Virtual data room reviews: every provider we have reviewed
We review 18 virtual data rooms with one checklist and one scoring model, so a 9.1 means the same thing on every page. Filter the list, compare the six criteria in the table, then open the full review for the detail.
Ellty9.2/10A complete transaction data room with AI tools inside it and a list price on the website.
iDeals9.1/10A long-established transaction room with heavyweight security credentials and the highest service score in our ranking.
Datasite8.9/10The enterprise standard on banker-led sell-side deals, with ten of our twelve checklist features.
Ansarada8.6/10A deal room with an AI and readiness angle, certified to SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
Intralinks8.6/10One of the oldest names in deal rooms, chosen for its security record in regulated transactions.
Firmex8.5/10A dependable, easy-to-run room popular with mid-market dealmakers and legal teams.
Drooms8.3/10A German transaction platform with a real estate focus, AI tooling and an unusual on-premises option.
SmartRoom8.2/10A US deal platform positioned around permissions, a managed question log and strict document controls.
Box8.1/10An enterprise content platform with strong security and integrations that some teams stretch into a data room.
Citrix ShareFile8.0/10A secure client portal for exchanging and signing files, used widely by accountants, lawyers and advisers.
DealRoom8.0/10A deal workspace that pairs a secure document room with request tracking for acquirers who buy companies regularly.
CapLinked7.7/10Sell-side room software pairing a buyer question workflow and an open API with a rate posted on its website.
SecureDocs7.7/10One monthly fee, a room you can open without IT, with signing and Q&A built in.
ShareVault7.7/10A long-running US deal platform focused on biotech partnering, licensing and intellectual property.
Onehub7.5/10Low-cost secure file sharing and client portals with watermarks, an audit trail and a mobile app.
Venue by DFIN7.2/10A compliance-minded transaction room from DFIN, aimed at IPOs and capital markets deals.
Digify6.9/10File protection software that keeps print, save and access in the sender's hands, priced openly per month.
DocSend6.6/10A document sharing and engagement tracking tool, popular for pitch decks, with watermarks and e-signature.
All scores side by side
The six criteria behind every overall score. Click a provider for the reasoning.
| Provider | Overall | Workflow (24%) | Security (22%) | Usability (18%) | Pricing (14%) | Service (12%) | Coverage (10%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellty Partner | 9.2/10 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.8 | 9.7 | 9.2 | 6.7 |
| iDeals | 9.1/10 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 8.5 | 8.8 | 9.7 | 7.5 |
| Datasite | 8.9/10 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 7.8 | 8.3 | 9.3 | 8.3 |
| Ansarada | 8.6/10 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 9.2 | 6.7 |
| Intralinks | 8.6/10 | 9.4 | 9.6 | 7.5 | 7.8 | 9.3 | 6.7 |
| Firmex | 8.5/10 | 8.3 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 9.2 | 5.8 |
| Drooms | 8.3/10 | 8.8 | 9.2 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 8.9 | 6.7 |
| SmartRoom | 8.2/10 | 8.9 | 9.3 | 7.3 | 7.5 | 8.8 | 5.8 |
| Box | 8.1/10 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Citrix ShareFile | 8.0/10 | 7.6 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 7.4 | 7.6 | 7.5 |
| DealRoom | 8.0/10 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 8.4 | 5.0 |
| CapLinked | 7.7/10 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 5.8 |
| SecureDocs | 7.7/10 | 7.0 | 7.8 | 8.7 | 7.8 | 8.3 | 6.7 |
| ShareVault | 7.7/10 | 8.3 | 9.0 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 8.5 | 5.0 |
| Onehub | 7.5/10 | 7.0 | 7.4 | 8.8 | 8.5 | 7.3 | 5.0 |
| Venue by DFIN | 7.2/10 | 8.0 | 8.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 8.0 | 5.0 |
| Digify | 6.9/10 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 8.2 | 7.6 | 6.6 | 3.3 |
| DocSend | 6.6/10 | 6.0 | 6.8 | 9.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 2.5 |
Key facts for all 18 providers
Price model, entry price, trial, attestations and how many of our twelve checklist features each one ships.
| Provider | Billing | Entry price | Trial | Attestations | Checklist | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellty | Flat monthly | $149/mo | 14-day free trial | SOC 2 Infrastructure | 8 of 12 | Outstanding |
| iDeals | Project quote | Quote on request | Free trial | SOC 2, ISO 27001 | 9 of 12 | Outstanding |
| Datasite | Project quote | Quote on request | Demo only | SOC 2, ISO 27001 | 10 of 12 | Excellent |
| Ansarada | Project quote | Quote on request | Free trial | SOC 2, ISO 27001 | 8 of 12 | Excellent |
| Intralinks | Project quote | Quote on request | Demo only | SOC 2, ISO 27001 | 8 of 12 | Excellent |
| Firmex | Project quote | Quote on request | Free trial | SOC 2, ISO 27001 | 7 of 12 | Excellent |
| Drooms | Project quote | Quote on request | Demo only | SOC 2, ISO 27001 | 8 of 12 | Very good |
| SmartRoom | Project quote | Quote on request | Demo only | SOC 2, ISO 27001 | 7 of 12 | Very good |
| Box | Per user | $15/user/mo | Free trial | SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA | 9 of 12 | Very good |
| Citrix ShareFile | Flat monthly | $55/mo | Free trial | SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA | 9 of 12 | Very good |
| DealRoom | Project quote | Quote on request | Free trial | SOC 2, ISO 27001 | 6 of 12 | Very good |
| CapLinked | Flat monthly | $299/mo | Free trial | SOC 2 | 7 of 12 | Good |
| SecureDocs | Flat monthly | $250/mo | Free trial | SOC 2 | 8 of 12 | Good |
| ShareVault | Project quote | Quote on request | Free trial | SOC 2, ISO 27001 | 6 of 12 | Good |
| Onehub | Flat monthly | $15/mo | Free trial | SOC 2 | 6 of 12 | Good |
| Venue by DFIN | Project quote | Quote on request | Demo only | SOC 2, ISO 27001 | 6 of 12 | Fair |
| Digify | Flat monthly | $120/mo | Free trial | SOC 2 | 4 of 12 | Limited |
| DocSend | Per user | $45/user/mo | Free trial | SOC 2 | 3 of 12 | Limited |
USD, entry level, indicative; confirm with the provider. Attestations as listed in vendor documentation at our last check.
How the field compares
Reading 18 reviews one by one is slow, so it helps to know how the field is shaped before you open any of them. The top of the list is crowded: the leading purpose-built rooms sit within a few tenths of each other, and the difference between them is mostly in usability, pricing model and which certificates they hold rather than in core deal features. Further down, the gap widens, usually because a tool lacks a structured Q&A module or document rights control, or because pricing is opaque and onboarding is heavy.
Where the 18 reviewed rooms land
Providers per score band
- Outstanding2
- Excellent4
- Very good5
- Good4
- Fair1
- Limited2
2.6 points separate the first and last room on our list.
Leader on each criterion
- Deal workflowEllty, iDeals, Datasite9.5 vs field 8.3
- Security postureiDeals, Datasite, Intralinks9.6 vs field 8.7
- Everyday usabilityEllty9.8 vs field 8.1
- Pricing clarityEllty9.7 vs field 7.8
- Service qualityiDeals9.7 vs field 8.3
- Feature coverageDatasite8.3 vs field 6.0
The leaders chart is the useful part for a shortlist. If service quality matters more to your team than our 12% weight implies, start with the service leader; if a predictable budget matters most, start with the pricing clarity leader. Ellty tops the overall ranking on usability, pricing clarity and an AI-equipped transaction toolkit, while iDeals, Datasite and Intralinks lead or tie on the criteria that procurement teams tend to audit.
How to use these reviews to pick a room
Six steps from 18 reviews to a signed contract.
- 01
Start from the criterion, not the total
Decide which of the six criteria your deal leans on. A bank-led auction leans on deal workflow and security; a seed round leans on usability and pricing clarity. Sort your shortlist by those columns first.
- 02
Strike out on hard requirements
Use the filters above for Q&A, ISO 27001, AI features, published price or a free trial. Anything that fails a requirement your counterparty will insist on drops out, however high it scores.
- 03
Read the cons before the pros
Every review lists what is missing. A gap that does not touch your process, such as no mobile app for a desk-based team, costs nothing; a gap in your must-haves ends the conversation.
- 04
Check the alternatives block
Each review closes with the three nearest rivals by profile and score. Open them side by side; the shared layout means the pricing and feature sections line up.
- 05
Turn the trial checklist into a test
13 of 18 providers offer a free trial. Each review lists the checks worth running in it with your own files; for demo-only vendors it lists the questions to bring to the call.
- 06
Confirm facts before you sign
Certifications, hosting regions and prices change. Ask the vendor for the current attestation report and a written quote for your exact term and user count.
What a review on this site covers
Every review follows the same order, so you can jump between providers without relearning the page. It opens with a verdict and a pros and cons list, then a fact sheet with price, trial, certifications and founding year. A score profile shows the six criteria against the average of the whole field, followed by the full written review, a pricing section with indicative totals, a security check, a twelve-item feature map, a short "who it suits" section and the three closest alternatives.
Facts such as certifications and published prices come from vendor documentation and are rechecked monthly; the judgments are ours. Where a vendor offers a free trial, each review lists the checks worth repeating in it; where it does not, the review lists the questions to bring to the sales demo.
Frequently asked questions
How do you review a data room?
Every review is desk research against the same checklist: vendor documentation, published pricing and plan pages, security attestations, and a check of twelve features (from Q&A and permission groups to watermarks, rights control and the audit trail) against the facts we hold on each provider. Six criteria are then scored out of 10 by the editorial team and weighted into the overall score.
Do providers pay for a higher score?
No. Scores come from the published method. Some providers have affiliate programmes and we may earn a commission when a reader visits them, which we disclose in the footer and on our disclosure page, but the score is set before and independently of any commercial relationship.
Which data room has the highest score?
Ellty leads our ranking this month at 9.2 out of 10, ahead of iDeals and Datasite. The top three are close, so the right choice still depends on your deal, your security requirements and how you prefer to pay.
Are general file-sharing tools reviewed too?
Yes. Box, Citrix ShareFile, Onehub, Digify and DocSend are reviewed with the same method, which shows clearly where they match a purpose-built virtual data room and where they fall short, for example on structured Q&A.
How many of the reviewed tools are purpose-built data rooms?
13 of the 18 providers ship a structured Q&A workflow, the clearest sign of a tool built for transactions. The others are secure file sharing or document tracking tools that some teams use for lighter jobs, such as sharing a pitch deck or a client file portal.
How often are reviews updated?
Scores and facts are checked every month, and a review is rewritten when a provider changes pricing, certifications or a feature that affects the score. The update date sits at the top of each review.