Vanta Pricing Guide 2025: Real Costs, ROI, and Hidden Fees

Vanta is a compliance automation platform built to streamline your audit preparation for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more. It reduces manual effort using automated evidence collection, integrations, and prebuilt policy templates. But if you’ve tried getting a clear answer on Vanta pricing, you’ve probably run into vague quotes and bundled options.

Pricing depends on your team size, compliance scope, and the frameworks you need.

Most breakdowns focus only on list prices. They skip hidden fees, audit costs, and whether the features actually match what a 20-person startup needs.

This guide fixes that. Here, you’ll get an honest look at how Vanta’s pricing model works across tiers, what costs lie beyond the base subscription, and how real users are navigating the hidden fees.

We’ll walk through the audit and implementation costs most teams overlook, break down the ROI claims, and share candid customer reviews so you can evaluate if Vanta fits your 2025 compliance plan.

You’ll also see where an alternative compliance platform with simpler pricing might make more sense depending on your size and use case.

Let’s start with the basics: how Vanta’s pricing model is structured and what drives the numbers.

The Vanta Pricing Plans for 2025

Vanta pricing follows a tiered model designed to align with your company’s size, risk posture, and the number of frameworks you manage.

Understanding the Vanta pricing structure helps you avoid overpaying for features you don’t need. 

Each tier unlocks further automation and customization. However, pricing also scales aggressively with headcount and the number of frameworks added.

The Five Main Plans

Vanta offers five named tiers: Core, Plus, Growth, Scale, and Enterprise. Each is aligned to a company stage or GRC maturity.

A security questionnaire is a checklist sent by customers or partners to assess how your company handles data protection, privacy, and compliance. Completing these quickly and accurately builds trust and often speeds up deals.

Core: Entry-Level Compliance for Startups

Core gives you one compliance framework (usually SOC 2 or ISO 27001), basic software integrations, ready-made policy templates, and automated collection of audit evidence for $10,000 annually.

It also includes a public-facing Trust Center, user onboarding tools, and access to Vanta’s approved audit firms. This is Vanta’s most affordable tier, ideal for first-time SOC 2 journeys.

Plus: Advanced Features for Growth

Vanta’s Plus tier includes everything in Core, plus access reviews, approval Workflows, and 25 automated questionnaire responses annually.

Pricing for Plus ranges from $15,000 to $30,000, depending on team size and frameworks. Use this if you need deeper internal controls or ISO 27001 readiness.

Growth and Scale: Built for GRC Teams

These tiers include custom controls, personnel tracking, SCIM provisioning, and over 288 questionnaire automations per year.

Growth pricing starts at $30,000, and Scale can reach up to $80,000. Both are built for companies with formalized GRC or security teams.

[Quote Box] What is SCIM in Vanta’s Pricing Plans?

SCIM stands for System for Cross-domain Identity Management. It’s a standard that lets you automatically sync user data, like employee access, between your tools and Vanta. With SCIM, you save time and reduce errors by automating user onboarding and offboarding across your systems.

Enterprise: Fully Custom Setup

Enterprise plans are fully tailored. You’ll get a dedicated CSM, priority support, and custom integrations, but pricing starts above $80,000 and varies case by case.

Enterprise is rarely necessary unless you’re dealing with multiple frameworks, thousands of assets, or preparing for IPO-level scrutiny.

How Pricing Scales With Complexity

Pricing starts at $10,000 but increases with every added user, framework, or add-on. A Core plan can become a $30,000 bill with extras.

Expect price jumps at 20, 50, or 100+ employees, and when layering in ISO 27001 or HIPAA alongside SOC 2.

Audit scope, automation volume, and custom integrations all influence the final quote. Sales teams rarely quote the list below for high-growth teams.

Annual Vanta Pricing Range by Tier

Here's how the Vanta pricing model typically looks across companies of different sizes and needs.

Your actual Vanta compliance pricing will scale with how many employees you have, which frameworks you enable, and how fast your security needs evolve.

Read: SOC 2 Compliance: How much does it cost?

Next, we’ll look at the costs that aren’t included in your subscription and especially audits, certifications, and implementation work.

What Vanta Core Pricing Really Gets You

The Core plan is Vanta’s entry-level tier priced at $10,000 per year. It’s designed for early-stage startups aiming to complete one framework.

What You Get in Core

• Automates evidence collection for SOC 2 or ISO 27001
• Includes a basic policy builder and Trust Center access
• Comes with a single framework only and no support for dual compliance

Clear Limitations to Watch For

• No access reviews, no vendor risk management
• Capped questionnaire automation, not suitable for sales-heavy organisations
• Framework expansion requires a plan upgrade or a new quote

When Plus Becomes Necessary

• You’ll need a Plus subscription if your sales team handles 25+ security questionnaires per year
• Also necessary if your team requires access requests or audit readiness workflows
• Plus tier typically ranges from $15,000–$30,000

Core Plan Fit and Value

• Core works well for small teams doing SOC 2 readiness
• If you’re planning for ISO 27001 or HIPAA in year two, start with Plus
• ComplyJet, by comparison, includes multi-framework support upfront

We’ll now move past plans and dive into the external costs that sit outside Vanta’s pricing model entirely.

Real Costs of Using Vanta Beyond the Subscription

Your Vanta subscription covers the platform, but not the full compliance lifecycle. You’ll need to budget separately for audits, onboarding, and security services.

Budget Separately for Audits and Certifications

A SOC 2 Type II audit starts around $10,000 and can reach $50,000 if your scope includes multiple systems or regions.

ISO 27001 certification is split across stages, with total spend ranging from $15,000 to $40,000 depending on your audit firm.

HIPAA doesn’t require formal certification, but implementation can cost between $7,500 and $25,000 in tools, consultants, and legal review.

Services You’ll Likely Pay for Separately

• Implementation services: $5,000–$20,000 based on your stack
• Custom integrations often require professional services hours
• Premium support or SLAs can cost extra, depending on the tier

Unseen Costs That Surprise Many

Premium support tiers and SLA-backed response times may cost extra, especially for Growth and Enterprise plans.

You’ll also see charges for advanced questionnaires, custom integrations, penetration tests, and third-party API usage.

If you buy through AWS Marketplace or Capchase financing, you’ll pay service fees or interest on top of the base subscription.

Planning Total Budget Around Vanta

• Total spend can double or triple your subscription price
• Be wary of planning just for the software, not the audit lifecycle
• ComplyJet includes implementation and audit bundling to avoid this split

Now that you’ve seen the full cost picture, let’s look at how prices vary depending on which compliance framework you choose.

Framework-Specific Vanta Pricing: SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA

Vanta supports SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA, but each framework introduces different pricing, complexity, and audit readiness timelines.

SOC 2 Costs Are Spread Across Audit and Platform

If you’re only pursuing SOC 2, Vanta’s Core or Plus plan works for automation, with a separate $10K–$50K for the audit.

Adding Advanced QA or vendor reviews quickly shifts you into Growth pricing territory, especially if you manage sensitive data.

Vanta supports both SOC 2 Type I and Type II, but audit coordination costs are not bundled unless you work with an approved partner.

ISO 27001 Brings Higher Costs and Complexity

ISO 27001 certification involves more formal documentation, two-stage audits, and surveillance checks over the years.

You’ll need Growth or Scale to manage custom controls, evidence mapping, and policies aligned to ISO’s structure.

vanta iso 27001 pricing typically includes external audits starting at $15K and platform upgrades that double your SaaS bill.

HIPAA Pricing Depends on Use Case and Coverage

HIPAA isn’t formally audited, but you still need policies, vendor agreements, and controls to satisfy customer security reviews.

Core might be sufficient for low-risk healthcare startups. But if you're handling PHI or integrating with EHRs, you’ll want Plus or Growth.

Add-ons like employee training, audit trails, and penetration testing often push Vanta HIPAA pricing past $25,000 total.

Match Frameworks to Plan Level with Care

Choosing the wrong plan for your framework leads to unnecessary upgrades or delays. Here’s a matrix that helps make it clear.

Next, we’ll look at how all this spending translates into ROI, and whether Vanta’s total value lines up with the price.

Hidden Fees No One Tells You About

Vanta’s pricing may seem straightforward, but there are extra charges built into usage limits, upgrades, and purchasing channels that most buyers overlook.

Watch for Questionnaire Limits That Scale Costs

Core and Plus plans limit how many questionnaires you can automate. If you go beyond 25, you’ll be asked to upgrade or pay for add-ons.

Security questionnaires are usually capped annually. If you’re selling to enterprises, you’ll quickly outgrow the base plan limits.

Advanced automation costs $10,000–$25,000 per year. Many teams only discover this cost after the first renewal.

Vendor Reviews Can Trigger Add-On Upsells

Vendor Risk Management (VRM) isn’t included by default. Once you're onboard with third-party tools, you’ll be nudged toward the $11,200/year VRM add-on.

If your customers demand vendor due diligence, that module becomes necessary fast, even for SOC 2 readiness.

Without it, you're left manually tracking vendor SOC reports, which defeats the purpose of automation.

Premium Support and Platform Channels Cost More

Basic support comes with long email cycles. Premium tiers require an SLA add-on or an Enterprise plan, which increases total Vanta compliance pricing.

If you buy through Capchase or AWS Marketplace, you may pay 5–10% more in financing or processing fees.

Many Reddit threads report cases where these fees were discovered only during contract negotiation or renewal.

ComplyJet Avoids Layered Upsells

ComplyJet’s pricing bundles audit workflows, questionnaire automation, and vendor tracking at a flat rate for startups under 50 employees.

This prevents hidden charges during scale-up and helps founders model actual compliance costs upfront.

If you’re modeling ROI, these fees must be included early. Let’s now break down how Vanta positions return on investment.

ROI: Does Vanta’s Cost Justify Itself in 2025?

The International Data Corporation (IDC) study funded by Vanta claims big ROI figures, but you need to map them against your actual team size and audit scope.

Start With the Reported ROI Numbers

According to IDC, Vanta delivers a 526% return over three years with a 3-month payback. The study assumes teams of 10+ with active audits.

Reported savings include 129% productivity gains, 82% less audit prep time, and $535,000 in average annual benefit per 10 internal users.

These numbers reflect mature companies with dedicated GRC teams and multiple attestations annually.

Now Compare That to a 10-Person Startup

If you’re a lean startup doing your first SOC 2 audit, the ROI curve looks different. You’ll get automation value, but not the same scale.

A $15,000–$20,000 spend may save 1–2 person-months, but you won’t hit six figures in annualized savings unless you're security-heavy.

Founders need to apply a lighter-weight ROI lens, especially when evaluating Vanta pricing for Core or Plus tiers.

Factor in Optional Add-Ons and Renewal Uplifts

Real ROI often drops if you need to add Advanced QA, VRM, or support tiers. Several customers report 30–40% year-over-year price hikes.

Once you account for those, the 3-month payback stretches closer to 6–8 months, especially if audits are outsourced.

Case studies in Vanta’s marketing materials often feature enterprise clients, not early-stage startups.

ComplyJet Offers Flat Pricing and Faster ROI

ComplyJet doesn’t charge for extra frameworks, support, or questionnaires. For teams under 50 people, ROI is easier to model and faster to achieve.

No cost escalators, no marketplace markups, and no usage-based penalties make complyJet predictable from day one.

Here’s an ROI calculator input/output for Vanta and ComplyJet:

Next, let’s hear directly from customers on what worked and what didn’t with Vanta’s platform and pricing.

What Real Customers Say About Vanta Pricing

G2, Reddit, and security Slack groups are full of real stories that reflect the full picture of Vanta pricing beyond the sales deck.

Praise for Automation and Time Savings

Users like the automated evidence collection, prebuilt policy templates, and direct integrations with AWS, GCP, Okta, and GitHub.

Several founders said Vanta cut audit prep time by 70–80%, especially in early SOC 2 readiness stages.

Teams also appreciated the Trust Center and embedded auditor referrals, which simplified audit planning.

Support Quality and Renewals Are Mixed

On Reddit and G2, reviews often mention inconsistent support, especially for mid-tier customers who fall outside Enterprise service levels.

One user wrote, “Our CSM was helpful until renewal. Then it went dark, and the price jumped 40% without warning.”

Others noted being pushed toward add-ons post-purchase that were never mentioned during onboarding or contract negotiation.

Users Warn About Surprise Charges

Multiple reviews flagged upsells tied to questionnaire limits, vendor management, and API-based monitoring caps.

A CTO on r/soc2 shared, “We paid for Plus, but couldn’t do anything meaningful without Advanced QA. That wasn’t clear at the start.”

Opaque renewal terms and non-transparent upgrade pricing are recurring complaints across multiple forums.

ComplyJet’s Simpler Model Draws Contrast

Startups working with ComplyJet mention flat pricing, bundled support, and no caps on automation for SOC 2 and HIPAA frameworks.

For teams under 50 people, predictable compliance pricing removes the stress of contract renegotiations every year.

Here’s a glimpse of real user comments categorized by pros and cons:

Before you buy, it helps to know how to negotiate the right plan and avoid common pricing traps. Let’s walk through that now.

How to Maximize ROI and Avoid Overpaying for Vanta

Vanta pricing can scale quickly, but most teams leave value on the table by not negotiating or aligning tier fit upfront.

Negotiate Multi-Year Discounts

Vanta frequently offers 10–20% off list prices for 2- or 3-year commitments. Push for this early in the sales process.

Use known competitors or existing compliance timelines to anchor your request. Lock pricing across years if you're expecting growth.

If you’re VC-backed and already in-market, position yourself as a reference account to gain leverage.

Defer Add-Ons Until You Truly Need Them

Modules like Advanced QA or VRM sound helpful, but can be deferred if you're doing your first SOC 2 or have minimal vendor sprawl.

Ask for access reviews and questionnaire automations to be included as trial features for the first audit cycle.

Most of these modules are unlocked via toggles, not hard engineering work. You can always upgrade post-audit.

Use Pilots and Demos Before You Commit

Vanta offers pilots and limited-scope demos. Use these to test integrations, monitoring depth, and evidence quality.

Ask your auditor to review a sample Vanta report during your pilot. Their feedback will clarify whether the Core plan fits your use case.

Shortlist feature gaps early. It prevents surprises during security reviews or procurement calls.

Choose Vanta-Approved Auditors to Bundle Pricing

Some approved auditors offer bundled audit + Vanta pricing, often shaving 15–20% off total spend when coordinated upfront.

These partners also handle evidence collection better because they're familiar with the Vanta portal and controls.

ComplyJet includes audit support by default, so if bundling matters, it’s worth comparing total package cost.

Read the Contract and Renewal Clauses Carefully

Many customers reported year-two escalations tied to usage triggers or missing renewal deadlines.

Always confirm what triggers plan upgrades, how questionnaire caps are enforced, and what support tier you’re in by default.

Have legal or procurement teams mark up these clauses before signing.

Once you’ve chosen the right tier and locked costs, the final step is evaluating whether it fits your long-term needs. That’s next.

When ComplyJet Might Be a Better Fit 

Vanta works well for larger companies with layered frameworks and compliance teams. But early-stage startups often need simpler pricing and bundled services.

Choose ComplyJet if You Want Flat Pricing and Fewer Surprises

ComplyJet’s model is purpose-built for startups that need Vanta compliance pricing clarity without a sales cycle full of upsells and usage limits.

You get access to SOC 2 and HIPAA automation, audit support, and training tools under one flat plan for up to 50 employees.

There are no caps on evidence collection, security questionnaires, or vendor tracking, and onboarding support is included.

You Also Get Built-In Audit Coordination and Faster Setup

Every ComplyJet plan comes with integrated access to auditors, with timelines, templates, and coordination handled internally.

This removes the need to buy separate audit hours or rely on external consultants for ISO 27001, HIPAA, or SOC 2 prep.

You also avoid delays tied to vendor integration limits or gated automation tiers, which often inflate Vanta SOC 2 pricing.

Vanta Still Wins for Enterprise-Scale Needs

If you’re a Series C or public company with a security team and multiple frameworks, Vanta’s maturity and integration depth still hold value.

Larger GRC teams may benefit from Vanta’s SCIM support, advanced automation logic, and enterprise-level policy control.

But the trade-off is ongoing vendor management and upgrade-based pricing tiers that can limit flexibility at startup scale.

Match the Platform to Your Compliance Maturity

If you're trying to solve compliance while managing cost predictability, ComplyJet offers strong coverage with fewer moving parts.

Teams that outgrow it later can still migrate, but early-stage execution benefits from pricing simplicity and fewer distractions.

When you know which platform fits your team’s stage, you’ll avoid wasting time or budget. Let’s wrap it all up.

FAQs

Does Vanta include the cost of the compliance audit itself?

No. Audit and certification costs (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001 audits) are separate from Vanta’s subscription. These typically range from $10,000–$50,000 per year for SOC 2, and $6,000–$40,000 for ISO 27001, depending on scope and auditor

How does pricing change as my company scales?

Costs generally grow with your company as you add employees, frameworks, or more complex integrations. Predictable renewal terms and a clear understanding of user/device tiers are critical. If the pricing is unclear, ask for a custom quote and projected costs over the next 1–2 years to avoid surprises

What factors impact the total cost of Vanta?

Vanta’s total platform cost is shaped by:

• Team size/user count
• Number of compliance frameworks (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA)
• Selected add-ons (Trust Center, questionnaire automation, vendor risk management, API usage)
• Support and onboarding needs
• Contract length (multi-year deals often yield discounts)
  Always confirm your requirements and ask for a custom quote, as add-ons and headcount can substantially affect pricing

Is Vanta’s pricing negotiable?

Yes! Many organizations report negotiating discounts of 30–48% by:

• Opting for multi-year deals
• Committing before quarter- or year-end
• Bundling multiple frameworks or add-ons
  Highly engaged customers and pilot program users are more likely to get better deals

Can Vanta integrate with our existing systems, and is there a cost for integrations?

Vanta is known for a wide range of integrations (cloud providers, ticketing, HR, identity management). Some advanced integrations or API access may be included in higher-tier plans, while custom integrations might demand additional costs or require an enterprise agreement.

What do real users say about Vanta’s pricing and value?

Most users praise Vanta’s time savings, automation, and audit-readiness tools. However, concerns are raised about:

• Year 2 price increases and strict renewal terms
• Add-on and user/device overage fees
• Support responsiveness occasionally lagging for urgent or complex requests
  Despite these, many still find the ROI strong if their compliance needs are ongoing and they leverage core features

Conclusion

Understanding Vanta pricing means looking beyond the base subscription and mapping out the total cost of ownership, including audits, onboarding, and future add-on costs.

For a lean startup doing SOC 2 or ISO 27001, it’s easy to underestimate how quickly pricing increases with each added framework or module.

You need to model not just the software cost but also services, renewals, and timeline risk, especially as your compliance scope expands.

If you want a simpler experience with clear pricing and bundled audits, tools like ComplyJet may help you move faster without surprises.

The key is scoping tightly, knowing your compliance maturity, and aligning the platform to how your business grows in real-time.

Start ComplyJet’s FREE TRIAL to learn more!

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