed among the 14 Asian countries covered; no Indian cities named | Head office in Jodhpur; inspectors based in Jodhpur, Jaipur, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Delhi NCR and Kolkata; every city covered through travel bands |
| Services | Pre-production, during production and pre-shipment inspection, container loading supervision, supplier and social audits, lab testing, defect sorting and FBA inspection | Pre-production, during production and pre-shipment inspection, container loading supervision, factory audit, lab testing coordination |
| Booking | Online platform with booking, reports and quality dashboards | Online booking request, confirmed within 24 hours |
| Report | Same-day report available (AQF: "conditions apply") | Within 24 hours, ending in Cleared to load, Hold or Not cleared |
| Published price | From US$298 per man-day all inclusive for inspections; price varies by country; social audits from US$596 | US$199 per man-day in Bands A and B, US$249 in Band C; no travel fee in Jodhpur and Jaipur, local travel cost in Band B cities, actual cost elsewhere |
| Accreditation | States ISO/IEC 17020:2012 accreditation and ISO 9001:2015 certification; the accredited entity and scope are not named on the page | Not yet accredited; ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation in progress |
Scored on our published rubric
We use the same six-point rubric as our list of quality inspection companies in India. Each criterion scores 0 to 3, from what the company publishes on its own website (checked 26 Oct 2026).
| Criterion | AQF | Clear To Load |
|---|---|---|
| Accreditation | 2: ISO/IEC 17020 stated, entity and scope not named | 0: not yet accredited |
| India presence | 1: India listed as a country | 3: Jodhpur office and named cities with inspectors |
| Price transparency | 2: "from" man-day price, varies by country | 2: day rate published, travel extra outside Jodhpur and Jaipur |
| Booking | 3: online platform | 2: online request, confirmed within 24 hours |
| Report speed | 3: same-day available | 2: within 24 hours |
| Reach | 2: 14 countries | 1: India only |
| Total | 13 / 18 | 10 / 18 |
The rubric scores what a buyer can check before booking. It does not measure inspector skill or report quality; test those with a sample report and a first order.
Price: published rates compared
AQF publishes a starting price, not an India price. Clear To Load publishes its India rates by travel band. Figures are per man-day, from each company's own site on 26 Oct 2026.
| Factory location | AQF | Clear To Load |
|---|---|---|
| Jodhpur, Jaipur | From US$298 all inclusive (India rate not published) | US$199 (Band A, no travel fee) |
| Moradabad, Delhi NCR, Surat | From US$298 all inclusive | US$199 + local travel (Band B) |
| Anywhere else in India | From US$298 all inclusive | US$249 plus actual travel cost (Band C) |
Ask AQF for its India quote: its site says the unit price varies by country. Compare the total for your order, including the number of man-days and any reinspection fee (Clear To Load: US$149). See pricing.
Where AQF is the better choice
- Several Asian countries. AQF works in 14 Asian countries, including China, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Clear To Load works in India only.
- Self-serve booking and same-day reports. AQF's online platform handles booking, reports and quality dashboards, and same-day reports are offered.
- Lab testing and social audits in one place. AQF offers both. Clear To Load coordinates lab testing, and its factory audit is not a social compliance audit.
- Accreditation. AQF states ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation. Clear To Load is not yet accredited.
- All-inclusive pricing. AQF's price includes travel. In remote towns that can come out lower than Clear To Load's Band C rate plus actual travel.
Where Clear To Load fits better
- Your factory is in Jodhpur or Jaipur. US$199 with no travel fee, against AQF's starting price of US$298.
- You buy furniture, décor or handicrafts. Inspectors are based in Jodhpur, Jaipur, Saharanpur and Moradabad, all major furniture and handicraft export centres. See furniture inspection in India.
- You want named Indian cities and local inspectors. Clear To Load lists where its inspectors are based. AQF lists India as a country.
- You want a clear decision on every report. Cleared to load, Hold or Not cleared. Anonymised furniture reports are published, ungated, at sample reports.
Clear To Load is weaker on reach, accreditation, report speed and in-house lab testing and social audits.
Choose AQF if… Choose Clear To Load if…
Choose AQF if you also buy from China, Vietnam, Bangladesh or Pakistan and want one provider; you need lab testing or social audits from the same company; you want same-day reports through an online platform; or accreditation is a contract requirement.
Choose Clear To Load if your factory is in Rajasthan or another named Indian production city; you buy furniture, home décor or handicrafts from Indian craft clusters; you want a verdict on every report and to see real reports before booking; and accreditation is not a contract requirement for you today.
How this comparison was made
We checked AQF's own pages on 26 Oct 2026: company, locations, accreditations, pre-shipment inspection, online platform and FAQ. We used no third-party reviews. Clear To Load facts come from our own company record. Scores use the rubric from our scored list, and we re-check every cell each quarter.
Sources
Company names on this page are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to identify the companies compared. Clear To Load is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by any other company named here. Facts about other companies come from their own websites on the date shown; to report an error, email hello@cleartoload.com and we will correct it.