The Best Virtual Data Room Service Providers Comparison

This virtual data room comparison chart aims to help you analyse what each data room offers, compare prices, features, reviews and more, so you can choose the best VDR for your needs. All in one place.

Best for Free Trial Price
M&A, Corporate Development Yes. 14 days $1250/mon annually
Small and Medium businesses Yes. 14 days $495/mon annually
Large businesses No $$$$
Small and Medium businesses Yes. 14 days $$
Medium and Large businesses No $$$
Small and Medium businesses Yes. 14 days $$
Small businesses Yes. 30 days $
Small businesses Yes. 14 days $$

virtual data room companies COMPARATIVE OVERVIEW

Top 1 M&A Platform by G2
M&A, Corp Dev, Investment Banking, Finance, Tech,
Legal
Best Virtual Data Room Software by Digital.com
All industries
Finance
Finance,
Real Estate, Life Sciences
All industries
Finance
Finance, Tech,
Legal, Life Sciences
Accounting, Legal, Finance, Healthcare
All industries
Finance, Legal, Natural Resources, Life Sciences
Pricing
Pricing Plans
Monthly or Flat Rate
Monthly or Flat Rate
Per Page
Monthly Standard Subscription
Monthly or Flat Rate
Per Page
Monthly Standard Subscription
Monthly Standard Subscription
Monthly Standard Subscription
Monthly Standard Subscription
Pricing for 1 project
$1295 billed annually
$495 billed annually
$$$$
$$$
$185
$$$
$400 (3 month plan)
$338
$$
$299
Pricing for Unlimited Projects
Upon request
Upon request
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
All Pricing Plans
Unlimited Users
Unlimited Data
Projects amount
(number of rooms)
Basic plan - 1
Professional plan -
Unlimited
Basic plan - 1
Premium plan -
Unlimited
1
Basic plan - 1
Business plan - Several
VDR Lite or basic plan - 1
VDR Pro plan
- Multiple
1
1
1
1
1
Base Free
$0
$0
$7,500 for 10,000 pages
$175 / month
No data
$7,000 for 10,000 pages
$3,000-$4,800 / year
$10-$338 / month
$5-$50 / month
$99 / month
Archive (DVD/USB)
$200
$200
$300+
$300 / copy
Upon Request
$300+
$300 / DVD
No
Upon Request
Upon Request
Features
Market Segments
Drag-and-drop Document Collection
Watermarking
Permissions
Build-in Viewer
Full-text Search
Deal Management
Importable Playbooks
Due Diligence
Importable Requests
No Q/A
Q/A
Q/A
Q/A
Q/A
Q/A
Q/A
No
Q/A
Post-merger integration
Progress Tracking
Pipeline Management
Collaboration
Project Management
In-Platform Communication
Analytics & Reporting
Audit Logs
Document Heatmaps
Diligence Analytics
Real-Time Activity Reports
Reviews
What People Mention as Main Pros
Requests feature, Value, Intuitive,
Easy of use
Full-feature data room, Clean interface
Easy document upload
User friendly
User friendly
Customer support, Simple file uploading
User friendly
Secure, available integrations
Price, Quick large file uploads
Value, user friendly
What People Mention as Main Cons
Lack of integrations
No diligence management
Pricing
Pricing
Lack of robust features
Pricing, user Interface
Lack of customizations, limited features
Search function limitations
Desktop version is slow, lack of permissions
Capabilities, customer service
Support
API Access
Live chat
Email, Call Support
Dedicated Success Manager
* information is subject to change

Virtual Data Room Software Vendors Comparison

DealRoom

See the demo

Cost:

Starts at $1295/month (billed annually)

Capterra Rating:

4.6 / 5

Ease of use:

4.5 / 5

Customer Service:

4.6 / 5

Support Options:

Live chat, ticketing, knowledgebase, phone.

Platform Availability:

Online, iOS, Android.

Free trial:

Yes. 14 days.

Dealroom

Features:

DealRoom virtual deal room equips users with features from simple file management to integrated AI and in-depth analytics. DealRoom eliminates complexities so users can learn the system within minutes.

DealRoom has a secure virtual data room with all necessary compliances and data encryptions.

Description:

Built upon Agile principles, DealRoom was created in 2012 to revitalize inefficient processes associated with project management and M&A.

By unifying tools associated with creating, executing, and monitoring projects, DealRoom provides a dynamic data room that revolutionizes traditional methods. DealRoom’s VDR & M&A project management software is well-suited for a multitude of industries at a price well below competitors.

Cost:

Starts from $495/month billed annually

Capterra Rating:

4.8 / 5

Ease of use:

4.8 / 5

Customer Service:

4.8 / 5

Support Options:

Live chat, ticketing, knowledgebase, phone.

Platform Availability:

Online, iOS, Android.

Free trial:

Yes, 14 days

Featured by Capterra:

Firmroom

Features:

FirmRoom online data room offers the essential functions of other VDR providers such as drag and drop, bulk file upload, and permission settings. FirmRoom can integrate with Salesforce, Slack, and Office 365 so that you have what you need in one spot.

Description:

Awarded as a “Rising Star” by FinancesOnline, FirmRoom is taking the industry by storm. Although they are most acclaimed for their M&A solutions, FirmRoom is suited to fit a wide variety of industries. Renowned users include Pfizer, Baird, and J.P.Morgan.

Security is a priority with advanced user settings, an ISO 27001 certification and other compliances. FirmRoom’s claim to fame is their intuitive interface and clean design.

Intralinks

Cost:

$$$$

Capterra Rating:

4.3 / 5

Ease of use:

3.7 / 5

Customer Service:

4.7 / 5

Support Options:

Email, phone

Platform Availability: 

Online, desktop.

Free trial:

Per request

Intralinks

Features:

Intralinks online data room is sold at a premium versus their competitors, even though they do not seem to offer as many functionalities. However, when working with large-scale deals, Intralinks could provide just the support you need.

Description:

Intralinks’ allows dealmakers to choose between three main models. Users are able to build upon those with extra modules to better suit their deal. However, users often report that Intralinks rooms are not customizable enough. In terms of capabilities, Intralinks provides all of the basic data room services to conduct due diligence and facilitate collaboration. Intralinks equips users for success with consulting services, optional training and round-the-clock support.

iDeals

Cost:

$$$

Capterra Rating:

not relevant

Ease of use:

not relevant

Customer Service:

not relevant

Support Options:

Email, phone, live chat

Platform Availability:

Online

Free trial:

Yes.

iDeals

Features:

One of their most well-known features of iDeals electronic data room is a Q&A section that encourages communication and collaboration.

Description:

Since its inception in 2008 by Ukrainian company, iDeals has become renowned for its security throughout the VDR industry. iDeals caters to various industries, including life sciences, M&A, and real estate.

Fordata

Cost:

Starts with $190/month billed annually

Capterra Rating:

4.5 / 5

Ease of use:

4.4 / 5

Customer Service:

4.7 / 5

Support Options:

Live chat, ticketing, knowledgebase, phone.

Platform Availability:

Online, mobiles

Free trial:

Yes

Fordata

Features:

They said they don’t overload our system with functions you will never use. VDR includes common features like drag-and-drop upload, automatic indexing, permissions management, docs viewer.

Description:

Their goal is to support dealmakers with the fastest and best-supported Virtual Data Room. FORDATA's main focus is to provide exceptional services, including individual and proactive customer service, great usability and security. They cooperate with industry leaders, including the largest advisory companies, law firms, banks, and PE/VC funds.

Datasite

Cost:

$$$

Capterra Rating:

No data

Ease of use:

No data

Customer Service:

No data

Support Options:

Email, phone

Platform Availability:

Online

Free trial:

Yes. Per request

Merrill

Features:

Datasite's online VDR provides most basic VDR capabilities, such as branded website, bulk uploads, drag and drop files, and Q&A sections.

Description:

Much like Intralinks, Datasite specializes in large-scale, complex deals with sizeable corporations and a bit higher of a price tag. Datasite offers solutions in corporate development, investment banking, private equity, and law.

Securedocs

Cost:

Starts from $400 / month billed annually

Capterra Rating:

4.9 / 5

Ease of use:

4.9 / 5

Customer Service:

4.9 / 5

Support Options:

Email, phone

Platform Availability:

Online

Free trial:

Yes

Securedocs

Features:

They offer most VDR necessities, such as permissions, notifications, drag and drop uploading, audit logs, and watermarking.

Description

Securedocs boasts of their intuitiveness and ease of use, fast set up, and transparent pricing. When projects change, companies can simply recycle and tweak existing user roles and restrictions. Against competitors, Securedocs falls short in terms of collaboration capabilities.

Theirs are not as intuitive or present, which may cause some speed bumps during due diligence. Their values are security, simplicity, security, and savings, claiming that you should not compromise functionality and safety for a low price.

Sharefile

Cost:

Starts with $50/month billed annually

Capterra Rating:

4.6 / 5

Ease of use:

4.6 / 5

Customer Service:

4.6 / 5

Support Options:

Email, phone

Platform Availability:

Online

Free trial:

Yes. 7-days.

Sharefile

Features:

They offer typical VDR functions such as view-only access, click trails, dynamic watermarking, reporting, and granular user access.

Description

Sharefile online data room offers secure solutions for various industries and business functions, such as human resources and marketing. Sharefile is able to integrate with other systems such as Google Suite, Microsoft OneDrive, and others. However, utilizing Sharefile in conjunction with free systems may compromise security.

Users have also critiqued Sharefile’s reliability. Some reviews report Sharefile either crashing or locking up when used in conjunction with other applications.

Box

Cost:

$$

Capterra Rating:

4.3 / 5

Ease of use:

4.4 / 5

Customer Service:

4.2 / 5

Support Options:

Email, phone

Platform Availability:

Online

Free trial:

Yes.

Box

Features:

Box does not provide more complex, innovative functions such as custom workflows and features or secure fence view.

Description

Box’s Business line offers the most basic secure file sharing capabilities as most VDRs. Box is well-suited for daily operations or small transactions. They may not offer the necessary support and capabilities for larger, more intricate M&A transactions.

Caplinked

Cost:

Starts with $338/month billed annually

Capterra Rating:

4.5 / 5

Ease of use:

4.5 / 5

Customer Service:

4.6 / 5

Support Options:

Email, phone

Platform Availability:

Online

Free trial:

Yes.

Caplinked

Features:

CapLinked virtual data room software offers common VDR capabilities and security measures. Their more notable features include a dashboard, instant messaging, and the ability to edit Excel or Word documents within the VDR.

Description

Since their founding in 2010, CapLinked has been used by over a quarter million companies worldwide. Similar to other VDR providers, they tout simplicity, cost-savings, and resourceful support for a variety of industries.

Users have reported limitations with Excel files with macros and unadvanced search and reporting functions.

Data Room Service Providers

To learn more about what is a virtual data room, read this article.
So, what is a data room service provider? Virtual data room providers equip interest groups, firms, and corporations with a secure, online platform to upload, store, and distribute information. Some M&A data room providers may provide consulting and administrative services in conjunction with their VDR to facilitate a smoother transaction.

Here is a list of well known virtual data room service providers:
DealRoom
FirmRoom
iDeals
Intralinks
Fordata

Datasite
SecureDocs
ShareFile
Box
Caplinked
Companies no longer have to wait for documents to be delivered or run the risk of them getting “lost in the mail.” As long as there is Internet access, their cloud-based software provides firms with fast and constant accessibility. VDRs create an online rendezvous and facilitate collaboration, which prevents common pitfalls of miscommunication and things not going as planned. The crux of VDRs is their security. They help negate the likelihood of document leakage and misuse.

Best Virtual Data Rooms for M&A (Virtual Deal Rooms)

Aside from some basic functions, not all virtual data rooms are created equally. They offer a range of basic to advanced functions and may tailor to certain transactions and industries. This applies especially to due diligence and mergers and acquisitions. Some may provide necessary functionalities, storage capabilities, and consulting services to help facilitate a smooth transaction.

Here is a list of the top VDR providers for M&A:
  1. DealRoom Deal Room
  2. Intralinks Deal Room
  3. Datasite Data Room
  4. Fordata Virtual Dat Room
  5. Securedocs Virtual Data Room
  6. Firmex Deal Room

The Best Virtual Data Rooms for Due Diligence

Nowadays, there are many different virtual data rooms providers for due diligence out there. Each provider varies slightly due to features, pricing, support, industry niche etc. Due to the amount of virtual data room platforms available, there is definitely one that will fit your teams needs best. And if you are looking for a virtual data room specifically for due diligence there are certain key features to keep an eye out for such as requests management capabilities, drag and drop files upload, and easy documents management.
The best data rooms for due diligence are:
  • DealRoom Due Diligence Software
  • Datasite Data Room
  • Intralinks
  • Firmex
  • Ideals
  • Document Vault

Free Virtual Data Rooms

VDRs can be a heavy financial investment, so it’s totally reasonable to question if there are free options out there. Unfortunately, a majority of virtual data room providers charge after a free trial period ends. However, we discovered a handful of free alternatives. 
‍
With that being said, there are a few important considerations. First, they all have storage or usage limitations. We detailed what you receive for each in the descriptions. Second, and perhaps most important, is security and advanced capabilities. At their core, all of these options offer a virtual space to collaborate and share information. Beyond that, not everyone may have the necessary safeguards to protect information or advanced and analytical features that expedite projects, deals, and due diligence.

What it really comes down to is knowing your project and needs. From there, you can discern if one of the options below will work or if you should invest in something else.

The options for free virtual data rooms are:
  1. Google Drive
  2. Koofr
  3. Ftopia

Data Room Providers Usage

Due to their speed, convenience, and safety, VDRs are utilized among several different fields for various purposes. Some examples include:
Life Sciences
Business Brokers
Healthcare
Accounting
IT and Telecommunications
investment
Investment Banking
Manufacturing
private
Private Equity and Venture Capital
corporate
Corporate Development
Consulting and Advisory Services
legal
Legal
real estate
Real Estate
We understand that choosing the right virtual data room provider for your firm or transaction can be taxing. To alleviate that burden, we have detailed and compared the industry’s top virtual data room providers. Now, you can close your next deal or collaborate on a project in confidence that you made the right VDR choice.
Get Started with DealRoom
Schedule a live one-on-one demo or visit our product page to learn more about how DealRoom Virtual Data Room can make a difference on your next project.
Book a demo

How to compare virtual data rooms and choose the right one?

Beyond the basics, different virtual data room providers may range in their functionalities, security, storage, and support. Additionally, they may employ various pricing models. All of these different variables can make comparing and choosing the best data room a bit of a headache.
‍
What it really boils down to is being able to delineate what you need from the data room. You can sort through hundreds of virtual data room reviews online, but none may speak accurately to your project. One option that many providers offer is a free demo or trial. Utilizing these services are a great way to see whether or not it would be worth the long-term investment.
1. Compare the Functions which Virtual Data Rooms Offer
Essentially, virtual data rooms act as a secure platform to house, manage, and distribute confidential information. VDRs also have other, often customizable functionalities. These may differ on a case-by-case basis depending on the provider, the user, and the project. The key is to ensure that you choose one that is efficient, intuitive, and secure. VDRs are supposed to make workflows easier, not more complicated.

Some common functionalities of virtual data rooms include:
  • Advanced Permissions
  • Digital Rights Management
  • Document Filtering Tools
  • Automation Tools
  • Advanced Search within the Whole VDR
  • Activity Tracking and Audit Log
  • Bulk Uploads
  • Drag and Drop Files
  • Possibility to Have Numerous Projects within One Account.
  • Print Screen Button Disabling
  • Questions and Answers (Q&A) Functionality
  • Microsoft Office Integration
2. Compare data room pricing and pricing models
With so many options of VDRs and providers in the market, it is hard to know how much you should pay. It’s a big decision and investment. You should not haphazardly choose a cheap virtual data room that won’t pay off in the long-run. Some virtual data room providers may lack necessary security and confidentiality safeguards. And, to make matters more complex, online data room providers often employ different pricing models. Different bases for the cost may include:
  • Security
  • Complexity of capabilities
  • Customization
  • Extra or premium features
  • Storage
  • Amount of rooms or workspaces
  • Number of users and/or administrators
  • Additional consulting and/or administrative services
To simplify your decision-making process, we have compiled a list of questions that you should ask yourself when comparing prices:
  • What are the security measures required for your project and/or transaction?
    On the outset, a free virtual data room may sound great. However, these free online data room providers may lack substantial security features. Thievery and breaches of data may be costly, difficult, and if not impossible to recover from. If your dealing with large amounts of confidential information like in mergers and acquisitions, the extra investment may be wise.
  • What is the size of your project and/or transaction?
    ‍
    You often have to pay above the market for VDRs that are apt for handling big data. Regarding smaller projects, it may not be cost-effective to choose a renowned VDR just because Goldman Sacs did.
  • How complex is your project and/or transaction?
    Some VDRs charge a premium of complex or customized features whereas others lack the capability. That is why it is integral to forecast what functions you will need your VDR to perform. Otherwise, expensive, fancy features may sit at the wayside when the expense could have been avoided altogether.
  • Will you need extra services, i.e. consulting, training, or other support functions?
    Many virtual data room providers offer additional support services to ensure a smooth transaction. These may be offered at a cost-savings when bundled with their VDR. This could be a worthy investment for smaller firms or complex transactions. These additional services help alleviate the burden of minute tasks so you can focus on your business.
3. Compare additional options available
When implementing virtual data room software for your organization or project, you don’t want to be stuck with unresourceful help. This will only further plague your processes. Luckily, many VDR providers on the market offer additional help and options so you have just what you need.
Listed here are some questions you can ask to better navigate and compare the additional options they offer:
  • Is there a virtual data room free trial?
  • Is their customer support team available 24/7/365?
  • Are you granted a single, dedicated company representative? Or are you waiting on hold and then tossed between reps?
  • Are you able to request new features post-implementation?
  • How comprehensive are their training and onboarding services?
4. Compare ease of use and flexibility
Virtual data rooms can be rendered useless if you can’t figure out how or have the means to use it.

Here we have detailed a few questions you can ask yourself when judging a potential VDR’s usability and flexibility:
  • Is the VDR available on all operating systems?
  • Does it have to be accessed via desktop or does it offer iOS or Android applications?
  • Is the interface attractive and intuitive?
  • Are capabilities such as invites or uploads efficient or do they require multiple steps?
  • Is the VDR’s uptime at least 99.95%?
5. Compare virtual data room security
Perhaps the crux of VDR’s is that they are a platform to store and transmit confidential information. Online data can be subject to thieves, hackers, and breaches. These occurrences can be detrimental to individuals and businesses alike. This means that security is priority.
Below are some questions you can ask yourself when gauging how secure a data room provider is:
  • How many of encryption are there for the data room?
  • Does the data room abide by necessary compliances?
  • What security certifications does the provider have?
  • What control features does the data room offer, i.e. advanced user settings?
  • Is there an option for two-factor verifications?
6. Compare data rooms to Find the Best for Your Industry
Beyond document and file management, many VDR providers offer a multitude of other, more advanced capabilities. These options can make it difficult to gauge which VDR provider will best cater to your industry and needs.
‍
Here are some items to consider:
  • Integrations
    Many product and service-oriented firms utilize CRM applications such as Salesforce. During a transaction, these applications may house important data that you would need in your VDR. The ability to integrate with different software can bolster efficiency and save the headache of manually transmitting data. Some providers offer the same capability with other collaboration software such as Office365 and Slack.
  • Storage
    Depending on the size of your firm, you may not need to forgo the extra dollar on storage space. Some providers may offer different packages for virtual data rooms for startups versus billion dollar M&A transactions.
  • File extensions
    Some VDRs may not have the capability to upload and support certain file extensions. Ensure to check all features before committing to a provider.
  • Compliance Standards
    Compliance standards vary from industry to industry. Certain providers cater to specific industry standards, so check security and compliance standards carefully when choosing a VDR.
7. Compare virtual data room reviews
If you are unsure of which virtual data room provider you want to use, try looking at software review sites to read about other users’ experiences. Some of the popular virtual data room review sites include: TrustRadius, G2 Crowd, and Capterra. Also, it’s important to note though that while many of the software review sites feature true and honest user feedback, some allow vendors to purchase reviews. Just be sure to do thorough research and look out for the word “Sponsored”.

Virtual Data Room Best Practices

A virtual data room may prove to be inefficient if not used properly. After spending time and capital, you want to be able to fully reap its benefits.
‍
Detailed here are some best practices to follow so that your data room is an aid rather than a detriment:
  • Use it
    After a large change in processes, often times individuals and firms quickly revert to old ways. Some fear change or find it easier to do things as they’ve always known. Nonetheless, it would be a waste of the implementation costs and monthly premium if your new VDR is quickly discarded.
  • Keep it neat
    Similar to traditional file-storage, VDRs run the risk of becoming disorganized. Aimlessly uploading documents in ambiguous folders can hurt more than help. Staying up-to-date and naming items clearly will boost organization and efficiency.
  • Let in who you can trust
    If you’re using a virtual data room, chances are it is housing confidential information. Be sure to only give trustworthy individuals access and take advantage of advanced user permissions.

Virtual Data Room Benefits for Your Business

Imagine walking into a workspace that isn’t pervaded with a city of disorganized file cabinets. Information can be transmitted at the blink of an eye -- anytime, anywhere. Regardless of your industry, market, or business model, a virtual data room can improve productivity and efficiency. VDRs improve workflows for everyday operations and special projects such as raising funds from potential investors. VDRs equip you with an online platform to not only store information, but also communicate, delegate tasks, and track project progress. No other software can offer the same combination of collaboration and security.

Detailed is an even more comprehensive list of benefits:
  • Secure data storage
  • Fast data organization and transmission
  • Achieve better control over information
  • 24/7 accessibility anywhere with an internet connection
  • Glean helpful feedback and analytics
  • Better accountability measures
  • Efficient, non siloed collaboration
  • Get deals and projects done faster