Drata alternatives for PCI compliance, sorted by the job Drata leaves open
Published
This page is for a business already on Drata, or close to signing, that now has a PCI DSS questionnaire or a Report on Compliance due. PCI asks nothing of a compliance platform. It asks you for a validated SAQ or ROC, an Attestation, and, where your path includes them, passing external scans from a scanning vendor on the Council's list. Drata covers part of that; the alternatives below are sorted by which of the remaining jobs they say they do.
Verdict
- Best overall swap for DrataSecureframe
- Best for the questionnaire job (SAQ and AOC)Vanta
- Best for the scan jobVikingCloud
- Best for the assessor job (ROC)Thoropass
Vendors compared8
Drata and the alternatives on PCI
Drata sits in the first column as the baseline. Each row is a PCI job, with the requirement or form it maps to. “Ask the vendor” means the vendor's own site did not say when we read it on 2026-10-22; “No” on a list row means the company was not on the Council's list that day.
Swipe sideways for more vendors
| The PCI job | Drata | Our pickSecureframe | Vanta | Thoropass | Scrut | VikingCloud | SecurityMetrics | Sprinto |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walks you through the SAQSAQ | Ask the vendor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor |
| Takes you to the signed AttestationAOC | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor |
| Runs the quarterly ASV scan itselfReq. 11.3.2 | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Arranges the ASV scan with another firmReq. 11.3.2 | Ask the vendor | Yes | Ask the vendor | Not needed | Ask the vendor | Not needed | Not needed | Ask the vendor |
| Is a QSA company that can assess youROC and AOC | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Ships PCI policy templatesReq. 12.1.1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Ask the vendor | Yes | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor |
| Security awareness training for staffReq. 12.6 | Ask the vendor | Yes | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor |
| Pulls evidence from your systemsEvidence | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor |
The pattern: Drata answers the policy and evidence rows from its own pages, and none of the platform columns runs the scan or signs a ROC. Those come from the companies on the Council's lists. For the field judged without Drata as the baseline, see the best PCI compliance software for small business.
Drata vs Secureframe for PCI DSS
Secureframe is the closest swap: the same kind of platform, sold to the same kind of team, with PCI DSS as one framework among several. Neither company is on the Council's ASV list or its QSA list. So the honest comparison is not which one “does PCI”, but which of the jobs around your questionnaire each one says it handles.
Swipe sideways for both columns
| The job | Drata | Secureframe |
|---|---|---|
| Paths it names | You pick an SAQ type to scope requirements, or “None” for a ROC | The RoC, SAQ A, SAQ A-EP and SAQ D |
| SAQ and AOC forms | Its checklist sends you to the Council’s library for the SAQ and AOC documents | A support team to “get started with your Report on Compliance (RoC) or SAQ”; the AOC is not mentioned |
| Quarterly ASV scan | Tracks findings from scanners you connect; not on the ASV list | A network of Approved Scanning Vendors it works with; not on the ASV list itself |
| Assessor | An auditor directory; one listing calls itself a “PCI-DSS QSA” | Says the RoC comes from a QSA; not on the QSA list itself |
| Policies | “22 policy templates” for v4.0.1 | Templated policies “vetted by dozens of auditors” |
| Staff training | Not stated on the PCI pages we read | Cardholder data security awareness training “in 30 minutes” |
| Evidence | Maps PCI DSS “to shared controls” | Evidence collection “across 300+ controls” (its count) |
| Version on its pages | Checklist and update notes written for v4.0.1 | No version named on its PCI page |
Read down the columns and the trade is plain. Secureframe's page covers the jobs Drata's PCI pages leave to you: getting the external scan done through an approved scanning vendor, and training staff. Drata's pages are more exact about scope, with an SAQ picker that marks out of scope every requirement your type does not carry, and they are written for PCI DSS v4.0.1, the version of the standard in force. Secureframe's PCI page names no version, so ask.
What Drata leaves open, job by job
Each receipt states the rule, what Drata's own pages say about it, and who on this page states they do that job. If a job already reads “Yes” for Drata, switching for it alone buys nothing.
The questionnaire: SAQ and AOC
SAQ and AOCDepending on the card brands' programs, an entity either has a detailed assessment documented in a Report on Compliance or self-assesses with an SAQ. An AOC goes with either one.
DrataAsk the vendor
“Upon selecting the SAQ type, Drata will automatically mark any requirements out of scope that do not align with the SAQ type you selected.” Its checklist adds: “You can download the necessary SAQ and AOC documents from the PCI SSC Document Library.”
The quarterly external scan
Req. 11.3.2PCI DSS 11.3.2 requires external vulnerability scans at least once every three months by an ASV approved by PCI SSC, and “the ASV scan solution must be managed by the ASV.”
DrataNo
It syncs findings from Qualys, Rapid7 InsightVM, Tenable and others, and says “Drata does not remediate vulnerabilities. It tracks status, deadlines, and compliance impact.” Its own list of PCI documents includes “External network vulnerability scan results performed by a PCI Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV)”: a report you bring.
Small online stores are not exempt: SAQ A for v4.x includes Requirements 11.3.2 and 11.3.2.1 (external vulnerability scans) for merchants whose pages redirect to, or embed, a processor's payment page. SAQ A-EP carries 139 requirements; check the scan questions in your SAQ A-EP form or ask your acquirer.
The assessor
QSA and ROC“QSA companies are qualified by PCI SSC to validate an entity's adherence to PCI DSS requirements.” Whether you need one is not Drata's call or the Council's: “Compliance validation requirements are set by brands, acquirers, payment facilitators, etc.”
DrataNo
Choose “None” at setup and every requirement starts in scope, the route Drata suggests for a ROC. It promises to help you “Maintain defensible posture for QSA assessments” and runs an auditor directory; one listing there describes itself as a “PCI-DSS QSA”.
The policies
Req. 12.1.112.1.1: an information security policy is “Established. Published. Maintained. Disseminated to all relevant personnel, as well as to relevant vendors and business partners.”
DrataYes
“Our standard 22 policy templates will be provisioned” with the v4.0.1 update. This job is already done in Drata; leaving for policies alone buys nothing.
The evidence
Req. 1 to 12“The use of a PCI DSS compliant TPSP does not make an entity PCI DSS compliant, nor does it remove the entity's responsibility for its own PCI DSS compliance.” (12.8.1) A platform holds the proof; you still answer for it.
DrataYes
“Drata centralizes evidence, testing results, and audit workflows to reduce disruption during annual PCI validation.”
Plan who does each job
You may not need to leave Drata at all, only to add a company for a job it does not do. Set each job to whoever handles it today. The receipt counts the companies in your stack, marks what is still open, and writes the questions to put to each vendor.
Who does each PCI job?
Pick who handles each job. Pre-filled with a Drata customer who self-assesses.
DrataAsk the vendor
Scopes requirements to the SAQ type you pick; its checklist sends you to the Council's library for the SAQ and AOC documents.
DrataAsk the vendor
Not on the Council's ASV list; it tracks findings from Qualys, Rapid7 InsightVM, Tenable and others that you connect.
Not needed: I self-assessNot needed
Only if your acquirer accepts an SAQ from you.
DrataYes
“Our standard 22 policy templates will be provisioned” for v4.0.1.
DrataYes
“Drata maps PCI DSS requirements to shared controls”.
Companies in your stack1
Covered / Ask / Open3 / 2 / 0
Nothing is open, but some answers are not on the vendors' own sites. Get them in writing.
Questions to put before you sign
- 01Drata: Can I complete and sign the SAQ and AOC inside Drata, or only prepare the evidence?
- 02Drata: Do you arrange the quarterly ASV scan, and does the passing report reach my acquirer through you?
The alternatives one by one
Each receipt uses the same jobs as the ledger above. Leaving Vanta instead? The Vanta alternatives for PCI are sorted by the reason people switch.
Secureframe
Compliance platform with a PCI DSS framework for merchants and service providers.
FitsDrata customers who want the scan and staff training in the same contract
SAQ helpYes
Scan, through an ASV it works withYes
Assessor (QSA company)No
PoliciesYes
EvidenceYes
It says it supports Level 1 merchants and service providers who need a Report on Compliance (RoC), as well as organizations that need to complete a PCI DSS SAQ
, and says it works with a network of Approved Scanning Vendors and penetration testers.
VerdictThe like-for-like swap
Vanta
Compliance platform with a PCI DSS product and Report on Compliance products.
FitsOnline stores on SAQ A, A-EP or D that want the forms done in the tool
SAQ helpYes
ScanAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
Assessor (QSA company)No
PoliciesYes
EvidenceYes
Its PCI page offers Guided SAQ and AOC completion
, and its Help Center names SAQ A, A-EP, D for merchants and D for service providers. It also says Vanta does not replace a Qualified Security Assessor.
Its PCI FAQ still calls PCI 4.0 the most current version, so ask which version its framework maps. Side by side: Vanta vs Drata on PCI.
VerdictThe questionnaire job
Thoropass
Compliance platform whose company is on the Council's QSA list and ASV list.
FitsMerchants facing a ROC, and service providers
SAQ helpYes
Scan, as a listed ASVYes
Assessor (QSA company)Yes
PoliciesAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
EvidenceYes
It offers a third-party Report on Compliance (RoC), Attestation of Compliance (AoC), and Self Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) in PCI
, and says Thoropass provides PCI Council–approved external vulnerability scans
. The Council lists “Thoropass PCI ASV” and Thoropass, Inc. as a QSA company. Ask how the team that prepares you is kept apart from the team that assesses you.
VerdictThe assessor job, with the scan
Scrut
Compliance platform with a PCI DSS solution page.
FitsTeams that want the SAQ completed and attested in the tool
SAQ helpYes
ScanAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
Assessor (QSA company)No
PoliciesYes
EvidenceYes
Scrut says you can Complete and attest to PCI DSS Self-Assessment Questionnaires (SAQs)
and Invite internal auditors and external PCI DSS Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs) to the platform
. Its PCI page does not mention ASV scans.
VerdictSAQ work inside the platform
VikingCloud
PCI firm with a small-business plan, SecureTrust PCI Manager for Small Business.
FitsSmall shops on a short SAQ whose gap is the scan
SAQ helpYes
Scan, as a listed ASVYes
Assessor (QSA company)Yes
PoliciesAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
EvidenceAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
Its small-business page says Our PCI compliance scanner solution is Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV) certified
and offers a Guided self-assessment
. It is not a Drata-style platform: no evidence pulled from your cloud is described, which a shop on SAQ A may never need.
VerdictThe scan job for a small shop
SecurityMetrics
Scanning vendor and QSA company.
FitsMerchants who want the scan and an assessor from one listed firm
SAQ helpAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
Scan, as a listed ASVYes
Assessor (QSA company)Yes
PoliciesAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
For this page we rely on the Council: the ASV list names SecurityMetrics ASV Scan I and ASV Scan II, and the QSA list names the company.
VerdictScan and assessor from one firm
Sprinto
Compliance platform with a PCI DSS page.
FitsAsk the vendor
SAQ helpAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
ScanAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
PoliciesAsk the vendor
Not stated on their site when read on 2026-10-22.
Sprinto has a page titled “PCI DSS Compliance Made Easy with Sprinto AI”, but its site refused our reader, so every PCI claim is a question for its team. It is on neither of the Council's lists.
VerdictCheck with the vendor
Questions
Is Drata enough for PCI compliance on its own?
For most merchants, no, and its own pages do not claim otherwise. Drata keeps policies, controls and evidence in order. The quarterly external scan has to come from an approved scanning vendor, a Report on Compliance comes from a QSA, and the questionnaire and Attestation are yours to sign. Drata's help pages say it “does not remediate vulnerabilities” either; it tracks them.
Does Drata run ASV scans?
Drata was not on the Council's ASV list when we read it on 2026-10-22. It pulls findings from scanners you connect, some of which belong to listed ASVs. The Council's rule is strict: merchants “must use only ASVs to perform external vulnerability scans at least once every three months as required by PCI DSS Requirement 11.3.2, and the ASV scan solution must be managed by the ASV.” Compare listed scanners in the best ASV scanning vendors for small merchants.
Which SAQ types does Drata support?
Its Help Center describes an SAQ picker that scopes requirements to the type you choose, and a “None” option for a Report on Compliance, but the pages we read do not list the types. There are ten SAQs for PCI DSS v4.0.1: A, A-EP, B, B-IP, C, C-VT, D for Merchants, D for Service Providers, P2PE and SPoC. Ask Drata about yours by name; the guide to the SAQ types helps you find it.
Is Drata or Secureframe better for PCI DSS?
Neither is an ASV or a QSA, so the answer turns on the jobs around your questionnaire. Secureframe states that it arranges the scan through ASVs it works with and trains staff; Drata's pages are more exact on scoping and are written for v4.0.1. If your controls already live in Drata and only the scan is missing, adding a listed scanning vendor is the smaller change.
Do I need a QSA if I leave Drata?
Only if your acquirer or a card brand asks for a Report on Compliance. “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. Who signs what is set out in the PCI attestation of compliance guide.
Where does the passing scan report go?
Not to Drata or any platform by rule. The ASV Program Guide says: “Scan reports must be submitted according to each Participating Payment Brand's requirements. Scan customers should contact their acquiring bank or each Participating Payment Brand to determine to whom results should be submitted.”
I only take cards on a terminal. Do I need any of these tools?
Probably not first. Drata's PCI pages do not name the card-present questionnaires, and the platforms on this page are built around evidence pulled from the systems you connect. Start with what your processor's PCI program covers, then weigh PCI consultants and managed programs against software.
Sources
- Drata: PCI DSS compliance automation software (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 Checklist (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
- Drata Help Center: Vulnerabilities (help.drata.com), read on 2026-10-22
- Drata Help Center: Required Documentation for PCI DSS (help.drata.com), read on 2026-10-22
- Drata: Audit Alliance auditor directory (drata.com), read on 2026-10-22
- Secureframe: PCI DSS (secureframe.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
- Thoropass: PCI DSS compliance software (thoropass.com), read on 2026-10-22
- Thoropass: becoming a QSAC for PCI payments (thoropass.com), read on 2026-10-22
- Scrut: PCI DSS solution (scrut.io), read on 2026-10-22
- VikingCloud: PCI Compliance for Small Business (vikingcloud.com), read on 2026-10-22
- Sprinto: PCI DSS page (title only; text not readable) (sprinto.com), read on 2026-10-22
- PCI SSC: Approved Scanning Vendors list (pcisecuritystandards.org), read on 2026-10-22
- PCI SSC: Qualified Security Assessors list (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: PCI DSS v4.x Quick Reference Guide (docs-prv.pcisecuritystandards.org), read on 2026-10-22
- PCI SSC: SAQ Instructions and Guidelines v4.0.1 r1 (docs-prv.pcisecuritystandards.org), read on 2026-10-22
- PCI SSC: Prioritized Approach Tool for PCI DSS v4.0.1 (docs-prv.pcisecuritystandards.org), read on 2026-10-22
- PCI SSC: Glossary (pcisecuritystandards.org), read on 2026-10-22
- PCI SSC blog: updates for merchants validating to SAQ A (30 January 2025) (blog.pcisecuritystandards.org), read on 2026-10-22