When evaluating platforms to support ISO certification and ongoing compliance, two names that often come up are ISMS.online and CertCrowd. Both platforms offer tools for managing frameworks like ISO 27001 — but they do so with very different philosophies, pricing models, and levels of flexibility.
This article compares the two solutions to help you choose the one best suited to your organisation’s compliance goals — whether you’re focused on information security or looking to manage multiple standards in one place.
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ISMS.online was designed with a focus on information security and privacy frameworks, particularly ISO 27001 and GDPR. It provides a structured path for building an ISMS, with guidance and tools tailored to that standard.
CertCrowd, on the other hand, offers full support for ISO 27001 and other key management system standards, including ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environment), ISO 45001 (Safety), and even frameworks like Essential 8 and NIST CSF.
If you’re looking for a platform that can grow with your compliance needs beyond ISO 27001, CertCrowd provides that breadth without compromising depth.
✅ CertCrowd covers ISMS just as well — and goes beyond.
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CertCrowd is the only platform in this space offering a freemium model — allowing businesses to start for free and upgrade as needed. This lowers the barrier to entry and makes the platform particularly accessible for small teams or startups beginning their ISO journey.
ISMS.online typically operates on an enterprise pricing model. While it offers guided onboarding and structured packages, pricing is not published and generally starts at several thousand dollars per year.
💡 CertCrowd’s transparent, scalable pricing puts it within reach of more organisations.
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Both platforms offer templates and guided documentation, but CertCrowd takes it further with configurable workflows, reusable templates, and assignable actions. • Need to delegate audit actions to a specific team member? • Want to build your own workflow for onboarding suppliers? • Prefer to start with your existing documents instead of rigid prebuilt ones?
CertCrowd supports all of that — giving you flexibility without losing structure.
ISMS.online provides a step-by-step guide for building your ISMS, but users often find the structure quite fixed, which may be helpful for first-time implementers but less so for teams with established processes or consultants managing multiple clients.
⚙️ If you want to adapt your system to your business — CertCrowd offers more control.
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ISMS.online includes documentation aligned to ISO 27001 and offers helpful guidance. However, its content is largely focused on information security.
CertCrowd ships with editable manuals, registers, checklists, prebuilt corrective actions, and more — across multiple standards. Whether you’re preparing for a surveillance audit or conducting a risk workshop, the tools are designed to help you run a real compliance system, not just tick boxes.
📚 CertCrowd’s content is practical, audit-ready, and multi-standard.
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Both platforms are web-based and offer role-based access. However, CertCrowd’s interface is designed for non-technical users, with a clean, intuitive layout that makes onboarding simple.
It also includes features like single sign-on (SSO), and is structured to support consultants managing multiple clients — something many legacy systems struggle with.
| Feature | CertCrowd | ISMS.online |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium Access | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Framework Coverage | ✅ ISO 27001, 9001, 14001, 45001, NIST etc | ⚠️ Primarily ISMS-focused |
| Workflow Management | ✅ Fully customisable | ⚠️ Predefined paths |
| Template & Content Flexibility | ✅ Editable, multi-use | ✅ ISMS-focused |
| Built-in Compliance Content | ✅ Audit tools, checklists, registers | ✅ Policies and guidance |
| Pricing Transparency | ✅ Publicly available | ❌ Contact required |
| Consultant Features | ✅ Multi-client, role-based, SSO | ⚠️ More suited to in-house teams |
If your sole focus is a guided ISO 27001 implementation and you have the budget for a packaged enterprise tool, ISMS.online may be a suitable option.
But if you’re looking for:
Then CertCrowd offers a modern, powerful alternative — not only for ISO 27001, but for the broader GRC needs of growing businesses and consultants alike.
