We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes a score or a ranking. How we make money
UpGuard covers vendor risk and attack-surface monitoring, with APIs and Trust Centers for teams that need them. Its listed starting price is $1,750 per month, and upgrades are not clear from the published pricing summary. That makes it worth comparing alternatives if you need a different approach to vendor assessments, broader GRC workflows, or a narrower security-awareness tool. The right switch depends on whether you need risk scores, assessment workflows, or a wider program—not just another vendor score.
01Why people leave UpGuard
Entry price and unclear upgrades
UpGuard starts at $1,750 per month, while upgrade costs are opaque. That makes it harder to judge the full spend before comparing options.
Risk scores may not be enough
Reddit commenters distinguish outside-in scores from deeper supplier audits, and one says some risk-score tools can feel superficial for that purpose.
Findings can sit outside workflows
A Reddit commenter says some tools leave teams switching systems to connect risk findings with contracts, obligations, and compliance work.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Vendor assessments
WhisticWhisticWhistic is the closest fit here for teams focused on third-party risk: its listed use cases include vendor assessments, security documentation, and assessment and monitoring workflows. That makes it a relevant comparison if UpGuard's broader cyber-risk coverage is more than you need. A free plan is listed, but there is no published price to show what paid use will cost.
Trade-off: Pricing is not published, so the free plan does not settle the total cost.
6.2/10from
Freefree plan - Governance and GRC
Diligent One PlatformDiligent One PlatformDiligent One Platform is worth comparing if the problem is fragmented governance work, not just vendor scoring. Its listed use cases include consolidating governance and GRC tools, board meeting workflows, and vendor and cyber risk. It offers a wider governance remit than a focused risk-monitoring purchase, but the published information gives no price to compare with UpGuard's $1,750 monthly entry.
Trade-off: No published price; its broader toolkit may be more than a vendor-risk team needs.
5.5/10from
Custom - Compliance workflows
VantaVantaVanta is a candidate if vendor risk is one part of a larger compliance workload. Its listed use cases include several compliance workflows, recurring security questionnaires, and vendor risk management. That could suit teams looking to consolidate those jobs, though the published summary flags that smaller teams may not need the tooling. Pricing is not published, so compare a quote before switching.
Trade-off: No public pricing, and smaller teams may not need its full scope.
6.4/10from
Custom - Enterprise GRC
AnecdotesAnecdotesAnecdotes targets enterprises managing multiple GRC programs, including teams automating vendor-risk workflows and covering multiple frameworks. Consider it if UpGuard feels too narrow for a wider GRC program. Its listed strengths include broad coverage and included AI, but the published information does not publish pricing or relevant user feedback, leaving both cost and fit harder to verify.
Trade-off: Pricing and relevant user feedback are not published on the vendor's site.
6.3/10from
Custom - Security awareness
KnowBe4KnowBe4KnowBe4 is not a direct vendor-risk replacement. It is a narrower option if you are leaving UpGuard because your actual requirement is phishing simulations or employee training, rather than monitoring suppliers. Its listed starting price is $2.40 per seat monthly, with a three-year term, and the large training library may fit teams with cyber-insurance requirements.
Trade-off: It covers training, not the vendor-risk and attack-surface use cases listed for UpGuard.
6.8/10from
$2.40/mo - Human-risk training
PhishedPhishedPhished is another narrower choice, not a like-for-like UpGuard substitute. Its listed use cases are automated phishing simulations, security-awareness training, and employee threat guidance. It may fit if those are the needs driving your switch, but the published summary says its starting price is $175 and that plan limits need clarification. Check scope and limits before comparing costs.
Trade-off: Plan limits need clarification, and it does not match UpGuard's listed risk coverage.
6.2/10from
$175/mo
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 UpGuard UpGuard (current) | 6.4 | $1,750/mo | No | Teams automating vendor risk |
| Whistic Whistic | 6.2 | Free | Yes | Teams managing vendor assessments |
| Diligent One Platform Diligent One Platform | 5.5 | Custom | No | Organizations consolidating governance and GRC tools |
| Vanta Vanta | 6.4 | Custom | No | Teams managing several compliance workflows |
| Anecdotes Anecdotes | 6.3 | Custom | No | Enterprises managing multiple GRC programs |
| KnowBe4 KnowBe4 | 6.8 | $2.40/mo | No | Teams needing phishing simulations |
| Phished Phished | 6.2 | $175/mo | No | Teams automating phishing simulations |
Questions people ask
How much does UpGuard cost?
Our comparison lists UpGuard from $1,750 per month. It also describes upgrades as opaque, so that entry price does not tell you the full cost of the package you may need. Ask for the plan details and upgrade pricing before comparing vendor quotes.
Which UpGuard alternative is closest for vendor risk?
Whistic is the most directly aligned option in this list: its stated use cases include vendor assessments, security documentation, and assessment and monitoring workflows. Diligent One Platform, Vanta, and Anecdotes also list vendor-risk use cases, but each is framed as part of a broader GRC offering.
Are these all direct replacements for UpGuard?
No. Whistic, Diligent One Platform, Vanta, and Anecdotes list vendor-risk or GRC use cases. KnowBe4 and Phished focus on phishing simulations and security-awareness training, so they make sense only if those narrower needs—not vendor or attack-surface monitoring—are driving the switch.