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How EcoDiligence compares to the alternatives
Honest, non-disparaging comparisons between a self-service ESG Passport and the other routes an SME can take — third-party ratings, consultants, and spreadsheets. Including the cases where the alternative is genuinely the better choice.
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- For suppliers
EcoVadis alternatives & competitors for small suppliers
A third-party rating and a self-service ESG Passport do different jobs. An honest comparison of both models — including when EcoVadis is the right answer and a Passport is not a substitute.
- For suppliers
Cost of ESG reporting for a small business
External consultants and software commonly run $3,000 to $80,000+. What the cost is paying for, and where a free self-service ESG Passport fits instead.
How the categories typically compare
| Question | EcoDiligence Passport | Rating platforms | Carbon calculators | Consultant spreadsheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frameworks from one completion | Several at once | Typically their own questionnaire | Mainly GHG | Depends |
| Official VSME template pre-filled | Yes (Pro) | Typically no | Typically no | Manual |
| Ready for EFRAG’s converter | Yes, with an identifier (Pro) | No | No | Manual |
| Time to complete | About 10 minutes | Weeks | Depends on data | Days |
| Free tier | Yes | Paid | Varies | Paid |
General categories, not specific products; individual tools vary. Named comparisons are on the pages listed above.
One thing worth being clear about
EcoDiligence produces self-reported data. It is not a third-party rating and not assurance. When a customer specifically requires an independent rating or an audited figure, that is a different product and we say so on the page rather than around it. What a Passport does is prepare the underlying numbers — which makes every other route faster too. See the Methodology for exactly how the emissions figures are calculated and sourced.
EcoDiligence ESG Passports are self-reported summaries structured for ESG disclosure workflows, built on the EFRAG VSME Basic Module with optional IFRS S2 climate inputs. Content is not independently assured and does not constitute compliance, certification or an audit.
Prepare the data once — answer every request from it
A free ESG Passport calculates your Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and organises the facts every buyer request asks for.
Enterprise ESG platforms weren't built for you
They serve Fortune 500 companies tracking Scope 3 across thousands of suppliers. You need something designed for small businesses.
Target users
- Enterprise platforms
- Fortune 500 corporations
- EcoDiligence
- Small businesses (10–250 employees)
Time to complete
- Enterprise platforms
- 4–12 weeks
- EcoDiligence
- 5–10 minutes
Annual cost
- Enterprise platforms
- $15,000 – $50,000+
- EcoDiligence
- Free — $299/year
Consultants needed
- Enterprise platforms
- Usually required
- EcoDiligence
- Never
Standards covered
- Enterprise platforms
- Full ESRS / GRI / SASB
- EcoDiligence
- VSME + ISSB (what small businesses need)
Scope 3 supply chain
- Enterprise platforms
- Their core product
- EcoDiligence
- You ARE the supply chain
Output format
- Enterprise platforms
- Complex dashboards
- EcoDiligence
- Shareable URL + PDF
Languages supported
- Enterprise platforms
- English, plus 2–3 more
- EcoDiligence
- Any (AI-powered)
Time to value
- Enterprise platforms
- Months
- EcoDiligence
- Same day
Looking at a named platform like EcoVadis? See the honest comparison →