Kertos or Vanta: which compliance platform fits your company?

Last updated: October 14, 2026

Key takeaways

• Vanta fits companies that need a SOC 2 report for the US market first, want the largest integration catalog, and have a security team in-house to run the platform.
• Kertos is a European vendor based in Munich. It fits companies that want certified experts from their vendor, including an external CISO or data protection officer mandate, and a contracting party in the EU.
• Both vendors list ISO 27001, ISO 42001, GDPR, NIS2, the EU AI Act, SOC 2, TISAX, and C5 on their websites, so the framework list does not decide the comparison.
• Vanta lists more than 400 integrations; Kertos lists more than 300. Neither vendor publishes prices.

The choice between Kertos and Vanta comes down to one question: who does the compliance work? Vanta is a platform with an AI agent, and Vanta says additional compliance services come from its partners. Kertos is a European vendor based in Munich and combines its platform with in-house certified experts who take on external CISO and data protection officer mandates. If you need a SOC 2 report for US customers first and have security staff, Vanta is a good fit. If you sell in Europe, have no security team of your own, and need a named person for data protection or information security, the Kertos model fits better.

How do Kertos and Vanta differ?

Every Vanta cell reflects what Vanta states on vanta.com, help.vanta.com, or developer.vanta.com, read on October 14, 2026.

G2 figures read on October 14, 2026, on each vendor's product profile.

Three rows carry the comparison. Vanta is ahead on integrations, and its G2 review base is many times larger. On European frameworks the two are level: Vanta lists TISAX, BSI C5, and NIS 2 on its own frameworks page. The real difference is the delivery model, meaning whether the experts belong to the vendor or join through partners, and the contracting party.

When is Vanta the better choice?

Vanta is the obvious choice when the US market sets the pace. SOC 2 comes first on Vanta's frameworks page, alongside US frameworks such as HIPAA, FedRAMP, CMMC 2.0, HITRUST CSF, and PCI DSS. For a European SaaS company that needs a SOC 2 report for American enterprise customers first, or has to show US frameworks, Vanta covers those requirements in one platform.

Vanta also fits when these points apply to your company:

• Many systems to connect: Vanta lists more than 400 prebuilt integrations and offers separate APIs for building integrations, managing the platform, and running audits.
• An in-house security team: Vanta offers custom monitoring tests and automation (pricing page, Professional plan) and the Vanta MCP Server, which connects Vanta to AI tools such as Claude, VS Code, and Cursor. That suits teams that run controls themselves and prefer automation over guidance.
• Your choice of auditor: The pricing page lists access to Vanta's auditor network and the option to bring your own auditor.
• A large reference base: With 2,742 reviews on G2, buying teams can find other customers' experience on almost any question.

When is Kertos the better choice?

Kertos is a European vendor and the better choice for companies that want to buy compliance as an outcome, not a platform their own team has to run. The certified experts belong to Kertos and work in the same platform as your team. Kertos at a glance:

• Frameworks covered: ISO 27001, ISO 27701, ISO 42001, GDPR, NIS2, EU AI Act, SOC 2, TISAX, and C5.
• Model: Agentic platform with the AI agent KAIA and in-house certified experts, including external CISO and data protection officer mandates.
• Origin and contracting party: European vendor. Kertos GmbH, Munich; developed in Germany, co-financed by the European Union, no non-European parent company.
• Hosting: Amazon Web Services EMEA Sàrl, Luxembourg (EU), per the public sub-processor list.
• Integrations: More than 300.
• Languages: German, English, and French.
• Proof points: 100% audit pass rate and about 80% less manual compliance effort. AskUI achieved ISO 27001 certification in 8 to 10 weeks without external consultants.

Kertos fits especially well in these situations:

• You need a named person. A data protection officer under Art. 37 GDPR, or a person accountable for information security, is a person, not software. Kertos provides both as an external data protection officer and as an external CISO.
• You have no security team of your own. Kertos experts co-write policies, prepare audits, and accompany them.
• You sell in Europe. TISAX for the automotive industry, C5 for cloud providers serving the public sector, NIS2, and ISO 27001 run on one control set, supported by experts who know how European auditors work.
• Your procurement requires an EU contracting party. Your contract is with a German GmbH.

What do customers say about Kertos?

Kertos holds a G2 rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 65 reviews (read on October 14, 2026). Four voices, one of them critical:

“Their team is very responsive and helps within hours if something beyond the standard scope is needed (which we saw rarely). As a European company, we also value having a partner from Europe that understands requirements and challenges first hand while easily measuring up to US compliance products.” Matthias K., COO, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.), G2, August 10, 2025

“The Personal support when going through the certification process” Verified User in Computer Software, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.), G2, September 3, 2026, answering what they like best

“Kertos helps us carry out the ISO 27001 certification in an organised and structured way. It defines clear tasks and offers AI-supported suggestions tailored to our company structure.” Martin S., Agentic AI Engineer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.), G2, September 4, 2026, translated from German

“At first the platform is a bit overwhelming and the benefits do not come through; in places the odd feature is still missing.” Verified User in Health, Wellness and Fitness, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.), G2, August 22, 2026, translated from German

Does it matter whether the vendor is European or American?

Where the contracting party sits decides whether the main contract is already a third-country transfer. Vanta's contracting party is Vanta, Inc. in the US; Vanta bases transfers there on the EU Standard Contractual Clauses, and you document a transfer impact assessment for them. Kertos's contracting party is a German GmbH, so the main contract involves no third-country transfer. You still review the sub-processors with both vendors: Kertos's public list also names US companies, such as Microsoft Corporation, Okta, and Datadog.

The CLOUD Act requires providers of communication and cloud services that are subject to US law to disclose data on order that is within their "possession, custody, or control", "regardless of whether such communication, record, or other information is located within or outside of the United States" (18 U.S.C. § 2713). The obligation follows control over the data, not where it is stored. An EU region therefore does not end US jurisdiction over a US-controlled provider.

For this comparison, that means two things. First, Vanta, Inc., the contracting party, is a US company. In its data processing addendum, Vanta commits not to disclose personal data to authorities voluntarily and to notify customers of a compelled disclosure where the law allows (DPA, section 6.6.2). Second, Vanta and Kertos both host on Amazon Web Services, which is also a US-controlled provider. The difference is the contracting party: Kertos is a German GmbH with no non-European parent company. Ask every vendor for its full sub-processor list and for who manages the keys to your data.

Frequently asked questions

Is Vanta GDPR compliant?

Vanta offers a data processing addendum that bases transfers out of the EEA on the 2021 EU Standard Contractual Clauses (DPA, section 6.2, last revised July 10, 2026), and an EU region in Frankfurt. Whether a given use is GDPR compliant is decided case by case, as with any processor: sign the addendum, review the sub-processors, and document a transfer impact assessment for transfers to Vanta, Inc. in the US. Vanta itself notes that some supporting services and sub-processors may operate outside the selected region.

Does Vanta cover NIS2 and TISAX?

Yes. Vanta lists NIS 2, TISAX, and BSI C5 on its own frameworks page (read on October 14, 2026); C5:2026 was added in August 2026. The same applies to both vendors: software provides controls, templates, and evidence. The ENX Association issues the TISAX label after an assessment by an approved audit provider, and the company itself fulfills NIS2 duties such as registering with the national authority. What matters is who prepares and accompanies those steps in your project.

How much does Kertos cost compared to Vanta?

Neither vendor publishes prices. Vanta lists four plans and an individual quote after a demo; Kertos quotes based on frameworks and company size. Compare the total first-year cost instead: license, internal time, external consulting or partner hours, an external data protection officer or CISO if you need one, and the fees of the certification body or auditor. At Kertos the experts are part of the offer; at Vanta, additional compliance services come from partners, according to its pricing page.

For a wider view of the market, see the overview of Vanta competitors and alternatives; European vendors are compared on the page about EU alternatives to Vanta and Drata. To walk through your own case, book a demo with one of our certified experts.