Smartly vs Vanta vs ISMS.online: Which Platform Wins for ISO 27001 and SOC 2 in 2025?
Security compliance is no longer optional for technology companies. ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certifications have become the price of entry to global markets. Among the top contenders in 2025 are Smartly, Vanta, and ISMS.online—each serving very different audiences with distinct approaches to compliance automation.
Quick Snapshot: Smartly vs Vanta vs ISMS.online
TLDR Summary
Smartly combines real automation, rapid onboarding, and affordability in a platform designed for modern startups and scale-ups.
Vanta remains the heavyweight built for large enterprises with internal compliance departments and bigger budgets.
ISMS.online offers deep ISO 27001 functionality for organizations that value structure and documentation over automation.
1. Platform Overview
Vanta
Vanta is the most recognized name in the compliance automation category. It pioneered evidence collection and real-time monitoring for frameworks such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR. Its platform connects with hundreds of integrations and has a mature auditor marketplace.
However, Vanta's complexity can be overwhelming for smaller teams. Its pricing is tailored to larger organizations, and onboarding often takes several weeks with heavy reliance on internal compliance staff.
ISMS.online
ISMS.online takes a different approach. It is not a pure automation tool but a full information security management system designed to support ISO 27001 certification from end to end. The platform provides built-in policy templates, risk registers, and document management workflows.
ISMS.online is ideal for organizations that prefer a guided, document-first approach with strong reporting and version control. But its limited automation and technical integrations make it less suitable for teams looking for real-time compliance monitoring.
Smartly
Smartly represents the new generation of compliance platforms. Designed for startups and fast-growing companies, Smartly automates ISO 27001 and SOC 2 readiness with an AI-driven control library, real-time integrations, and ISO 27001:2022 alignment.
Smartly's mission is clear: make compliance faster, simpler, and more affordable. It removes unnecessary consulting steps and provides full automation from risk assessment to audit-ready documentation.
With transparent pricing and onboarding measured in weeks, Smartly is rapidly becoming the platform of choice for teams that want certification without slowing their business down.
2. Supported Frameworks
| Platform | Supported Frameworks | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type I & II, GDPR, NIST CSF | Built-in automation aligned with ISO 27001:2022 and SOC 2 readiness |
| Vanta | SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS | Wide coverage with deep auditor partnerships |
| ISMS.online | ISO 27001, ISO 27701, ISO 9001, GDPR | Focused primarily on ISO standards with structured governance and reporting |
Verdict: ISMS.online excels in ISO-based frameworks and policy management, Vanta covers the broadest range of standards, and Smartly delivers the most automation for ISO 27001 and SOC 2 specifically.
3. Automation Depth
Automation is what saves teams hundreds of hours during audits. The more your system connects directly to your cloud and HR tools, the less time your team spends collecting screenshots or filling spreadsheets.
Smartly
Offers full automation for evidence collection, control validation, and risk tracking. The platform integrates directly with cloud services, HR systems, and engineering tools to verify controls automatically. It flags non-compliance instantly and assigns remediation tasks.
Vanta
Provides broad automation across integrations but requires manual verification for many controls. It monitors evidence periodically rather than continuously.
ISMS.online
Relies mostly on manual documentation updates. It provides templates, reminders, and workflows but not live data connections to your systems.
Verdict: Smartly leads in automation depth. Vanta is strong but slower to implement, while ISMS.online focuses on manual governance rather than automation.
4. ISO 27001 Alignment and Risk Management
Smartly
Built directly on the ISO 27001:2022 standard. Its risk register follows ISO 27005 methodology, mapping every risk to relevant controls, treatment plans, and responsible owners. The platform automatically generates and maintains the Statement of Applicability (SoA), making ISO audits far easier.
Vanta
Supports ISO 27001 certification but lacks the same native alignment. Its focus is on evidence collection rather than risk management, and users must manually create their SoA documents.
ISMS.online
Designed from the ground up for ISO 27001 and ISO 27701. It provides pre-built templates for risk management, SoA creation, and internal audits. However, all of these steps require manual updates and do not benefit from automation.
Verdict: For organizations focused on ISO 27001, Smartly and ISMS.online are the strongest. Smartly wins for speed and automation, while ISMS.online wins for structured governance and document control.
5. Evidence Management
| Platform | Evidence Model | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | Real-time evidence collection with automated validation | Evidence updates automatically through integrations and is audit-ready at any time |
| Vanta | Scheduled evidence pulls | Automated evidence but requires manual review for many items |
| ISMS.online | Manual upload and version tracking | Centralized evidence management for documentation but no automation |
Verdict: Smartly provides the most dynamic evidence collection process, while ISMS.online relies on manual uploads suitable for organizations that value document control over speed.
6. Onboarding and Time to Certification
| Platform | Onboarding Model | Average Readiness Time |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | Guided automation with real-time integrations | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Vanta | Consultant-assisted setup | 6 to 8 weeks |
| ISMS.online | Guided, document-first approach | 5 to 7 weeks |
7. Audit Support
Smartly
Automates audit preparation through pre-audit scoring, evidence mapping, and direct auditor collaboration. The platform generates key artifacts such as the Statement of Applicability and Risk Treatment Plan automatically.
Vanta
Connects clients to its auditor network and provides dashboards for evidence sharing, but coordination remains largely manual.
ISMS.online
Supports internal and external audit tracking, audit logs, and review cycles. It does not automate auditor collaboration but offers strong documentation support.
Verdict: Smartly offers the most hands-on and automated audit experience, ideal for first-time certifications. ISMS.online is solid for documentation control but slower.
8. Integrations
| Platform | Number of Integrations | Key Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | 200+ | AWS, Azure, GCP, Jira, GitHub, Okta, Notion, Slack, BambooHR |
| Vanta | 300+ | AWS, Datadog, Azure, GitHub, Jira, Okta, Duo |
| ISMS.online | Limited API integrations | Focused on document workflows rather than technical integrations |
Verdict: Vanta leads in the number of integrations, Smartly wins in quality and automation depth, and ISMS.online intentionally limits integrations to maintain controlled governance environments.
9. Pricing and Transparency
| Platform | Pricing Model | Cost Range | Transparency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartly | All-inclusive annual subscription | From $4,900 per certification | Transparent and published |
| Vanta | Custom enterprise quotes | Typically $10,000 – $25,000 per year | Non-transparent |
| ISMS.online | Tiered subscription based on users and frameworks | Around $8,000 – $20,000 annually | Partially transparent |
Verdict: Smartly provides the clearest and most affordable pricing. Vanta and ISMS.online both scale costs based on company size, which can quickly increase total expenses.
10. Continuous Compliance
Smartly
Performs real-time checks across integrations and alerts control owners instantly when a configuration drifts or a control fails. Compliance becomes a continuous process rather than a once-a-year sprint.
Vanta
Performs automated checks but relies on users to verify and close findings.
ISMS.online
Does not perform automated checks; instead, it encourages periodic manual reviews through workflows and reminders.
Verdict: Smartly delivers true continuous compliance. Vanta provides partial automation, while ISMS.online remains manual but structured.
11. User Experience and Design
Smartly
Provides a clean, intuitive dashboard showing risk posture, control health, and certification progress. It is designed for startups that need clarity without complexity.
Vanta
Offers data-rich dashboards suited to compliance teams but can feel overwhelming for smaller organizations.
ISMS.online
Focuses on document and task views rather than automation dashboards, making it ideal for policy managers but less engaging for technical users.
Verdict: Smartly delivers the best balance of simplicity and functionality. Vanta favors depth over simplicity, and ISMS.online prioritizes governance structure.
12. Customer Support
Smartly
Provides rapid, multilingual customer support with dedicated account managers and one-hour average response times.
Vanta
Uses a ticket-based system with slower responses for smaller clients.
ISMS.online
Provides responsive support via email and calls, especially for UK and EU-based customers, but lacks real-time chat assistance.
Verdict: Smartly leads in accessibility and responsiveness. ISMS.online performs well in structured support, and Vanta's experience varies by plan level.
13. Scalability and Growth Fit
Smartly
Scales with startups from their first certification to multi-framework maturity, allowing ISO 27001 and SOC 2 controls to overlap seamlessly.
Vanta
Designed for larger enterprises managing multiple frameworks at once.
ISMS.online
Best suited for medium to large organizations with structured internal processes and dedicated compliance teams.
Verdict: Smartly offers the most balanced scalability for small to mid-size companies.
14. Strengths and Weaknesses
| Platform | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | Real-time automation, transparent pricing, fast onboarding, strong ISO 27001 alignment | Focused mainly on ISO 27001 and SOC 2 |
| Vanta | Enterprise maturity, wide framework support, large auditor network | High cost, slower onboarding, complex for small teams |
| ISMS.online | Strong documentation control, audit readiness templates, ISO 27001 governance | Limited automation, manual processes, fewer integrations |
15. Which Platform Is Best for You?
Choose Smartly if:
- You are a startup or growing SaaS company targeting ISO 27001 or SOC 2
- You want real-time automation and transparent pricing
- You need certification quickly without consultants or complexity
Choose Vanta if:
- You are an enterprise managing several frameworks across multiple teams
- You want deep auditor connections and extensive integrations
Choose ISMS.online if:
- You prefer a structured, governance-first platform for ISO certifications
- You have compliance staff who can manage documentation manually
16. Comparative Summary
| Feature | Smartly | Vanta | ISMS.online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automation | Real-time evidence and control monitoring | Scheduled checks | Manual documentation |
| ISO 27001 Alignment | Full alignment with 2022 update | Partial | Complete (manual) |
| Risk Management | Automated ISO 27005 model | Basic | Manual templates |
| Onboarding Time | 2 – 3 weeks | 6 – 8 weeks | 5 – 7 weeks |
| Pricing Transparency | Clear and fixed | Hidden | Partial |
| Audit Support | Automated SoA and pre-audit scoring | Auditor network | Structured internal audit tools |
17. Final Verdict
Vanta, ISMS.online, and Smartly all help organizations achieve compliance, but they take very different paths.
Vanta is the veteran in the space, ideal for enterprises managing multiple frameworks and requiring auditor integration.
ISMS.online offers deep ISO 27001 functionality for organizations that value structure and documentation over automation.
Smartly combines both worlds — automation, speed, and affordability — in one unified platform designed for startups and scale-ups that want ISO 27001 and SOC 2 done right and done fast.
Smartly delivers:
- Real-time automation of evidence and control checks
- A risk register and Statement of Applicability aligned with ISO 27001:2022
- Transparent, all-inclusive pricing
- Fast onboarding and continuous compliance monitoring
18. Why Smartly Leads the Next Generation of Compliance
Smartly is built for the reality of modern business. Teams need certifications to unlock growth but cannot afford months of manual work or expensive consultants.
By automating ISO 27001 and SOC 2 from end to end, Smartly reduces certification time by up to 60 percent and provides a continuous compliance model that scales with your company.
For organizations that want to transform compliance from a checklist into a competitive advantage, Smartly is the fastest, simplest, and most affordable solution in 2025.
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