Shieldra
A HIPAA-first Vanta alternative
Vanta is great at SOC 2. Shieldra is great at HIPAA. If your primary framework is HIPAA — or HIPAA plus SOC 2 — Shieldra is purpose-built, transparently priced, and AI-native.
By the Shieldra Compliance Team
Why teams switch from Vanta to Shieldra
Vanta built the SOC 2 automation category, and that is still where it shines. For healthcare-focused organizations whose primary framework is HIPAA, three pain points come up repeatedly:
- Pricing opacity: Vanta does not publish pricing; quotes typically start in the $7,500–$30,000/year range. Shieldra publishes tiers — $99, $249, and custom — so you can budget without a sales call.
- HIPAA depth: Shieldra is HIPAA-first with a 73-requirement knowledge base mapped to specific CFR Part 164 citations, a modern BAA template with the 12 clauses required under the 2026 Security Rule, and AI policy scanning trained on healthcare patterns.
- AI capabilities: Shieldra is AI-native and BYOK — connect your own provider key (Anthropic, OpenAI, etc.). Vanta AI features are hosted-only.
Pricing: Shieldra vs Vanta
| Capability | Shieldra | Vanta |
|---|
| Starting price (published) | $99/month | Custom (no public pricing) |
| 14-day free trial | Yes | No |
| No mandatory annual contract | Yes | No |
| Transparent tier pricing | Yes | No |
HIPAA-first capabilities: Shieldra vs Vanta
| Capability | Shieldra | Vanta |
|---|
| HIPAA-specific knowledge base (73 requirements) | Yes | Generic mapping |
| AI policy scanner trained on healthcare | Yes | No |
| BAA template with 12 mandatory 2026 clauses | Yes | Generic template |
| CFR Part 164 citation per control | Yes | No |
| Subcontractor disclosure tracking (2026 rule) | Yes | Manual |
Frameworks: Shieldra vs Vanta
| Framework | Shieldra | Vanta |
|---|
| HIPAA (depth) | Native, primary | Add-on |
| SOC 2 | Yes | Yes |
| ISO 27001 / NIST CSF / GDPR | Roadmap | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
Why look for a Vanta alternative?
Vanta is the dominant SOC 2-first platform but has limitations for healthcare-focused organizations: pricing starts well above $99/mo (typically $7K–$30K+/year), HIPAA support is layered onto a generic GRC backbone rather than built around CFR Part 164 citations, and the BAA workflow assumes generic vendor management rather than the 12-clause modern BAA template now required under the 2026 HIPAA Security Rule.
How does Shieldra pricing compare to Vanta?
Shieldra publishes pricing — Starter $99/mo, Premium $249/mo, Enterprise custom. Vanta does not publish pricing publicly; reported figures range from $7,500/year for very small companies to $50,000+/year for mid-market. For HIPAA-only or HIPAA-primary organizations, Shieldra is typically 60–80% less expensive while providing deeper HIPAA-specific functionality.
Can Shieldra do everything Vanta does?
For HIPAA and SOC 2 — yes. Shieldra covers continuous monitoring, evidence collection, vendor management, policy management, employee training, risk register, and audit-ready exports for both frameworks. Vanta has broader framework coverage (ISO 27001, NIST, GDPR, PCI) for which Shieldra is on roadmap.
Is migration from Vanta to Shieldra possible?
Yes. Shieldra supports migrating policies, control mappings, and vendor lists from Vanta exports. Most migrations complete within 2–3 weeks.
What about Drata, Secureframe, Hyperproof?
Drata and Secureframe are also SOC 2-first platforms with similar trade-offs to Vanta for HIPAA-focused organizations. Hyperproof is more enterprise-GRC-focused and typically much more expensive. Shieldra differentiates on HIPAA depth, transparent pricing, and AI-native architecture.
