SimpleRisk vs Open Risk Register
SimpleRisk offers a broad set of risk management features with optional paid extras. Open Risk Register focuses narrowly on the NIS2 Article 21 risk assessment workflow with zero setup.
| Feature | SimpleRisk | Open Risk Register |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Core free; extras paid (from ~$500/yr) | Free — always |
| Installation required | Yes — PHP/MySQL server | No — runs in browser |
| Account required | Yes | No |
| Data stays on your device | No — server database | Yes — localStorage only |
| NIS2 Article 21 coverage | Partial — requires manual mapping | Built-in |
| NIST SP 800-30 workflow | Partial — custom scoring | Full 9-step workflow |
| Time to first risk entry | Hours (install + config) | Under 5 minutes |
| Multi-user support | Yes | No (single device) |
| Risk treatment workflows | Yes (with extras) | Basic (within assessment) |
| Open source | Yes (core) | Yes (fully) |
| Export | Multiple formats | JSON + PDF print |
Which tool is right for your situation?
Choose SimpleRisk when…
Your team manages risk across multiple projects, systems, and business units and needs a central dashboard. You can dedicate time to install and maintain a PHP server. You need paid add-ons such as compliance mapping or risk prioritisation algorithms.
Choose Open Risk Register when…
You need a NIS2 risk assessment done fast, privately, and without infrastructure cost. You are an SME or consultant with no in-house IT to maintain a server. Your risk data must not be stored outside your own device for legal or contractual reasons.
About SimpleRisk
SimpleRisk is a well-established open-source risk management tool with a large community. Its core is free; advanced features (compliance frameworks, additional scoring models) are sold as add-ons. It requires a LAMP/LEMP stack and is not designed for browser-only, offline use.
Try Open Risk Register — zero setup required
Start a NIS2 risk assessment right now in your browser. No server, no account, no cost.
Start Assessment →