Best PCI Compliance Software for Small Business
Published
PCI compliance software is sold to two very different buyers: the shop owner who files one questionnaire a year, and the security team that runs PCI DSS beside SOC 2 and ISO 27001. This page judges 8 tools for the first buyer, on four questions: does it get your SAQ done, does it get your quarterly ASV scan run, does it give you policies, and does it get you to a signed Attestation of Compliance. Every cell comes from the vendor's own page or the PCI Security Standards Council's lists, read on 2026-10-22.
Verdict
- Best overall for a small shopVikingCloud
- Best for scan, assessment and sign-off from one firmThoropass
- Best for a team that needs policies and trainingSecureframe
Vendors compared8
The comparison table
Each row is something a small merchant has to get done, with the PCI DSS requirement or form it maps to. A word in the cell is what the vendor's own page or the Council's list said on the day we read it.
Swipe sideways for more vendors
| What you need | Our pickVikingCloud | Thoropass | Secureframe | SecurityMetrics | Scrut | Drata | Vanta | Sprinto |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Has a PCI DSS offeringReq. 1–12 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Ask the vendor |
| Guides you through your SAQSAQ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Ask the vendor | Yes | Ask the vendor | Yes | Ask the vendor |
| Runs the quarterly external scan itself, as a listed ASVReq. 11.3.2 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Arranges the ASV scan with another firmReq. 11.3.2 | Not needed | Not needed | Yes | Not needed | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor |
| PCI policy templatesReq. 12.1.1 | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor | Yes | Ask the vendor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Ask the vendor |
| Security awareness training for staffReq. 12.6 | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor | Yes | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor |
| Takes you to a signed Attestation of ComplianceAOC | Ask the vendor | Yes | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor | Yes | Ask the vendor | Yes | Ask the vendor |
| Is a QSA company itselfQSA list | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
The pattern is plain. The vendors on the Council's ASV and QSA lists answer the scan and assessor rows from those lists; the platforms answer the policy and training rows from their product pages. On the pages we read, only Thoropass, Scrut, and Vanta said they take you as far as the attestation.
Vendor by vendor
VikingCloud
A PCI firm with a small-business PCI subscription, sold through its SecureTrust site. controlscan.com now redirects here.
FitsOne-location shops on a short SAQ
SAQ guidanceYes
ASV scanYes
Policy templatesAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
AOCAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
On SAQs: “Our guided experience, unlimited attempts, and express renewal feature simplify and accelerate the self-assessment process.” On scans: “Our PCI compliance scanner solution is Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV) certified”. The Council lists two of its scanners and lists VikingCloud as a QSA company.
VerdictA small shop's SAQ and scans
Thoropass
A compliance platform that is also a QSA company and a listed ASV.
FitsMerchants who want one firm to scan, assess and sign
SAQ guidanceYes
ASV scanYes
Policy templatesAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
AOCYes
It says it “offers a third-party Report on Compliance (RoC), Attestation of Compliance (AoC), and Self Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) in PCI.” The Council lists “Thoropass PCI ASV” and lists Thoropass as a QSA company. A QSA-led report is more than many small merchants are asked for, so check what your acquirer requires first.
VerdictScan, assessment and sign-off in one firm
Secureframe
A compliance automation platform with a PCI DSS framework for merchants and service providers.
FitsGrowing online sellers with staff to train
SAQ guidanceYes
ASV scanYes
Policy templatesYes
AOCAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
Scans come from a network of Approved Scanning Vendors it works with. Policies: “Use and customize the Secureframe library of templated, PCI DSS-compliant policies”. Training: “Complete cardholder data security awareness training in 30 minutes”. Secureframe is not on the ASV or QSA list itself.
VerdictPolicies, training and SAQ in one place
SecurityMetrics
A scanning and assessment firm on both of the Council's lists.
FitsMerchants who mainly need a quarterly scan
SAQ guidanceAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
ASV scanYes
Policy templatesAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
AOCAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
The Council lists “SecurityMetrics ASV Scan I” and “ASV Scan II”, and lists SecurityMetrics as a QSA company. Here we rely on those listings; everything beyond them is a question for its team. Scanners side by side: the best ASV scanning vendors for small merchants.
VerdictA listed scanning vendor
Scrut
A governance, risk and compliance platform with a PCI DSS solution.
FitsTeams that want the SAQ and attestation in software
SAQ guidanceYes
ASV scanAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
Policy templatesYes
AOCYes
“Complete and attest to PCI DSS Self-Assessment Questionnaires (SAQs).” It also offers “expert-vetted templates” for policies and lets you “Invite internal auditors and external PCI DSS Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs) to the platform”. Its automated tests (open ports, MFA, TLS) are not an ASV scan.
VerdictSAQ to attestation in a GRC tool
Drata
A compliance automation platform where PCI DSS shares controls with other frameworks.
FitsTeams already running another framework in Drata
SAQ guidanceAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
ASV scanAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
Policy templatesYes
AOCAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
“Drata maps PCI DSS requirements to shared controls, limiting repeated evidence collection across validation cycles.” Its Help Center says that once you pick an SAQ type, “Drata will automatically mark any requirements out of scope that do not align with the SAQ type you selected.” It provisions “22 policy templates” for PCI DSS v4.0.1. It is not an ASV: it tracks findings from scanners such as Qualys and Rapid7 InsightVM. Other options: Drata alternatives for PCI compliance.
VerdictReusing controls across frameworks
Vanta
A compliance automation platform with a PCI DSS product for merchants and service providers.
FitsOnline stores on SAQ A, A-EP or D, and teams already using Vanta
SAQ guidanceYes
ASV scanAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
Policy templatesYes
AOCYes
Its PCI page offers “Guided SAQ and AOC completion”, and its Help Center lists support for “SAQ-A, SAQ-A EP, SAQ-D Merchant, and SAQ-D Service Provider”. It connects to the Qualys and Rapid7 scanners but is not an ASV itself, and it says “Vanta does not replace a Qualified Security Assessor.” Other options: Vanta alternatives for PCI compliance.
VerdictAdding PCI to an existing Vanta account
Sprinto
A compliance automation platform.
FitsAsk the vendor
SAQ guidanceAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
ASV scanAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
Policy templatesAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
AOCAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
Sprinto's site refused every read, so each line here is a question for its sales team. It is not on the Council's ASV or QSA list.
VerdictCheck with the vendor
How much software your SAQ needs
Requirements on your questionnaire
SAQ A, no access to your own webpage14
SAQ A, redirect to the processor27
SAQ A, processor iframe on your page27
SAQ A-EP, Direct Post or merchant script139
Any other e-commerce setupSAQ D, all
Source: PCI SSC SAQ Instructions and Guidelines v4.0.1 r1, p. 10, read on 2026-10-22
That spread is the whole buying decision. The Council counts the PCI DSS v4.x requirements that apply to each SAQ A e-commerce setup: no access to your own webpage = 14; redirect to the processor = 27; processor iframe on your page = 27. SAQ A-EP (Direct Post or merchant script) = 139. Any other e-commerce setup = SAQ D, all requirements. A shop on 27 requirements needs a guided questionnaire and a scan. A shop on SAQ D needs policies, evidence and people to own them, which is what the larger platforms sell. Not sure which you are on? The SAQ type finder asks how you take cards and names the form, and PCI SAQ types explained walks through all ten.
Two kinds of PCI software
Go back to the table's ASV row. Of these vendors, 3 are themselves on the Council's list of Approved Scanning Vendors, so they run the scan that Requirement 11.3.2 asks for. The rest organise controls, policies and evidence, and the scan comes from an ASV they work with or one you hire. Neither kind is better; they are built for different amounts of work.
Scanner-led
VikingCloud, Thoropass, SecurityMetrics
On the Council's ASV listYes
Runs the Req. 11.3.2 scanItself
Main jobSAQ and scans
Vendors on this page3
Strongest forShort SAQs
Platform-led
Secureframe, Scrut, Drata, Vanta, Sprinto
On the Council's ASV listNo
Runs the Req. 11.3.2 scanVia an ASV
Main jobControls and evidence
Vendors on this page5
Strongest forSeveral frameworks
Check your processor first
Before you pay for a tool, look at what your processor already gives you. Clover, for example, lists a “PCI Rapid Comply Solution” in Clover Security Plus: “A simple, online PCI compliance wizard that helps you adhere to the latest security standards.” Ask your acquirer whether it already provides an SAQ portal and a scanning vendor. A PCI non-compliance fee on a merchant statement comes from the acquirer or processor under its card-brand program, never from the PCI Security Standards Council, so the same call tells you what skipping it costs. More in PCI compliance fees.
Questions
Do I need PCI compliance software at all?
No rule says you must buy any. The Council puts it plainly: “PCI SSC does not define compliance requirements for any organization or set compliance validation responsibilities … Compliance validation requirements are set by brands, acquirers, payment facilitators, etc.” Before you start an SAQ, confirm with the organization you submit it to (usually your acquirer, the merchant bank) that you are eligible for it. For a small shop on a short SAQ, the work can be the questionnaire and a scan if that SAQ needs one.
Does buying compliance software make me PCI compliant?
No. The Attestation of Compliance is “the official PCI SSC form for merchants and service providers to attest to the results of a PCI DSS assessment, as documented in a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) or Report on Compliance (ROC).” It is signed by the entity and by the QSA company if one was involved, so your name goes on it whatever tool you used. The software organises the work; it does not sign for you.
Which of these vendors can run my quarterly ASV scan?
VikingCloud, Thoropass and SecurityMetrics were on the Council's ASV list when we read it on 2026-10-22. An Approved Scanning Vendor is a “Company approved by the PCI SSC to conduct external vulnerability scanning services.” A passing ASV scan has no vulnerability scored 4.0 or higher on CVSS (High = 7.0–10.0, Medium = 4.0–6.9, both fail) and nothing that breaks PCI DSS. See what an ASV scan is and the full approved scanning vendors directory.
Do I need a QSA, or is software enough?
“QSA companies are qualified by PCI SSC to validate an entity's adherence to PCI DSS requirements.” Depending on the card brands' programs, an entity either has a detailed assessment documented in a Report on Compliance or self-assesses with an SAQ. Your acquirer tells you which. The difference between the two papers is in the AOC, ROC and QSAs explained, and the firms that sell assessments are in PCI compliance consultants.
Vanta or Drata for PCI DSS?
Vanta says more about the questionnaire itself: it names SAQ A, SAQ A-EP and both SAQ Ds, and offers guided SAQ and AOC completion. Drata lets you pick your SAQ type and marks the rest out of scope, and ships PCI policy templates. Neither is on the Council's ASV or QSA list. If you already run one of them for another framework, adding PCI there is the natural step. The two are set side by side, on the PCI framework only, in Vanta vs Drata for PCI DSS.
Sources
- PCI SSC: SAQ Instructions and Guidelines, PCI DSS v4.0.1 r1 (April 2025) (docs-prv.pcisecuritystandards.org), read on 2026-10-22
- PCI SSC: Prioritized Approach Tool for PCI DSS v4.0.1 (Requirements 11.3.2, 12.1.1, 12.6, 12.8.1) (docs-prv.pcisecuritystandards.org), read on 2026-10-22
- PCI SSC: ASV Program Guide v4.0 r2 (docs-prv.pcisecuritystandards.org), read on 2026-10-22
- PCI SSC: Approved Scanning Vendors list (export) (pcisecuritystandards.org), read on 2026-10-22
- PCI SSC: Qualified Security Assessors list (export) (pcisecuritystandards.org), read on 2026-10-22
- PCI SSC: Glossary (pcisecuritystandards.org), read on 2026-10-22
- PCI SSC: PCI DSS v4.x Quick Reference Guide (docs-prv.pcisecuritystandards.org), read on 2026-10-22
- PCI SSC blog: Important updates for merchants validating to SAQ A (30 Jan 2025) (blog.pcisecuritystandards.org), read on 2026-10-22
- VikingCloud: PCI compliance for small businesses (vikingcloud.com), read on 2026-10-22
- Thoropass: Thoropass becomes a QSAC for PCI payments (thoropass.com), read on 2026-10-22
- Secureframe: PCI DSS (secureframe.com), read on 2026-10-22
- Scrut: PCI DSS solution (scrut.io), read on 2026-10-22
- Drata: PCI DSS (drata.com), read on 2026-10-22
- Drata Help Center: PCI DSS v4.0 (SAQ type selection) (help.drata.com), read on 2026-10-22
- Drata Help Center: PCI DSS v4.0.1 updates (policy templates) (help.drata.com), read on 2026-10-22
- Vanta: PCI DSS compliance software (vanta.com), read on 2026-10-22
- Vanta Help Center: PCI 4.0 Frequently Asked Questions (help.vanta.com), read on 2026-10-22
- Vanta: Additional frameworks (vanta.com), read on 2026-10-22
- Clover: Security (Clover Security Plus) (clover.com), read on 2026-10-22