Key takeaways
- This page lists alternatives in score order. Clear To Load publishes it and is listed at its own score (10 of 18), not first.
- SGS does not publish an inspection price. V-Trust, Tetra, AQF and Clear To Load do.
- Some buyers want a smaller company or one based near their factory. HQTS, RSJ and Clear To Load have offices in India; Clear To Load is based in Jodhpur.
Why buyers compare alternatives to SGS
Disclosure: Clear To Load publishes this page and is one of the alternatives listed. SGS is a well-known inspection company, and this page does not say otherwise. Every fact comes from each company's own website or India's NABCB register, as set out in our scored list, where each one is sourced. If anything is out of date, email hello@cleartoload.com and we will correct it.
Buyers usually look at alternatives for a specific reason. The common ones, from what each company publishes:
- SGS does not publish an inspection price. V-Trust, Tetra, AQF and Clear To Load do.
- Some buyers want a smaller company or one based near their factory. HQTS, RSJ and Clear To Load have offices in India; Clear To Load is based in Jodhpur.
The best alternative depends on what you need
| If you need… | Look at |
|---|---|
| Another accredited body in India | Bureau Veritas, Intertek, RSJ Inspection |
| A published India price | V-Trust, Tetra Inspection, AQF (Asia Quality Focus), Clear To Load |
| Same-day reports and online booking | V-Trust, QIMA, Bureau Veritas, AQF (Asia Quality Focus) |
| An inspection company based in India | Clear To Load, HQTS, RSJ Inspection |
SGS and 10 alternatives compared
In score order, on the six-point rubric from our scored list (maximum 18). Scores measure what each company publishes, not inspector skill.
| Company | Score | Reach | Published price | Report | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SGS | 14 | Global | Not published | Same day | ISO/IEC 17020 in India (NABCB IB 003) for textiles, leather goods and wood products including furniture |
| V-Trust | 16 | 10 countries; 17 named Indian cities | US$268 per man-day all inclusive in its listed cities, US$298 elsewhere in India | Same day available | CNAS ISO/IEC 17020, for its China services |
| QIMA | 15 | Over 100 countries | From US$419 per man-day including travel | Same day | CNAS ISO/IEC 17020 for its Shenzhen entity; NABL lab in India |
| Bureau Veritas | 14 | Specialists in over 40 countries | Not published | Same day (InSpec) | ISO/IEC 17020 in India (NABCB IB 157) for consumer goods including furniture |
| AQF (Asia Quality Focus) | 13 | 14 Asian countries, including India | From US$298 per man-day all inclusive, varies by country | Same day (conditions apply) | States ISO/IEC 17020; entity not named |
| Intertek | 13 | Over 100 countries | Not published | Same day (i2Q) | ISO/IEC 17020 in India (NABCB IB 027) for garments and home textiles |
| Tetra Inspection | 13 | 45+ countries | US$240 per man-day in Asia, local travel included | Same day | None claimed (follows ISO 17020 principles) |
| Clear To Load | 10 | India only; based in Jodhpur | US$199 per man-day in Bands A and B, US$249 in Band C; travel extra outside Jodhpur and Jaipur | Within 24 hours, with a verdict | Not yet accredited; ISO/IEC 17020 in progress |
| HQTS | 10 | 40+ countries; India since 2008, named cities | Not published | Within 24 hours | CNAS and CMA named; ISO/IEC 17020 not stated |
| RSJ Inspection | 8 | India offices plus four Asian countries | Not published | Not stated | ISO/IEC 17020 in India (NABCB) for fabric, garments and PPE |
| TÜV SÜD | 8 | About 50 countries; 33+ offices in South Asia | Not published | Not stated | ISO/IEC 17020 in India for food |
- V-Trust suits a fixed India price and online booking.
- QIMA suits multi-country programmes with lab testing.
- Bureau Veritas suits contracts that require accredited inspection in India.
- AQF (Asia Quality Focus) suits buyers sourcing from several Asian countries.
- Intertek suits retailer-mandated programmes and textiles.
- Tetra Inspection suits cost-focused buyers in textiles and leather.
- Clear To Load suits furniture, décor and handicraft buyers in Rajasthan and Indian craft clusters.
- HQTS suits buyers who want an established India office.
- RSJ Inspection suits textile buyers who need accredited inspection in India.
- TÜV SÜD suits buyers already using TÜV SÜD for testing or certification.
Where Clear To Load fits
Clear To Load is an India-only inspection company based in Jodhpur since 2017, with inspectors in Jodhpur, Jaipur, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Delhi NCR and Kolkata. It charges US$199 per man-day in Bands A and B and US$249 in Band C, with no travel fee in Jodhpur and Jaipur. Every report ends in Cleared to load, Hold or Not cleared, and anonymised reports are published at sample reports.
It is not the right choice if your contract requires an accredited inspection body, if you need same-day reports, or if you inspect outside India. See Clear To Load vs SGS for a direct comparison.
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.