SOC 2 compliance software FAQ
Short answer
Twenty-four short answers in four groups: SOC 2 basics, buying and pricing, the six vendors, and how this site scores. Each answer links to the page that goes deeper.
By the SOC 2 Vendor Compare ledger desk · Reviewed 2026-09-29 · Editorial assessment
SOC 2 basics
What is SOC 2?
A SOC 2 report is a CPA firm's report on a service organization's controls relevant to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality or privacy. See What is SOC 2.
What is the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?
Type I covers the design of controls as of a date. Type II also tests whether they operated effectively over a review period. See Type I vs Type II.
Is SOC 2 a certification?
No. It is an attestation report from a CPA firm. ISO 27001, by contrast, leads to a certificate.
Who can issue a SOC 2 report?
Only a licensed CPA firm. Ask whether the firm is enrolled in AICPA peer review. See choosing an auditor.
Which trust services categories do I need?
Security is always included. Add availability, processing integrity, confidentiality or privacy when customers ask for them. See the five categories.
Does compliance software issue the SOC 2 report?
No. The software prepares you and gives the auditor access to evidence; the CPA firm issues the report.
Buying and pricing
What does SOC 2 compliance software cost?
Only Secureframe publishes a figure: Fundamentals starts at $7,500/year for one framework. Scytale, Vanta, Drata, Sprinto and Thoropass quote after a call.
What should I look for in a SOC 2 platform?
Framework coverage, integrations with your own tools, the service model, the audit path, pricing and plan limits, AI features and a trust center. Those are the seven criteria on our rankings.
Do I need a dedicated compliance expert?
If no one on your team owns compliance, a dedicated expert can keep the program moving. If you have a security lead, a partner network or support desk may be enough. See service models.
Can I use my own auditor?
Sprinto lists bring your own auditor on Foundation, and Scytale says it manages the audit process with your chosen auditor. Ask every vendor directly.
What plan limits should I watch for?
Framework caps, headcount caps and questionnaire allowances. Drata Foundation covers up to 50 FTEs and one pre-mapped framework; Vanta Plus includes 25 questionnaires a year and Professional 144; Sprinto Foundation includes 20.
How many integrations do I need?
Enough to cover your cloud, identity, code and HR tools. Check your list against each vendor's catalogue rather than relying on the headline count.
The six vendors
Which SOC 2 platform ranks first?
Scytale at 7.52/10, followed by Vanta at 7.38 and Sprinto at 6.90. See the rankings.
What is Scytale best for?
Teams that want a dedicated compliance expert to run readiness and manage the audit. It trails on 5 of seven criteria, including integrations and pricing transparency. See the Scytale profile.
What is Vanta best for?
Integration breadth: it publishes 400+ tools, the highest count in this lineup, and questionnaire allowances per plan. See the Vanta profile.
What is Sprinto best for?
Framework breadth: it states 200+ frameworks digitized and a common control framework. See the Sprinto profile.
What is Secureframe best for?
Buyers who need a published price: Fundamentals starts at $7,500/year. See the Secureframe profile.
How this site scores
How are the scores calculated?
Each vendor gets 0 to 10 on seven weighted criteria from its public pages; the total is the weighted average. See methodology.
Did you test the products?
No. This is desk research from public vendor material, last reviewed September 2026.
Why don't you show review-site ratings?
We score what vendors publish about their product, not review-site stars, and we do not repeat ratings vendors quote about themselves.
Can I change the weights?
Yes. The calculator re-ranks the six vendors with your own weights.
How often is the data reviewed?
The ledger was last reviewed on 2026-09-29. When a vendor changes a published fact we update the data and the totals recompute.