Comparing ServiceNow (GRC) and Thoropass

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About ServiceNow (GRC)

ServiceNow GRC is a platform for large companies to manage risk, compliance, and third-party programs. It monitors controls continuously and connects with security operations tools. The system works within ServiceNow's broader ecosystem but requires manual work when handing off to auditors. Implementation tends to be complex and costly, with annual costs that can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on which modules you use.

About Thoropass

Thoropass combines compliance automation with audit services in one solution, handling frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and PCI DSS from preparation through final certification. The platform automates evidence collection across hundreds of integrations, uses AI to review compliance data, and includes auditors. It maps controls across multiple frameworks so you can pursue several certifications in parallel, and provides continuous monitoring rather than point-in-time assessments. The service targets mid-market companies that benefit from automation and audit execution from a single vendor.

What do users say?

We've used AI to analyze a number of reviews from third-party sites like G2, Reddit, and Capterra, and here's what the AI found:

Based on reviews, ServiceNow GRC appears to offer strong automation capabilities and comprehensive risk management features, with users highlighting AI-driven insights, automated workflows, and effective integration with other ServiceNow modules. However, users frequently criticize the platform for its poor user interface design and lack of intuitiveness, with many describing it as not user-friendly and difficult to navigate. Additionally, users consistently mention concerns about the extremely high licensing and implementation costs, along with significant complexity in configuration and lengthy implementation timelines.

Based on reviews, Thoropass is consistently praised by users for its ease of use, clear dashboards, and helpful automation features that streamline compliance processes and save time. Users frequently highlight the strong customer support, integrated audit capabilities, and advisory support that make typically painful compliance work more manageable. The platform appears to exceed user expectations for compliance excellence, with particular appreciation for its straightforward integration process and comprehensive approach to audit preparation.

Comparison

ServiceNow (GRC)

ServiceNow GRC offers enterprise-grade workflows and deep integration capabilities within the broader ServiceNow ecosystem, making it suitable for large organizations managing complex risk and compliance programs. However, the platform requires manual handoff work between the compliance system and external auditors, while also presenting significant implementation complexity and high costs that can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

Thoropass

Based on reviews, Thoropass delivers an all-in-one experience that combines compliance automation with built-in audit execution, backed by strong G2 momentum and over 200 robust integrations to automate compliance work. The platform eliminates double-work by keeping auditors integrated within the system rather than requiring separate vendor relationships, though pricing can be opaque and varies significantly by framework and scope.

Notably, customers note using ServiceNow for GRC alongside Thoropass for audits–so they are more complimentary than competitive.

Feature	ServiceNow (GRC)	Thoropass
Built-in Auditors	N	Y
SMB-Friendly	N	Y
Enterprise Scale GRC	Y	N
Quick Implementation	N	Y
Multi-Framework Support	Y	Y
Automated Evidence Collection	Y	Y
Transparent Pricing	N	N

Built-in Auditors

ServiceNow (GRC) provides audit management software and workflow capabilities but does not include auditing services within the platform. Organizations must separately engage external audit firms and manage the handoff between their ServiceNow GRC system and auditors, creating potential gaps in communication and requiring manual coordination work. Thoropass can audit customers using ServiceNow GRC.

Thoropass integrates accredited auditors directly into the platform as an AICPA peer-reviewed CPA firm, PCI QSAC, and HITRUST-accredited assessor. This eliminates the need to source separate audit vendors and ensures seamless collaboration between the compliance platform and audit execution from day one.

SMB-Friendly

ServiceNow (GRC) targets mid-to-large enterprises with complex risk management needs across multiple departments. The platform's enterprise focus, high implementation costs, and complexity make it less suitable for smaller organizations with straightforward compliance requirements.

Thoropass specifically designs its offering for startups and mid-market companies, providing pre-built templates, streamlined onboarding, and audit-ready automation that helps smaller teams achieve certification without extensive compliance expertise or resources.

Enterprise Scale

ServiceNow (GRC) excels at enterprise-scale deployments with comprehensive risk management across policy, compliance, third-party risk, and operational resilience. The platform integrates with broader ServiceNow workflows and supports complex, multi-departmental risk programs that large organizations require.

Thoropass focuses primarily on mid-market and growing companies, with less emphasis on the complex enterprise risk management capabilities that large organizations with established compliance teams typically need for comprehensive governance programs.

Quick Implementation

ServiceNow (GRC) typically requires lengthy implementation timelines due to its complexity and extensive configuration requirements. Users consistently report that the platform "takes forever to configure and get ready to do the job intended," with significant upfront work needed to customize workflows and integrations.

Thoropass emphasizes rapid deployment with pre-configured frameworks, auditor-vetted integrations, and done-for-you policy templates that help organizations get started in days rather than weeks or months.

Multi-Framework Support

ServiceNow (GRC) supports multiple compliance frameworks through its integrated risk management approach and offers framework mapping capabilities, including integration with the UCF Common Controls Hub for cross-framework control alignment.

Thoropass handles SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, HITRUST, and other frameworks through unified control mapping, allowing organizations to pursue multiple certifications simultaneously while reducing duplicated effort across compliance programs.

Automated Evidence Collection

ServiceNow (GRC) provides workflow automation and continuous control monitoring capabilities, with integrations to various security and operations tools within the ServiceNow ecosystem for automated data collection and risk assessment.

Thoropass offers over 200 auditor-vetted integrations across cloud providers, identity systems, and business applications, automatically collecting and organizing evidence that meets audit requirements without manual intervention.

Transparent Pricing

ServiceNow (GRC) uses quote-based pricing without publicly available pricing information, making it difficult for organizations to understand costs upfront. Users frequently cite "extremely expensive licensing and implementation costs" as a significant concern.

Thoropass also uses quote-based pricing that varies by framework and scope, without transparent pricing information available publicly. Thoropass has a significantly lower price tag because of the consolidation of audit and automationcompliance into one platform. Although pricing does vary for each organization, initial scoping is representative of the true price tag. With traditional auditors and other compliance platforms, the price you get is only one side of the full price, since you'll need the other to complement its service.

Conclusion

ServiceNow GRC works best for large enterprises that need comprehensive risk management across multiple departments and already operate within the ServiceNow ecosystem. Organizations with complex governance requirements, established compliance teams, and budgets for extensive implementation projects will benefit from ServiceNow's enterprise-grade workflows and deep integration capabilities.

Thoropass serves growing companies that want to achieve compliance certifications quickly without managing multiple vendors or complex implementations. Startups and mid-market organizations pursuing SOC 2, ISO 27001, or other certifications will find Thoropass's all-in-one approach more efficient, especially when they need both the compliance automation and audit execution handled by a single provider with transparent processes and faster time-to-certification.