Shortlisting Vanta and ISMS.online puts you between two capable compliance platforms with very different philosophies. Vanta is positioned as a leading trust management platform with broad adoption and an integration-first approach. ISMS.online is a detailed, governance-heavy system designed for teams that want to run a full information security management program in line with ISO 27001 and related standards.
| Category | Vanta | ISMS.online |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | AI trust and compliance platform for organizations of all sizes | Cloud compliance and ISMS platform for mature ISO programs |
| Deployment | Cloud and on-premise options | Cloud and on-premise options |
| Support channels | Email, FAQs, knowledge base, phone, 24x7 live rep, chat | Email, FAQs, knowledge base, phone, 24x7 live rep, chat |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
A leading trust management platform used by more than ten thousand companies. Vanta centralizes security and compliance programs in one place and emphasizes continuous monitoring, broad integrations, and intuitive admin for faster audit readiness.
A cloud platform focused on building and operating a full information security management system. It supports ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, NIST, and more, with robust risk management and program governance for well-informed business software users.
Users highlight quick time to value, strong admin experience, and an intuitive dashboard. The 9.0 ease-of-admin score reflects streamlined day-to-day operation for compliance owners.
Reviewers note a guided setup experience that is especially friendly for teams new to formal ISMS structure. Ease of setup is comparable to Vanta, and the platform provides deeper program scaffolding for ISO teams.
Pick Vanta if you want lighter administration and fast, ongoing maintenance. Choose ISMS.online if you want step-by-step guidance to stand up an ISO program with more structure.
Built to manage trust across multiple frameworks with an integration-heavy approach and automated control checks. Meets-requirements scores are higher, pointing to strong alignment with common audit scopes.
Designed for ISO 27001 and adjacent standards such as ISO 27701, NIS 2, and NIST. The platform provides comprehensive ISMS governance, policy management, and risk alignment that ISO programs expect.
For broad trust management that spans several attestations, Vanta is a solid fit. For ISO-centric programs that must demonstrate governance maturity, ISMS.online provides the right operating model.
Integrated risk registers and workflows tie risks to controls and vendors. Great for teams that want risk embedded into everyday compliance operations.
Centralized risk management is a core strength. The platform is designed to house all business risks in one location and link those to the ISMS and controls.
Both handle risk well. Choose based on your operating style. If you want risk woven into fast-moving monitoring, Vanta fits. If you want a formal risk backbone for an ISO ISMS, ISMS.online has the edge.
Continuous monitoring and automated evidence collection mapped to frameworks. Helpful for recurring audits and for showing progress to stakeholders through a single dashboard.
Detailed program documentation, control libraries, and governance records aligned to ISO audits. Suits organizations that must demonstrate management system rigor in addition to technical controls.
Vanta excels in automation and everyday readiness. ISMS.online excels in formal ISMS documentation and audit defensibility for ISO programs.
Known for a large integration catalog and intuitive connectors across cloud, identity, ticketing, and code. This reduces manual lift and accelerates monitoring coverage.
Focuses more on governance depth than raw connector count. Integrations are available, but the differentiator is program structure rather than breadth of APIs.
If integration breadth is a priority, Vanta leads. If your priority is a structured ISMS that codifies processes, ISMS.online is designed for that mission.
ISMS.online scores 9.3 for quality of support, with reviewers praising responsiveness and helpfulness. Vanta scores 9.1 and is noted for solid assistance, though less personalized.
ISMS.online offers a free trial so buyers can explore the platform before committing. Vanta does not provide a free trial, which some evaluators find limiting during vendor selection.
If you need a hands-on pilot and high-touch support, ISMS.online is attractive. If you have a strong sense of your requirements and prefer to move quickly, Vanta's resource set and onboarding can still get you live fast.
Premium platform with strong integrations and automation. Pricing is not trial-based, and total cost depends on frameworks and add-ons.
Offers trial access. Pricing varies by scope and required standards. Reviewers cite good value for teams that will fully adopt the ISMS model.
| Feature | Vanta | ISMS.online |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous monitoring | Strong and integration-led | Available, paired with ISMS processes |
| Evidence automation | Robust, mapped to frameworks | Strong for ISO documentation and governance |
| Risk management | Integrated to day-to-day operations | Centralized and ISMS-first |
| Policy and ISMS governance | Good for multi-framework programs | Deep ISO governance and documentation |
| Admin experience | 9.0 ease of admin | 8.8 ease of admin |
| Support experience | 9.1 quality of support | 9.3 quality of support |
Both platforms can help you pass audits. The right choice depends on whether you value broad trust automation and integrations, or a formal ISMS with deep governance and risk.
If your goal is to get certified fast and use that certification to win enterprise clients, Smartly is the smarter starting point.
Unlike broader GRC platforms that serve larger, process-heavy organizations, Smartly is built specifically for startups and growing tech teams that want to move quickly and stay focused on product and growth.
Smartly automates 70% of the manual prep work and helps teams achieve ISO 27001 readiness in weeks, not months. You stay focused on your roadmap while Smartly handles the compliance lift.
You pay to get certified, not for extra services along the way. Every plan covers implementation, templates, audit coordination, and certification, no hidden costs.
Designed for startups with lean budgets, Smartly delivers enterprise-grade compliance at a fraction of the usual price, no consultants, no overhead.
Certification isn't just a checkbox. With Smartly, it becomes a growth enabler that helps you close enterprise deals, expand globally, and build customer trust early.
If your focus is to prove trust fast and unlock new business, Smartly gives you the fastest and most affordable path to ISO 27001 success.