ControlHatch

ControlHatch is a web-based GRC platform for SOX compliance, internal controls, risk assessments, and operational audits. It suits teams that want shared control-testing and certification workflows without a software charge. Its free plan is unusually broad, but teams still handle evidence collection manually.

Overview

ControlHatch brings control testing, risk assessment, evidence requests, and management certifications into one workspace. Fieldwork can be organized by testing round, with exceptions logged against controls and reviewer sign-off recorded in an audit trail. That structure is useful for repeatable audit work, particularly across multiple projects or entities.

AI-assisted control matrices draft risks, controls, and assertions from process descriptions; staff must review and refine the drafts. Risk dashboards score risks and connect each risk to mitigating controls. These features help organize planning and oversight, but they do not replace judgment or the work of gathering supporting evidence.

Key features

• Control testing: Round-based fieldwork, exception tracking, and reviewer sign-off provide a traceable testing process. Excel export lets teams carry fieldwork into their own testing templates, a practical option for groups with established workpapers.
• Risk assessments: Scored dashboards link risks to controls, giving compliance teams a way to keep assessment and mitigation connected.
• Certifications: Monthly and quarterly campaigns include reminders and timestamped attestations, helping teams document recurring management sign-offs.
• Evidence requests: A dashboard tracks requests and fieldwork status, with scheduled reminders for outstanding PBC items. Collection itself is manual, so teams should not expect automated evidence gathering.
• Framework coverage and security: ControlHatch says it supports more than 50 frameworks and standards, including SOX 404, SOC 1 and SOC 2, ITGC, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and HIPAA. It lists end-to-end encryption, role-based access, audit logging, and SHA-256 hashing of uploaded evidence.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and is described as full functionality for as long as needed, not a trial. It includes unlimited users, entities, projects, and controls, plus AI-assisted workflows and full data export. There is no free-trial period to manage, and signup requires no credit card or sales call. For teams wanting broad access across a compliance program without a per-seat or project cap, that is a substantial advantage.

There is no paid tier to compare, and the plan has no stated seat, entity, project, or control quota. The meaningful operational limit is that evidence collection is manual. Organizations seeking automation around document gathering should weigh that workload before choosing it, even with the extensive free allowance.

Platforms

ControlHatch runs on the web. Teams needing Android, iOS, or self-hosted access should consider another option. The product says it integrates with existing workflows, but no specific integrations are named; Excel export is the clearly described route for continuing work in team templates.

Who it's for

The strongest fit is SOX compliance teams, internal and external audit firms, risk and compliance professionals, and accounting or finance departments that need control testing, attestations, and audit evidence in a shared workflow. Support for many named frameworks makes it relevant beyond SOX-focused teams as well. It is less compelling for organizations whose priority is automated evidence collection or access beyond a web platform.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Unlimited users, entities, projects, and controls on a no-cost plan make it viable for broad collaboration rather than a small capped pilot.
• Pros: Fieldwork rounds, exception logs, reviewer sign-off, and timestamped attestations support traceable recurring work.
• Pros: Excel export and full data export give teams ways to retain templates and take their data with them.
• Cons: Evidence collection is manual, leaving teams responsible for obtaining and attaching supporting materials.
• Cons: Web-only access and unnamed integrations may be restrictive for teams with mobile, self-hosted, or specific connected-system requirements.
• Cons: AI-generated matrix content needs human review and refinement before it can be relied on.

Alternatives

For a different SOX-focused option, compare SOX Compliance Software; for broader internal-control tooling, browse Internal Controls Software.

Soxify is worth considering when evidence-request links that need no login and an exportable evidence pack matter more than scale: its free plan caps usage at five controls and 25 evidence requests per month. Diligent Audit is a paid alternative with Android, iOS, web, and API platforms; pricing is by request.

iShield GRC ICFR & SOX Compliance is a paid web and self-hosted alternative with custom pricing. Workiva Audit Management offers paid, customized plans with unlimited seats or users across web, mobile, and API platforms. AuditBoard (now Optro) offers paid flexible plans tailored to business needs, with unlimited stakeholder licenses and success and services support.

Connected Risk SOX Compliance Management, ControlBridge, and DoubleCheck SOX Compliance Management are also paid alternatives.

Verdict

Choose ControlHatch if your team needs a web-based GRC workspace for recurring control testing, risk assessments, certifications, and evidence tracking, and wants broad access without a software bill. The combination of unlimited plan allowances and traceable workflows is its clearest strength. Look elsewhere if automated evidence collection, named integrations, or a non-web platform is central to your process.