A vendor gets breached. You find out two weeks later. Now you're stuck answering to leadership with nothing but an outdated spreadsheet and a half-finished risk score.Nobody wants that. That’s why I evaluated over 15 platforms to find the best third-party risk management (TPRM) software for 2025: tools that detect issues early, automate assessments, and keep vendor risk under control without chasing paperwork.
And the data backs its use case. According to the 2025 Venminder State of Third-Party Risk Management Survey, 87% of organizations believe there’s value in investing in TPRM activities. Furthermore, 64% are already using dedicated platforms to do it. That kind of consensus shows how critical these tools have become for risk, compliance, and procurement teams alike.
The six platforms that made this list stood out for their automation, flexible frameworks, and ability to support everything from security audits to procurement-led reviews. Whether you’re handling 20 vendors or 200, these tools are built to help you stay compliant without slowing the business down.
*These third-party risk management platforms are top-rated in their category, according to G2's Fall 2025 Grid Report. I’ve added their standout features for easy comparison. Pricing information for the tools can be gathered by reaching out to their sales teams.
Risk doesn’t stop after onboarding. A vendor might pass the initial checks but fall out of compliance six months later, and if you don’t catch it, your team is on the hook.
That’s what makes third-party risk management software worth the investment. It’s not just about organizing vendor data; it’s about staying informed. The right platform helps you spot changes in vendor risk early, automate follow-ups, and avoid surprises during audits or board reviews.
It also saves time. Instead of chasing status updates across departments, TPRM software gives you a shared system for assessments, scoring, and approvals. That means fewer delays, clearer accountability, and less room for things to slip through the cracks.
I started with G2’s Grid Report to identify the leading third-party risk management software based on user satisfaction and market presence. From there, I filtered for tools with strong traction in the category, focusing on platforms built for risk, compliance, and procurement use cases.
Next, I used AI-assisted analysis to break down verified G2 reviews. I focused on patterns around real-time monitoring, automation, usability, and regulatory support. This helped surface the features risk managers rely on most, and the friction points that still exist.
Finally, I cross-checked vendor websites and spoke with peers who’ve worked with these tools. It helped validate themes I saw in the reviews and gave me a clearer picture of usability, rollout experience, and the impact of these platforms.
All product screenshots featured in this article come from official vendor G2 pages and publicly available materials.
Not every platform that claims to manage vendor risk is built for the real-world pressure that comes with it. I considered the following factors when evaluating the best third-party risk management software.
The list below contains genuine user reviews from the Third-party & Supplier Risk Management Software category page. To be included in this category, a solution must:
*This data was pulled from G2 in 2025. Some reviews may have been edited for clarity.
UpGuard is a third-party risk management platform that helps organizations monitor and evaluate vendor security posture at scale. According to G2 Data, it’s most commonly used in financial services, IT services, and software, with the majority of users coming from mid-market (37%) and enterprise (55%) companies.
One of UpGuard's most commonly mentioned benefits is the visibility it provides into vendor security. Reviewers said the platform helped them stay ahead of vulnerabilities by highlighting expired certificates, DNS issues, and other potential exposures across their supply chain. This made it easier to assess which vendors posed the most risk and required immediate attention.
UpGuard’s automated risk scoring was another standout. Several users appreciated that the tool could quickly evaluate and rank vendors based on external risk signals, making it easier to prioritize their review process. Teams managing a large volume of vendors found this especially valuable during onboarding and periodic reassessments.
Customer support also earned consistent praise. Many G2 users described the support team as responsive, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. Several highlighted onboarding experiences where UpGuard’s team helped guide them through implementation and offered tailored advice for setup and best practices.
The interface itself was often described as intuitive and easy to navigate. Reviewers noted that even team members without a technical background could quickly understand how to view vendor risk scores and drill into specific issues. The clarity of the dashboard was frequently highlighted as one of the platform’s top usability strengths.
That said, a few areas stood out as limitations for some teams. While the built-in questionnaire tool helped simplify parts of the assessment process, several reviewers found it restrictive when trying to tailor questions to specific vendors or compliance requirements. The lack of flexibility created extra work in cases where custom inputs were needed, though teams running standardized assessments seemed less affected.
Customization also came up as a common request. Some users wanted more control over how risk scores were calculated or how notifications were configured for different risk events. The built-in scoring logic worked well for general vendor reviews, but teams in highly regulated industries or with unique risk models found themselves wishing for more flexibility. Still, most agreed that the default setup provided a solid foundation for tracking external risk across a growing vendor base.
UpGuard is a strong fit for mid-market and enterprise teams that want external risk monitoring and clear visibility into third-party security posture, without sacrificing ease of use or support quality.
“UpGuard excels at simplifying third-party risk management. The platform provides an intuitive dashboard to monitor vendor security ratings, and the automated questionnaires save a lot of manual follow-up. I particularly like the continuous scanning feature, which gives real-time insights into supply chain risks. It’s also helpful that UpGuard maps findings to frameworks like ISO 27001 and NIST, making compliance reporting much easier.”
- UpGuard Review, Robin J.
“What we dislike currently with UpGuard is the limitation to have multiple relationship questionnaires. As an organization that has multiple business units, we thought of an alternative for now to proceed with the implementation.”
- UpGuard Review, Ghel E.
Related: If procurement is part of your vendor oversight process, this list of best purchasing software can help streamline buying decisions and approvals.
Vanta is widely known for its governance, security, and compliance (GRC) automation capabilities. While it's not built solely for vendor risk management, many G2 users rely on it to bring third-party visibility into their compliance programs. According to G2 Data, Vanta is most commonly used by small businesses (50%) and mid-market companies (48%), with adoption concentrated in software, IT services, and financial services.
Reviewers frequently highlighted Vanta’s automation capabilities. Tasks like vendor discovery, evidence collection, document analysis, and risk scoring could all be handled with minimal manual input. Vanta AI played a big role here, helping teams save time by responding to security questions and triggering follow-ups automatically.
The questionnaire builder also earned praise for speeding up assessments. Some teams used the built-in templates, while others preferred crafting their own forms. In either case, reviewers felt the tool made it easier to get the right answers quickly when evaluating vendors across different risk tiers.
Usability stood out as another strong point. Many reviewers described the interface as clean and intuitive, allowing both technical and non-technical stakeholders to collaborate on tasks like vendor reviews, compliance checks, and audit prep without needing constant support.
Additionally, Vanta’s growing network of Trust Centers helped users verify first-party data directly from their vendors, making it easier to validate security claims, cut down on back-and-forth, and maintain a more accurate, up-to-date view of third-party risk.
Most reviewers felt Vanta offered solid value out of the box, especially for core compliance needs. That said, pricing came up as a sticking point for some. A few users noted that advanced features, like enhanced vendor workflows or added automation, required higher-tier plans, which could stretch budgets for smaller teams. Even so, the fact that half of Vanta’s G2 reviewers come from small businesses suggests that many teams still find the platform accessible and worth the investment.
Integrations drew some mixed reactions. While users appreciated the number of available connectors, a few mentioned that setup wasn’t always plug-and-play and sometimes needed extra support. Once configured, though, most found the integrations dependable for syncing audit and vendor data.
Despite these gaps, most agreed that Vanta offered a strong foundation for scaling vendor compliance, particularly for companies growing their GRC capabilities alongside third-party oversight.
“If you are new to compliance and want to fast-track your startup into it, Vanta is the right tool for you. Guided by a quickstart workflow wizard, you will quickly set up all documents, risk management, vendor management, cloud monitoring, and security stuff you need. No other solution has as many integrations with your already existing software ecosystem as Vanta.”
- Vanta Review, Stefan K.
“While Vanta simplifies core compliance tasks, we’d like to see deeper remediation guidance, more intuitive support for vendor risk tracking, and expanded metrics for executive reporting. Enhancing cross-framework mapping and offering better controls for AI policy governance would also increase its long-term value.”
- Vanta Review, Rajat R.
Related: For broader visibility and control over your supplier ecosystem, explore top-rated vendor management software that complements your TPRM workflows.
Descartes Denied Party Screening helps organizations screen suppliers, partners, and other third parties against global watchlists to stay compliant with trade regulations. Based on G2 Data, it’s most widely used in highly regulated industries like aviation, aerospace, and defense, with 32% of reviewers from mid-market companies and 52% from enterprise organizations.
One of the most consistent strengths reviewers mentioned is the platform’s screening accuracy. Many users said Descartes made it easier to vet suppliers against denied party lists and global sanctions databases, helping them minimize risk during onboarding or ongoing due diligence.
This accuracy was further amplified by automation. Instead of manually tracking entries across multiple lists, users described how Descartes runs continuous background checks that flag potential risks without disrupting workflows. For teams managing large vendor volumes, this automated screening helped reduce errors while saving significant time.
Real-time alerts were another recurring highlight. Several users noted how quickly the system flagged risks, giving compliance and trade teams enough time to respond before a transaction progressed. And with built-in ERP and trade system integrations, Descartes was able to deliver these alerts as part of users’ existing workflows.
Support also earned praise. Many noted that the team was quick to assist with configuration questions and helped users confidently navigate the more complex aspects of denied party screening.
Having said that, a few reviewers pointed out that false positives were a recurring challenge. In some cases, overly sensitive matching logic triggered unnecessary investigations, especially when working with global entities that had similar names. Still, users appreciated that match rule thresholds could be fine-tuned with help from support to reduce these occurrences.
A few others mentioned that the interface felt dated and could be more intuitive for first-time users, though they acknowledged that once the system was configured, it ran smoothly with minimal intervention.
Descartes Denied Party Screening is a strong fit for compliance and risk teams in regulated industries who need reliable watchlist coverage, responsive support, and automated screening workflows to minimize third-party exposure.
“We have enjoyed the ease of use and accuracy of information provided by the service. It helps our teams have confidence that we deal with only customers who are not in violation of any of our nation's protective regulations.”
- Descartes Denied Party Screening Review, Dean O.
“The ease of use is where it still lags. The interface feels outdated, and it’s not always clear where to go for certain functions unless you’re using it daily. Since our team uses it a few times a week rather than daily, we often find ourselves re-learning steps or referring back to internal notes. While implementation support was decent, the onboarding documentation could’ve been clearer. Customer support is generally helpful and responsive, though it sometimes takes a follow-up to get a detailed answer."
- Descartes Denied Party Screening Review, Shane D.
Related: Looking to scale your risk program beyond vendors? Check out our guide to the best enterprise risk management platforms for a more holistic strategy.
Secureframe is best known for helping teams stay audit-ready, but G2 users also rely on it to manage vendor risk more confidently. According to G2 Data, Secureframe is primarily adopted by small businesses (65%) and mid-market companies (31%), most commonly in computer science, IT services, and financial services.
From what I gathered in reviews, one of Secureframe’s most appreciated features is its centralized vendor dashboard. Users mentioned being able to access everything from vendor profiles and assessment results to attached documents and history logs in a single tab. For teams managing multiple vendors, this visibility seemed to make a big difference.
I also saw a lot of praise for the platform’s continuous monitoring capabilities. Several users highlighted how Secureframe helps flag unapproved services accessed via SSO, catching shadow IT vendors before they slip through the cracks. Many also mentioned setting up recurring vendor reviews, tiered by risk level, with tasks and notifications routed through tools like Slack and Jira. That automation felt particularly valuable for fast-moving teams trying to keep up with policy checks.
Another feature that stood out was Comply AI, which helps extract relevant responses directly from vendor documents like SOC 2 reports or security policies. The platform then pre-fills security questionnaires with suggested answers, giving teams a head start on vendor evaluations while saving hours on manual reviews.
Ease of use came up frequently as well. Reviewers across technical and non-technical roles said Secureframe made it easy to navigate audits, assessments, and vendor workflows without needing extensive onboarding. I also saw multiple mentions of a helpful and responsive support team, which added to the overall ease of adoption.
That said, a few G2 users noted limited flexibility in vendor management workflows, particularly when trying to tailor processes for different supplier tiers. Others wished the questionnaire module offered more customization options, like dynamic scoring or conditional logic, to better match complex risk requirements. Still, most reviewers felt Secureframe offered a solid foundation for vendor risk tracking, especially for teams earlier in their third-party governance journey.
If you’re looking for an accessible yet capable TPRM solution that combines automation, AI support, and ongoing monitoring, Secureframe is worth considering.
“At Material, we have been using Secureframe for around seven months to support our security compliance program. The platform is user-friendly, and setting it up required very little assistance from our IT team. It has become essential for us in monitoring compliance tasks, uploading documents, and tracking overall progress. Whenever we have questions, customer support is extremely responsive, which helps us feel confident and supported as we move forward. Another significant advantage has been how smoothly Secureframe integrates with the systems we already use.”
- Secureframe Review, Elaine L.
“Although the platform addresses the majority of our requirements, the sheer number of features can be a bit daunting initially. It would be helpful if there were an easier way to prioritize or hide features that aren't needed, as this could make it easier for new users to get up to speed more quickly.”
- Secureframe Review, Bryan R.
IBM OpenPages is an enterprise-grade GRC platform that includes robust support for third-party risk management. According to G2 Data, it’s most commonly adopted in industries like computer software, IT services, and financial services, with most users coming from small (37%) and mid-sized businesses (43%).
Several reviewers appreciated how configurable the platform was regarding vendor risk processes. I read in reviews that teams were able to adapt workflows to match their own internal policies, regulatory needs, and preferred scoring methodologies. This flexibility extended into how users tracked risk severity, mitigation plans, and related issues across vendor relationships, allowing for more detailed risk modeling without forcing a one-size-fits-all structure.
OpenPages helps teams manage the entire vendor questionnaire process in one place, from creating assessments to sending reminders and reviewing responses. Several users said this reduced the manual back-and-forth and made it easier to stay consistent across vendors. The ability to score responses also provided teams with a clearer way to evaluate third-party risk and decide who to work with.
Another key theme I noticed was how useful the reporting and dashboard features were for large-scale visibility. Some users said they could group vendors by geography, tier, or business unit, which made it easier to spot patterns or investigate specific issues. This was helpful for companies handling many third parties, where having a centralized view of vendor hierarchies and risk metrics made oversight simpler.
In terms of technical capability, OpenPages was also noted for its integrations. It can connect with both enterprise and external systems to pull in vendor data, helping consolidate third-party information into a unified repository. That consolidation gave users a clearer picture of their entire vendor landscape and improved efficiency in areas like onboarding and performance tracking.
The learning curve did come up as a tradeoff in several reviews. While G2 users valued the platform’s depth, they noted that it required some ramp-up time, especially for those without prior experience in risk or compliance systems. Despite that, most agreed the effort was worthwhile once teams became familiar with the system.
Pricing was another area where opinions varied slightly. A few reviewers found the cost to be relatively high for smaller teams. Even so, it seems many companies continued to rely on OpenPages for its long-term scalability and the level of control it offers for vendor risk management.
If you’re looking to build a mature, centralized program for tracking vendor risk, IBM OpenPages offers a high degree of customization, strong technical integrations, and support for complex third-party governance.
“The flexibility of IBM OpenPages is what I value most. I can customize the dashboards, views, objects, and reports to adapt them to the specific needs of the BCI team. This helps us make more informed decisions.”
- IBM OpenPages Review, Alan M.
"The cost is high as compared to other GRC tools, and there are some hurdles in user adoption.”
- IBM OpenPages Review, Vishal D.
D&B Risk Analytics enables teams to evaluate supplier risk and make more informed decisions using a mix of proprietary data and integrated workflows. According to G2 Data, the platform is used most often by professionals in IT services, accounting, and insurance, spanning small businesses (25%) to enterprise teams (36%), with the largest segment coming from mid-market companies (38%).
What stood out to me in the reviews was how much users valued the access to deep supplier intelligence. Many said the platform gave them the kind of financial and operational insight they couldn’t easily find elsewhere: AI-driven proprietary risk scores, UNSPSC, parent-child information, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG).
Speaking of the platform’s ability to identify supplier risks and AI-generated risk scores, the tool also offers SER, SSI, and PAYDEX as key resources for detecting red flags and ranking vendors by exposure levels. This type of intelligence is particularly valuable for teams managing large supplier networks.
Another often praised feature is the platform’s automated screening workflows. Instead of relying on manual processes, users described a guided, five-step procedure that helps identify high-risk suppliers by checking sanctions lists, adverse media, and more. A few reviewers also highlighted enhanced screening options like Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) data, which provides an additional layer of detail when vetting complex supplier relationships.
G2 users also talked about how easy it was to get started with the platform. I came across several mentions of fast implementation and minimal technical lift. It seemed like users were able to set up monitoring, configure dashboards, and start tracking risk with very little hand-holding. Something I imagine is a huge plus for stretched procurement or risk teams.
I also saw trust in the data. Many reviewers said the depth and accuracy of D&B’s global database made them feel more prepared during supplier reviews and audits. Some mentioned that having alerts and monitoring tied to real-time data helped them catch issues, like credit dips or legal red flags, before they became real problems.
That said, some G2 users pointed out challenges with data coverage in certain regions, particularly in emerging markets. I read that supplier profiles for non-public or newer businesses were often sparse or missing altogether. In some cases, users reported false positives or duplicate entries that made it harder to trust the automated flags. These limitations didn’t outweigh the benefits for most teams, but they did highlight the importance of cross-checking insights before taking action.
Some reviewers also said that pricing felt a bit high, particularly for smaller teams. Even so, the platform still seems to strike a good balance, with users across different company sizes finding value in its capabilities.
D&B Risk Analytics is a strong option for companies that want reliable supplier data, fast implementation, and a platform that scales with risk and procurement needs.
“The most useful is the broad coverage of business entities that exist in the D&B portal, which helps the user identify if the business entity exists or not.”
- D&B Risk Analytics Review, Abi C.
“While I don't have personal opinions, some users might have concerns with D&B Risk Analytics, such as high costs, a steep learning curve due to its complexity, potential over-reliance on data, limited coverage in certain industries or regions, and challenges with integration into existing systems.”
- D&B Risk Analytics Review, Abhishek Kumar Y.
Got more questions? We have the answers.
Tools like UpGuard, Vanta, and D&B Risk Analytics frequently show up in G2 reviews when it comes to managing third-party suppliers. Each supports core capabilities like vendor assessments, automated tracking, and compliance mapping, depending on the complexity of your risk program.
If your focus is specifically on handling third-party risks, like external threats, compliance gaps, or vendor scoring, UpGuard and IBM OpenPages are worth a look. Both are praised for their risk visibility, scoring methodologies, and ability to assess vendor relationships across multiple categories.
Yes. Based on G2 feedback, platforms like Vanta and D&B Risk Analytics are often described as intuitive and easy to navigate. Vanta, in particular, is appreciated for its guided setup and automation, especially by teams without a dedicated IT or compliance function.
In tech-driven industries like software, tools that integrate easily with cloud systems and automate compliance tasks are essential. Vanta, UpGuard, and Secureframe are commonly used in these environments, thanks to their deep integration networks and support for fast-moving vendor ecosystems.
According to G2 reviews, Vanta, UpGuard, and D&B Risk Analytics consistently earn high marks for customer support, automation, and overall reliability. They’re especially noted for reducing manual work and centralizing risk visibility.
Mid-market companies tend to prioritize scalability, support, and usability. Based on G2 usage data and reviews, D&B Risk Analytics, UpGuard, and Vanta are all solid choices for mid-sized teams managing growing vendor networks.
For small businesses seeking straightforward vendor risk tracking, Vanta and Secureframe are often preferred for their simplified workflows and automation capabilities. While D&B Risk Analytics is more robust, it may be better suited for teams with more complex vendor ecosystems.
Across G2 reviews, tools such as UpGuard, Vanta, D&B Risk Analytics, and IBM OpenPages consistently rank high in categories including usability, support, automation, and vendor risk visibility. The best fit depends on whether your needs are more compliance-heavy or security-focused.
If vendor management is your main goal, D&B Risk Analytics stands out for its comprehensive database and scoring system. Meanwhile, UpGuard excels at tracking external vendor vulnerabilities, and IBM OpenPages is strong in workflow customization and large-scale vendor oversight.
If there’s one thing I took away from digging into these tools, it’s that no two TPRM platforms are built the same. Some, like UpGuard, lean into external security signals. Others, like Vanta, prioritize compliance and vendor privacy. IBM OpenPages stood out for its complex and customizable workflows, while D&B Risk Analytics offered broad supplier coverage and scoring capabilities. Even tools like Secureframe and Descartes showed how vendor visibility and denied party screening fit into the bigger risk picture.
Across the board, G2 users consistently valued automation, visibility, and scalability, but they also surfaced real challenges around pricing, integrations, and learning curves. So, whether you're a fast-growing mid-market team or part of a large enterprise, the best choice comes down to what you need to manage: vendor compliance, security posture, or regulatory risk.
Now that you’ve seen what’s out there, it’s just a matter of choosing the tool that fits your risk lens best.
If you’re thinking beyond vendor risk, here’s our guide to the best GRC tools to complete the picture.
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