SOC 2 for startups: frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions founders ask most about a first SOC 2, grouped by theme. Each answer links to the page that goes deeper.
SOC 2 basics
What is SOC 2?
A report a licensed CPA firm issues after examining a company's controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. Customers ask for it in security reviews. Read more
What is the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?
Type I covers control design at one date. Type II also covers whether controls operated effectively over a period. Read more
Which Trust Services Criteria are required?
Only Security. Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality and Privacy are optional. Read more
Is SOC 2 a legal requirement?
No. It is usually a contractual or customer requirement, not a legal one. Read more
Who can perform a SOC 2 audit?
A licensed CPA firm. Ask whether it is enrolled in AICPA peer review. Read more
How long does a first SOC 2 take?
Readiness often takes a few months for a small team. A Type II then needs its observation period before the report. Vendor speed claims are the vendors' own. Read more
Cost and pricing
How much does SOC 2 compliance software cost?
Among the five tools here, only Secureframe publishes a price: Fundamentals starting at $7,500/year. Scytale, Vanta, Thoropass and Comp AI quote after a demo or call. Read more
Does the software price include the audit?
Not always. Scytale offers Built-In Audit with partner auditors; Thoropass provides audit from the same company; Secureframe lists access to an audit partner network. Ask each vendor for the audit fee in writing. Read more
Choosing a tool
What is the best SOC 2 software for startups?
On our first-audit weights, Scytale scores highest at 4.0 / 5, followed by Secureframe and Vanta. Your answers in the path finder may change the order. Read more
Should we pick an expert-guided or self-serve tool?
Expert-guided if nobody owns security and a customer is waiting; self-serve if you have a security lead with time. Read more
The five tools
What is Scytale best at for a first SOC 2?
Expert guidance: a dedicated compliance expert with weekly meetings who manages readiness and the audit. It scores lower on pricing transparency and published integrations. Read more
What is Vanta best at for a first SOC 2?
AI help and breadth: an AI agent that drafts policies and questionnaire answers, and 400+ integrations. Expert help comes through partners. Read more
What is Secureframe best at for a first SOC 2?
Price transparency: the only published starting price here, $7,500/year for Fundamentals with one framework. Read more
What is Thoropass best at for a first SOC 2?
The audit path: automation and audit from one company, plus pen testing and vulnerability scanning. Read more
What is Comp AI best at for a first SOC 2?
Published integrations (580+) and openness: its codebase is on GitHub. Read more
How this site works
How are the scores calculated?
Seven criteria, 0 to 5, weighted for a first-time buyer; the total is the weighted average, computed in code. Read more
Did you test these tools?
No. Scores come from public vendor pages read on 2026-09-29. We did not run demos, trials or interviews. Read more
How do you handle corrections?
Email editors@soc2startups.com with the page and a source. We verify, update the data and log it on the What's new page. Read more