SOC 2 Cost and Budget
Why is Vanta $15K/year and do you need to pay that much?
Why Is Vanta So Expensive?
Vanta is priced as an enterprise compliance platform, not a startup tool. Its pricing reflects a broad feature set designed for companies managing multiple frameworks across large organizations. For a startup pursuing its first SOC 2, you are paying for capabilities you will not use.
What You Get for $15K/Year
| Feature | Useful for First SOC 2? |
|---|---|
| 80+ infrastructure integrations | Some (you need 5–10 at most) |
| Multi-framework support (SOC 2, ISO, HIPAA, PCI) | No (you need SOC 2 only) |
| Continuous monitoring dashboards | Useful but not required |
| Policy template library | Partially (templates still need customization) |
| Trust Center | Nice to have, not needed for audit |
| Vendor management module | Premature for most startups |
| Employee onboarding workflows | Only relevant at 50+ employees |
What Vanta Does Not Include
The $15K/year does not include:
- A consultant to configure it, Most startups need one ($5,000–$15,000 additional)
- The auditor, Separate engagement ($7,000–$20,000)
- Policy writing, Vanta provides templates, not finished policies
- Application-level evidence, Vanta monitors infrastructure, not your app
Do You Need to Pay That Much?
No. For a startup's first SOC 2 Type I:
| Approach | Annual Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Vanta + consultant + auditor | $30,000–$65,000 | Full GRC platform, enterprise features |
| Screenata + auditor | $7,300–$10,500 | Policies, evidence, audit prep |
The SOC 2 report is identical. Buyers do not ask what tool you used to prepare, they read the auditor's opinion.
When Vanta Makes Sense
Vanta is worth the price when you have 100+ employees, a dedicated compliance hire, and need to manage SOC 2 + ISO 27001 + HIPAA simultaneously. At that scale, the integrations and continuous monitoring save real time.
For your first SOC 2 as a startup, Screenata delivers the same outcome at $5,988/year ($499/mo) per framework.