Why look beyond Vanta

Vanta has established itself as a prominent platform for security compliance automation, assisting organizations in achieving and maintaining certifications such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA by automating evidence collection and streamlining audit processes. While effective for many, there are several reasons why companies might explore alternatives.

One primary factor is pricing. Vanta operates on a custom enterprise pricing model, which may not align with the budget constraints of smaller businesses or startups seeking more transparent or tiered pricing structures. The platform's extensive feature set, while powerful, might also include functionalities that exceed the requirements of some organizations, leading to a desire for more focused or specialized tools. Additionally, specific industry requirements or integration needs might be better served by alternative platforms that offer deeper customization or a different suite of supported frameworks. Developer experience, while not a core offering for Vanta, could also be a consideration for teams seeking more direct API access or greater programmatic control over compliance workflows beyond the standard integrations. Finally, organizations may seek alternatives to evaluate different user interfaces, support models, or deployment options to find a solution that better fits their operational preferences and existing tech stack.

Top alternatives ranked

  1. 1. Drata — Automated compliance for continuous monitoring and audit readiness

    Drata offers a compliance automation platform designed to help companies achieve and maintain compliance with various security frameworks. Similar to Vanta, Drata automates evidence collection, monitors security controls, and facilitates audit preparation. The platform integrates with existing business systems, including cloud providers, identity management solutions, and productivity tools, to provide continuous visibility into an organization's security posture. Drata supports a range of compliance standards, such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI DSS. Its dashboard provides real-time insights into compliance status, identifying gaps and suggesting corrective actions. Drata's approach emphasizes a streamlined user experience and robust automation to reduce the manual effort involved in compliance management. Organizations seeking a comprehensive, automated solution with strong continuous monitoring capabilities often consider Drata as a direct alternative to Vanta. Drata aims to simplify the entire compliance journey from initial readiness to ongoing maintenance.

    • Best for: Continuous compliance monitoring, automated evidence collection, streamlined audit preparation, managing multiple compliance frameworks.
    • Drata Profile
    • Drata Official Site
  2. 2. Secureframe — AI-powered compliance and risk management platform

    Secureframe provides an AI-powered compliance automation platform that helps organizations achieve and maintain global security and privacy compliance. It focuses on simplifying complex compliance requirements through automation, continuous monitoring, and expert guidance. Secureframe supports frameworks including SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR, and CCPA. The platform integrates with cloud infrastructure, HRIS, identity providers, and other critical systems to automatically collect evidence and monitor security controls. Secureframe differentiates itself with features like AI-powered policy generation and risk assessments, aiming to provide a more intelligent and efficient compliance process. For companies looking for a platform that combines automation with advanced AI capabilities for policy management and risk identification, Secureframe presents a strong alternative. Its emphasis on a user-friendly interface and support for a broad range of frameworks makes it suitable for various organizational sizes and compliance needs.

    • Best for: AI-powered policy generation, comprehensive risk management, automated evidence collection, achieving multiple global compliance standards.
    • Secureframe Profile
    • Secureframe Official Site
  3. 3. Hyperproof — Flexible compliance operations and risk management

    Hyperproof offers a compliance operations and risk management platform designed to help organizations manage various compliance frameworks and internal controls. Unlike some fully automated solutions, Hyperproof provides a balance of automation and flexibility, allowing companies to customize workflows and integrate with their preferred tools. It supports a wide array of compliance standards, including SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, NIST, and GDPR. The platform facilitates evidence collection, control monitoring, and audit management through a centralized system. Hyperproof's strength lies in its adaptability, making it suitable for organizations with unique compliance requirements or those that prefer more granular control over their compliance processes. It also emphasizes robust risk management capabilities, enabling users to identify, assess, and mitigate risks effectively. Companies that need a highly configurable solution for managing diverse compliance programs and sophisticated risk assessments may find Hyperproof to be a compelling alternative to Vanta.

    • Best for: Customizable compliance workflows, comprehensive risk management, managing diverse compliance frameworks, organizations needing granular control over processes.
    • Hyperproof Profile
    • Hyperproof Official Site
  4. 4. Aptible — Compliance and security for regulated industries

    Aptible provides a platform specifically tailored for deploying and operating applications in regulated industries, focusing on security and compliance. While not a direct compliance automation platform in the same vein as Vanta, Aptible offers an infrastructure solution that is pre-configured to meet stringent compliance standards like HIPAA and SOC 2. This makes it an alternative for organizations whose primary compliance challenge is securing their underlying infrastructure and application deployment environment. Aptible automates many of the operational security controls required for these frameworks, reducing the burden on development and operations teams. It offers a secure and compliant cloud environment for applications, along with tools for incident response and audit logging. For companies that are building and deploying applications in highly regulated sectors and need an integrated solution for both infrastructure and compliance, Aptible provides a distinct approach to achieving security and regulatory adherence.

    • Best for: Deploying compliant applications in regulated industries (e.g., healthcare), infrastructure-level security and compliance, automating operational security controls.
  5. 5. Onspring — Integrated GRC software for enterprise-level needs

    Onspring offers an integrated Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) software platform designed for enterprise-level organizations. While Vanta focuses primarily on security compliance automation, Onspring provides a broader suite of GRC tools, including audit management, risk management, policy management, and compliance management across various regulatory domains. This makes it an alternative for larger organizations with complex, interconnected GRC requirements that extend beyond just security certifications. Onspring allows for extensive customization, enabling businesses to tailor the platform to their specific operational processes and reporting needs. It provides a centralized hub for managing all GRC activities, fostering better visibility and coordination across departments. Companies that require a highly scalable and customizable GRC solution capable of handling a wide range of compliance, risk, and audit functions, often consider Onspring for its comprehensive capabilities and enterprise focus.

    • Best for: Enterprise-level GRC, integrated audit and risk management, highly customizable workflows, managing diverse regulatory compliance needs.
  6. 6. LogicManager — Enterprise risk management and GRC platform

    LogicManager is an enterprise risk management (ERM) and GRC platform that provides tools for managing risks, compliance, policies, and audits across an organization. Similar to Onspring, LogicManager offers a more expansive GRC solution compared to Vanta's specific focus on security compliance automation. It helps organizations identify, assess, mitigate, and monitor risks across various business functions, integrating these processes with compliance requirements. The platform supports a wide range of regulatory frameworks and internal controls, providing a holistic view of an organization's risk and compliance posture. LogicManager emphasizes a taxonomy-based approach to GRC, allowing for consistent data organization and reporting. For large enterprises seeking a robust, integrated platform for comprehensive risk management alongside compliance, LogicManager offers a powerful alternative. Its focus on linking risks to controls and compliance requirements provides a unified approach to governance.

    • Best for: Holistic enterprise risk management, integrated GRC for large organizations, taxonomy-driven data organization, linking risks to compliance.
  7. 7. AuditBoard — Connected risk platform for audit, risk, and compliance

    AuditBoard provides a connected risk platform that integrates audit, risk, and compliance management into a single system. While Vanta specializes in automating security compliance, AuditBoard offers a broader suite of solutions covering internal audit, SOX compliance, enterprise risk management, and IT risk management. This makes it an attractive alternative for organizations that need to manage a more extensive range of audit and risk-related activities in addition to security compliance. AuditBoard's platform is designed to improve collaboration, streamline workflows, and enhance reporting for audit and risk teams. It supports various frameworks and regulatory requirements, providing tools for control testing, issue management, and continuous monitoring. Companies looking for an integrated solution to manage their entire audit, risk, and compliance ecosystem, particularly those with complex internal audit functions, may find AuditBoard to be a more comprehensive fit than Vanta's more focused offering.

    • Best for: Integrated internal audit, SOX compliance, enterprise risk management, IT risk management, enhanced collaboration for audit and risk teams.

Side-by-side

Feature Vanta Drata Secureframe Hyperproof Aptible Onspring LogicManager AuditBoard
Core Focus Security Compliance Automation Compliance Automation AI-powered Compliance & Risk Flexible Compliance Ops & Risk Compliant Cloud Infrastructure Integrated GRC Software Enterprise Risk & GRC Connected Risk Platform
Key Compliance Frameworks (e.g.) SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, NIST HIPAA, SOC 2 Various (configurable) Various (configurable) SOX, SOC 2, ERM
Evidence Collection Automation High High High Moderate to High N/A (infrastructure focus) Moderate Moderate Moderate
Continuous Monitoring Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes (infrastructure) Configurable Configurable Yes
Risk Management Capabilities Yes Yes Strong Strong Moderate (infrastructure) Strong Strong Strong
Policy Generation Yes Yes AI-powered Yes N/A Yes Yes Yes
Customizable Workflows Moderate Moderate Moderate High N/A High High High
Target Audience Startups to Enterprise Startups to Enterprise Startups to Enterprise Mid-market to Enterprise Regulated Tech Companies Enterprise Enterprise Enterprise
Pricing Model Custom Enterprise Custom Enterprise Custom Enterprise Custom Enterprise Tiered/Custom Custom Enterprise Custom Enterprise Custom Enterprise

How to pick

Selecting the right compliance automation or GRC platform involves evaluating your organization's specific needs, scale, and long-term objectives. Consider the following decision-tree approach to narrow down the options:

1. What is your primary compliance need?

  • If your core focus is automating security compliance (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA) with a strong emphasis on continuous monitoring and audit readiness:
    • Consider Drata or Secureframe. These platforms are direct competitors to Vanta, offering robust automation for evidence collection and continuous monitoring. Drata is known for its streamlined experience, while Secureframe differentiates with AI-powered features for policy and risk management.
  • If you require a highly flexible solution for managing diverse compliance frameworks with granular control over workflows and strong risk management capabilities:
    • Evaluate Hyperproof. It provides a balance of automation and customization, suitable for organizations with unique or complex compliance needs that prefer more hands-on control.
  • If you operate in a highly regulated industry and need a comprehensive solution for compliant cloud infrastructure and application deployment:
    • Explore Aptible. This platform is less about compliance automation in the traditional sense and more about providing a secure and compliant environment for your applications, automating many underlying operational security controls.
  • If you are a large enterprise needing an integrated GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) solution that covers audit, risk, and compliance across various functions, beyond just security:
    • Look into Onspring, LogicManager, or AuditBoard. These platforms offer broader capabilities for enterprise risk management, internal audit, and comprehensive compliance programs. Onspring and LogicManager provide extensive customization for diverse GRC needs, while AuditBoard focuses on connecting audit, risk, and compliance into a unified platform.

2. What is your organization's size and budget?

  • For startups and SMBs with limited budgets: While many top alternatives, like Vanta, rely on custom enterprise pricing, some may offer more tailored packages or a clearer path for smaller organizations. It's crucial to engage directly with sales teams to understand specific costs. Hyperproof might offer more flexibility for scaling costs.
  • For mid-market and enterprises: Platforms like Drata, Secureframe, Hyperproof, Onspring, LogicManager, and AuditBoard are generally well-suited for larger organizations with complex requirements and a budget for significant investment in GRC solutions.

3. What are your integration requirements?

  • Assess which platforms offer native integrations with your existing tech stack: cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP), identity providers (Okta, Azure AD), HRIS systems (Workday, BambooHR), ticketing systems (Jira), and other business-critical applications. Seamless integrations are crucial for automating evidence collection and continuous monitoring.

4. How important is continuous monitoring and real-time visibility?

  • If real-time insights into your compliance posture and continuous monitoring of controls are critical: Drata and Secureframe excel in these areas, providing dashboards and alerts to help maintain compliance proactively.

5. Do you need advanced risk management features?

  • If comprehensive risk identification, assessment, and mitigation are a high priority: Secureframe (with its AI capabilities), Hyperproof, Onspring, LogicManager, and AuditBoard offer more robust and integrated risk management modules compared to solutions solely focused on compliance automation.

By systematically evaluating these factors against the features and strengths of each alternative, organizations can make an informed decision that aligns with their unique compliance and security objectives.