SpeakUp, now part of NAVEX, is the world's most established whistleblowing hotline — built into a full GRC platform, trusted by 77% of the Fortune 100, sold through a 15-minute sales call. Ashio is the leaner, cheaper, self-service alternative for SMBs that need a compliant channel live this week. Here is how they actually differ.
At a glance
SpeakUp by NAVEX is sold as part of the NAVEX One GRC suite, with dedicated workflows for Sapin II, FCPA, GDPR and SOX. Pricing is quote-based and a 15-minute discovery call with a NAVEX expert is the entry point. Ashio is €20–30/month for the whole organisation, self-service, with the same EU Directive + Sapin II coverage under ISO 27001-certified Swiss hosting. Most SMBs do not need NAVEX's 13,000-customer GRC platform — they need a working whistleblowing channel by Friday.
Comparison
Here is how the two platforms compare on the points that matter most for a small or mid-sized team.
Honest take
SpeakUp is the most-deployed whistleblowing hotline on the planet, integrated into the largest compliance platform in the industry. Here is a fair look at what NAVEX does better, and how Ashio fits teams that do not need the full bundle.
SpeakUp by NAVEX: Used by Coca-Cola, Stellantis, DIAGEO, Fresenius and 77% of Fortune 100/500. Plugs into NAVEX One (training, COI, IRM, third-party risk, policy).
Ashio: Ashio is a newer, SMB-focused product — but the whistleblowing module covers the same EU Directive + Sapin II obligations without forcing you to buy six other tools.
SpeakUp by NAVEX: AI assistant for case summaries, suggested rewrites, multilingual translation, pattern detection across cases.
Ashio: Ashio covers the legal workflow (anonymous intake, deadlines, case file, audit log) without AI. AI summaries are a useful productivity boost, not a compliance requirement.
SpeakUp by NAVEX: Dedicated solution pages and workflows for Sapin II, FCPA, GDPR, SOX, HIPAA — built by in-house compliance experts.
Ashio: Ashio ships aligned with the EU Directive and national implementations (Sapin II, HinSchG, Ley 2/2023, etc.) — adjusted to each country's deadlines and legal references.
SpeakUp by NAVEX: Phone hotline, intake management, multilingual operators — a fully outsourced ethics & compliance call centre option.
Ashio: Written-only intake. Most SMBs do not need a phone hotline — written reports are easier to document, translate and search.
Why teams choose Ashio
SpeakUp by NAVEX is the right call for a multinational with a full GRC strategy and budget. Most SMBs need a compliant, anonymous channel live this week at €20–30/month — not a six-month enterprise rollout with a 15-minute discovery call.
Ashio is a flat €20–30 per month for the whole organisation. SpeakUp pricing is quote-based and typically starts in the four figures per year, even on the Essentials tier.
Sign up and share your reporting link in under 10 minutes. SpeakUp starts with a 15-minute discovery call, a tailored demo, and a contract negotiation.
Ashio is just the whistleblowing software you need. SpeakUp only really shines when you also buy training, COI, IRM and policy modules — otherwise you are overpaying for the bundle.
FAQ
For most SMBs: yes. SpeakUp is designed for organisations that need a full GRC platform with training, COI and incident management rolled into one. If you only need the whistleblowing channel, Ashio covers the same core requirements at a fraction of the price.
Yes — SpeakUp is one of the most deployed systems for Sapin II in France. NAVEX has a dedicated Sapin II solution page and templates. Ashio also covers Sapin II, the EU Directive and other national implementations, with ISO 27001-certified Swiss hosting.
Ashio is a fresh start — there is no automated NAVEX-to-Ashio importer. Export your case data from NAVEX before cancelling and complete any open investigations in SpeakUp first. Most teams run both in parallel for a short handover period.
Nira is NAVEX's AI assistant for case summaries, rewrites and pattern detection inside the GRC platform. Ashio does not have an in-platform AI assistant yet — but the core compliance work (anonymous intake, deadlines, case management) is identical. AI summaries are a nice-to-have, not a legal requirement.
Set up your anonymous, compliant whistleblowing channel in minutes. 14 days free, no credit card required — and €20–30/month per organisation after that.