Vanta vs Drata vs Sprinto: Honest Breakdown Startups Need Before Picking a Compliance Tool
Security compliance has become the new trust currency for startups. Whether you are trying to close enterprise deals, unlock a new market, or convince investors that your company takes security seriously, one thing eventually becomes unavoidable: you must get certified. And the platform you choose will determine if that journey is fast, expensive, painful, or predictable.
Vanta, Drata, and Sprinto are the three biggest names in compliance automation. They promise speed, automation, and simplicity. But beneath the marketing, they are very different tools built for very different kinds of companies. Choosing the wrong one can set your timeline back by months and inflate costs far beyond your initial budget.
This article breaks down each platform with clear strength analysis, user pain points, pricing realities, and the real-world experience of companies that have used all three. Consider this your field guide to making a smart choice before committing to a compliance platform.
The Three Platforms at a Glance
Built for rapid startup adoption
The earliest mover with simple interface and easy integrations
Built for enterprise-grade security teams
The heavyweight with deep automation and scalable frameworks
Built for multi-framework automation at scale
The middle ground with strong automation and wide framework coverage
Section 1: What Each Platform Is Actually Built For
Before comparing features, it is crucial to understand the core philosophy behind each tool. This is where most teams misunderstand the space. These three platforms are not interchangeable. Their design principles shape everything else that follows.
1. Vanta: Built for rapid startup adoption
Vanta is the earliest mover in the compliance automation space. It grew by offering a simple interface, friendly onboarding, and easy integrations. It is built to help fast-growing startups get audit ready for frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO 27001 without hiring consultants.
Vanta excels at:
Where it struggles:
Vanta is a good choice if you are a lean startup that wants compliance automation without heavy operational changes.
2. Drata: Built for enterprise-grade security teams
Drata is the heavyweight in the space. It focuses on deep automation, scalable frameworks, and complex control mapping. It feels more enterprise than startup-friendly.
Drata excels at:
Where it struggles:
Drata makes sense for companies with internal security teams and long-term multi-framework plans.
3. Sprinto: Built for multi-framework automation at scale
Sprinto positions itself between Vanta and Drata. It offers strong automation, wide framework coverage, and faster onboarding than Drata. It is particularly attractive for engineering-driven companies with cloud-hosted workloads.
Sprinto excels at:
Where it struggles:
Sprinto works best for companies with multiple frameworks or complex workflows.
Section 2: Automation Depth and Technical Capabilities
Automation is the central promise of tools like Vanta, Drata, and Sprinto. But not all automation is equal. This section breaks down how automation actually works in each platform.
Vanta: Surface-level automation for common stacks
Vanta integrates with major systems like AWS, GCP, Azure, Okta, GitHub, and Google Workspace. Its monitoring is reliable but not deeply customizable.
Good for:
• Standard SaaS stacks
• Teams without complex infrastructure
• Basic evidence collection
Limitations:
• False positives reported by users
• Limited contextual alerts
• Not ideal for complex engineering environments
Drata: Deep technical automation for advanced teams
Drata's automation engine is the strongest and most mature among the three. It is designed for technical teams and enterprises with large-scale operations.
Strengths:
• Advanced control mapping
• Real-time alerts with high accuracy
• Deep integration options
Limitations:
• More configuration required
• Difficult for first-time compliance teams
• Over-engineered for companies that just want ISO or SOC 2 quickly
Sprinto: Strong automation with multi-framework focus
Sprinto offers automation that feels lighter than Drata but deeper than Vanta. It is engineering-friendly and supports cross-framework mapping.
Strengths:
• Rich visibility across controls
• Automated alerts for drift
• Risk-first design
Limitations:
• Missing integrations for niche tools
• Some backend bugs reported by users
• Templates not flexible for hybrid engineering workflows
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Section 3: User Feedback Across Hundreds of Reviews
This section synthesizes real verified user feedback from across multiple platforms.
What users complain about in Vanta
What users complain about in Drata
What users complain about in Sprinto
Section 4: Pricing Reality
Compliance platforms rarely disclose full pricing upfront, but based on public data and user reports:
Vanta Pricing Reality
Starts cheap for small teams but grows fast. Framework expansion and additional users increase price substantially.
Drata Pricing Reality
One of the most expensive tools in the market. Designed for enterprise budgets.
Sprinto Pricing Reality
Positioned between Vanta and Drata. Costs increase quickly with multi-framework needs.
For startups with limited budgets, these three platforms often become expensive long-term.
Section 5: Onboarding and Support Experience
Vanta Support
Good for small teams but not deeply involved. Primarily self-serve with tickets.
Drata Support
High-quality support but limited to U.S. hours. This is problematic for APAC companies.
Sprinto Support
Responsive but sometimes stretched due to technical troubleshooting needs.
Section 6: Strengths Summary
| Category | Vanta | Drata | Sprinto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Framework breadth | Wide | Very wide | Wide |
| Automation depth | Medium | High | Medium-high |
| Best for | Startups | Enterprises | Multi-framework teams |
| Time to value | Fast | Slow | Medium |
| Support | Good | Strong but limited hours | Strong but technical |
| Pricing | Medium-high | High | Medium-high |
Section 7: Which One Should You Choose
Choose Vanta if:
Choose Drata if:
Choose Sprinto if:
Section 8: The Missing Piece Across All Three
Despite their strengths, all three platforms share common gaps:
None offer human-led ISO 27001 guidance through every control
None operate on APAC time zones with real-time support
None offer an all-inclusive pricing model that covers audits
None guarantee certification timelines
All introduce hidden costs through add-ons or expansions
All take at least 3 to 6 months for certification readiness
All require manual cleanup for evidence that does not map cleanly
For many APAC startups, these limitations create unexpected delays, budget overruns, and confusion during audit preparation.
This is exactly the gap that Smartly was built to fill.
Final Remark: Why Smartly Helps You Win ISO Faster Than Vanta, Drata, and Sprinto
Smartly is not another generic compliance automation tool. It is a guided, all-inclusive ISO 27001 certification partner built specifically for startups and scaleups that want speed, clarity, and predictable costs.
Smartly delivers:
Audit readiness in 15 to 30 days
Expert human guidance for every clause
All-inclusive pricing that covers certification and internal audit
More than 40 ISO-ready templates with auto-fill
Real-time support in APAC working hours
Mock audits, export-ready evidence packs, and progress scoring
Instead of juggling complex dashboards, hidden fees, and multi-month onboarding cycles, Smartly takes you directly from zero to ISO 27001 certification with a fully guided process.
Where Vanta, Drata, and Sprinto automate tasks, Smartly accelerates outcomes.
If you want ISO 27001 certification fast, predictable, and supported by real experts, Smartly is the smarter choice.