7 Top Alternatives Compared

7 Best Trace Alternatives for Enterprise Climate Teams 2025

Trace is a solid SME carbon platform, but its consumer-facing approach and limited governance features don't scale for enterprise climate disclosure. Discover the best Trace alternatives including NetNada's professional-grade system for CSRD, CDP, and comprehensive reporting.

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Head-to-Head Comparison

See how NetNada compares to Trace across key features and capabilities

Criteria
Trace
NetNada Recommended
Target Audience
SMEs (< 250 employees)
SMEs through to large enterprises
Governance Tools
Not included
Complete TCFD/CSRD frameworks
Audit Readiness
Basic reporting
Full audit trail + documentation
Data Accuracy
Primarily spend-based estimates
Multiple methodologies for accuracy
Climate Strategy
Limited to reduction targets
Transition plans, scenario analysis
Task Management
Basic to-do lists
Advanced workflow orchestration
Risk Assessment
Not included
Climate risk + materiality
Documentation
Export PDFs
Complete repository + version control
Enterprise Features
Limited
Multi-entity, RBAC, complex hierarchies
Pricing
From ~$3,000/year
From $199/month ($2,388/year)
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Key Differentiators

Understanding the fundamental differences between Trace and NetNada

1

ENTERPRISE SCALABILITY vs. SME LIMITATIONS

Trace

Trace is built for small businesses with simple structures. The platform works well for single-entity SMEs but struggles with complexity.

  • Struggles with multiple entities and subsidiaries
  • Limited complex organisational hierarchies
  • Basic multi-jurisdiction reporting
  • Simple data governance
NetNada Winner

NetNada is built to scale from SME to enterprise, handling complex organisational structures without requiring platform migration.

  • Unlimited entities and locations
  • Complex organisational modelling
  • Multi-jurisdiction compliance
  • Enterprise-grade data controls
Winner: NetNada - Growing businesses need a platform that scales with them, not one they'll outgrow.
2

AUDIT-GRADE RIGOR vs. CUSTOMER-FACING DASHBOARDS

Trace

Trace focuses on brand storytelling and customer engagement. Their reporting is designed for marketing collateral and consumer-facing dashboards.

  • Marketing collateral focus
  • Customer-facing dashboards
  • Employee engagement campaigns
  • Basic ESG communications
NetNada Winner

NetNada focuses on regulatory compliance and investor-grade disclosure with full audit trails and assurance-ready documentation.

  • Full GHG Protocol alignment
  • Complete calculation trails
  • Auditor access and assurance workflows
  • Framework-specific disclosure templates
Winner: NetNada - Stakeholders increasingly require verified, auditable data, not marketing dashboards.
3

COMPREHENSIVE GOVERNANCE vs. BASIC TRACKING

Trace

Trace provides emissions tracking with basic target setting. There are no governance tools for board oversight, policies, or materiality.

  • No board-level oversight frameworks
  • No responsibility matrices
  • No policy development tools
  • No materiality assessments
NetNada Winner

NetNada includes a complete governance toolkit aligned with TCFD recommendations and CSRD requirements.

  • TCFD governance disclosure templates
  • Responsibility and accountability frameworks
  • Policy library and development tools
  • Double materiality assessment workflows
Winner: NetNada - CSRD and ISSB require robust governance, not just emissions numbers.
4

MULTIPLE METHODOLOGIES vs. SPEND-BASED ESTIMATES

Trace

Trace relies heavily on spend-based estimations for Scope 3. While quick to implement, this limits accuracy options.

  • Primarily spend-based methodology
  • Limited activity-based options
  • Harder to improve accuracy
  • Less flexibility for specific categories
NetNada Winner

NetNada supports full methodology flexibility so you can improve accuracy over time as better data becomes available.

  • Spend-based for quick baseline
  • Activity-based for higher accuracy
  • Supplier-specific for primary data
  • Hybrid approaches to optimise by category
Winner: NetNada - Data quality matters for credibility and regulatory scrutiny.
5

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION vs. BASIC ONBOARDING

Trace

Trace provides online training focused on platform use and employee engagement features.

  • Platform onboarding training
  • Employee engagement guides
  • Basic how-to documentation
  • Limited professional development
NetNada Winner

NetNada Academy offers professional development and certification programs that build genuine sustainability expertise.

  • Framework-specific courses (CSRD, CDP, SBTi, TCFD)
  • Role-based training tracks
  • Certification programs
  • Cohort-based live instruction
Winner: NetNada - Building expertise matters for long-term sustainability program success.

Top Trace Alternatives Ranked

We've evaluated the best alternatives based on features, value, ease of use, and completeness

#1

NetNada

Recommended

Complete Enterprise Solution

9.8 /10

Overall Score

Features: 10
Value: 10
Ease: 9
Complete: 10
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NetNada scales from SME to enterprise with comprehensive governance, audit-grade rigor, and multiple data methodologies. The platform grows with your organisation without requiring migration or re-implementation.

Pros

  • + Scales from SME to enterprise seamlessly
  • + Complete governance and strategy frameworks
  • + Multiple Scope 3 methodologies
  • + NetNada Academy certification programs
  • + Transparent pricing from $199/month

Cons

  • - More comprehensive than some SMEs need initially
  • - Australian market focus (expanding globally)
Best For: Growing organisations wanting a platform that scales with them and provides complete climate disclosure capability.
#2

Avarni

Enterprise Automation Specialist

8.9 /10

Overall Score

Features: 9
Value: 7
Ease: 9
Complete: 9
External Tool

Avarni offers strong AI-powered Scope 3 automation for enterprise customers. Good for large organisations focused primarily on emissions measurement with complex supply chains.

Pros

  • + Strong AI automation for Scope 3
  • + Good enterprise support
  • + Complex supply chain handling
  • + Australian-developed

Cons

  • - Enterprise-only positioning
  • - Custom pricing only
  • - Limited governance tools
  • - No free trial
Best For: Large enterprises wanting AI-powered Scope 3 automation and willing to engage enterprise sales.
#3

Unravel Carbon

AI-Powered Global Platform

8.7 /10

Overall Score

Features: 9
Value: 8
Ease: 9
Complete: 8
External Tool

Unravel Carbon offers rapid AI-powered measurement across 48 countries with particular strength in Asian supply chains.

Pros

  • + Fast time to measurement
  • + Strong Asian supply chain coverage
  • + TÜV Rheinland certified
  • + Good automation

Cons

  • - Per-user pricing model
  • - Limited governance frameworks
  • - Regional focus limitations
  • - No integrated task management
Best For: Organisations with significant Asian supply chain exposure needing rapid automated measurement.
#4

Sumday

Accountant-Led Approach

8.4 /10

Overall Score

Features: 8
Value: 9
Ease: 8
Complete: 8
External Tool

Sumday works through accountants with strong Xero integration. Good for organisations wanting their accountant to lead carbon accounting.

Pros

  • + Strong Xero integration
  • + Accountant-familiar interface
  • + Good SME pricing
  • + Australian-focused

Cons

  • - Requires accountant involvement
  • - Limited governance tools
  • - Basic enterprise features
  • - Accountant-dependent model
Best For: SMEs wanting their accountant to manage carbon accounting as part of financial services.
#5

Climate Zero

Australian Enterprise Focus

8.2 /10

Overall Score

Features: 8
Value: 8
Ease: 8
Complete: 8
External Tool

Climate Zero provides Australian compliance focus with particular strength in NGER reporting.

Pros

  • + Strong NGER compliance
  • + Australian-specific focus
  • + Good regulatory guidance
  • + Local support

Cons

  • - Limited global frameworks
  • - Basic governance features
  • - Less comprehensive Scope 3
  • - Smaller ecosystem
Best For: Australian organisations focused primarily on domestic regulatory compliance.
#6

Persefoni

Financial Services Specialist

8 /10

Overall Score

Features: 8
Value: 7
Ease: 8
Complete: 8
External Tool

Persefoni targets financial services with financed emissions capabilities and PCAF alignment.

Pros

  • + Strong financed emissions
  • + PCAF alignment
  • + Good for investors
  • + Enterprise features

Cons

  • - US market focus
  • - Financial services emphasis
  • - Premium pricing
  • - Less relevant for non-finance
Best For: Financial services organisations managing financed emissions and portfolio carbon.
#7

Trace

SME and Brand Storytelling

7.8 /10

Overall Score

Features: 7
Value: 8
Ease: 9
Complete: 7
External Tool

Trace remains a solid choice for SMEs wanting accessible carbon management with consumer engagement features, though it struggles at enterprise scale.

Pros

  • + Very accessible for SMEs
  • + Good employee engagement
  • + Simple offset purchasing
  • + Consumer-friendly

Cons

  • - Limited enterprise scalability
  • - Basic audit capabilities
  • - No governance frameworks
  • - Primarily spend-based
Best For: Small businesses wanting simple carbon measurement with offsetting options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about switching from Trace

Is Trace suitable for enterprise climate reporting?
Trace is optimised for SMEs with fewer than 250 employees. Enterprise organisations typically need multi-entity support, complex approval workflows, and governance frameworks that Trace doesn't provide. NetNada handles enterprise complexity while remaining accessible for SMEs.
Can Trace handle CSRD compliance requirements?
CSRD requires disclosure across governance, strategy, risk, and metrics. Trace focuses on emissions measurement and lacks the governance frameworks, transition planning tools, and materiality assessment capabilities required for comprehensive CSRD compliance.
Does Trace provide climate risk assessment tools?
Trace doesn't include climate risk assessment or materiality analysis. TCFD, CSRD, and ISSB all require climate risk disclosure. NetNada includes physical and transition risk assessment workflows aligned with these frameworks.
What's the difference between Trace's and NetNada's data accuracy?
Trace relies primarily on spend-based methodology which provides estimates. NetNada supports multiple methodologies—spend-based, activity-based, and supplier-specific—allowing you to improve accuracy over time and meet SBTi data quality requirements.
Can I use Trace for investor-grade disclosure?
Trace focuses on consumer-facing dashboards and brand storytelling. Investor-grade disclosure requires audit trails, calculation documentation, and framework alignment that NetNada provides through its professional reporting capabilities.
Does Trace scale for organisations with 500+ employees?
Trace works best for smaller organisations. At 500+ employees, you'll likely need multi-entity support, complex hierarchies, and enterprise data governance that Trace doesn't offer. NetNada scales from SME to enterprise without platform migration.

Ready to Switch from Trace?

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