Smartly vs ISMS.online vs Delve: Which Platform Actually Delivers?
The compliance market is more crowded than ever. ISO 27001 and SOC 2 are no longer badges of honor—they are deal breakers. Procurement teams, investors, and enterprise customers expect continuous security maturity, not one-time checklists. This is the most complete comparison for 2025 so you don't waste a single minute choosing the wrong platform.
Quick Snapshot: Smartly vs ISMS.online vs Delve
TLDR Summary
Smartly is the strongest choice for any company that must get certified, not just manage documents. It delivers the fastest timeline, most guidance, most complete documentation, most predictable cost, and highest certification success rate.
ISMS.online is powerful for enterprises with compliance teams who want governance and long-term ISMS maintenance, but it's slow, heavy, and not ideal for small teams.
Delve is innovative with AI-powered workflows and modern risk engines, but it's early stage and not yet reliable for strict audits.
1. What Each Platform Was Built to Do
Smartly
Smartly is the only platform in this list built specifically to get startups and scaling companies certified in record time.
Smartly focuses on fast ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certification, auditor-approved documentation, deep automation, all-inclusive pricing, end-to-end expert guidance, and one clean, predictable path to certification.
Smartly positions itself as the fastest and simplest way to achieve security certifications without adding headcount or hiring consultants.
ISMS.online
ISMS.online is built for companies that want heavy governance, long-term ISMS maintenance, structured documentation, and complex compliance management.
It is popular among enterprises, government-oriented organizations, companies with internal compliance teams, and heavily regulated industries.
ISMS.online is not optimized for speed or early-stage teams. It is a large, mature governance tool.
Delve
Delve is the newcomer that uses AI-driven compliance and workflow automation. Delve focuses on AI-assisted control mapping, AI-driven risk detection, workflow automation, custom compliance frameworks, and modern UI with user-friendly design.
Delve appeals to companies with complex systems, dynamic architectures, and engineering-heavy environments. However, Delve is still new, and user reviews suggest gaps in maturity, integrations, and audit readiness.
2. Speed to Certification and Time to Value
Speed is the competitive advantage in compliance. The faster you move, the faster you close deals.
| Platform | ISO 27001 Speed | SOC 2 Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartly | 4–6 weeks | 4–6 weeks | Fastest path, guided by experts |
| ISMS.online | 12–20 weeks | Not optimized | Heavy documentation slows teams |
| Delve | 6–12 weeks | 6–12 weeks | AI helps, but platform is early stage |
Verdict: Smartly wins decisively for companies that must move quickly to unlock revenue. ISMS.online is too slow for urgent certification needs. Delve is faster than ISMS.online, but not reliable enough for time-sensitive audits.
3. Documentation Depth and Audit Preparation
Documentation is where most companies fail their Stage 1 audit. Smartly, ISMS.online, and Delve take three very different approaches.
Smartly
Smartly provides full ISO 27001 and SOC 2 documentation suite, complete Statement of Applicability, ISMS manual, risk templates, audit preparation documents, internal audit templates, management review documents, and evidence guidance.
Everything is written by real auditors and aligned directly to the exact requirements. Teams need minimal rewriting. Most companies use Smartly's documents as is.
ISMS.online
ISMS.online provides strong document libraries but they are very heavy, very detailed, geared toward large compliance teams, and not plug-and-play.
Companies must rewrite content extensively. Small teams often get stuck in the documentation stage for months.
Delve
Delve provides a more modern, simplified documentation suite. However, it's not as deep as Smartly, not as structured as ISMS.online, templates require more customization, and some areas are too lightweight for strict auditors.
Delve is helpful, but not at the auditor-ready level of Smartly.
Verdict: Winner for documentation quality: Smartly. Winner for heavy governance: ISMS.online. Winner for modern but basic documentation: Delve.
4. Automation and Monitoring Capabilities
Automation determines whether your compliance program scales or collapses under manual workloads.
Smartly
Smartly automates evidence collection, device compliance, HR onboarding and offboarding, access reviews, continuous control monitoring, asset tracking, framework mapping, and policy acceptance tracking. Automation is practical, audit-aligned, and reduces real workload.
ISMS.online
Automation is limited to notifications, document tracking, and workflow reminders.
It is a governance tool, not a monitoring platform.
Delve
Delve is the strongest of the three in AI-assisted automation. Its automation includes AI-driven control analysis, predictive risk detection, automated workflows, AI-assisted policy updates, and real-time monitoring for some systems.
However, Delve's automation is advanced in design but inconsistent in output due to limited reviews and platform maturity.
Verdict: Strongest real-world automation: Smartly. Strongest theoretical automation: Delve. Weakest automation: ISMS.online.
5. Risk Management Power
Risk management is the center of ISO 27001.
Smartly
Smartly provides risk scoring, treatment planning, control mapping, evidence alignment, and templates approved by auditors.
Smartly's risk system is practical and straightforward. It is built for companies that want to pass audits without over-engineering their risk program.
ISMS.online
Risk management is one of ISMS.online's strongest areas. It includes visual risk models, deep documentation, and governance-heavy planning.
Perfect for enterprises. Overkill for startups and growth companies.
Delve
Delve provides dynamic risk detection powered by AI. Strengths include automated detection of risk signals, AI risk scoring, and alerts for changing environments.
However, the system is still new, and companies report the need to manually validate AI conclusions.
Verdict: Smartly provides the most practical and audit-ready risk management. ISMS.online is strongest for governance-heavy risk programs. Delve offers innovative AI-driven risk detection but requires human validation.
6. Support Quality and Expert Guidance
Support is the single biggest differentiator. A platform without real experts is useless at audit time.
Smartly
Smartly includes dedicated compliance experts, one-on-one sessions, real audit preparation, Statement of Applicability coaching, policy customization help, internal audit guidance, and full ISO and SOC 2 walkthrough support.
This is the secret to Smartly's fast certification timeline.
ISMS.online
ISMS.online provides customer support and onboarding assistance, but does not provide hands-on certification support or deep compliance coaching.
Delve
Delve offers Slack-based support, fast responses, and workflow guidance, but not full audit coaching or end-to-end compliance consulting.
Verdict: Strongest practical support: Smartly. Strongest enterprise support: ISMS.online. Strongest technical support: Delve.
7. Pricing and Value
Transparent pricing helps startups budget accurately and avoid unexpected costs.
Smartly
Transparent, all-inclusive, no hidden fees, audit costs included, compliance experts included.
Best pricing structure for companies with limited resources.
ISMS.online
Expensive, licensing model, often requires external consultants. Best for large budgets.
Delve
Custom pricing, costs increase if you add AI services, more affordable than ISMS.online, not predictable for certification projects.
Verdict: Highest value for certification: Smartly. Smartly provides the most predictable and all-inclusive pricing for startups.
8. Continuous Monitoring
Continuous monitoring ensures organizations stay audit-ready year-round and maintain compliance after initial certification.
Smartly
Smartly monitors cloud configurations, user access, endpoints, policies, control completion, security events, and required evidences to ensure systems never drift out of compliance.
ISMS.online
Minimal technical monitoring. Depends on manual updates from internal teams for continuous compliance tracking.
Delve
AI-powered continuous monitoring with automated alerts for configuration drift, policy violations, and risk changes. However, monitoring accuracy varies based on system integrations.
Verdict: Smartly provides the most practical compliance-focused continuous monitoring. Delve offers innovative AI monitoring but with variable accuracy.
Ready to Implement ISO 27001?
Enter your email to receive a free ISO 27001 checklist and start your compliance journey today.
9. Audit Preparation
Comprehensive audit preparation determines how smoothly certifications proceed and whether companies pass on the first attempt.
Smartly
Smartly automates complete audit preparation with expert-validated documentation, pre-mapped controls aligned to Annex A, and direct coordination with certification bodies. Expert guidance ensures teams are fully prepared before Stage 1.
ISMS.online
ISMS.online provides document repositories and audit workflows but requires extensive manual preparation and control mapping. Teams must drive their own audit readiness.
Delve
Delve uses AI to pre-map controls and suggest evidence, but audit preparation workflows are not as comprehensive as Smartly. Teams still need to manually verify AI recommendations.
Verdict: Smartly provides the most complete audit preparation with expert guidance and certification body coordination.
10. Integration Ecosystem
| Platform | Integration Count | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | 200+ | Cloud, HR, and development tools |
| ISMS.online | Limited | Document management systems |
| Delve | Growing | Engineering and cloud platforms |
Verdict: Smartly offers the most comprehensive compliance-focused integrations. ISMS.online has limited technical integrations. Delve is growing its integration ecosystem.
11. User Experience
User experience impacts adoption speed, team productivity, and how quickly teams can navigate compliance requirements.
Smartly
Smartly provides a clean, guided interface designed for non-technical founders. Every section aligns with ISO 27001 clauses and audit milestones, making compliance feel straightforward and achievable.
ISMS.online
ISMS.online features document-heavy interfaces designed for compliance professionals. The learning curve is steep for teams without governance experience.
Delve
Delve offers the most modern interface of the three with intuitive workflows, AI-powered suggestions, and engineering-friendly design. However, some features still feel incomplete.
Verdict: Smartly offers the most startup-friendly and certification-focused experience. Delve has the most modern interface. ISMS.online serves compliance professionals.
12. Scalability
Scalability ensures the platform grows with your organization's compliance and security needs over time.
Smartly
Smartly scales naturally as startups grow. Start with ISO 27001, add SOC 2 later, and maintain both certifications on the same platform with continuous monitoring and automated evidence collection.
ISMS.online
ISMS.online scales with document complexity and governance maturity, supporting large organizations with extensive compliance requirements across multiple departments and regions.
Delve
Delve scales with technical complexity, adapting to growing infrastructure and evolving architectures. However, scalability is limited by platform maturity and integration coverage.
Verdict: Smartly scales with certification needs, ISMS.online scales with governance complexity, Delve scales with technical infrastructure but faces maturity limitations.
13. Strengths and Weaknesses Summary
| Platform | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Smartly | Fast certification, complete documentation, strong automation, strong expert guidance, best for startups and scale-ups, predictable pricing | Not designed for enterprise-level governance |
| ISMS.online | Deep governance, excellent document control, mature platform | Slow, heavy, not ideal for small teams, requires internal experts |
| Delve | AI-driven automation, modern workflow engine, strong for engineering teams | Early stage, limited audit depth, documentation not complete, requires human review of AI decisions |
14. Best Use Cases
Choose Smartly if:
- You need ISO or SOC 2 fast.
- You have a small team.
- You want predictable pricing.
- You want audit-ready documentation.
- You want clear guidance.
- You want to guarantee certification.
- You want automation that actually reduces workload.
Choose ISMS.online if:
- You are an enterprise.
- You have a compliance team.
- You want governance and long-term ISMS maintenance.
- Speed is not a priority.
Choose Delve if:
- You want AI-powered workflows.
- You want a modern risk engine.
- You want automation across engineering systems.
- You are okay with a newer product.
15. Framework Scope and Capability
| Platform | ISO 27001 | SOC 2 | GDPR | Additional Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smartly | Full | Full | Yes | Certification speed |
| ISMS.online | Full | Partial | Yes | Governance depth |
| Delve | Growing | Growing | Limited | AI automation |
Verdict: Smartly and ISMS.online offer full ISO 27001 support. Smartly is optimized for fast certification. Delve is building its framework coverage but still maturing.
16. Feature Comparison
| Feature | Smartly | ISMS.online | Delve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed to Certification | 4–6 weeks | 12–20 weeks | 6–12 weeks |
| Documentation Quality | Expert-validated | Heavy template library | Modern but basic |
| Automation Depth | Comprehensive | Minimal | AI-driven |
| Risk Management | Practical and automated | Deep but manual | AI-powered |
| Expert Support | Dedicated specialists | Limited coaching | Technical support |
| Pricing Transparency | 100 percent clear | Enterprise quotes | Custom pricing |
| Best Fit | Startups and scale-ups | Enterprise governance | Engineering teams |
17. Final Verdict
Smartly
The strongest choice for any company that must get certified, not just manage documents.
ISMS.online
Powerful but slow and heavy, requiring large teams.
Delve
Innovative but early stage and not yet reliable for strict audits.
Smartly gives companies:
- • The fastest timeline
- • The most guidance
- • The most complete documentation
- • The most predictable cost
- • The highest certification success rate
If you want real results, Smartly is the clear winner in 2025.
18. Why Smartly Leads in 2025
Only one platform is designed to get fast-growth companies certified fast, without complexity, without bloated processes, and without runaway consulting fees.
Smartly delivers:
- ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification in weeks, not months.
- Audit-ready documentation that passes on the first attempt.
- Expert guidance from compliance specialists who understand startups.
- Transparent, all-inclusive pricing with no hidden fees.
- Automation that actually reduces workload instead of creating noise.
ISMS.online brings governance. Delve brings AI innovation. Smartly brings results.
Smartly: The fastest, simplest path to ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certification — built for companies that need to move fast, close deals, and prove security maturity.