Data room comparisons, head to head

Ellty9.2/10

iDeals9.1/10

Ellty and iDeals sit at the very top of our scores, 9.2 and 9.1, and both carry the full set of tools a sell-side process leans on. They split on certificates and integrations versus AI tools, e-signature and a rate that is public before you talk to sales.

Ellty9.2/10

Datasite8.9/10

Datasite has run sell-side processes since 1999 and ships ten of our twelve checklist features; Ellty ships eight and wins on usability and pricing clarity. Both include AI features, structured Q&A and the document controls a banker expects.

iDeals9.1/10

Datasite8.9/10

iDeals and Datasite tie on security posture and deal workflow, and both hold SOC 2 and ISO 27001 with SSO and redaction. iDeals wins on usability, pricing clarity and support; Datasite wins on feature coverage with AI features and a mobile app.

Ellty9.2/10

Intralinks8.6/10

Intralinks has hosted bank-led transactions since 1996 and holds both SOC 2 and ISO 27001; Ellty, founded in 2020, matches its transaction toolkit and adds AI features and e-signature. Each ships eight of the twelve features on our checklist, just not the same eight.

Ansarada8.6/10

iDeals9.1/10

Ansarada, an Australian vendor from 2005, pairs its deal room with AI features and positions itself around deal readiness and governance. iDeals scores higher on every one of our six criteria and adds redaction, an API and the highest service score on our roster.

Ellty9.2/10

Firmex8.5/10

Firmex, a Canadian vendor active since 2006, is a well-liked room for mid-market and legal work with ISO 27001 and built-in redaction. Ellty matches its Q&A and document controls, adds AI features and e-signature, and publishes its price.

Datasite8.9/10

Intralinks8.6/10

Datasite (1999) and Intralinks (1996) are both American, both certified to SOC 2 and ISO 27001, and both priced by quote with no listed free trial. Datasite pulls ahead on feature coverage with AI features and a mobile app, and edges Intralinks on usability and pricing clarity.

Ellty9.2/10

SmartRoom8.2/10

SmartRoom, an American vendor founded in 2004, focuses on permissions, Q&A and security, and holds SOC 2 and ISO 27001 with native redaction. Ellty, founded in 2020, adds AI features and e-signature, lists a 14-day free trial and publishes its price from $149 a month.

Ellty9.2/10

DealRoom8.0/10

DealRoom, an American vendor founded in 2012, frames acquisitions as projects with requests and tasks, and holds SOC 2 and ISO 27001. Ellty, founded in 2020, ships every checklist feature DealRoom does plus AI features and e-signature, and lists its price from $149 a month.

Drooms8.3/10

Ansarada8.6/10

Drooms, a German vendor founded in 2001, focuses on real estate and European transactions and is the only room on our roster listed with on-premises deployment. Ansarada, founded in Australia in 2005, focuses on deal readiness and governance. Both hold SOC 2 and ISO 27001 and both list AI features.

Firmex8.5/10

SecureDocs7.7/10

Firmex is a Canadian deal room from 2006 with structured Q&A, redaction and ISO 27001, priced by quote. SecureDocs, an American vendor from 2012 that is now part of Onit, publishes a flat rate from $250 a month and adds Q&A, e-signature and an API but no redaction.

Box8.1/10

Citrix ShareFile8.0/10

Box and Citrix ShareFile are file-sharing platforms that many companies already own, and both carry SOC 2 and ISO 27001 and list HIPAA support. Neither lists a Q&A module or redaction, so both work best for document exchange rather than a contested deal.

ShareVault7.7/10

SmartRoom8.2/10

ShareVault, an American vendor founded in 2003, focuses on life sciences, IP and licensing, and lists single sign-on and a free trial. SmartRoom, an American vendor founded in 2004, focuses on permissions, Q&A and security, and lists native redaction and two-factor login. Both hold SOC 2 and ISO 27001 and quote on request.

Ellty9.2/10

DocSend6.6/10

DocSend shares files as tracked links and is a favorite for pitch decks; Ellty is a complete transaction room with question routing, access groups and rights control on every file. They overlap at the very start of a raise and diverge as soon as diligence begins.

Citrix ShareFile8.0/10

SecureDocs7.7/10

Citrix ShareFile is a file-sharing platform for professional services that holds SOC 2, ISO 27001 and HIPAA and lists from $55 a month. SecureDocs is a flat-rate data room from $250 a month with SOC 2. Both list e-signature, a public API, two-factor login and document rights control. SecureDocs also lists Q&A; neither lists redaction.

Onehub7.5/10

Digify6.9/10

Onehub, an American vendor founded in 2007, is a low-cost client portal listed from $15 a month with two-factor login, a mobile app and an API. Digify, founded in Singapore in 2011, centres on document rights control and tracking from $120 a month. Both hold SOC 2 and list a free trial.