The landscape, at a glance
Compliance platforms split into three real categories: commercial Vanta-class products that automate evidence collection (and are priced accordingly), audit-included offers that bundle the CPA firm, and DIY/open-source approaches that trade vendor cost for engineering time.
| Option | Type | Pricing entry | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KollGuard | Developer-first commercial | Free first scan, $19.89/mo Starter | Actually scans your code + databases, not just collects evidence. Best for engineering teams shipping fast. | Not the right fit if you want a fully white-glove audit prep service. |
| Drata | Commercial (enterprise) | ~$7.5k/yr, quote-only | Mature integrations and a strong policy library. | Pricing and the sales cycle are sized for funded teams. |
| Secureframe | Commercial (enterprise) | ~$7.5k/yr, quote-only | Auditor network bundled; fewer hand-offs. | Same price band as Drata; not designed for self-serve. |
| Sprinto | Commercial (mid-market) | ~$7k/yr | Lighter touch; good for sub-100-person teams. | Still quote-based; no transparent pricing. |
| Thoropass (formerly Laika) | Commercial (audit-included) | ~$14.5k/yr, audit bundled | Single contract includes the SOC 2 audit itself. | Highest sticker price among comparables. |
| Comply (Strike Graph open-source legacy) | Open-source policy library | Free | Boilerplate SOC 2 policy templates you can fork. | Templates only — no scanning, no evidence collection, no audit. Project activity is low. |
| Roll-your-own (scripts + spreadsheets) | DIY | Engineering time | Full control; zero vendor cost. | Auditor will ask for evidence in a specific shape; rebuilding that shape often costs more in eng time than a tool. |
How to pick
- If you're pre-revenue and "SOC 2 ready" is a deal blocker: KollGuard ($19.89/mo) + an independent CPA firm. Fastest, cheapest path.
- If you're funded and want hands-off: Vanta, Drata, or Secureframe; pick on integration coverage for your stack.
- If you want a single contract for software + audit: Thoropass.
- If your team has the eng bandwidth and dislikes vendors: roll-your-own with open-source scanners + auditor-direct engagement.
Frequently asked
- Is there a true open-source Vanta?
- No, not in the sense that there's a maintained drop-in. There are open-source policy template libraries (Comply, Hyperproof's templates), and there are open-source scanners (Trivy, Steampipe) you can wire together. None of them give you the auditor-ready evidence package Vanta-class products do. If you go open-source, plan for the integration work.
- What is the cheapest path to SOC 2 in 2026?
- Pick a tool that does the scanning and evidence collection for you ($20–$100/mo tier) and engage a CPA firm directly for the audit ($10k–$30k for Type 1, more for Type 2). That separates the two costs — you pay for software at software prices and pay the auditor at auditor prices, instead of bundling both into a $30k+/yr platform contract.
- How is KollGuard different from Vanta?
- Vanta and similar platforms automate evidence COLLECTION — they integrate with your stack and pull in screenshots and policy attestations. KollGuard actually RUNS the security checks against your code and databases (RLS, branch protection, secrets, TLS, PII detection) and produces evidence directly from those scans. We are complementary to an auditor; we are not trying to replace one.
- Can I switch from Vanta to KollGuard mid-audit?
- Yes, but mid-audit is the worst time for any tooling change — your auditor has a specific evidence shape they expect. The cleanest moment is between Type 1 and Type 2, or at renewal. Talk to your auditor before switching; they will tell you what evidence formats they accept.