There is no shortage of software options for Australian RTOs. But finding a platform that genuinely fits the way your organisation operates is a different challenge entirely. Two platforms can both tick the same compliance box and still feel worlds apart when it comes to day-to-day use.
Cloud Assess and Vasto are two platforms purpose-built for the Australian VET sector. Both have strong compliance foundations. But they are designed around different priorities, and the right choice depends on what matters most to your RTO.
In this blog, we’ll compare both platforms across seven areas to help you work out which one is the better fit for your organisation.
Comparison Overview (TLDR)
Cloud Assess is a flexible, all-in-one RTO software built for Australian training organisations. It combines learning, assessment, student management, and compliance reporting in a single platform. It provides AVETMISS-compliant tools and customisable features that support RTOs of all sizes.
Vasto is an RTO software solution that integrates student, learning, and finance management into one system. It is designed specifically for Australian RTOs. It offers strong AVETMISS compliance, government funding reporting, and administrative automation features. The platform scales from smaller providers through to larger organisations with complex delivery arrangements.
If you need a platform built around structured assessment and competency training, with strong compliance tools and a modern learner experience, Cloud Assess is an excellent option. If your priority is an all-in-one RTO operations system with finance management and government reporting built in, Vasto may suit you better.
See how the top alternatives compare for RTO operations.
Company Backgrounds
History of Cloud Assess
Cloud Assess was founded in 2012 to solve a real problem. Australian RTOs were drowning in paper-based assessments and fragmented systems. In 2013, Cloud Assess launched at the National VET Conference in Melbourne. It quickly became the leading digital assessment platform for compliance-focused training providers. Today, Cloud Assess helps RTOs across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK deliver, manage, and prove training compliance with ease. From AVETMISS reporting to certificate management, it replaces the tools RTOs used to juggle separately.
History of Vasto
Vasto Software was founded in 2013 by partners who were drawing on experience from a large Australian corporate training company and a financial services software development firm. It was built to reduce the growing administration and regulatory costs facing Australian RTOs. The platform has expanded steadily since, with its support team led by former RTO operators who understand the sector from the inside.
Product Offerings & Use Cases
Cloud Assess
Cloud Assess gives training providers the tools to build and deliver competency-based assessments and courses that reflect real industry standards. Trainers can create structured learning content and deliver it through online or blended learning. They can also build assessments that capture practical evidence digitally. The platform’s AI assessment generator converts existing documents into ready-to-use assessments in minutes.
Its AI marking assistant analyses student responses and recommends marking outcomes to assessors. This reduces manual workload while keeping human oversight intact. The platform also offers customisable learner portals. These give students a consistent, intuitive experience across enrolment, learning, and assessments.
Managing the student journey is straightforward. Enrolments, progress tracking, and training certification management are all handled in one place. RTOs can issue and verify certificates and Statements of Attainment using customisable templates. QR code verification is built in so that credentials can be confirmed by students and third parties alike.
Compliance is central to how the platform operates. Cloud Assess is fully AVETMISS-compliant and built to support the Standards for RTOs 2025. Automated reporting tools reduce the manual work involved in meeting regulatory requirements. Centralised student records make it easy to retrieve training and assessment data when an audit comes around.
For RTOs with more complex needs, Cloud Assess integrates with advanced student management systems, including VETtrak and Ready Student. It also connects with a wide range of business tools to keep training data connected across existing systems.
Cloud Assess is a good fit for:
- RTOs requiring a dedicated, assessment-first platform with comprehensive learning and student management, and strong compliance evidence management
- Providers that want to use AI to speed up assessment creation and reduce marking workloads
- Providers that need to issue and verify certificates and Statements of Attainment with minimal manual effort
- RTOs that need to integrate with existing SMS solutions such as VETtrak or Ready Student
Vasto
Vasto is built around the idea that an RTO should be able to run its entire operation from a single platform. Student management, learning management, and finance management are brought together in one system. This means enrolments, invoicing, compliance reporting, and course delivery all live in the same place. There’s no need to switch between tools or reconcile data across systems.
Vasto handles enrolments four ways: via website widget, bulk upload, shared link, or manual admin entry. Invoicing, online payments, and a two-way Xero integration are built into the core platform. Six dedicated portals give students, trainers, assessors, administrators, corporate clients, and auspice partners their own tailored access point. Automated messaging keeps all parties informed before, during, and after training.
The learning and assessment tools are fully integrated into the same infrastructure. Trainers can build courses using a DIY course builder or import existing SCORM content. The platform supports 17 activity types across online, blended, practical, and work-based learning. Trainers can mark attendance, assess skills and outcomes, and communicate with students without leaving the platform. This removes paperwork from practical sessions entirely.
Vasto meets a broad range of Australian compliance reporting needs. The platform is fully AVETMISS-compliant. It also includes pre-submission data validation tools to catch errors before they become problems. It also supports state-based funding reporting, USI validation, and NSW apprenticeship and traineeship tracking.
Vasto is a good fit for:
- RTOs looking for a single platform that consolidates student, learning, and finance management without needing separate systems
- RTOs that deliver training through auspice partners or corporate clients
- RTOs of any size, from new start providers through to larger organisations with complex delivery needs
Unique Selling Points
Cloud Assess USPs
Assessment-Led Learning
Every course is built around competency-based assessment tied to real-world evidence.
Offline Learning
Complete courses, capture evidence, and sync all training data without internet access.
AI Assessment Generator
Convert existing training documents into ready-to-use assessments in minutes.
AI Marking Assistant
Analyses student responses and recommends marking outcomes, keeping human oversight intact.
Certificate Verification
Issue and verify certificates and Statements of Attainment with built-in QR code verification.
SMS Integrations
Connects with VETtrak and Ready Student for RTOs with existing student management infrastructure.
Vasto USPs
Built-In Finance Management
Invoicing, online payments, and two-way Xero integration included as standard.
Pre-Submission Data Validation
Identifies and flags compliance errors before data is submitted to reporting bodies.
Flexible Enrolment Options
Enrol students four ways, including via website widget, bulk upload, or shared link.
Feature Comparison
| Cloud Assess | Vasto | |
|---|---|---|
| Course and assessment builder |  | |
| Mobile learning | | |
| AVETMISS compliance | | |
| Automated messaging and alerts | | |
| RPL management | | |
| Certificate issuance | | |
| Practical assessment tools | | |
| Digital evidence capture | | |
| Digital signatures | | |
| Reporting and analytics | | |
| AI assessment generator | |  |
| AI Marking Assistant | | |
| Evidence portfolios | | |
| Offline learning | | |
| Third-party SMS integration | | |
Pricing
Cloud Assess Pricing
- For SMEs & Enterprises
Built for frontline teams that don’t sit at desks. Mobile-first training, real-world evidence capture, real-time skills visibility and automated compliance for high-risk industries.
Flat fee, based on employees trained
Scales with your workforce. Every feature included from day one.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Mobile-first app with full offline capability
- Photo, video & audio evidence capture
- Skills matrix across your entire workforce
- Verification of Competency (VOC)
- Automated expiry alerts & renewals
- Site inductions for staff & contractors
- Real-time compliance dashboards
- Integrations, API & Webhooks
- For Registered Training Organisations
Run a compliant RTO end to end. AI-powered assessment creation, intelligent marking, AVETMISS reporting, USI validation and defensible evidence from enrolment to certification.
From $600
/ month
Flat fee, based on learners/students trained
Scales with your learners and enrolments. Every feature included from day one.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- AVETMISS & state-specific reporting
- USI validation & certificate management
- AI assessment creation & marking
- Revision control & mapping for audits
- Enrolment engine with branded webforms
- Quality checks & second-level moderation
- Stripe payments & calendar publishing
Vasto Pricing
Vasto pricing is based on a monthly subscription and varies depending on the package selected and enrolment volumes. Three packages are available. Starter includes eLearning with an assessor portal and manual enrolment. Premium adds a full SMS and LMS with reporting capability. Enterprise includes complete advanced automation, website integration, and workflow management. Visit their website for details.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Cloud Assess FAQs
Does Cloud Assess have its own built-in SMS, or does it rely on third-party platforms?
Cloud Assess includes a native student management system. It covers everything from AVETMISS reporting to USI validation, enrolments, and student records. For RTOs that already have an existing SMS in place, it also integrates directly with other SMS platforms, giving you the flexibility to keep your current setup.
Does Cloud Assess support both accredited and non-accredited training?
Yes. Cloud Assess supports the delivery and certification of both accredited and non-accredited training.
RTOs can issue and verify certificates for both training types from within the same platform, with no need for external systems.
Is Cloud Assess support based in Australia?
Yes. Cloud Assess is backed by a 100% Australian-based support team with deep knowledge of the VET sector. The team is available to assist with compliance-related queries, platform questions, and onboarding.
Vasto FAQs
Can I migrate my existing data from another platform to Vasto?
Yes. Vasto offers a structured data migration process and has experience transitioning RTOs from other platforms. Migration options range from a NAT file only transfer through to a full custom migration.
How long does it take to get up and running on Vasto?
Onboarding time varies depending on the package selected. Vasto provides between two and 25 hours of onboarding support depending on the plan, covering workflow setup, data migration, and staff training. NAT-only data migrations typically complete within a week.
Is Vasto suitable for a new RTO that is not yet registered?
Yes. Vasto offers a free pre-registration period for start-up RTOs that are still working through the registration process. This gives new providers access to the platform to set up course structures, portals, and certificate templates before they begin delivery. A 12-month agreement is required once registration is confirmed.
Registered Training Organisations
Stay audit-ready and deliver quality training with powerful LMS and SMS features tailored to the VET sector.
