EthicsPortal vs. SpeakUp #
SpeakUp is an EU-based ethics and compliance platform serving over 2,000 organizations. Originally focused on whistleblower reporting, SpeakUp has expanded into a broader all-in-one compliance suite. They hold ISO 27001, ISO 27701, and ISAE 3000 Type II certifications — among the strongest in the market. Their pricing starts at $5,000/year (~€3,000/year) for small businesses and moves to custom pricing for organizations with 1,000+ employees.
Quick comparison #
| Feature | EthicsPortal | SpeakUp |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | €49/month flat | $5,000/year (~€3,000/year) for <1,000 employees, custom for larger |
| Self-serve signup | Yes, instant | Partial |
| Encryption | Yes (non-deterministic ActiveRecord Encryption) | Yes |
| EU hosting | Yes (Hetzner, Germany) | Yes (EU) |
| File metadata stripping | Yes (EXIF, GPS, author info) | Not publicly documented |
| IP anonymization | Yes (one-way hash, no storage) | Not publicly documented |
| Audit trail | Yes, immutable | Yes |
| Deadline tracking | Yes (7-day and 3-month with notifications) | Yes |
| PDF export | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | EN, FR, PL (more coming) | Multiple (exact count not published) |
Where SpeakUp is strong #
- Certifications. ISO 27001, ISO 27701, and ISAE 3000 Type II is a strong combination. For organizations where vendor certifications are a procurement requirement, SpeakUp checks every box.
- Broad compliance platform. SpeakUp covers ethics, compliance, and whistleblowing in a single platform. If your compliance needs go beyond whistleblower reporting, their broader suite may be relevant.
- EU-based. As a European company serving 2,000+ organizations, SpeakUp understands EU regulatory requirements and data sovereignty expectations.
Where EthicsPortal is different #
- Predictable, flat pricing. EthicsPortal is €49/month — that is €588/year. SpeakUp starts at $5,000/year (~€3,000/year) for companies under 1,000 employees, roughly 5x more. With EthicsPortal, you know your cost today and in two years.
- Privacy features as standard. EthicsPortal strips file metadata (EXIF, GPS coordinates, author information) before storage and anonymizes IP addresses using a one-way hash. These protections run automatically on every account — they are not premium features.
- Instant self-serve setup. Sign up, configure your portal, and start receiving reports in minutes. No sales conversations, no waiting for provisioning.
- Focused on whistleblowing. EthicsPortal does one thing well: EU Directive 2019/1937 compliant whistleblower reporting. SpeakUp is moving upmarket into broader compliance, which means more complexity and features you may never use.
Who should choose SpeakUp #
SpeakUp is a good choice for mid-size organizations that need a vendor with strong certifications (ISO 27001, ISO 27701, ISAE 3000 Type II) to satisfy procurement requirements, or that want a single platform covering ethics and compliance beyond just whistleblowing. If your compliance team needs a broader toolset and is comfortable with scaling pricing, SpeakUp delivers.
Who should choose EthicsPortal #
EthicsPortal is for SMEs that need whistleblower compliance without buying an entire compliance suite. If you want EU Directive 2019/1937 compliance at a flat €49/month, with built-in privacy protections and no sales process, EthicsPortal gets you compliant faster and at a lower cost. When you need ISO certifications from your vendor, EthicsPortal is not there yet — but if you need to be compliant today at a price that makes sense, it is.