Smartly vs Drata vs Delve: Which Compliance Platform Wins in 2025
ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certification have become the new growth passports for SaaS companies. In 2025, enterprise clients no longer ask if your product is secure — they demand proof. Certifications are that proof. They show discipline, maturity, and trust.
Quick Snapshot: Smartly vs Drata vs Delve
TLDR Summary
Smartly focuses on startups and fast-growing SaaS teams that need ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification quickly, efficiently, and affordably.
Drata is the enterprise-grade system for organizations managing multiple frameworks across regions.
Delve bridges compliance and real-time security intelligence, ideal for companies that want live visibility into their posture.
1. Platform Overview
Smartly
Smartly is purpose-built for startups and scale-ups that need ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification fast. It automates every part of the process — from scoping and control mapping to evidence collection and audit preparation — while providing real human support from ISO 27001 specialists.
Its all-inclusive pricing model eliminates hidden costs. You pay for certification, not consulting hours. Smartly's main focus is speed, accuracy, and simplicity.
Drata
Drata is one of the most established compliance automation providers. It connects to hundreds of systems to continuously monitor controls, collect audit evidence, and manage multiple frameworks such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR.
Drata's strength is scale. It works well for organizations with large compliance teams that manage multiple standards at once. But for smaller teams, its complexity, long onboarding, and cost can become overwhelming.
Delve
Delve is a new-generation platform that merges compliance automation with continuous monitoring. It focuses on connecting real-time security data with compliance evidence, offering visibility across risks, policies, and frameworks.
The product is still evolving but has drawn attention for its user-friendly interface and security-first approach. Delve is ideal for teams that want active monitoring along with compliance but can involve more manual input for certification preparation.
2. Framework Coverage
| Platform | Supported Frameworks | Core Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, NIST CSF | Precision automation for ISO 27001 and SOC 2 |
| Drata | SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR, NIST | Enterprise-scale automation |
| Delve | ISO 27001, SOC 2 | Real-time monitoring and compliance visibility |
Verdict: Drata leads in multi-framework coverage. Smartly is sharper for ISO 27001 and SOC 2. Delve focuses on fewer frameworks but adds live monitoring capabilities.
3. Automation and Efficiency
Automation isn't just about integrations — it's about eliminating manual steps across the entire certification journey.
Smartly
Smartly automates the entire certification process. It connects to your cloud and business systems, collects evidence, tracks control status, and updates reports automatically. Every action is mapped to ISO 27001 Annex A or SOC 2 Trust Criteria.
Drata
Drata offers deep automation across frameworks but requires heavy setup. Its automation works best for large teams with dedicated compliance staff.
Delve
Delve automates parts of the compliance process, including evidence collection and control mapping, but its strongest automation is around real-time posture monitoring rather than structured audit documentation.
Verdict: Smartly offers true end-to-end automation for certification readiness. Drata is comprehensive but slow to configure. Delve focuses on security visibility more than documentation.
4. Risk Management
ISO 27001 requires structured risk assessment and treatment aligned with ISO 27005 methodology.
Smartly
Smartly includes an ISO 27005-aligned risk register. It links each risk to treatment actions and Annex A controls, ensuring complete traceability. The process directly supports Clauses 6.1.2 and 6.1.3 of ISO 27001.
Drata
Drata includes a flexible risk management module that can handle multiple frameworks but lacks ISO-specific guidance.
Delve
Delve integrates risk management into its security posture scoring and monitoring. It tracks risks from misconfigurations or vulnerabilities but does not fully replace ISO 27001 risk documentation.
Verdict: Smartly wins for ISO 27001 risk treatment alignment. Drata provides scale but generic tracking. Delve provides technical insight but less governance detail.
5. Evidence Management
| Platform | Evidence Model | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | Continuous automation | Real-time integrations with AWS, GCP, GitHub, Jira, and HR tools keep evidence always current |
| Drata | Automated with periodic sync | Extensive integrations, but some evidence still requires manual review |
| Delve | Real-time tracking and partial evidence upload | Connects security findings with compliance evidence but requires manual mapping |
Verdict: Smartly offers the most seamless, audit-ready evidence automation. Drata supports large-scale evidence collection. Delve provides strong visibility but less certification focus.
6. Onboarding and Certification Speed
| Platform | Typical Onboarding Time | Setup Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | 2–3 weeks | Guided onboarding with ISO specialists |
| Drata | 3–6 months | Complex configuration for large teams |
| Delve | 1–2 months | Simple setup but requires more manual review before certification |
Verdict: Smartly moves the fastest from kickoff to certification. Delve follows but is less automated. Drata remains slow due to complexity.
7. Pricing Transparency
| Platform | Pricing Model | Typical Range | Transparency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartly | All-inclusive, pay-after-certification | From $4,900 per certification | 100% clear |
| Drata | Subscription plus add-ons | $10,000–$25,000 per year | Not publicly listed |
| Delve | Tiered compliance + monitoring plans | $7,000–$15,000 per year | Transparent but modular |
Verdict: Smartly provides the clearest and most affordable model. Drata is expensive and opaque. Delve is transparent but cost grows with added features.
8. Audit Preparation
Smartly
Smartly automatically produces ISO 27001 documents such as the Statement of Applicability (SoA), Risk Treatment Plan, and Internal Audit Checklist. It also coordinates directly with accredited certification bodies, saving weeks of logistics.
Drata
Drata provides auditor dashboards and collaboration tools but expects users to manage communication and documentation manually.
Delve
Delve assists in preparing audit evidence but focuses more on monitoring than ISO-specific documents.
Verdict: Smartly provides complete audit readiness. Drata supports auditor collaboration but not execution. Delve offers insights without formal audit management.
9. Continuous Compliance
Smartly
Smartly continuously monitors control performance, evidence freshness, and policy status. Any drift from compliance triggers alerts for remediation.
Drata
Drata supports recurring checks but depends on team review for remediation tracking.
Delve
Delve maintains continuous monitoring of cloud configurations and threats rather than ISO controls.
Verdict: Smartly ensures real continuous compliance. Drata does it partially. Delve focuses on security posture monitoring.
10. Integrations
| Platform | Integration Count | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | 200+ | Tailored for ISO 27001 and SOC 2 automation |
| Drata | 300+ | Extensive coverage across cloud, HR, and IT systems |
| Delve | 100+ | Prioritizes cloud security and vulnerability scanning tools |
Verdict: Drata wins in quantity. Smartly leads in relevance. Delve connects best to security tools.
11. Regional Fit
Smartly
Smartly is built for global startups, particularly across Asia-Pacific and Europe, with localized templates and regional auditor partnerships.
Drata
Drata is primarily U.S.-focused and tailored to North American compliance norms.
Delve
Delve operates mostly in Europe and aligns closely with GDPR and ISO 27001 European auditors.
Verdict: Smartly provides the most global flexibility, supporting both APAC and EU teams.
12. User Experience
Smartly
Smartly has a clean, minimal interface focused on clarity and speed. It displays real-time certification readiness and provides next-step recommendations.
Drata
Drata offers a comprehensive dashboard that can overwhelm smaller teams but is powerful for large compliance operations.
Delve
Delve merges compliance dashboards with real-time security monitoring, providing strong visibility but less focus on audit documentation.
Verdict: Smartly delivers simplicity and focus. Drata delivers complexity and control. Delve delivers security visibility.
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13. Customer Support
Smartly
Smartly provides proactive one-on-one guidance from certified ISO 27001 specialists through onboarding and audit preparation.
Drata
Drata offers email and ticket-based support with online documentation.
Delve
Delve provides live chat and implementation help, focusing mainly on security configuration rather than certification strategy.
Verdict: Smartly's hands-on expert support makes it the most approachable choice for startups.
14. Scalability
Smartly
Smartly scales from a single framework to multi-standard readiness without increasing complexity.
Drata
Drata scales across global compliance programs but adds overhead with each framework.
Delve
Delve scales through expanded monitoring capabilities rather than compliance frameworks.
Verdict: Smartly grows naturally with your business.
15. Strengths and Weaknesses
| Platform | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | Fastest onboarding, expert support, transparent pricing, ISO 27001 specialization | Focused scope on ISO 27001 and SOC 2 |
| Drata | Deep automation and multi-framework coverage | Expensive and complex for small teams |
| Delve | Combines compliance and continuous monitoring | Limited audit automation, smaller ecosystem |
16. Best Use Cases
Choose Smartly if:
- You need ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification fast
- You want predictable pricing and real human guidance
- You prefer full automation over manual checklists
Choose Drata if:
- You are an enterprise managing multiple frameworks
- You have a dedicated compliance or GRC team
Choose Delve if:
- You want continuous monitoring plus compliance visibility
- You prioritize security analytics over full certification automation
17. Feature Comparison
| Feature | Smartly | Drata | Delve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed to Certification | 2–3 weeks | 3–6 months | 1–2 months |
| Automation Depth | Full ISO 27001 automation | Multi-framework automation | Moderate, security-focused |
| Risk Management | ISO 27005-aligned | Generic | Vulnerability-based |
| Evidence Management | Continuous, automated | Periodic sync | Real-time visibility |
| Continuous Compliance | Yes | Partial | Monitoring focus |
| Audit Preparation | Fully automated | Manual coordination | Limited |
| Pricing Transparency | 100% clear | Limited | Modular |
| Regional Fit | Global / APAC / EU | North America | Europe |
| Best Fit | Startups and SaaS teams | Enterprises | Security-first companies |
18. Final Verdict
Each platform represents a different approach to compliance.
Drata is the enterprise-grade system for organizations managing multiple frameworks across regions.
Delve bridges compliance and real-time security intelligence, ideal for companies that want live visibility into their posture.
Smartly focuses on startups and fast-growing SaaS teams that need ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification quickly, efficiently, and affordably.
If your goal is to close enterprise deals, impress investors, and demonstrate security credibility without months of manual work, Smartly is the clear winner.
19. Why Smartly Wins the 2025 Compliance Race
Smartly simplifies what others overcomplicate. It automates ISO 27001 and SOC 2 from start to finish, provides expert guidance, and delivers certification in weeks — not months.
With Smartly, you get:
- Real-time automation and continuous monitoring
- A dedicated compliance expert from onboarding to audit
- Transparent pricing with no surprise fees
- Audit-ready documentation aligned with ISO 27001:2022
Drata delivers scale. Delve delivers visibility. Smartly delivers speed and results.
Smartly: The fastest path to ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certification in 2025 — built for startups that move fast and grow securely.