If you're a small defense contractor shopping for CMMC or NIST 800-171 software in 2026, the market splits into three tiers: enterprise GRC platforms built for companies with compliance teams, established CMMC platforms priced for mid-sized contractors, and a newer generation of low-cost purpose-built tools. This guide compares them honestly, including where our own product does and doesn't fit.
Disclosure: we make CMMC Map, CMMC compliance software for small defense contractors, and it is one of the tools below. We've kept the comparison factual, using published pricing and published features, so you can judge for yourself. RegulatoryForge and CMMCTrack were checked against their own websites on September 29, 2026; the other rows reflect pricing as published in July 2026. Confirm current numbers with each vendor.
What actually matters in 2026
With CMMC Phase 2 suspended as of July 13, 2026, third-party certification is paused, but DFARS 252.204-7012/7019/7020 still require NIST 800-171 implementation and a current self-assessment score in SPRS. Three self-assessed paths are live: CMMC L1 (Self), CMMC L2 (Self), and the SPRS score that goes with L2. That reshapes what to buy. The job today is: assess all 110 controls → calculate your SPRS score → document gaps → produce an SSP and POA&M → improve. Whatever you choose should do that whole loop without consultant hours.
The comparison
| Platform | Published pricing | Free tier | SSP / POA&M generation | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMMC Map | Free assessment; $149/mo for all documents | Yes, full 110-control assessment and live SPRS score, no trial clock | Yes: SSP, POA&M, 14 policies, Readiness Report. The AI assistant is on at the start and one switch turns it off for the whole workspace | Small contractors who want the full loop, with read-only Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace evidence, at a low monthly cost |
| NormSuite | ~$29 to $299/mo by tier | Yes | SSP generation on higher tiers | Budget-conscious teams comparing entry tiers |
| RegulatoryForge | Starter under $50/mo, DIY $97/mo, Consultant $297/mo (annual billing discounts) | 7-day free trial, no card | Yes: AI-generated SSP as a Word file, POA&M template and 5 policies on Starter; unlimited generation and a POA&M tracker on DIY | Teams that want generated Word documents at a low monthly price |
| CMMCTrack | Level 2: $199 one-time. Assessor Portfolio: $599/mo | Level 1 free; Level 2 free to start, exports need the $199 unlock | Yes: AI-drafted SSP (PDF export) and POA&M | Contractors who prefer a one-time purchase to a subscription |
| FutureFeed | ~$99/mo (25 FTE or fewer, annual) to $399+/mo | No | Yes, mature document workflow | Mid-sized contractors and MSPs managing multiple clients |
| ComplyUp | ~$1,800 to $3,500/yr packages | No | Yes, auto-generated SSP with revision history | Teams that want an established documentation workflow |
| IntelliGRC | Pricing on request | No | Yes | Contractors working alongside assessors or consultants |
| MotherBear Security | Lower-cost, documentation-focused | Not stated | Documentation tooling | Documentation-first buyers |
| Neqter Labs Comply | Varies (app and appliance options) | No | Compliance tooling plus network appliance | SMBs that also want network-level tooling |
| Vanta / Drata | Typically $10K+/yr | No | Multi-framework, not CMMC-specialized | Companies juggling SOC 2 or ISO alongside CMMC |
Evidence connections, the column most comparisons leave out
For most small contractors, the environment you're assessing lives in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, so it matters whether a tool can look at it. CMMC Map connects read-only to both and reads configuration and metadata, never document or mail contents. We found no Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace evidence connection described on RegulatoryForge's or CMMCTrack's websites as of September 29, 2026. RegulatoryForge builds its documents from what you tell it about your environment, and CMMCTrack offers Microsoft sign-in, which is a login option rather than an evidence connection. Neither is wrong for a first pass. It just means the evidence work stays manual.
If you are a startup or a first-time DoD subcontractor
Most startups meet CMMC through a subcontract, and the clauses your prime flows down tell you which path you're on. If the work only involves Federal Contract Information (FCI), meaning non-public information about the contract itself, you are on CMMC L1 (Self): the basic safeguards in FAR 52.204-21, self-assessed and affirmed every year. If you will receive or create Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), such as drawings or specifications marked CUI, you are on CMMC L2 (Self): all 110 NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2 requirements, a score posted in the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS), and DFARS 252.204-7012 incident reporting. Third-party certification is paused under the current class deviation, so self-assessment is the whole job for now.
At this stage, look for software that:
- Costs nothing until you know which path applies to you.
- Covers CMMC L1 and L2 in one place, so your first CUI contract doesn't mean switching tools.
- Scores SPRS with the DoD Assessment Methodology weights.
- Produces an SSP and POA&M you can edit, since you need both before you post a score.
- Never asks you to upload CUI.
- Can read your Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace settings, because for most startups that is most of the environment.
Not sure yet? The free CMMC L1 checklist and the SPRS calculator need no signup.
How to choose, by situation
"We just need our SPRS score and the documents, cheaply"
This is most of the small DIB, and it's the gap the low-cost tier exists to fill. Run a free assessment first. CMMC Map's free tier covers the complete 110-control assessment with a live DoD-weighted SPRS score, and NormSuite and CMMCTrack also have free entry points. Pay only when you need generated documents. On sticker price alone, CMMCTrack's $199 one-time Level 2 unlock and RegulatoryForge's $97 DIY plan both cost less than CMMC Map's $149 a month. What the $149 buys is the full set built from the same answers (SSP, POA&M, 14 policies and a Readiness Report) plus read-only evidence from Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. Compare the document lists side by side, not just the prices.
"We're an MSP or a 50+ person contractor"
Look hard at FutureFeed. It's the most established platform in the space, with multi-client management, a partner ecosystem, and a mature document workflow. You'll pay several times more, and for a larger organization that's often justified. Consultants on a tighter budget can compare RegulatoryForge's Consultant plan ($297/mo), CMMCTrack's Assessor Portfolio ($599/mo, unlimited clients) and CMMC Map's client workspaces ($75 per client per month).
"We already have SOC 2 or ISO obligations too"
That's the one case where Vanta or Drata makes sense for a smaller company: one platform for several frameworks. For CMMC alone, you'd be paying enterprise prices for generalist coverage.
"We'll just use spreadsheets"
A spreadsheet can absolutely track 110 controls. It cannot generate a consistent SSP, keep evidence organized, or stay synchronized as your posture changes, which is why most teams migrate off Excel the moment documentation starts. If budget is truly zero, start in a free assessment tier or the free SPRS calculator instead; it's the same price as the spreadsheet.
See the whole loop before you spend anything
Assess all 110 controls, watch your SPRS score calculate live, and see exactly which documents you'd get before paying a dollar. Upgrade to the $149/month plan only when you want the SSP, POA&M, and policies generated.
Start free, no card, no trial clockOne capability nothing else in this comparison has: an MCP connector
As of September 2026, CMMC Map is the only tool in this comparison that ships a native MCP connector. You can connect your compliance workspace to Claude and ask about your own posture ("which 5-point controls are still open?", "what does our SSP say about remote access?") from the AI assistant you already use, with answers grounded in your recorded assessment rather than generic advice. If AI tools are part of how your team already works, weigh that alongside price.
Bottom line
For a small defense contractor whose immediate job is an honest SPRS score and audit-ready documentation, purpose-built beats enterprise, and in the purpose-built tier the practical differences are price, how you pay, and how much of the document set is included. Whichever tool you pick, the sequencing advice is the same: assess free first, buy documentation second, and buy nothing that doesn't move your SPRS score.