Vanta, Drata and Tidal Control honestly compared as compliance tools

You're comparing compliance software. Maybe Vanta is already at the top of your shortlist and you're wondering whether it's the right choice. Understandable. Vanta is the best-known name in the market, but name recognition is not a quality mark and certainly no guarantee that a tool is a good fit for a Dutch or European organisation.

This article puts Vanta, Drata and Tidal Control side by side. Honestly, which means we also cover the scenarios where Tidal Control is not the best choice. We're writing this as a European company, drawing on public information from the vendors themselves and on user reviews.

What is Vanta?

Vanta was founded in 2018 in San Francisco and is the best-known player in compliance automation. The platform claims more than 10,000 customers worldwide and supports SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, NIS2 and DORA. On G2, Vanta averages 4.6 to 4.7 stars.

Vanta has the largest integration library in the segment, a broad American audit network and, since 2024, an EU data centre in Frankfurt on AWS. The weak points: the platform works exclusively in English, EU data storage is opt-in rather than the default, the entry price starts at around ten thousand dollars per year according to public benchmarks, excluding audit costs, and users report multi-year contracts with little flexibility. NIS2 and DORA support was added recently; the depth varies by framework.

What is Drata?

Drata was founded in 2020 in San Diego and targets the American mid-market and enterprise. In 2025, the company acquired SafeBase for approximately 250 million dollars. On G2, Drata scores around 4.7 to 4.8 stars.

Drata offers an unlimited number of users, more than 140 integrations and access to compliance advisors. The downside: there is no public documentation on EU data residency, the infrastructure runs on American servers by default, and NIS2 and DORA are not supported as fully developed frameworks at the time of writing. The pricing structure is not transparent; users report that rates increase considerably at enterprise tiers.

What is Tidal Control?

Tidal Control is a European compliance automation platform. It is built by a founding team from the Netherland ('s-Hertogenbosch), supports over 35 frameworks with a clear focus on EU regulations, and integrates with EU hyperscalers such as Scaleway alongside AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, GitHub, GitLab and Jira. Tidal positions itself as a powerful, user-friendly and affordable alternative to the American incumbents.

EU data storage is the default, not an opt-in. NIS2 and DORA are supported as fully developed frameworks, alongside ISO 27001, SOC 2 (Type I and II), GDPR, ISO 42001, ISO 9001 and CyberFundamentals. The platform includes pre-built controls, policy documents and risk management templates, and has more than 300 automated tests. Pricing is transparent: Essential from 249 euros per month, Professional from 499 euros per month.

The weak points: the integration library is smaller than Vanta's or Drata's, and the brand is younger with fewer reviews on comparison sites. If you primarily need SOC 2 for the American market, you will find a denser audit partner network in the US with Vanta or Drata.

What really matters when choosing?

The majority of companies looking at compliance software come in with one primary goal: ISO 27001 certification. For Tidal Control, this is the core framework — not an add-on. The platform is built around it, the local consultants are specialists in it, and the track record is built on it. Tidal has a 100% pass rate on first audits and offers a certification guarantee. Customers typically reach audit readiness within three months.

For Vanta and Drata, ISO 27001 is one of many supported frameworks alongside their primary market of SOC 2. If ISO 27001 is your main objective, that difference in focus shows in practice: in the depth of the policy templates, the quality of local audit partner relationships and the guidance you receive during implementation.

Local consultants and real certification, not compliance theatre

Tidal works with local certification consultants who are familiar with Dutch certification practice and the auditors commonly used in the Benelux. This means you get a high-quality Dutch certificate after a realistic trajectory, not a piece of paper that looks right but doesn't hold up under scrutiny. Compliance that actually works is different from compliance that is designed to look like it works.

Price and contract structure

Vanta starts at around ten thousand dollars per year, with audit costs on top. Tidal Control starts at just under three thousand euros per year for Essential, with transparent pricing in euros. Note that audit costs apply on top of the platform licence for all three tools — this is standard practice in the industry, not a differentiator.

NIS2 and DORA for EU organisations

NIS2 was transposed into Dutch national law in October 2024. DORA has applied to the financial sector since January 2025. If you know that either of these is coming your way, the depth of that framework support matters more than a few hundred extra integrations you will never use. Tidal supports both as fully developed frameworks with direct mapping to ISO 27001 for parallel implementation. Drata does not support these at the time of writing.

When do you choose which tool?

Dutch SaaS startup that needs ISO 27001 and NIS2: Tidal Control is the best fit here. EU data storage is on by default, Dutch support is available, the price suits a startup budget and both frameworks are fully covered. Nedscaper, a Dutch cybersecurity scale-up, achieved ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 in twelve weeks following this profile.

Scale-up targeting US enterprise customers: this becomes a trade-off. Vanta and Drata have greater name recognition among American prospects and a broader US audit network. If your sales conversations literally ask which tool you use and the answer needs to be Vanta or Drata for credibility, that's a legitimate reason. At the same time, Tidal Control also produces SOC 2 Type II reports that are accepted by American customers, often at a lower total cost.

Fintech or payment service provider with a DORA obligation: Tidal Control. Of the three, Tidal currently offers the most mature DORA support, with direct mapping to ISO 27001 for parallel implementation. For financial institutions that need to demonstrate DORA compliance as of January 2025, this is a decisive difference.

American company with a Dutch subsidiary, primary market the US: Vanta or Drata. Their US-first orientation is a better match for where the volume of customers and auditors sits. A Dutch office with an American parent company is typically organised around American compliance requirements and English-language processes.

The bottom line

For EU and Dutch organisations looking to achieve ISO 27001, NIS2 or DORA, Tidal Control is the most suitable choice of the three. ISO 27001 is the core framework, the price is considerably lower, NIS2 and DORA are fully supported, and you work with local consultants who know Dutch certification practice.

None of the three tools is the best choice for everyone. But if you're a European organisation with European compliance obligations, Tidal Control is built for exactly that profile. Schedule a demo or start a free 14-day trial without a credit card to experience it for yourself. Further reading: how to choose the right ISO 27001 software and challenges for European startups.

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Frequently asked questions about Vanta vs Drata vs Tidal Control

What is the difference between Vanta and Tidal Control for a Dutch company?

The biggest difference is focus. Vanta is built for the American market, with SOC 2 as its primary framework and a broad US audit network. Tidal Control is built for the European market, with ISO 27001 as its core framework, EU data storage as the default and support for NIS2 and DORA as fully developed frameworks. For a Dutch company looking to achieve ISO 27001, that means in practice: local consultants, a realistic three-month trajectory and a certification guarantee.

Does Drata support DORA and NIS2?

Not as fully developed frameworks at the time of writing. Drata focuses primarily on SOC 2 and ISO 27001 for the American market. For Dutch financial institutions that need to demonstrate DORA compliance or organisations subject to NIS2, Drata is not a logical first choice at this point.

Can I also achieve SOC 2 with Tidal Control if I have American customers?

Yes. Tidal Control supports SOC 2 Type I and Type II. The reports are accepted by American customers. The advantage over Vanta or Drata is that you can implement ISO 27001 and SOC 2 in parallel via shared controls, which saves time and costs. If you primarily need SOC 2 for the American market and have few EU compliance obligations, Vanta and Drata do offer a denser network of American audit partners.

How long does ISO 27001 certification take with Tidal Control?

Most customers reach audit readiness within three months. Tidal offers a certification guarantee and works with local consultants who are familiar with Dutch certification practice and the auditors commonly used in the Benelux. The 100% first-audit pass rate is the clearest indication of what that means in practice.