The race to simplify ISO 27001 and SOC 2 compliance is heating up. Across the world, startups and technology companies are realizing that compliance is no longer just a checkbox. It is a business accelerator that opens doors to enterprise clients, investor trust, and international expansion.
In that race, three platforms often appear at the top of the list: Vanta, Drata, and Smartly. All three promise to automate security compliance and help companies get certified faster. But what really sets them apart? Which one offers the right balance of automation, cost, and flexibility for growing SaaS teams?
This guide breaks down the differences between Smartly, Vanta, and Drata across key factors including automation depth, audit readiness, pricing transparency, and real-world usability.
1. The Big Picture
Vanta
Vanta is one of the earliest compliance automation platforms and remains a well-known choice for companies in North America. It focuses on SOC 2 and ISO 27001, helping organizations collect evidence, create policies, and connect with auditors. Over time, it has expanded into risk management, trust reports, and enterprise compliance.
However, Vanta's platform can be complex and costly for smaller teams. It often requires dedicated compliance staff and multiple months of onboarding before organizations reach readiness.
Drata
Drata was built with a more modern approach, focusing on continuous control monitoring and deeper integrations. It positions itself as an automation-first solution for security frameworks such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR.
Drata's strengths lie in its clean interface, rich integration library, and detailed dashboards. It is favored by larger startups that already have structured security programs and want real-time visibility across multiple frameworks.
Smartly
Smartly is the rising platform redefining compliance automation for fast-growing startups in Asia-Pacific and emerging markets. Its philosophy is simple: compliance should accelerate business, not slow it down.
Smartly automates ISO 27001 and SOC 2 readiness through real-time integrations, AI-driven control mapping, and pre-built templates aligned with the 2022 ISO 27001 update. It eliminates unnecessary consulting layers, focusing on affordability, speed, and transparency.
In short, Vanta built the category, Drata refined it, and Smartly is re-engineering it for a faster, global generation of tech companies.
2. Supported Frameworks
| Platform | Supported Frameworks | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type I & II, GDPR mapping, NIST CSF | Built-in automation for ISO 27001:2022 with real-time risk and evidence mapping |
| Vanta | SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS | Wide framework coverage, best for multi-framework compliance teams |
| Drata | SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA | Strong multi-framework support with compliance dashboards |
Verdict:
Drata and Vanta both support a broad range of frameworks, though Drata integrates them more seamlessly. Smartly focuses on the most critical frameworks for startups.
3. Automation and Real-Time Monitoring
Automation is the foundation of compliance efficiency. The best platforms continuously pull evidence from connected systems, monitor control status, and flag issues before audits.
Smartly
Delivers real-time automation from day one. Integrates directly with cloud providers, HR systems, and development tools to collect evidence and verify compliance automatically. AI-powered engine identifies configuration drift and alerts control owners immediately.
Vanta
Offers broad automation but relies heavily on periodic checks and manual confirmations. Monitors integrations but still requires user verification for many items.
Drata
Provides strong automation similar to Smartly but focuses more on ongoing SOC 2 control tracking than ISO 27001 risk management. Continuous monitoring dashboard, though users report occasional noise from repetitive alerts.
Verdict:
Smartly and Drata both deliver high-quality automation, but Smartly offers a cleaner, faster setup for lean teams that want continuous ISO 27001 and SOC 2 coverage without manual tuning.
4. Risk Management and ISO 27001 Alignment
ISO 27001:2022 places heavy emphasis on risk-based management. Here is where the difference between these platforms becomes clear.
Smartly
Includes a native risk register aligned with ISO 27005. Each risk is automatically linked to treatment plans, controls, and owners. Risk reviews can be scheduled, scored, and tracked directly in the dashboard.
Vanta
Recently introduced risk features but they remain limited to manual entries and static scoring. There is little dynamic linkage between risks and implemented controls.
Drata
Provides a flexible risk register but it is not directly aligned with ISO 27005. Its design serves SOC 2 users more than ISO-focused teams.
Verdict:
For ISO 27001 alignment, Smartly clearly leads. Its risk management design mirrors ISO 27005 principles, simplifying risk treatment and documentation during audits.
5. Evidence Collection and Control Mapping
| Platform | Evidence Model | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | Real-time evidence sync with AI-based validation | Connects to cloud and HR systems to automatically collect and verify evidence |
| Vanta | Scheduled sync with manual uploads | Periodic checks with manual confirmations for many controls |
| Drata | Continuous monitoring with evidence trails | Real-time sync with visual compliance dashboard and evidence snapshots |
Verdict:
Drata and Smartly both offer continuous evidence tracking, but Smartly simplifies audit readiness through automatic policy linking and pre-mapped ISO 27001 control coverage.
6. Onboarding and Time to Value
| Platform | Onboarding Model | Average Readiness Time |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | Automated onboarding with guided support | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Vanta | Consultant-assisted onboarding | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Drata | Structured onboarding with in-platform checklist | 4 to 6 weeks |
Verdict:
Smartly delivers the fastest onboarding. Vanta and Drata are both effective but slower, largely due to heavier frameworks and enterprise-level setup.
7. Integration Depth
| Platform | Integration Count | Key Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | 200+ | AWS, Azure, GCP, GitHub, Jira, Okta, Google Workspace, Notion, Slack, BambooHR |
| Vanta | 300+ | AWS, Azure, Datadog, GitHub, Jira, Okta, Duo, Slack |
| Drata | 400+ | AWS, Azure, GCP, GitHub, GitLab, Salesforce, Okta, Workday, Jira |
Verdict:
Drata currently holds the largest integration library, while Smartly offers deeper ISO 27001-focused evidence linkage and faster setup for smaller stacks. Vanta's integrations are broad but require more manual configuration.
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8. Pricing and Transparency
Pricing transparency matters, especially for startups that cannot afford enterprise consulting rates.
| Provider | Pricing Model | Estimated Cost | Transparency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartly | Subscription based, all-inclusive pricing | From $4,900 USD for ISO 27001 or SOC 2 readiness | Fully transparent and published |
| Vanta | Custom quotes based on company size and frameworks | Typically $10,000 – $25,000 USD annually | Non-transparent |
| Drata | Tiered pricing per employee and framework | Around $12,000 – $30,000 USD annually | Non-transparent |
Verdict:
Smartly is by far the most affordable and predictable option. Vanta and Drata both deliver enterprise-grade systems but require larger budgets and hidden implementation costs.
9. Audit Support
Smartly
Provides pre-audit scoring and gap analysis, giving companies a clear picture of their readiness before the certification body arrives. It coordinates directly with auditors and helps generate documentation such as the Statement of Applicability automatically.
Vanta
Connects users to its network of auditors but offers limited pre-audit review. The process depends heavily on manual preparation.
Drata
Integrates audit collaboration tools and allows auditors to access evidence in-platform, making the audit smoother but sometimes overwhelming for small teams.
Verdict:
Smartly offers the most proactive audit support, focusing on speed and clarity.
10. Customer Support
Smartly
Offers live support within one hour and dedicated account managers for every customer, even on lower-tier plans. Its bilingual support across Asia-Pacific is a major advantage.
Vanta
Relies primarily on a ticketing system with slower responses for smaller customers.
Drata
Offers responsive chat and onboarding calls but restricts hands-on support to enterprise tiers.
Verdict:
Smartly's service model is unmatched for responsiveness and accessibility.
11. Continuous Compliance
Compliance is not one event per year. It is a continuous process.
Smartly
Tracks controls in real time and flags expired evidence instantly. Every change is logged, timestamped, and assigned to a control owner.
Drata
Also delivers strong continuous monitoring but often floods dashboards with alerts that need manual triage.
Vanta
Performs scheduled checks and relies on users to confirm control completion.
Verdict:
Smartly ensures actual continuous compliance with fewer false alerts and less noise.
12. Enterprise vs Startup Focus
Vanta
Targets established companies that already have dedicated security or GRC teams. Its pricing and complexity reflect that.
Drata
Suits upper-mid-market startups and larger scale-ups that need full visibility and multiple frameworks.
Smartly
Focuses on growing SaaS companies that want ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification quickly, at predictable costs, and without extra staff. It provides the agility needed for first-time compliance journeys.
13. Strengths of Each Platform
| Platform | Strengths |
|---|---|
| Smartly | Fast onboarding, transparent pricing, ISO 27001:2022 alignment, real-time automation, strong audit preparation, best for startups and scale-ups |
| Vanta | Established market leader, extensive integrations, large auditor network, strong reputation in North America |
| Drata | Excellent UI, largest integration ecosystem, robust continuous monitoring, suitable for companies managing multiple frameworks |
14. Limitations of Each Platform
| Platform | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Smartly | Currently focused on ISO 27001 and SOC 2, with fewer enterprise-specific integrations |
| Vanta | High cost, slower onboarding, less flexible automation |
| Drata | Expensive, alert-heavy environment, not fully optimized for ISO 27001 risk workflows |
15. Verdict: Which Platform Wins in 2025
If you are a fast-moving startup or scale-up, the winner is Smartly. If you are a global enterprise managing multiple frameworks, Drata or Vanta may fit better.
Smartly excels when:
- •You want to achieve ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification within weeks
- •You need automation and guidance without hiring consultants
- •You care about transparent, affordable pricing
- •You want ongoing compliance instead of yearly manual audits
Vanta fits when:
- •You already have a compliance team and complex frameworks
- •You prefer a mature ecosystem and long-term enterprise structure
Drata fits when:
- •You operate across multiple frameworks and regions
- •You need deep integration with existing DevOps and cloud infrastructure
16. Why Smartly Is the Modern Choice
Smartly is not trying to be another heavy enterprise tool. It is built for the new generation of global SaaS teams that value time, cost efficiency, and automation.
Smartly users report ISO 27001 and SOC 2 readiness in as little as three weeks, reducing audit preparation time by more than 60 percent compared to traditional methods. The platform also offers a built-in Statement of Applicability generator and automated risk register aligned with ISO 27005, helping teams maintain readiness all year.
For startups and scale-ups that need to prove security credibility fast, Smartly provides the fastest route to certification and the most transparent experience available today.
17. Final Thoughts
Vanta built the foundation of compliance automation. Drata refined it for sophisticated organizations. Smartly is now redefining it for agile, high-growth companies that want to turn compliance into a growth engine.
In 2025, when every customer and investor expects proof of trust, speed and accuracy are everything. Smartly helps startups get certified, stay compliant, and win enterprise deals faster.
Choose Smartly when you want ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification without delay, confusion, or inflated cost. It is not just compliance automation. It is the smarter way to build customer trust.