Comparison

ControlHatch vs. AuditBoard, Workiva & Diligent HighBond

ControlHatch, AuditBoard (now Optro), Workiva, and Diligent HighBond (now Diligent One Platform) all provide SOX compliance and audit management software. The main difference: ControlHatch starts at $599/quarter with self-serve signup, while the others are sold through enterprise contracts that published buyer data puts between roughly $21,000 and $156,000+ per year.

Figures reflect ControlHatch's published pricing and publicly available third-party buyer research as of September 2026. None of the three legacy platforms publishes pricing directly — confirm current figures with their sales teams.

Feature and pricing comparison

 ControlHatchAuditBoard (now Optro)WorkivaDiligent HighBond
Starting priceFree (Demo plan)Not published — typically $21,000+/yearNot published — typically $36,000+/yearNot published — contact sales
Typical annual cost~$2,400/year (1 entity, Standard plan)$21,000–$150,000+/year, median ~$46,000$36,000–$156,000+/year, average ~$60,000Highly variable by module — contact sales
How you buySelf-serve signup in the appEnterprise sales process, contract negotiationEnterprise sales process, contract negotiationEnterprise sales process, contract negotiation
Contract termQuarterly, cancel anytimeTypically annualTypically annual1, 2, or 3-year commitments
Free trial or demo planFree Demo plan, no credit cardSales demo onlySales demo onlySales demo only (30-day trial for AI add-on only)
SOX 404 control testingIncludedIncludedIncludedIncluded
Risk assessmentsIncludedIncludedIncludedIncluded
AI-generated control matricesIncludedVaries by module/tierVaries by module/tierVaries by module/tier
Modules beyond SOX/audit (ERM, third-party risk, ESG, board governance)Not offeredAvailable as separate modulesAvailable as separate modules (financial & ESG reporting)Available as separate modules, plus board governance
Best fitSingle-entity to mid-size teams managing their own complianceLarge enterprises needing multiple GRC modules across many entitiesLarge enterprises needing connected financial, ESG, and audit reportingEnterprises needing GRC plus board governance in one platform

Choose ControlHatch if...

  • You're running SOX 404, SOC 1/2, or operational audits without a large dedicated GRC budget
  • You want to start today without a sales call or procurement cycle
  • You manage 1-5 entities and don't need ERM, third-party risk, ESG reporting, or board governance modules
  • You want AI-assisted control matrix generation included, not sold separately

AuditBoard, Workiva, or Diligent HighBond may be a better fit if...

  • You're a large enterprise managing many entities and multiple GRC domains in one suite
  • You need modules like ERM, third-party risk, ESG/financial reporting, or board governance alongside SOX/audit
  • Your budget and procurement process are built around enterprise annual contracts
  • You need dedicated implementation and account management services

What's Included in ControlHatch

Risk & Control Matrices
Risk Assessment
Evidence Collection & PBC Tracking
AI-Assisted Control Testing
Audit Workpapers
Control Certifications

Common Questions

For teams whose primary need is SOX compliance, internal controls, control testing, and operational audits, ControlHatch covers the same core workflows as these platforms at roughly a tenth of the typical annual cost, with self-serve signup instead of an enterprise sales process. Large organizations that need broader multi-module suites (ERM, third-party risk, ESG reporting, board governance, etc.) across many entities may still be better served by one of these platforms.

Published buyer data puts typical AuditBoard (now Optro) contracts between $21,000 and $150,000+/year (median ~$46,000), and Workiva contracts between roughly $36,000 and $156,000+/year (average ~$60,000). Diligent HighBond (now Diligent One Platform) doesn't publish pricing and third-party estimates vary too widely to cite a clean range. ControlHatch's Standard plan is $599/quarter ($2,396/year) for a single entity, plus $400/quarter per additional entity — on the order of 10x less for comparable core SOX and audit workflows.

No. ControlHatch can be signed up for and configured directly in the app on the free Demo plan, with no sales call, demo request, or procurement cycle required to get started. AuditBoard, Workiva, and Diligent HighBond are all sold through an enterprise sales process with contract negotiation, and none currently offers a general free trial or free plan.

See the Difference Yourself

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