- OneTrust is a powerful platform, but due to its complexity, hosting setup, and implementation costs, it is not the ideal solution for every company in Germany and the EU.
- Modern data protection management requires integrated workflows for RoPA, DPIA, DSAR, processor management, audits, and AI governance instead of isolated point solutions.
- In 2026, there are numerous powerful OneTrust alternatives with an EU focus available, whose suitability depends on company size, budget, regulatory scope, and maturity level.
- The decisive factors in tool selection are implementation effort, configurability, and robust audit functions for reviews by supervisory authorities.
Table of contents
- Why companies are looking for alternatives to OneTrust
- OneTrust alternatives 2026: The direct comparison
- The 12 best OneTrust alternatives for data protection management in 2026
- What criteria are used to evaluate OneTrust alternatives?
- Which OneTrust alternative is right for your organization?
- FAQ – Frequently asked questions about OneTrust alternatives
Why companies are looking for alternatives to OneTrust
OneTrust is widely recognized as one of the leading platforms for data protection and compliance, especially for internationally operating companies. However, many organizations are looking for alternatives, e.g. due to platform complexity, implementation effort, cost, or a stronger need for solutions tailored to European requirements.
The good news is that there are several powerful data protection software alternatives that may be a better fit depending on an organization’s size, maturity, regulatory scope and budget. For companies in Germany and the EU, factors such as EU hosting, clear workflows, audit-ready documentation, and practical usability often play a decisive role.
In this article, we present the 12 best OneTrust alternatives for 2026 and compare data protection and compliance platforms that are suitable for growing companies, corporate subsidiaries and enterprise teams. caralegal is one of these alternatives and will be presented in detail below, particularly with regard to data protection management, audit functions, and the connection between GDPR and AI governance requirements.
Knowledge section
A OneTrust alternative is particularly suitable if:
- EU hosting is preferred
- Rapid implementation is important
- Usability for business units is important
- Data protection is to be implemented without complex GRC suites
OneTrust alternatives 2026: The direct comparison
| Provider | Hosting | Target segment | Implementation effort | Audit functions | Price transparency |
| OneTrust | USA, global infrastructure with EU regions, among others AWS. | International corporations and enterprise companies. | Project-oriented with extensive configuration and consulting. | Comprehensive audit and reporting in privacy and GRC modules. | Custom pricing upon request. |
| caralegal | Germany (Open Telekom Cloud, EU). | European companies, group subsidiaries, and enterprise teams. | SaaS with preconfigured workflows, usually quickly ready for use. | Detailed audits for RoPA, DPIA, DSR, and AI governance. | Package-based pricing, transparent in sales discussions. |
| DataGuard | Germany and EU-centric (no information publicly available). | SMEs and medium-sized companies with consulting services. | Combination of software and external consulting. | Documentation and audit functions integrated into data protection workflows. | Prices available on request. |
| TrustArc | USA, hosting via AWS with EU regions. | Focus on international companies. | Project-oriented implementation with higher integration costs. | Extensive audit and reporting functions. | Prices available on request. |
| heydata | Germany (no further details). | SMEs and smaller organizations. | Standardized workflows, quick implementation. | Basic audit functions for data protection processes. | Package prices, transparent on the website. |
| Akarion Compliance Cloud | Germany and Austria (AWS).
| SMEs, corporations, and public institutions. | Modular GRC platform with configurable workflows. | Control and reporting functions within the GRC structure. (+whistleblowing functions) | Prices available on request. |
| Otris | Germany, on-premises or own data center. | SMEs and corporations. | Modular, configuration effort depends on setup. | Comprehensible documentation of compliance processes. Specialized solutions for suppliers (LkSG/CS3D). | Prices on request |
| Ailance (2B Advice) | Germany (details not publicly available). | SMEs and corporations with complex workflows. | Flexible, customizable risk and compliance platform. | Comprehensive functions for audits, data protection compliance, and risk management. | Prices available on website. |
| ServiceNow (GRC) | USA, own data centers worldwide Cooperation with AWS and Google Cloud for certain products. | Large enterprise organizations. | Platform-wide implementation with integrations. Implementation is often part of larger IT, GRC, or transformation programs. | Very strong logging and workflow transparency. | Prices on request |
| audatis MANAGER | Germany (Plusserver). | Companies, government agencies, church institutions, internal and external data protection officers. | Low effort, as the solution is web-based, modular, and equipped with standardized workflows. | Documentation and reports for audits. | Prices are available on the website. |
| preeco | Germany (Hetzner Online). | SMEs and corporations. | Fast SaaS implementation with preconfigured templates and clearly structured data protection and compliance workflows. | Documentation of measures and processing steps. | Prices are available on the website. |
| Proliance | Germany (details limited to the public). | Focus is on SMEs. | Introduction as a combination of software setup and optional external data protection consulting; scope depends on the selected service model. | Documentation within the platform, partly consulting-based. | Prices available on the website. |
| HiScout | Germany, on-premises or partner hosting. | Federal and state authorities as well as large organizations. | GRC/ISMS integration with configuration effort. | Logging of measures and approvals. | Prices on request. |
| Kertos | Germany (AWS, EU regions). | Startups, scale-ups, and tech companies. | SaaS with framework setup (ISO, GDPR, AI Act). | Documentation of controls in the respective framework. | Prices not publicly available. |
The 12 best OneTrust alternatives for data protection management in 2026
caralegal - Enterprise data protection software from Germany
caralegal combines enterprise-grade functionality with a clearly structured, user-friendly interface. As a Data Responsibility Platform, caralegal is designed to help organizations manage data protection compliance holistically, efficiently, and across teams — making it one of the leading German alternatives to OneTrust.
With caralegal, all relevant data protection management tasks and documentation can be managed in a central system: traceable, role-based, and across teams. As integrated data protection software, the platform brings together the core building blocks of data protection management, including the record of processing activities (RoPA), data protection impact assessments (DPIA), data subject rights management (DSR), processor and service provider management..
Audit and reporting functions help document changes, decisions, responsibilities, and review statuses in a way that remains transparent and easy to evaluate. In addition, caralegal’s AI governance module supports the structured documentation and assessment of AI systems in relation to GDPR and EU AI Act requirements. This enables organizations to manage data protection and AI governance across the full lifecycle — from inventory and assessment to monitoring and audit.
Interconnected workflows help establish consistent quality standards for data protection documentation across entities, departments, and countries. More than 30 supported languages, together with intuitive task and comment functions, make collaboration easier for local teams, central privacy functions, and international organizations.
The result: caralegal provides powerful enterprise-level features with a pragmatic approach focused on rapid implementation, lean processes, and ease of use - without the usual complexity of traditional GRC suites.
- caralegal customer reviews:
- Headquarters:
- Germany
- Hosting/data center:
- Open Telekom Cloud
- caralegal certifications:
- ISO/IEC 27001
- Link to website:
- https://caralegal.eu
TrustArc – International privacy management suite
TrustArc, like OneTrust, is based in the US and is one of its closest competitors. The platform is particularly attractive to multinational corporations because it is highly customizable and can map industry-specific compliance requirements. TrustArc offers a comprehensive data protection suite.
For large companies looking for a proven and comprehensive data protection solution, TrustArc is a solid choice and a good OneTrust alternative.
- TrustArc customer reviews:
- G2: 4,2 / 5
- Capterra: No reviews available
- Headquarters:
- USA
- Hosting/data center:
- Amazon Web Services
- Company certifications:
- SOC 2 Type II
- Link to website:
- https://trustarc.com/solutions/privacy-program-management/
Akarion Compliance Cloud - Modular data protection solution
Akarion is a software company based in Germany and Austria that develops data protection solutions for SMEs, corporations, and public institutions. In addition to data protection management, Akarion also offers modules for information security management (ISMS) and whistleblowing. According to its own statements, Akarion combines proven best practices, innovative design, and state-of-the-art software development. The individual modules can be freely combined, creating synergies between the various compliance functions – which is why Akarion is considered a good alternative to OneTrust.
- Akarion customer reviews:
- G2: No reviews available
- Capterra: 5 / 5
- Headquarters:
- Germany / Austria
- Hosting/data center:
- Amazon Web Services
- Company certifications:
- ISO/IEC 27001
- Link to website:
- https://akarion.com/de/grc-cloud/datenschutz
DataGuard - Data protection software with external DPOs
DataGuard is a German scale-up that helps companies process data transparently and profitably in accordance with the latest laws. According to the company, this is achieved through a combination of human expertise and a web-based platform. Through growth capital and the acquisitions of MyLife Digital (consent and preference management) and DPOrganizer (data protection software), DataGuard has expanded its portfolio and now offers its customers a comprehensive solution for data protection, information security, and compliance, making it a good alternative to OneTrust.
- DataGuard customer reviews:
- G2: 4.6 / 5
- Capterra: 4.6 / 5
- Headquarters:
- Germany
- Hosting/data center:
- No information available
- Company certifications:
- No information available
- Link to website:
- https://www.dataguard.de/
Otris – Data protection and compliance software with on-premises option
Otris is a German software provider that has been developing solutions for data protection and compliance management for over 20 years. As a provider from the pre-cloud era, Otris has a strong network of IT system partners who configure and host the software on-premise. Otris is a good OneTrust alternative because the data protection management module "otris privacy" has a modular structure and can be adapted to medium-sized companies and corporations.
- Otris customer reviews:
- G2: 4 / 5
- Capterra: No reviews available
- Headquarters:
- Germany
- Hosting/data center:
- Otris Systems and on-premises
- Company certifications:
- Otris Systems (operates data center) – ISO/IEC 9001 and 27001
- Link to website:
- https://www.otris.de/produkte/konzerndatenschutz-software/
Ailance by 2B Advice – Configurable data protection and compliance platform
2B Advice is a German provider of consulting and software solutions that has been supporting companies in the field of data protection and risk management for over 20 years. The focus is on medium-sized companies and corporations. With Ailance, 2B Advice introduced a revised software solution in 2024 that enables customers to create individual data protection, compliance, and risk management processes using drag & drop. 2B Advice also offers professional consulting services. Ailance is a good OneTrust alternative because it allows for a high degree of customization to the individual workflows of companies.
- Ailance customer reviews:
- G2: 4.5 / 5
- Capterra: No reviews available
- Headquarters:
- Germany
- Hosting/data center:
- No information available
- Company certifications:
- ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 19011
- Link to website:
- https://2b-advice.com/de/ailance-ropa/
ServiceNow – Data protection with ITSM context
ServiceNow is a provider of IT service management (ITSM) solutions that helps companies automate and optimize business processes. Originally launched as a pure ITSM platform, ServiceNow has continuously expanded its portfolio and now offers a comprehensive suite for digital workflows that is specifically tailored to the requirements of large companies. ServiceNow's Privacy Management application helps manage corporate privacy programs. ServiceNow is a good OneTrust alternative, especially if your company already uses the ServiceNow platform.
- ServiceNow - Privacy Management Customer Reviews:
- G2: No reviews available
- Capterra: No reviews available
- Headquarters:
- USA
- Hosting/data center:
- Own data centers (worldwide), partial cooperation with AWS and Google Cloud for certain products
- Company certifications:
- ISO/IEC 27017, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27018, SOC 1, SOC 2, ISO/IEC 9001
- Link to website:
- https://www.servicenow.com/products/privacy-management.html
audatis MANAGER – Practical data protection software for SMEs
audatis is a German software and consulting company specializing in data protection and information security. With audatis MANAGER, the company offers a practical solution that supports small and medium-sized businesses in particular, as well as external data protection officers, in the digitalization of data protection management, making it a good alternative to OneTrust.
- Audatis customer reviews:
- G2: No reviews available
- Capterra: No reviews available
- Headquarters:
- Germany
- Hosting/data center:
- Plusserver
- Company certifications:
- ISO/IEC 27001
- Link to website:
- https://www.audatis-manager.de/
preeco – SaaS solution for structured data protection management
preeco is a German SaaS company whose data protection software helps small to large companies and external data protection officers to achieve greater efficiency and structure in data protection management.
The solution offers a wide range of functions – from the administration of processing activities to the management of declarations of consent – and enables the representation of complex corporate and client structures. This is why preeco is considered a good alternative to OneTrust.
- Preeco customer reviews:
- G2: No reviews available
- Capterra: 4 / 5
- Headquarters:
- Germany
- Hosting/data center:
- Hetzner Online
- Company certifications:
- No information available
- Link to website:
- https://www.preeco.de/datenschutz
Proliance – Data protection software with external support
Proliance is a German software and consulting company that supports data protection officers and managers in the digital implementation of data protection management. The solution specializes in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and combines software with expert consulting. Proliance is a good OneTrust alternative if you want data protection software and consulting services from a single source.
- Proliance customer reviews:
- G2: 4 / 5
- Capterra: 4.5 / 5
- Headquarters:
- Germany
- Hosting/data center:
- No information available
- Company certifications:
- No information available
- Link to website:
- https://www.proliance.ai/datenschutz
HiScout – Data protection in an integrated GRC framework
HiScout is a German GRC platform that offers HiScout Data Protection, a specialized module for GDPR compliance. The solution is particularly suitable for companies that want to integrate data protection into comprehensive governance, risk, and compliance management (GRC). Thanks to its flexible hosting options, its customer base includes federal and state authorities as well as large private sector companies. HiScout is a good OneTrust alternative for you if your company is looking for a comprehensive GRC solution.
- HiScout customer reviews:
- G2: No reviews available
- Capterra: No reviews available
- Headquarters:
- Germany
- Hosting/data center:
- On-premises or hosting with partner companies
- Company certifications:
- No information available
- Link to website:
- https://www.hiscout.com/module/datenschutz/
Kertos – Automated compliance for startups and scale-ups
Kertos is a German startup specializing in the automation of data protection and information security processes. In addition to an all-in-one platform for compliance, Kertos also offers consulting services. According to its own statements, the focus is particularly on startups, scale-ups, and technology-driven companies—and for these, Kertos represents a good OneTrust alternative.
- Kertos customer reviews:
- G2: No reviews available
- Capterra: No reviews available
- Headquarters:
- Germany
- Hosting/data center:
- Amazon Web Services
- Company certifications:
- ISO/IEC 27001
- Link to website:
- https://www.kertos.io/plattform/dms
What criteria are used to evaluate OneTrust alternatives?
Choosing a suitable alternative to OneTrust is an important step for your company. It is understandable that you are looking for a solution that is tailored to your individual needs.
Various factors play a role here:
- Functionality and specific requirements: Which functions are essential for your data protection processes? What specific workflows exist in your company?
- Integration with other compliance areas: How well can the software be integrated into existing systems such as IT security or risk management? Seamless integration can reduce the amount of work involved.
- Company size and budget: A medium-sized company with a limited budget has different priorities than a large corporation with extensive resources. It is important to find a solution that fits your company both functionally and financially.
- Implementation time: How long does it take to introduce the new data protection management software? Is there an automatic import from your existing OneTrust documentation?
- Your specific security requirements: What security standards must the software meet to ensure the protection of sensitive data?
We understand that choosing new software can be challenging, and we want to support you in the best way possible. To help you with this important decision, caralegal has created a comprehensive checklist with 124 criteria for implementing data protection management software. This checklist can serve as a guide to help you identify the right solution for your company.
Which OneTrust alternative is right for your organization?
OneTrust remains a powerful platform for international corporations with complex, global compliance requirements. For many organizations in Germany and the EU, however, this approach involves high implementation costs and unnecessary complexity.
Those looking for efficient data protection management with clear workflows for records of processing activities (RoPA), data protection impact assessments (DPIA), data subject rights management (DSR), processor and vendor management, audits, and AI governance will often find that specialized European solutions, such as caralegal, are the better alternative. These are more closely aligned with EU requirements, quicker to implement, and more practical in everyday use.
caralegal combines precisely these essential components in an integrated platform and is aimed at growing companies as well as enterprises and corporations. The focus is on a pragmatic approach: preconfigured, proven workflows enable a quick start without lengthy implementation or customized projects. At the same time, the platform remains flexibly adaptable and independent of complex IT structures.
Another advantage for internationally active organizations is the integrated translation function, which allows data protection documentation to be maintained consistently and in high quality in multiple languages. This is complemented by personal, reliable customer support, which is regularly rated positively by users. Numerous well-known companies such as RWE, ProSiebenSat.1, and the international Berlin Airport already rely on caralegal.
Switching to caralegal is even easier than you would think, as caralegal enables the automated import of relevant OneTrust data from data protection management, including information on processing activities (RoPA) and data protection impact assessments (DPIA). The import has already been successfully implemented several times and allows for a quick switch without the need for manual re-entry. If you want to check whether caralegal is suitable for your setup, the best way is to compare your requirements directly with the available modules in a short demo.
