Datasite review
Enterprise deal platform with the widest feature set in our facts file and AI built in.
Key facts
- Software type
- Virtual data room
- Company
- Founded 1999, based in United States
- Hosting model
- Cloud
- Pricing model
- Quote per project
- Starting price
- Quote on request
- Try before buying
- Demo on request
- Security reports
- SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
- Features listed
- 10 of 12 tracked, 6 of 6 deal controls
- Vendor positioning
- M&A, investment banking, enterprise, analytics
Overview
Datasite, founded in 1999 in the United States, is one of the platforms large sell-side processes default to. Our facts file lists ten of twelve tracked features, including redaction, single sign-on, a native mobile app and AI tools, plus SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
Pricing is by quote and there is no free trial listed, so the evaluation runs through a sales team. For banks and corporates running many processes, that relationship often comes with project support that self-serve products leave to the customer.
Typical buyer: Investment banks, large corporates and private equity firms running complex, multi-bidder processes.
How Datasite scores
A fit score of 8.5 puts Datasite at rank 2 of 18. It scores above the directory average on deal workflow coverage, security controls, ai and automation, integrations and it fit, and below it on pricing transparency. Weights come from the scoring methodology.
Datasite: score by criterion
Deal workflow
Datasite lists 6 of the six deal controls we track. A Q&A module is listed, so buyer questions can run inside the room.
- Q&A workflow
- Listed Buyers post questions inside the room; the seller routes, answers and publishes them with a full record. (13 of 18 platforms list it.)
- Activity log
- Listed A log of who opened, downloaded or printed which file and when, exportable for the deal record. (18 of 18 platforms list it.)
- Viewer watermarks
- Listed Each page carries the viewer name, email or time, so a leaked copy points back to its source. (18 of 18 platforms list it.)
- In-app redaction
- Listed Black out personal data or privileged passages inside the room instead of re-uploading edited files. (7 of 18 platforms list it.)
- File-level access rights
- Listed Per-file control over view, print and download, sometimes with view-only or expiring access. (15 of 18 platforms list it.)
- Bulk import
- Listed Drag whole folder trees into the room with structure and numbering kept. (17 of 18 platforms list it.)
Security and compliance
Datasite lists SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR. ISO 27001 certification is listed. Security controls score 9.7 against a directory average of 8.6.
- Viewer watermarks
- Listed Each page carries the viewer name, email or time, so a leaked copy points back to its source.
- File-level access rights
- Listed Per-file control over view, print and download, sometimes with view-only or expiring access.
- In-app redaction
- Listed Black out personal data or privileged passages inside the room instead of re-uploading edited files.
- 2-step verification
- Listed A second login step (code or app) for admins and guests.
Request the current SOC 2 report or ISO certificate under NDA and read the scope and exceptions sections. Data residency and sub-processors are not in our facts file; ask the vendor.
Integrations, mobile and AI
Integrations and IT fit scores 6.0; AI and automation scores 9.0. AI features are listed for Datasite; confirm which plan includes them and where documents are processed.
- SSO sign-in
- Listed Staff log in with company credentials through an identity provider (SAML or OpenID Connect).
- Developer API
- Not listed A documented interface for creating rooms, syncing users and pulling activity into your own systems.
- Built-in e-signing
- Not listed Sign NDAs, consents or closing documents without leaving the platform.
- iOS or Android app
- Listed A native iOS or Android app, beyond the mobile browser view most rooms offer.
- AI assistance
- Listed Machine assistance listed by the vendor, such as auto-indexing, summaries, document search or Q&A help.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Ten of twelve tracked features, level with the broadest coverage in this directory.
- SOC 2 and ISO 27001, plus GDPR listed.
- All six deal controls plus AI tools, single sign-on and a mobile app.
Cons and gaps to check
- Quote-only pricing with no published entry price.
- No free trial listed; evaluation is by demo.
- No public API or e-signature listed in our facts file.
Setup and administration
Usually set up with vendor onboarding support; plan a kickoff call and an index review before inviting bidders.
A short checklist for the trial room or the demo call, ideally using a folder of your real files:
- Ask how the quote changes if the process runs past the planned term.
- Check which AI features are included versus priced separately.
- Request the archive format and cost at closing.
- Add a coworker to a test guest group and have them report back exactly which folders appear.
- Pull the activity export and look for per-person entries for opening, downloading and printing.
For the full process, see the data room setup guide.
Datasite pricing
Datasite prices per project, so the figures below are our market estimates for each room size, not vendor prices. All figures are indicative USD; confirm with the provider.
| Room size | Scope | A month | Six months | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focused room | One counterparty, a few thousand pages, light Q&A | $1,450 | $8,700 | Market estimate |
| Competitive process | Three to ten bidders, structured Q&A, staged access | $3,650 | $21,900 | Market estimate |
| Large or cross-border | Many bidders, heavy Q&A, translation, long term | $8,750 | $52,500 | Market estimate |
Datasite: six months plus a two-month overrun
Estimate your own room
Compare all 18 platforms in the pricing guide and calculator.
Where Datasite ranks by solution
Each solution page re-weights the six criteria for one kind of work. Positions out of 18.
Datasite: score and position on each solution page
- Data room software for M&A (position 2)
- Due diligence software (position 2)
- Data room software for private equity (position 2)
- Data room software for fundraising (position 2)
- Data room software for real estate (position 2)
- Data room software for law firms (position 2)
- Data room software for life sciences (position 2)
- Data room software for investment banking (position 2)
- Data room software for board communications (position 3)
- Data room software for restructuring and insolvency (position 2)
Datasite alternatives
The closest platforms by positioning, type and score.
| Platform | Type | Fit score | Entry | Lists that Datasite does not | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 iDeals | Virtual data room | 8.3 | Quote | Developer API | Profile |
 Intralinks | Virtual data room | 7.7 | Quote | None of the tracked features | Profile |
 Ellty | Virtual data room | 8.7 | $149/mo | Built-in e-signing | Profile |
 Ansarada | Virtual data room | 8.2 | Quote | None of the tracked features | Profile |
Summary. Investment banks, large corporates and private equity firms running complex, multi-bidder processes.
Visit DatasiteDatasite: common questions
How is Datasite priced?
By quote, based on project scope, length and service level. No list price is published, so request a written quote with overage and extension rates.
How much does Datasite cost?
Datasite does not publish a price; it quotes per project. For a competitive process our market band is roughly $1,800 to $5,500 a month, which is an estimate, not a vendor price. Confirm with the provider.
Does Datasite have AI features?
Yes. Our facts file lists AI features for Datasite. Its AI and automation score is 9.0 out of 10.
What security certifications does Datasite have?
Datasite lists SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, and two-factor login is listed as a feature. Request the current report or certificate and read its scope section.
Can Datasite run a multi-bidder process?
Datasite lists all six deal controls we track, including a Q&A module and document rights, which covers a multi-bidder process inside the software.