Smartly vs Vanta vs Oneleet: The 2025 Compliance Automation Showdown
In 2025, the compliance automation space is more competitive than ever. Startups and scale-ups are under increasing pressure to achieve ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification to win enterprise clients, while security expectations have evolved from basic documentation to continuous assurance. Three platforms stand out—Smartly, Vanta, and Oneleet—each with different philosophies and target audiences.
Quick Snapshot: Smartly vs Vanta vs Oneleet
TLDR Summary
Smartly delivers speed, deep automation, and affordability—ideal for startups and fast-moving teams that need ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification quickly.
Vanta is the established leader built for large enterprises with internal compliance teams and bigger budgets.
Oneleet merges compliance with cybersecurity, offering vulnerability management and continuous threat detection alongside certification.
1. Platform Overview
Vanta
Vanta pioneered the compliance automation market. It provides continuous monitoring for frameworks such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI DSS. With over 300 integrations and a vast auditor network, Vanta remains the enterprise benchmark for automated compliance.
However, Vanta's scale comes with complexity. Its setup often requires internal compliance expertise, onboarding can take months, and pricing is geared toward medium and large organizations.
Oneleet
Oneleet takes a different approach. It merges compliance automation with cybersecurity program management. Instead of focusing solely on audits, Oneleet helps companies manage their security posture through vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and threat detection, all from one dashboard.
The platform supports frameworks like ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, and NIST CSF while integrating live technical monitoring to ensure that compliance controls are not just documented but truly enforced.
Oneleet's strength lies in security-driven compliance. It suits companies that want a hands-on approach to both certification and protection. However, it is still maturing as a product, with limited automation outside of its security features.
Smartly
Smartly represents the new generation of compliance automation platforms. Built for startups and fast-growing SaaS teams, Smartly focuses on getting ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certification done fast, without consultants or inflated costs.
It automates everything from risk assessments to evidence collection, generates audit-ready documentation like the Statement of Applicability (SoA), and continuously monitors controls through live integrations. Smartly's AI-driven automation, real-time dashboards, and transparent pricing make it one of the most efficient tools on the market.
Where Vanta offers scale and Oneleet offers cybersecurity depth, Smartly delivers speed, affordability, and precision.
2. Supported Frameworks
| Platform | Supported Frameworks | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type I & II, GDPR, NIST CSF | Automated control mapping and ISO 27001:2022 alignment |
| Vanta | SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS | Broadest framework coverage with strong enterprise reputation |
| Oneleet | ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, NIST, CIS, CSA CCM | Blends compliance with active cybersecurity monitoring |
Verdict: Vanta wins on total framework count, Oneleet stands out for security-focused frameworks, and Smartly leads in automation accuracy for ISO 27001 and SOC 2.
3. Automation Depth
Automation separates truly modern compliance platforms from legacy systems. The deeper your integrations, the less manual work required.
Smartly
Smartly automates control validation, evidence collection, and risk tracking through real-time integrations. It eliminates manual uploads and ensures each control stays continuously validated.
Vanta
Vanta provides wide automation coverage but still requires manual confirmation and periodic syncs. Evidence freshness must often be re-verified by users.
Oneleet
Oneleet automates evidence collection partially, but its core strength is active security scanning rather than administrative automation. Its compliance workflows are improving but less mature.
Verdict: Smartly delivers the highest level of automation. Oneleet excels in proactive security automation, and Vanta provides stable but slower compliance automation.
4. Security Posture and Risk Management
Security risk management has become a defining feature of modern compliance.
Smartly
Smartly includes a risk register aligned with ISO 27005, automatically mapping risks to controls and treatments. Its dashboard shows risk owners, review dates, and mitigation progress in real time.
Vanta
Vanta provides a static risk assessment tool with manual mapping and limited automation.
Oneleet
Oneleet integrates full cybersecurity risk management. It continuously scans for vulnerabilities, maps findings to compliance risks, and helps organizations remediate them before audits.
Verdict: Oneleet leads for proactive security risk management, while Smartly dominates ISO 27001-aligned governance and documentation automation.
5. Evidence Management
| Platform | Evidence Model | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | Automated, real-time collection | Links directly to integrations and refreshes evidence automatically |
| Vanta | Periodic collection and review | Broad coverage but depends on manual confirmation |
| Oneleet | Security-driven evidence collection | Integrates vulnerability scan results as evidence for technical controls |
6. Integration Coverage
| Platform | Number of Integrations | Key Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | 200+ | AWS, GCP, Azure, GitHub, Jira, Notion, Okta, Slack, BambooHR |
| Vanta | 300+ | AWS, Azure, Datadog, GitHub, Jira, Okta, Duo, Zoom |
| Oneleet | 150+ | AWS, GitHub, Google Workspace, Slack, Jira, CrowdStrike |
Verdict: Vanta leads in total integrations, Smartly leads in automation quality and relevance, and Oneleet integrates deeper into security tooling.
7. Onboarding and Time to Readiness
| Platform | Onboarding Model | Average Readiness Time |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | Guided automation and AI-driven setup | 2-3 weeks |
| Vanta | Consultant-assisted onboarding | 6-8 weeks |
| Oneleet | Security engineer-assisted onboarding | 4-6 weeks |
8. Audit Support and Readiness
Smartly
Smartly automates pre-audit readiness scoring, generates ISO 27001 documentation such as the SoA and risk treatment plan, and connects auditors directly through its platform.
Vanta
Vanta provides auditor access portals and predefined templates but expects teams to manage preparation manually.
Oneleet
Oneleet adds value with penetration testing and continuous vulnerability reporting that strengthen audit outcomes.
Verdict: Smartly delivers the most efficient audit experience. Oneleet adds real security validation, while Vanta focuses on audit logistics.
9. Pricing and Transparency
| Platform | Pricing Model | Typical Range | Transparency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartly | All-inclusive annual subscription | From $4,900 per certification | Transparent and published |
| Vanta | Custom enterprise quote | $10,000 - $25,000 | Non-transparent |
| Oneleet | Tiered packages by company size | $7,000 - $20,000 per year | Semi-transparent |
Verdict: Smartly is the most transparent and affordable. Oneleet's pricing is fair but varies by service package. Vanta remains the most expensive.
10. Continuous Monitoring
Smartly
Smartly continuously monitors control health and evidence freshness, alerting owners the moment configurations drift.
Vanta
Vanta performs automated checks on schedule but requires user action to confirm remediations.
Oneleet
Oneleet continuously scans infrastructure for vulnerabilities and compliance gaps, providing real-time alerts.
Verdict: Smartly offers true continuous compliance for ISO and SOC frameworks. Oneleet offers continuous cybersecurity assurance, while Vanta remains strong but periodic.
11. Customer Support
Smartly
Smartly offers dedicated account managers, one-hour average response time, and multilingual support across Asia-Pacific and global markets.
Vanta
Vanta provides ticket-based support with response times depending on plan level.
Oneleet
Oneleet offers direct Slack support channels with engineers, providing highly technical assistance but limited regional coverage.
Verdict: Smartly wins on speed and accessibility. Oneleet provides excellent technical help for security issues. Vanta's support is solid but slower for small teams.
12. Platform Design and Experience
Smartly
Smartly provides a modern, intuitive interface designed for startups — simple, clear, and fast.
Vanta
Vanta's dashboard is data-rich but complex for small teams.
Oneleet
Oneleet's interface feels like a hybrid between compliance tracking and a SOC platform, ideal for technical users.
Verdict: Smartly delivers the most user-friendly experience. Oneleet appeals to security professionals. Vanta suits mature compliance teams.
13. Scalability and Use Case Fit
Smartly
Smartly scales easily from single certification to multiple frameworks while maintaining automation and simplicity.
Vanta
Vanta scales well for large enterprises but becomes cumbersome for lean teams.
Oneleet
Oneleet scales for growing security programs but may introduce complexity for non-technical founders.
Verdict: Smartly balances scalability and simplicity best.
14. Strengths and Weaknesses
| Platform | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | Fast onboarding, deep automation, transparent pricing, ISO 27001:2022 alignment | Focused mainly on ISO 27001 and SOC 2 |
| Vanta | Wide framework coverage, strong brand trust, large auditor network | High cost, complex UI, slower processes |
| Oneleet | Security-driven compliance, vulnerability management, active monitoring | Limited automation, smaller integration library, evolving product maturity |
15. Best for Each Use Case
Choose Smartly if:
- You are a startup or scale-up preparing for ISO 27001 or SOC 2
- You want fast automation, audit-ready documentation, and affordable pricing
- You prefer a user-friendly interface that eliminates consultant dependency
Choose Vanta if:
- You are a larger enterprise managing multiple frameworks at scale
- You value an extensive auditor ecosystem and comprehensive integration coverage
Choose Oneleet if:
- You prioritize cybersecurity posture as much as compliance
- You want vulnerability management and penetration testing integrated into your compliance platform
16. Feature Comparison Summary
| Feature | Smartly | Vanta | Oneleet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed to Certification | 2-3 weeks | 6-8 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
| Automation Depth | Real-time automation | Broad but manual | Security automation focus |
| Risk Management | ISO 27005-aligned | Basic | Vulnerability-driven |
| Evidence Management | Auto-collected | Semi-manual | Security data integrated |
| Pricing Transparency | Clear and fixed | Hidden | Semi-transparent |
| Continuous Monitoring | Yes | Partial | Yes |
| Audit Support | Automated SoA and scoring | Marketplace | Security validation |
| Best Fit | Startups and scale-ups | Enterprises | Security-focused teams |
17. Verdict: Which Platform Fits You Best?
Choose Smartly if:
- You are a startup or scale-up that needs ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification quickly
- You prefer automation over consulting hours
- You want transparent, affordable pricing
- You need a platform that continues monitoring compliance after the audit
Choose Vanta if:
- You are an enterprise with a large compliance team and multiple frameworks to manage
- You can afford longer onboarding and higher costs
- You need established auditor relationships
Choose Oneleet if:
- You prioritize cybersecurity posture as much as compliance
- You want vulnerability management and penetration testing integrated
- You have technical teams that can leverage security-first tools
18. Final Thoughts: Why Smartly Wins the Modern Compliance Race
In 2025, compliance is no longer just about ticking boxes. It is about demonstrating real security maturity, maintaining trust, and accelerating business growth.
Vanta remains the heavyweight for enterprises that manage multiple frameworks and require extensive integrations and established auditor partnerships. Oneleet merges cybersecurity and compliance in one platform, making it ideal for organizations that want continuous technical assurance alongside certification.
Smartly is the clear leader for startups and fast-moving teams that need to achieve ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification quickly, accurately, and affordably.
Smartly automates risk assessment, evidence collection, and audit documentation in one unified platform. It brings enterprise-grade compliance capabilities to startups without the enterprise cost or complexity.
Smartly helps you achieve all three. It cuts certification time by more than half, reduces costs by up to 70 percent compared to legacy platforms, and keeps your controls continuously monitored.
For teams that want to move fast, impress clients, and scale globally, Smartly is the fastest and most affordable path to ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certification in 2025.
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