- SOC 2 compliance software at a glance
- Ten SOC 2 compliance tools to consider
- Who issues the SOC 2 report
- Automation platform, security-first provider or open source?
- A realistic path to your first report
- Features that save the most time
- Where SOC 2 projects slip
- SOC 2 for very small teams
- Choosing an auditor
- My plain advice on choosing SOC 2 compliance software
- Frequently asked questions
The best SOC 2 compliance software automates the evidence, policies and monitoring you need to get ready for a SOC 2 audit: some platforms cover many frameworks, some bundle security testing and some are open source. Ten options follow in no particular order.
A SOC 2 report has become the question enterprise buyers ask before they'll sign. Without one, deals stall in security review. With one, those questionnaires get much shorter.
The ten platforms below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order. Each description comes from the vendor's own site, read this week. If you're starting from scratch, my guide to securing and protecting your website covers the basics first.
SOC 2 compliance software at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free version or an open source edition. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comp AI | Evidence automation | Fast-moving start-ups | Not stated |
| Drata | Trust management | Showing security proof to buyers | Not stated |
| Oneleet | Security plus compliance | Teams that want real security work | Not stated |
| Probo | Open source plus service | Self-hosting the compliance platform | Yes |
| Scrut | Compliance automation | Security training alongside compliance | Not stated |
| Scytale | GRC platform | AWS-hosted companies | Not stated |
| Secureframe | Compliance automation | Expert help alongside the software | Not stated |
| Sprinto | Compliance and risk | Talking to an auditor early | Not stated |
| Strike Graph | Compliance management | Designing a security programme | Not stated |
| Vanta | Compliance automation | Several frameworks at once | Not stated |
Ten SOC 2 compliance tools to consider
Comp AI
Best for: Start-ups that want AI to collect evidence and draft policies for SOC 2, ISO 27001 or HIPAA on their own stack.
Drata
Best for: Software companies that want continuous compliance plus a way to share up-to-date security proof with buyers.
Oneleet
Best for: Teams that want vulnerability and code scanning bundled with SOC 2 work, because they want to be secure, not only certified.
Probo
Best for: Technical teams that want an open-source compliance platform they can host, or an expert-led service that does it end to end.
Scrut
Best for: Growing companies that want compliance automation plus security awareness training and a trust page in one place.
Scytale
Best for: Software companies, including those on AWS, that want continuous compliance with an AI GRC platform and partner auditors.
Secureframe
Best for: Companies that want compliance automation backed by compliance experts, with a notifications hub for framework updates.
Sprinto
Best for: Smaller software companies that want compliance automation set up for them and the option to talk to an auditor early.
Strike Graph
Best for: Teams that want help designing a security programme and getting audit-ready, with an AI assistant called Atlas.
Vanta
Best for: Businesses that need SOC 2 alongside HIPAA, ISO 27001, PCI or GDPR and want automation across all of them.
Who issues the SOC 2 report
Here's the point many first-time buyers misunderstand. AICPA and CIMA describe SOC as a suite of service offerings that CPAs may provide in connection with a service organisation's controls.
So software gets you ready and keeps you ready, but the SOC 2 report itself comes from a CPA firm. Choose your auditor as carefully as your platform, and ask which auditors each vendor works with.
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Automation platform, security-first provider or open source?
Automation platforms connect to your cloud, code and HR tools to collect evidence and monitor controls, often across several frameworks. Security-first providers bundle scanning or testing with compliance work. Open source options let technical teams host the platform themselves.
If you need SOC 2 alongside ISO 27001 or HIPAA, a multi-framework platform saves repeated work. If you're a small technical team, an open source option may suit you better.
A realistic path to your first report
- Decide your scope: which systems and services the report covers.
- Connect your cloud, code and identity tools to the platform.
- Adopt the policies and fix the gaps the platform finds.
- Pick an auditor and agree the report type and period.
- Collect evidence through the period without gaps.
- Share the report with buyers through a trust page.
Features that save the most time
- Integrations. Evidence pulled from cloud, code and HR tools.
- Policy templates. A starting set you can adapt.
- Continuous monitoring. Alerts when a control drifts.
- Trust page. A place to share security information with buyers.
Where SOC 2 projects slip
Projects slip when nobody owns the remediation work the platform finds, or when the scope keeps growing. Name an owner, keep the first scope tight and widen it once you've got your first report.
SOC 2 for very small teams
Very small teams should look for platforms with strong templates and auditor partnerships, so you're not designing everything from scratch.
Choosing an auditor
Ask your shortlisted platforms which auditors they work with, then talk to two or three of those firms yourself. You'll be working closely with the auditor for the length of the audit period, so it matters that you can work well together. Some platforms have their own audit partners, and one on this list offers an expert-led service as well as its software. It's worth checking whether the auditor has worked with companies your size.
Do you make SOC 2 compliance software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing SOC 2 compliance software
Choose the platform that connects to the tools you already use. Integrations are where the time savings come from; a platform that can't see your cloud or HR system leaves you collecting screenshots by hand.
Then be honest about security, not only certification. A report is a snapshot of controls, and buyers increasingly ask what's behind it. My checklist of signs your business takes security seriously is a good self-check.
Frequently asked questions
What is SOC 2 compliance software?
It's software that collects evidence, manages policies and monitors controls so you're ready for a SOC 2 audit.
Does SOC 2 software give me a SOC 2 report?
No. AICPA and CIMA describe SOC as services that CPAs provide, so the report comes from a CPA firm.
Is there free SOC 2 compliance software?
At least one option on this list describes an open source platform you can host yourself. Check the table.
Can one platform cover SOC 2 and ISO 27001?
Yes. Several platforms on this list support SOC 2 alongside ISO 27001, HIPAA and other frameworks.
How long does it take to get SOC 2 ready?
It depends on your current controls and the report type. Automation shortens the evidence work, not the audit period itself.
Do small start-ups need SOC 2?
If you sell to larger companies, buyers often ask for it. Many start-ups begin preparing once enterprise deals appear.
