Datasite vs Intralinks

An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top virtual data rooms picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.

Datasite

Datasite

Ranked #1 of 15 in this directory

The leading M&A platform trusted by dealmakers worldwide for secure due diligence

Paid
Intralinks

Intralinks

Ranked #2 of 15 in this directory

Enterprise-grade virtual data room from SS&C for complex cross-border transactions

Paid

Our pick: Datasite. Our editors rank Datasite higher overall in Virtual Data Rooms — but Intralinks can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review

Compare the details

DatasiteIntralinks
Pricing modelPaidPaid
Starting priceSee websiteSee website
CategoryMa Due DiligenceMa Due Diligence
Editorial rank#1 of 15#2 of 15

Strengths

Datasite

  • Industry-leading platform trusted by the majority of global investment banks and law firms
  • AI-powered automatic document indexing and redaction saves hours of manual work
  • Comprehensive deal analytics show exactly who viewed what and for how long
  • Full deal lifecycle modules from preparation through post-merger integration
  • 24/7 multilingual support with dedicated project managers for complex transactions

Intralinks

  • Deep enterprise security with IRM, dynamic watermarks, and remote document shredding
  • DealManager module provides end-to-end deal pipeline visibility beyond just the data room
  • Proven track record with over $35 trillion in transactions facilitated
  • Strong compliance with SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, and HIPAA regulations
  • Robust API integrations with major financial systems and CRM platforms

Watch out for

Datasite

  • !Premium pricing makes it cost-prohibitive for smaller transactions under $10M
  • !Learning curve for administrators setting up complex permission structures
  • !Per-page pricing model can result in unexpectedly high bills for document-heavy deals
  • !Overkill for simple fundraising rounds or small real estate transactions

Intralinks

  • !User interface feels dated compared to newer cloud-native competitors
  • !Complex pricing structure that can be difficult to predict before launch
  • !Setup and configuration for large deals can require significant admin effort
  • !Customer support responsiveness has received mixed reviews in recent years

Best use cases

Datasite

  • Investment bank running a competitive M&A sell-side process with 50+ potential buyers
  • Corporate development team managing simultaneous due diligence across multiple acquisition targets
  • Law firm conducting cross-border M&A requiring multi-language support and jurisdiction-specific compliance

Intralinks

  • Global investment bank managing a cross-border acquisition involving multiple jurisdictions and regulatory approvals
  • Private equity firm conducting simultaneous due diligence on a portfolio of target companies
  • Insurance company managing large-scale regulatory document sharing with compliance bodies

About each tool

Datasite

Datasite (formerly Merrill Corporation) is the industry-standard virtual data room for M&A transactions, trusted by investment banks, law firms, and corporate development teams across the globe. The platform provides AI-powered document organization, granular permission controls, real-time activity analytics, and a secure environment for sharing highly sensitive deal documents. Datasite's Acquire, Outreach, and Prepare modules cover the full deal lifecycle from target preparation through closing.

Intralinks

Intralinks, an SS&C Technologies company, is one of the original virtual data room providers and remains a dominant player in the M&A and financial services space. The platform supports complex multi-party transactions with advanced security features including information rights management (IRM), dynamic watermarking, and fence-in/fence-out controls. Intralinks also offers DealManager for pipeline management, making it a complete dealmaking ecosystem for financial institutions.

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