Drata and Delve are two of the most talked-about compliance automation platforms in 2025. Both promise faster audits, continuous monitoring, and smoother evidence collection—but they take very different approaches.
| Feature | Drata | Delve |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Continuous compliance automation for large teams | Fast, AI-driven compliance for startups |
| Key strength | Automation, real-time monitoring, scalability | AI onboarding, 24/7 guidance, intuitive UX |
| Frameworks supported | SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS | SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR |
| Automation depth | 375+ integrations and full evidence automation | AI-driven automation for core workflows |
| Ease of use | Structured dashboard, suited for experienced users | Extremely intuitive, startup-friendly UI |
| Onboarding time | 2–4 weeks, structured and self-guided | 10–15 hours, AI-guided with human support |
| Audit readiness | Continuous evidence collection and auditor dashboard | Instant evidence gathering with AI screenshots |
| Customer support | 24/7 email and account manager access | 24/7 live support via Slack and Zoom |
| Pricing model | Tiered by framework and size | All-inclusive, transparent annual pricing |
| Ideal for | Scale-ups and enterprises with complex programs | Fast-growing startups without compliance teams |
Drata automates compliance across hundreds of integrations. It is built for teams that already understand compliance frameworks and want to scale while minimizing manual tasks. Real-time monitoring, automated evidence, and pre-vetted auditors make it a reliable choice for organizations managing SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR simultaneously.
Best for: Established companies with in-house InfoSec or compliance specialists who want to automate ongoing maintenance.
Delve focuses on accelerating audit readiness. Its AI onboarding system builds a dynamic compliance plan tailored to your stack and framework in hours. Unlike most tools, Delve includes live compliance experts accessible 24/7 through Slack or Zoom, turning the onboarding experience into a guided partnership.
Best for: Startups and lean teams that need compliance quickly without hiring external consultants.
Decision tip: Choose Drata if you want scalable automation for multiple frameworks. Choose Delve if you want rapid AI onboarding and expert-led support for your first certification.
Uses a guided checklist onboarding flow that takes two to four weeks depending on framework complexity. It requires integration setup and manual mapping for custom controls.
Uses AI-driven onboarding that completes in 10–15 hours. It automatically maps your systems, frameworks, and control requirements.
Automates compliance evidence through its 375+ integrations. It continuously collects and maps evidence to frameworks like SOC 2 or ISO 27001.
Automates evidence collection using AI agents that capture screenshots, detect access changes, and pull configuration data from code repositories or CI/CD pipelines.
Verdict: Drata is better for teams using mainstream tools. Delve is stronger for teams with custom stacks or fewer integrations.
Provides a pre-built risk register and maps risks to controls automatically. It includes templates for mitigation and continuous monitoring of assigned risks.
Uses AI-powered risk detection that flags vulnerabilities in real time based on infrastructure scans. It includes a Policy Assistant that drafts and updates policies on command.
Connects directly with auditors through its dashboard, giving real-time access to evidence and control results.
Offers end-to-end guided audit preparation. Experts manage scheduling, documentation, and auditor coordination directly for you.
Verdict: Drata enables auditor self-service. Delve provides done-for-you audit support.
Performs ongoing control tests and provides instant alerts for misconfigurations or failed checks.
Continuously monitors both infrastructure and code repositories with AI that ranks risks based on severity and likelihood of exploitation.
Verdict: Both excel in continuous monitoring, but Drata's tests are framework-driven while Delve's approach is risk-driven.
Drata offers 375+ integrations covering mainstream tools and services. Delve has fewer native integrations but compensates with AI agents that can work with custom tools and configurations.
Offers 24/7 technical support, live chat, and dedicated customer success managers.
Provides direct communication with compliance experts anytime through Slack or Zoom with average response times under five minutes.
Verdict: Drata offers reliable enterprise support. Delve offers faster, real-time, and more personal assistance.
Both Drata and Delve deliver strong compliance automation, but they target different audiences.
If you want full automation and scalability, choose Drata. If you want speed, simplicity, and AI-powered guidance, choose Delve.
If your startup needs ISO 27001 certification fast and at the best value, Smartly is your smartest option.
Smartly automates 70% of the ISO 27001 process and gets you certified in weeks, not months.
You pay one fixed price to get certified, not extra for audits or consulting.
Built specifically for startups with limited resources.
From readiness to audit, Smartly handles everything so you can focus on growth.
For teams that want certification speed, transparency, and affordability, Smartly is the clear winner.