The short answer
- If your buyer asks for a SOC 2 report: you need a CPA firm. Software collects the proof, but it cannot sign the report.
- If your buyer asks for an ISO 27001 certificate: you need a certification body. ISO itself does not certify companies.
- If your buyers ask for both: pick a platform that covers both. Every platform in this guide covers both, and Scrut counts 1,500+ overlapping controls across 70+ frameworks.
- If you are not sure: ask the buyer's security team which one its review names, and which it accepts in place of the other.
Who is this guide for?
This guide is for founders at seed to Series B startups who need a first security certificate or report to close a deal with a large company. It is part of our guide to SOC 2 software for startups, which compares 11 platforms. It is not legal or audit advice. Your buyer and your auditor decide what counts as enough proof.
What is the difference between SOC 2 and ISO 27001?
| SOC 2 | ISO 27001 | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | A report | A certificate, which is written assurance that your system meets the standard |
| Who issues it | A licensed CPA firm. CPAs provide SOC services | An independent certification body. ISO and IEC write the standard and does not certify companies |
| Who sets the rules | The AICPA, the US body for CPAs, sets the professional standards for SOC engagements | ISO and IEC publish the standard. The current edition is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 |
| What it covers | Your controls for the categories in scope: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy | An information security management system (ISMS), the system your company uses to manage information security risk |
| Versions | Type 1 looks at your controls on one date. Type 2 looks at how they work over a period | A certificate against the standard |
| Is it a must? | A report buyers ask for. Check your contracts | Companies decide whether to certify. Some use the standard without a certificate |
The ISO/IEC 27001:2022 standard document costs CHF 155 from ISO.
Which should a startup get first?
Let the buyer decide. The table matches what your buyer names to where you start.
| If | Start with |
|---|---|
| Your buyer's security review names SOC 2 | SOC 2 |
| Your buyer's security review names ISO 27001 | ISO 27001 |
| Both names come up | The one on your nearest deal, with a platform that covers both |
| No buyer has asked yet | Ask the security teams of your next three buyers which one they accept |
Which software handles ISO 27001?
Every platform in this guide covers ISO 27001. What differs is the price and how many frameworks the first plan includes. In every row the certificate comes from an independent certification body, not from the software.
| Platform | ISO 27001 | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Vanta | Among 35+ frameworks; Essentials includes one framework | Quote only; book a demo |
| Secureframe | Covers ISO 27001; Fundamentals and Complete each include one framework | Fundamentals from $7,500 a year; Complete and Defense by quote |
| Drata | One of five choices for the single framework in Foundation | Quote only |
| Strike Graph | Covers ISO 27001 and sells an ISO 27001 internal audit as an add-on at $7,000 to $8,000 | Scale from $21,500 a year; Enterprise from $35,000 a year |
| Comp AI | SOC 2, ISO 27001 and more, including ISO 42001 and ISO 9001 | Quote after a 20-minute call |
| Oneleet | SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001 and more | Quote after a demo |
| Sprinto | Covers ISO 27001 among 25+ frameworks automated | Quote only; contact sales |
| Scytale | Covers ISO 27001; one framework in each startup bundle | Quote only; every plan starts with a demo |
| Thoropass | Covers SOC 2, ISO 27001 and more, with its own audit arm for SOC reports | Quote only |
| Scrut | Covers ISO 27001; 70+ frameworks and 1,500+ overlapping controls | Quote only; book a demo |
| Hyperproof | Covers ISO 27001; 160+ pre-built frameworks | Quote only; book a demo |
What does a second framework cost?
Where a base plan has a set framework count, it is one. A second framework is a second line on your bill, so the number in the base plan matters if you need both SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
| Platform | Frameworks in the base plan | What an extra framework costs |
|---|---|---|
| Vanta | One in Essentials | Ask in the demo |
| Secureframe | One in Fundamentals and in Complete | Ask in the demo |
| Drata | One pre-mapped framework in Foundation; Advanced allows any available | Ask in the demo |
| Strike Graph | One Tier 1 framework in Certify; one of any tier in Scale and Enterprise | $2,000 to $8,000 a year each, by tier and plan |
| Scytale | One in each startup bundle | Ask in the demo |
Strike Graph's Certify plan has SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR and ISO 27701 as its Tier 1 options. For breadth, Hyperproof covers 160+ frameworks, Scrut 70+ and Vanta 35+. Scrut's 1,500+ overlapping controls are rules that count toward more than one framework.
Which platforms have something specific to know for ISO 27001?
Vanta
- You can use Vanta's auditor network or bring your own auditor.
- A free production-level trial typically runs five to seven days.
Drata
- Drata Assurance is the trust center product, built on SafeBase.
- Assurance Foundation covers up to 100 questionnaires.
Strike Graph
- Extra frameworks cost $2,000 to $8,000 a year each, by plan and tier.
- General users are free; multi-manager users need a paid account.
Comp AI
- Works with any accredited auditor you choose.
- Audit, penetration testing or a trust center can be part of the quote.
Sprinto
- Bring your own auditor is part of Growth, not Foundation.
Scrut
- Startups get their price in a demo.
What five questions should you ask before you pick?
- Which report or certificate does my buyer name?
- Does the price include the audit, or only the software?
- How many frameworks does the first price include, and what does the second cost?
- Is the audit firm or certification body included, or paid separately?
- What do I pay in year two?
Frequently asked questions
Is SOC 2 better than ISO 27001?
Neither is better. A SOC 2 report comes from an independent accounting firm. An ISO 27001 certificate comes from an independent certification body. Ask your buyer which one it names in its security review, and start with that one. Where a base plan has a set framework count, it is one, so ask what the second costs.
Do I need both SOC 2 and ISO 27001?
Only if your buyers ask for both. Ask each buyer's security team which one it names. If both come up, choose a platform that covers both, and ask whether it counts the same proof toward each framework.
Is SOC 2 a certification?
No. SOC 2 is a report written by an independent CPA firm. ISO 27001 is the one with a certificate, and a certification body issues it.
Who issues an ISO 27001 certificate?
An independent certification body issues it. ISO and IEC write the standard and does not provide certification. A certificate from an accredited certification body may add a further layer of confidence, because an accreditation body has confirmed that body is competent.
What is the best software for ISO 27001 certification?
Vanta, Secureframe, Drata, Strike Graph, Comp AI, Oneleet, Scrut, Hyperproof, Sprinto, Scytale and Thoropass all cover ISO 27001. Strike Graph also sells an ISO 27001 internal audit as an add-on, at $7,000 to $8,000. An independent certification body issues the certificate, not the software.
How much does ISO 27001 cost?
The standard document costs CHF 155 from ISO. Certification bodies set their own audit fees. Platform prices are in the table above: Secureframe from $7,500 a year, Strike Graph's Scale plan from $21,500 a year, and the rest by quote. Ask for the full first-year total in writing.
How long does it take to get ISO 27001 certified?
The time depends on your scope, how ready your system is and when a certification body can audit you. Software handles the repeat evidence work, but the certification body sets the audit dates. Ask the body and the platform for dates in writing before you sign.
Is SOC 2 legally required?
No law makes a SOC 2 report a general requirement for software companies. It is a report that buyers ask for. Some contracts and rules have their own security terms, so check with your buyer and your lawyer.
Can one platform handle SOC 2 and ISO 27001?
Yes. Every platform in this guide covers both. Check how many frameworks the first plan includes. Vanta Essentials, Secureframe, Drata Foundation and Scytale's bundles include one, so a second framework is a second line on your bill.
The short version
- Your buyer names SOC 2: get a SOC 2 report from a CPA firm.
- Your buyer names ISO 27001: get a certificate from a certification body.
- Both come up: choose a platform that covers both and ask what the second framework costs.
- A price you can read first: Secureframe or Strike Graph.
An independent firm issues the report or the certificate, not the software. Prices change, so confirm the current price with the company before you buy.
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