The best GRC software is the one that matches where your compliance work sits today: a free open source tool if you're mapping risks for the first time, or a compliance automation platform if an audit or customer review is coming. Check which frameworks it maps to. This page lists ten in no particular order.
Governance, risk and compliance software sounds grand, but for most small companies it starts with a spreadsheet that's grown too big. Someone owns the risk register, someone else chases evidence for an audit, and a customer's security questionnaire lands at the worst possible moment. GRC tools pull all of that into one place.
Below are ten options in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from open source tools you can host yourself to platforms you reach through a demo. Each description comes from the vendor's own website, re-checked today. Several demo-led platforms don't publish a free plan, and I've said so in the table rather than guess.
This is written for owners and the person who's ended up holding the compliance folder, so you'll find plain questions to ask rather than jargon.
GRC platforms in one table
In the free plan column, Yes means the vendor describes a free or open source edition, and No means the site points you to a demo or a quote instead.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISO Assistant | Open-source GRC platform | Free self-hosted, unlimited users | Yes |
| Drata | Compliance automation platform | Demo-led compliance automation | No |
| Eramba | Open-source GRC software | Free Community edition, no user limit | Yes |
| Hyperproof | Compliance and risk platform | Demo-led GRC for compliance teams | No |
| Scytale | Compliance automation platform | Startups and scale-ups chasing SOC 2 | No |
| Secureframe | Compliance automation packages | Quote-based compliance automation | No |
| SimpleRisk | Open-source risk and GRC | Free core, unlimited users | Yes |
| Strike Graph | Security compliance platform | Free Launch tier, upgrades later | Yes |
| Thoropass | Compliance software with audits | Quote-based software plus audit | No |
| Vanta | Compliance automation platform | Demo-led compliance and trust platform | No |
Ten governance, risk and compliance tools
CISO Assistant
Best for: Teams who want an open-source GRC tool to host themselves, with unlimited users on a Community plan described as free forever.
Drata
Best for: Growing companies that need automated evidence collection and continuous monitoring for audits, with access through a demo.
Eramba
Best for: Small security teams who'd rather run risk, compliance and data privacy modules on their own servers than license per user.
Hyperproof
Best for: Mid-size companies running several frameworks at once that want evidence, requests and auditor collaboration in one platform.
Scytale
Best for: Startups preparing for audits such as SOC 2 who want software plus expert services behind a demo-led plan.
Secureframe
Best for: Moving off spreadsheets? It offers automated evidence collection and continuous control monitoring across many integrations, by quote.
SimpleRisk
Best for: Anyone who wants risk, policy and compliance tracking without per-seat licensing, starting on the free open-source core.
Strike Graph
Best for: First-time security programmes that want to try a free Launch tier before moving up to certification plans.
Thoropass
Best for: Companies that want the compliance platform and the audit delivered together, tailored to their frameworks and audit scope.
Vanta
Best for: Businesses answering customer security reviews that want compliance, risk and vendor management automated, reached through a demo request.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
The sixth function NIST added to its framework
Here's a change to check any GRC tool against. NIST, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology, says version 2.0 of its Cybersecurity Framework is designed for all organisation types, including the smallest schools and nonprofits. Its core is now organised around six functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond and Recover, plus a newly added Govern function.
Govern puts oversight and risk strategy at the centre, rather than treating them as paperwork around the edges. So when you see a demo, ask whether the tool's control library maps to version 2.0 and shows the Govern function, or whether it's still built around the older five. If you're not in the US, the framework still makes a sensible, free starting structure.
Open source tool or automation platform
- Open source GRC: free to run, flexible and self-hosted, but you'll set it up and maintain it yourself.
- Compliance automation: connects to your cloud, HR and code tools to collect evidence automatically, which saves hours before an audit.
- Software plus audit: some vendors bundle the auditor, which means fewer handovers but less choice.
- Free tiers: a good way to build a first risk register before you commit to anything bigger.
Setting up GRC software without drowning
- Pick one framework to start with, the one a customer or regulator is asking about.
- Build a short risk register: what could go wrong, how likely that is, and who owns it.
- List the systems that hold evidence, such as your cloud, HR and ticketing tools.
- Ask each vendor to show those integrations working in a demo.
- Assign an owner to every control, not just to the project.
- Review the register on a set schedule, not only when an audit is due.
Mistakes I see with compliance projects
- Buying for the badge. A certificate helps sales, but the controls behind it are what protect you.
- One person owning everything. If they leave, your compliance knowledge leaves with them.
- Ignoring where records live. Know where your data sits and who can reach it.
For the record-keeping side, storing important business data safely is a good primer, and everyday cyber threats explained helps when you're writing your first risk list.
Do you make governance, risk and compliance software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice for a first GRC tool
If nobody is asking you for a certificate yet, start small. A free open source tool or a free tier will let you build a risk register and policies without a long contract, and you'll learn what you need before a sales team tells you what you need.
If an audit or a big customer review is on the calendar, the automation platforms earn their keep by collecting evidence for you. Ask for a demo using your own systems, check the framework mapping includes Govern, and get the contract length and renewal terms in writing before you sign anything.
Frequently asked questions
What is GRC software?
It's software that helps you manage governance, risk and compliance in one place: risk registers, policies, controls, evidence and audits.
Do small businesses need GRC software?
Not always. A spreadsheet can work at first, but once customers send security questionnaires or you need an audit, a dedicated tool saves a lot of time.
Is there free GRC software?
Yes. Some open source tools offer free community editions, and one platform here has a free starter tier. Expect to do more setup yourself.
What is the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0?
It's a voluntary framework from NIST for managing cyber risk, now organised around six functions, including the newly added Govern.
What's the difference between GRC and compliance automation?
Compliance automation focuses on collecting evidence for audits such as SOC 2. GRC is broader and includes risk management and governance.
How long does it take to set up GRC software?
It depends on your systems and framework. Starting with one framework and a short risk register keeps the first phase manageable.
