Security, Legal & HR Perks for Startups
Free plans, credits, and startup discounts on compliance, auth, identity, and payroll software, ranked by real value.
- Updated weekly ยท checked 8 d ago
The most valuable security, legal & hr perks for startups right now are ComplyCube (Up to $50K), WorkOS (Up to $25K), and Auth0 (Okta) (Up to $24K). The full ranked list below is drawn live from 185 tracked security, legal & hr programs, each linked to the provider's own page.
Security, legal, and HR perks cover the back-office software a startup needs to sell to larger customers and to run a compliant team: SOC 2 automation (Vanta, Drata), enterprise authentication (WorkOS, Auth0/Okta), identity verification and KYC (ComplyCube, Persona), payroll and global hiring (Deel, Rippling, Gusto), and password management (1Password). Most vendors here run a startup program that waives fees or grants a credit balance for the first year or two.
These are recurring line items, not one-off purchases, so the savings compound against runway. Audit tooling, a payroll platform, and an SSO provider can each reach five figures annually once a company has real customers and headcount. Deel and Rippling waive their startup HR tiers, Vanta discounts its compliance platform by 25%, and WorkOS keeps enterprise SSO free up to a usage threshold, which pushes the spend out to the point where revenue can cover it.
Timing matters more in this category than in most. SOC 2 readiness (Drata, Vanta) is worth claiming before an enterprise deal forces the schedule, and auth (WorkOS, Auth0) is cheapest to adopt before a product has thousands of users on a legacy login. Many programs are new-customer-only, and several run an eligibility check on funding stage or accelerator affiliation, so read each provider's terms before assuming a credit applies.
The best security, legal & hr for startups
- 1ComplyCube Startup ProgramComplyCubeAny startupCreditsUp to $50K
- 2WorkOS for StartupsWorkOSAny startupFree planUp to $25K
- 3Auth0 for StartupsAuth0 (Okta)VC / accelerator-backedFree planUp to $24K
- 4Drata for StartupsDrataVC / accelerator-backedDiscountUp to $10K
- 5Persona Startup ProgramPersonaNo funding neededCredits$6K
- 6YV Startup ProgramYouverifyAny startupCreditsUp to $2K
- 71Password for Startups1PasswordReferral requiredFree planUp to $2K
- 8Capture The Bug Startup ProgramCapture The BugAny startupCredits$1K
- 9Deel Startup Program (Free HR + Perks + New-Customer Credit)DeelAny startupFree planUp to $500
- 10$0 LLC FormationTailor BrandsNo funding neededFree plan$0+
- 11AccuKnox Free ForeverAccuKnoxNo funding neededFree planFree Forever CNAPP plan
- 12Aikido for StartupsAikido SecurityAny startupDiscountUp to 30% off
- 13Akeyless FreeAkeylessNo funding neededFree planFree forever SaaS tier
- 14altHR Lite (Free) PlanaltHRNo funding neededFree planFree
- 15authentik Open SourceauthentikNo funding neededFree planFree
- 16Bizee Basic ($0 Formation)BizeeNo funding neededFree plan$0
- 17Bonterms Standard AgreementsBontermsNo funding neededFree planFree
- 18Breezy HR Bootstrap (Free)Breezy HRNo funding neededFree planFree
- 19CanIPhish free planCanIPhishNo funding neededFree planFree plan
- 20Cerbos PDP (open source)CerbosNo funding neededFree planFree
- 21CharlieHR Small Team OfferCharlieHRNo funding neededDiscount75% off
- 22Common Paper Standard AgreementsCommon PaperNo funding neededFree planFree
- 23Comp AI (open source compliance)Comp AINo funding neededFree planFree
- 24ComplyLaunchComplyAdvantageAny startupFree planFree
How this ranking is built
Programs are ranked first by headline value, the concrete dollar amount or discount a startup can claim, then adjusted for verification confidence (how recently the offer was confirmed against the provider's own page) and eligibility breadth (how many startups actually qualify, versus offers gated to a single accelerator or funding stage). Every figure links to the provider's own startup page so the terms can be read at the source. A large credit that only a narrow set of companies can claim ranks below a smaller offer open to any early-stage team.
Read the full methodologyCommon questions
Do I need to be funded or in an accelerator to qualify?
It varies by program. Some, like ComplyCube and Persona, are open to most early-stage companies that apply directly. Others gate on funding stage, company age, or a VC or accelerator affiliation. Deel, Rippling, and Vanta run dedicated startup tiers with their own criteria, often a headcount or funding ceiling. Check each provider's startup page for the specific bar before assuming a credit applies.
How do I actually claim these perks?
Most are claimed directly from the provider's startup or pricing page by applying with a company email and basic details, not through a reseller. A few (Vanta, Drata, WorkOS) are also distributed through accelerators and startup programs, where a partner code or portal link speeds up approval. Each listing here links to the provider's own claim page.
Are these tools actually free, or just discounted?
Both, depending on the vendor. WorkOS ($25K), Auth0/Okta ($24K), and 1Password ($2K) offer free plans up to a stated usage or credit ceiling. Deel and Rippling waive their core startup HR tiers. Vanta is a 25% discount rather than free, and Drata ($10K) and ComplyCube ($50K) are credit balances against paid usage. Confirm whether each figure is a free allowance or a credit applied to a paid plan.
What are the common gotchas?
Three recur. Most offers are new-customer-only, so an existing account disqualifies the credit. Credit balances (Drata, ComplyCube) can expire after a set window whether or not they are consumed. And free plans convert to paid the moment usage crosses the threshold (WorkOS connections, Persona verifications beyond the monthly allowance), so model the step-up before depending on it.
Can I combine these with other startup perks?
Yes. These are separate programs from different vendors, so a company can run Vanta or Drata for SOC 2, WorkOS for SSO, Deel or Gusto for payroll, and 1Password for secrets at the same time. They do not conflict. The constraint is time, not stacking: each has its own application and eligibility check, so prioritize the ones tied to a near-term need first.
Which tool should I use for SOC 2 as a startup?
Vanta and Drata are the two compliance-automation platforms in this category. Both connect to a startup's cloud and HR systems, monitor controls continuously, and assemble the evidence an auditor needs. Vanta lists a 25% startup discount and Drata a $10K credit. The audit itself is performed by a separate third-party firm; these tools handle readiness and evidence collection, not the attestation.