SOC 2 Compliance Software
An audit report governed by the AICPA that evaluates a service organization's security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy controls.
Rated platforms covering SOC 2
| Rank | Platform | Score | Band | Assessed | Scorecard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st |  Sprinto Best overall for a first multi-framework program | 84 | Strong | Oct 11, 2026 | Scorecard → |
| 2nd |  Vanta Best for breadth of integrations and frameworks | 82 | Strong | Oct 11, 2026 | Scorecard → |
| 3rd |  Drata Best for teams that will build custom tests | 76 | Strong | Oct 4, 2026 | Scorecard → |
| 4th |  Secureframe Best for federal and defense frameworks | 75 | Strong | Oct 11, 2026 | Scorecard → |
| 5th |  Scrut Best for regional frameworks outside the US | 72 | Strong | Oct 11, 2026 | Scorecard → |
| 6th |  OneTrust Best for companies that already run privacy on OneTrust | 64 | Adequate | Oct 11, 2026 | Scorecard → |
| 7th |  Thoropass Best for buying the audit and the platform as one engagement | 52 | Limited | Oct 11, 2026 | Scorecard → |
SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is an audit report defined and governed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). It evaluates a service organization’s controls against five Trust Services Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. A SOC 2 audit can only be performed by a licensed CPA firm.
Two types of report exist. A Type I report assesses whether controls are suitably designed at a single point in time. A Type II report tests both the design and the operating effectiveness of those controls over an observation period, typically three to twelve months. A-LIGN, a licensed audit firm, describes Type II as giving customers a greater level of trust, because it shows controls working over time. Drata says a Type II audit costs 30% to 50% more than a Type I. Linford and Co suggests a first-time company start with a Type I, and Vanta suggests a Type II straight away.
SOC 2 is not a certification in the way ISO 27001 is. It is a report produced by an independent auditor after reviewing the vendor’s evidence. The report is typically shared under a non-disclosure agreement with customers and prospects, though many companies also share a summary through a trust center to reduce the volume of questionnaires they receive.
Compliance automation platforms help service organizations prepare for a SOC 2 audit. They connect to cloud providers, identity systems, HR platforms, and endpoint tools to collect evidence automatically, map controls to the Trust Services Criteria, and flag gaps before an auditor arrives. Without a platform, teams gather evidence by hand over months of screenshots and spreadsheet updates.
Which platforms cover SOC 2
All seven platforms rated on The Audit Trail cover SOC 2: Sprinto (rank 1, score 84), Vanta (rank 2, score 82), Drata (rank 3, score 76), Secureframe (rank 4, score 75), Scrut (rank 5, score 72), OneTrust (rank 6, score 64), and Thoropass (rank 7, score 52). Each scorecard breaks the score down across all eight rubric criteria.
Check the auditor
The AICPA says it is looking into anonymous allegations about the business practices of a compliance vendor that offers Systems and Organization Control (SOC) services. It adds: “If auditors involved in these matters are found to have not performed audits in accordance with professional standards, not been enrolled in peer review, and/or are unlicensed, the AICPA will take action.” It names no vendor.
Before choosing a platform that bundles the audit into its service, confirm that the firm performing the audit is a licensed CPA firm. A compliance platform that prepares you for audit is separate from the CPA firm that issues the report. The two are not interchangeable.
Related rankings
SOC 2 guides
SOC 2 for Startups: When to Start, Which Report, What It Costs
Five scoped ranges, four from platform sellers, put a startup's first SOC 2 year at $20,000 to $110,000. Sources split on Type 1 first and give 3 to 12 months.
SOC 2 Penetration Test Cost: Prices by Test Type
Blaze Infosec's range for a standard SaaS SOC 2 pen test is $8,000 to $25,000. Invadel lists $5,200 for a small web app and $4,200 for an external network.
SOC 2 Compliance Checklist: 24 Steps in 8 Phases
The SOC 2 compliance checklist in 24 steps and eight phases, from scoping the Security criteria to the signed report, with Type 1 and Type 2 timelines.
SOC 2 Audit Cost: Two Itemized First-Year Builds
Thoropass puts a first-year SOC 2 for a 15-engineer company at $40,000 to $100,000. Scrut puts a first Type 2 for a 50 to 100 person company at $30,000 to $100,000.
Who Performs a SOC 2 Audit?
A licensed CPA firm performs every SOC 2 audit, not the compliance software. Here is what each of six platforms does instead and what the audit costs.