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Cybersecurity · head to head

Diligent vs Vim

Diligent logo

Diligent

Cybersecurity

Board management and enterprise GRC platform assembled from Galvanize, Steele and Diligent Boards

From
On request
Free plan
No
Visit DiligentFull review
Vim logo

Vim

Developer Tools

Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit VimFull review

The short version

  • Vim is a highly configurable text editor.
  • Vim is free; Diligent prices on request.
  • Only Diligent lists Diligent Boards; only Vim lists modal editing.
  • Where Vim falls short: configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Diligent and Vim actually diverge.

Attributes where Diligent and Vim differ
AttributeDiligentVim
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelQuoteFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, WindowsLinux, macOS, Windows
CategoryCybersecurityDeveloper Tools

Not yet recorded: founded for Diligent.

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Diligent

  • Diligent Boards
  • Entity management
  • Audit and analytics
  • Risk management
  • Third-party risk
  • Ethics and compliance
  • ESG and sustainability
  • Market intelligence

Only in Vim

  • Modal editing
  • Extensive customization
  • Plugin support
  • Macro recording
  • Split windows
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Search and replace
  • Command history

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Diligent

  • A listed company that wants board papers, entity records and the audit committee reporting pack produced from one governance systemnot Vim
  • An internal audit function moving from sampling to full-population transaction testing using the ACL heritage analytics enginenot Vim
  • A regulated firm consolidating a whistleblower hotline, third-party due diligence and policy attestation after an enforcement findingnot Vim
  • A group needing sustainability disclosure data collected with the same audit trail and controls as financial reportingnot Vim

Vim

  • Code editingnot Diligent
  • Configuration filesnot Diligent
  • System administrationnot Diligent
  • Remote editingnot Diligent
  • Terminal-based developmentnot Diligent

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Diligent

  • The platform is an assembly of acquisitions, with the analytics engine from ACL, risk from Rsam, ethics and third-party diligence from Steele and the board portal from Diligent itself, so cross-module reporting and consistent user experience should be tested in a proof of concept rather than assumed
  • Pricing is unpublished and consistently at the top of the market, and organisations that need only one capability, a board portal or an audit analytics tool, generally pay less and get more from a specialist
  • Renewal leverage is weak once the board portal is embedded, because directors are the least willing user group to be migrated and that dependency is well understood by the vendor at renewal time
  • The analytics engine expects real data skills, and audit teams without an analytics-capable member typically use a fraction of what they licensed while paying for all of it
  • Module-by-module implementation means the promised single view of governance and risk usually arrives years after the first purchase, if the later modules are ever funded

Vim

  • Configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings
  • Requires browsing documentation to modify even basic settings
  • Lacks sensible defaults for many common configurations
  • Plugin ecosystem stability varies widely depending on custom configuration complexity

Pricing, plan by plan

Diligent

On request
  • Diligent One PlatformOn request
    • Quoted by module and user count
    • Board portal seats priced separately from GRC modules
    • Annual subscription, commonly multi-year

Vim

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Powerful text editing
    • Extensive customization
    • Plugin ecosystem

Which should you pick?

Choose Diligent if

  • You need diligent boards.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
  • You also want entity management.
Diligent review

Choose Vim if

  • You need modal editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want extensive customization.
Vim review

Questions people ask

Is Diligent or Vim better?
Neither clearly leads. Diligent starts at On request and Vim at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Diligent or Vim?
Vim has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Diligent and Free for Vim.
Does Diligent or Vim run on more platforms?
Diligent runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows. Vim runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Vim for free?
Yes. Vim has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Diligent starts at On request.
What is Diligent best used for?
Diligent is most often used for a listed company that wants board papers, entity records and the audit committee reporting pack produced from one governance system, an internal audit function moving from sampling to full-population transaction testing using the acl heritage analytics engine, a regulated firm consolidating a whistleblower hotline, third-party due diligence and policy attestation after an enforcement finding, a group needing sustainability disclosure data collected with the same audit trail and controls as financial reporting. Of those, a listed company that wants board papers, entity records and the audit committee reporting pack produced from one governance system and an internal audit function moving from sampling to full-population transaction testing using the acl heritage analytics engine are not what Vim is typically brought in for.
What can Diligent do that Vim cannot?
Diligent covers Diligent Boards, Entity management, Audit and analytics, Risk management. Vim covers Modal editing, Extensive customization, Plugin support, Macro recording.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Diligent: Is Diligent One the same product as Galvanize?

It contains it. Diligent bought Galvanize, the ACL and Rsam merger, for around one billion dollars in April 2021, and its audit analytics and risk modules are that heritage rebranded into Diligent One.

Vim: Is Vim free and open source?

Yes, Vim is free and open source, distributed under a charityware license. The creator requested donations to ICCF Holland, a non-profit supporting AIDS victims in Uganda. All donations are forwarded to ICCF.

Source
Diligent: What does Diligent cost?

Not published. It is quoted by module and user, and board portal seats are priced differently from GRC seats. Expect an annual or multi-year enterprise agreement.

Vim: What platforms does Vim support?

Vim runs on Unix-like systems (Linux, macOS, BSD), Windows (7, 8, 10, 11), VMS, and is available through package managers or standalone installation on all major operating systems.

Source
Diligent: Can you buy just the board portal?

Yes, Diligent Boards is sold on its own and is the most common entry point. The GRC modules are separate purchases.

Vim: Who maintains Vim now?

Vim was created by Bram Moolenaar, who passed away on August 3, 2023. Christian Brabandt is the current lead maintainer, and the project continues with volunteer contributors.

Source
Diligent: Does it replace a SOC 2 automation tool?

No. Diligent is aimed at enterprise audit, risk and governance, not at automated evidence collection for security certifications.

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