Charter turns a short plain-English questionnaire into a complete, framework-mapped set of security policies — then runs the whole lifecycle: generate, version, assign, attest. Escalating reminders chase the stragglers, a new version auto-triggers re-attestation, and a dashboard proves your coverage. In an afternoon, not a quarter.
Charter does the workflow the free template packs lack and the GRC suites overcharge for.
Org name, frameworks in scope, the data you handle. Charter fills every {{token}} across a starter set of real, substantive policies — no blanks left behind.
Every clause is tagged to the controls it satisfies across HIPAA, FERPA, CMMC/800-171, SOC 2, ISO 27001, CIS, and NIST. A coverage view shows exactly what you've got — and your gaps.
Every change is an immutable version with a content hash. See a clean clause-level redline between any two — not v2_final_FINAL.docx.
Target an individual by name or email — or a whole group: audience synced from your directory (Microsoft Entra, Google, Okta, JumpCloud via SCIM). Each member gets their own signed, time-boxed link.
Your team reads the exact assigned version and e-signs. Every signature is immutable and binds the precise version hash — tamper-evident proof of who signed what, and when.
Charter chases the stragglers for you: an initial notice, then nudges, then reminders, an overdue alert, and finally escalation to the assignee's manager. The schedule is computed in Charter; on the cloud tier the platform notification service delivers it for real on a recurring sweep.
Approve a materially new version and Charter re-points open assignments to the new hash, resets the clock, and mints a fresh signed link — so old signatures no longer count and the team re-signs the current text. No change, no needless churn.
The person who drafts a policy can't approve it. Charter blocks self-approval at the sign-off step, and every assignment link is a signed, one-time, expiring HMAC token that can't be forged, replayed, or pointed at the wrong version.
A dashboard shows % attested, who's pending, and who's overdue — per policy and overall. Export an attestation evidence report and branded PDF/Markdown for your auditor. Approved policies and attestation rates also flow as structured evidence into the rest of the DosanjhLabs suite — Sightline, Bastion, Ward.
Charter computes the whole lifecycle locally, signed-out. Real email/Slack reminder delivery, the recurring escalation runner, and SSO/SCIM group expansion run on the connected cloud tier via the platform notification service, with an offline fallback that previews — never silently "sends" — when you're not connected.
"We replaced a $5,200 template pack and a folder of _FINAL.docx files with one afternoon in Charter."
"The attestation trail binding each signature to a version hash is exactly what our auditor asked for."
"Flat per-client pricing finally makes policy management profitable across our book of business."
Design-partner testimonials shown as illustrative placeholders pending launch.
Charter leads with the regulated wedges the SOC2-centric tools ignore — and covers the rest too.
Below every GRC suite's entry price, and a genuine free tier they don't offer. The anti-Vanta wedge.
The free packs give you static documents. The GRC suites bundle policy into a five-figure platform you can't unbundle. Charter does the whole policy lifecycle — generation, version control, the full attestation lifecycle (escalating reminders, auto re-attestation, coverage dashboard, exportable evidence), framework mapping, BYO-key AI — for a flat, published price.
| Capability | Charter | ComplianceForge | Vanta (policy module) | Secureframe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generates policies from a questionnaire | Yes | No — static .docx | Templates only | Templates only |
| Token fill from one org profile | Yes | No — manual edits | Limited | Limited |
| Built-in version control + real diffs | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Employee attestation + audit trail | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Escalating reminder cascade (to manager) | Yes | No | Basic reminders | Basic reminders |
| Auto re-attestation on a new version | Yes | No | Manual re-assign | Manual re-assign |
| SSO/SCIM group attestation audiences | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Author ≠ approver separation of duties | Yes | No | Workflow roles | Workflow roles |
| Framework mapping (HIPAA, FERPA, CMMC, SOC 2, ISO, CIS, NIST) | 8 families | CMMC/800-171 set | SOC 2 / ISO lean | SOC 2 / ISO lean |
| BYO-key AI drafting + gap finder | Yes | No | Add-on | Add-on |
| Sold standalone (policy without a full GRC platform) | Yes | Yes | No — bundled only | No — full platform |
| Genuine free tier | Yes | No | No | No |
| Published, flat-per-company pricing (no seat creep) | Yes | One-time, per entity | Quote-only, seat-sensitive | Per-framework gating |
| Entry price | Free · then $159–$299/mo | $5,200 one-time | ~$10k–$28k/yr | $7,500/yr |
Competitor pricing reflects publicly reported figures: ComplianceForge NIST 800-171 program ($5,200 one-time, single-entity .docx license), Secureframe Starter (public $7,500/yr, ≤100 employees, 1 framework), Vanta policy module (no public price; real-world entry commonly ~$10k–$28k/yr for <50 employees, bundled into the platform). Verify current pricing with each vendor.
ComplianceForge charges $5,200 for static .docx with no app, no versioning, no attestation. Charter's free tier already does the generation, diffs and sign-off they leave to 40–80 hours of manual labor.
You can't buy "just policies" from Vanta or Secureframe — entry is $7.5k–$28k/yr for the whole platform. Charter sells the policy layer alone at a fraction of the cost, with a free tier they don't offer.
Charter Pro at $1621.80/yr lands below a single ComplianceForge pack and an order of magnitude under any GRC suite entry — while doing more of the policy lifecycle than either.
Free guides and template libraries for the frameworks SMBs and MSPs actually face — and how Charter stacks up against the packs and the GRC suites.
Security policy templates
Free information security policy template
HIPAA policy generator
ISO 27001 policy templates
SOC 2 policy templates
Charter vs ComplianceForge
Vanta policy module alternative
Secureframe policy templates alternative
Answer a short questionnaire and Charter fills a complete, framework-mapped policy set — versioned and ready to attest. Open the app →