If you’ve ever been on the deal side of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), audit, or restructuring, you know how much rides on having the right tools to manage confidential documents.
Datasite Diligence Virtual Data Room is one of the most commonly used virtual data room software for these transactions. It’s built for teams managing sensitive documents and complex workflows, with features like role-based access, built-in Q&A, and AI-powered redaction. But visibility doesn’t always tell you how a tool performs day to day.
So, is Datasite VDR as good as it looks on paper?
I reviewed hundreds of G2 reviews to get a clearer picture of its performance in the real world. This article breaks down what people liked, what frustrated them, and what to expect if you’re considering it for your next deal.
Datasite Diligence ranks #1 in the virtual data room software category based on G2’s Spring 2025 Grid Report. Buyers are encouraged to consider individual needs when making a purchase decision.
What do G2 reviews say about Datasite VDR?
Datasite VDR is commonly used by large enterprises, especially in industries where confidentiality matters most: investment banking, private equity, and corporate law. Most reviewers work at companies with over 1,000 employees, often managing complex deals that require strict access control and organized documentation.
Let’s quickly examine user sentiment before diving into the details.
What key features of Datasite make it suitable for investment banking, especially for due diligence and M&A?
According to G2 users, Datasite supports the essential needs of investment banking teams: speed, accuracy, and control when managing complex, multi-stakeholder deals. Features such as AI-assisted redaction, granular permission settings, and secure document sharing are noted as crucial for investment banking needs. Its built-in Q&A, real-time activity tracking, and analytics also assist teams in staying organized and minimizing unnecessary back-and-forth during the diligence process.
Where does Datasite fall short, according to G2 reviews?
The majority of reviews pointed to how useful they found Datasite. However, reviewers have suggested areas for improvement related to file performance and onboarding. Some users noted slower uploads when handling large files, while others mentioned that first-time or external users may need some guidance. Pricing was also flagged by smaller teams who felt the cost structure didn’t always reflect their usage, but many still viewed these as reasonable trade-offs for the platform’s overall reliability and feature depth.
What features should I look for in a secure data room for M&A?
When evaluating a secure data room for M&A, the most important features to look for include granular permission controls, audit trails, redaction tools, and user-level tracking. A secure data room should also offer encryption, access restrictions, and activity monitoring to protect sensitive deal materials.
Below is a closer look at the feedback: what reviewers highlight most often, highs and hiccups included.
What do customer reviews say about the user interface and usability of Datasite?
G2 users had a lot of positive comments about Datasite’s user interface, usability, and overall experience. They commended the platform for its intuitive layout, ease of document management, granular permission settings, and dependable search functionality. Additionally, collaboration tools such as the Q&A module and the support team’s responsiveness emerged as significant highlights.
- Detailed permission control: Many users appreciated the ability to assign different access levels based on role, party, or document type. Reviewers said this helped manage sensitive materials more effectively across internal teams and external stakeholders.
- Strong search functionality: The platform’s search feature stood out for its ability to locate content within documents, not just titles. This was especially helpful when working with large volumes of files during complex transactions. G2 reviewers also pointed out that the search worked well across different languages, thanks to the platform’s optical character recognition (OCR) engine, which supports over 16 languages.
- Efficient document management: Users frequently praised how easy it was to upload, organize, and sort documents using drag-and-drop tools or folder templates. Several reviewers noted that it didn’t take long to get a clean, structured data room up and running.
- Built-in collaboration tools: The Q&A module got high marks for helping teams manage questions without relying on external email threads. Users liked that answers could be escalated to FAQs or exported into reports for better tracking.
- Responsive customer support: Support was a recurring highlight across reviews. Users pointed to fast response times, helpful guidance during setup, and a general sense that the support team understood the pace and pressure of live deals.
“I work in the diligence space and have access to multiple datarooms from 100+ transactions that I do throughout the year. Between my peers and I, Datasite is widely considered the best online VDR. It’s incredibly practical, very fast, and is typically the prime choice of VDR for most of the transactions that I’m on annually. Uploading information is very easy, the software is very secure, and I’ve never honestly had an issue that I’ve needed to reach out to customer support for. Overall, very satisfied with VDR and how easy it is to implement and integrate into the many times that I’ve used it.”
– Datasite Diligence Virtual Data Room Review, Eric M., Senior Associate.
What is the customer feedback about Datasite’s secure data room services?
While the overall feedback for Datasite is positive, G2 reviewers did point to some common challenges. As with any platform, users ran into occasional friction, most commonly with the search tool not surfacing the right results, new users needing time to get comfortable with the interface, and delays when uploading large files. These issues weren’t deal-breakers for most, but they came across quite a few reviews.
- Search can be better: While the search tool received praise overall, some users said it occasionally missed relevant files, often when documents weren’t processed correctly, or OCR didn’t pick up on certain terms.
- Steeper learning curve for new users: Getting started wasn’t always smooth. Reviewers noted that external collaborators and less technical users needed extra guidance, and a few workflows weren’t immediately intuitive. That said, many also mentioned that once they got used to the layout, the interface felt easy to navigate.
- Trouble with large file uploads: Uploading bigger files sometimes led to delays, failed uploads, or the need to break files into smaller parts. This added unnecessary steps during deal prep.
“Permissions can get a bit tricky with all the different options available (by buyer, by file, etc), so it can be overwhelming. The default to turn Word documents into PDFs can also be a hindrance.”
– Datasite Diligence Virtual Data Room Review, Verified User in Venture Capital & Private Equity.
What are the best practices for using a data room in corporate legal teams?
Corporate legal teams should maintain a consistent folder structure, restrict document access based on role or case sensitivity, and use built-in tools like Q&A to centralize collaboration when working within a data room. It’s also important to log all document activity to support compliance, audit readiness, and internal accountability.
How secure is Datasite VDR?
Security and reliability are top priorities in any virtual data room. So, I was naturally inclined to ask: what do users say about Datasite’s security and reliability in reviews?
According to G2 users, Datasite is seen as a secure and dependable platform for managing sensitive deal documents. Many reviewers highlighted its strong access control, AI-assisted redaction tools, and activity tracking as key features that support secure workflows. These tools helped users feel confident when sharing confidential materials with internal teams and external stakeholders.
How can I ensure the security of sensitive documents during M&A
To ensure document security during M&A, you’ll want to limit access to only the right stakeholders and closely monitor user activity. G2 users noted that tools like Datasite help with this by offering features for redacting sensitive information, such as names or financials, and providing visibility into document engagement so you know exactly who’s reviewing what and when.
While most feedback was positive, a few users noted that certain permission workflows could be easier to manage or that more flexibility would improve the redaction process.
Granular permission controls
Many users liked being able to set detailed permissions by file, folder, or user. It gave teams more control over who could see what at different deal stages. However, a few reviewers said assigning and reviewing those permissions wasn’t always as smooth as they wanted. Managing access across large folder structures took time, and some wished it were easier to copy settings or review them after changes were made.
What G2 users are saying:
“Datasite is very easy to set up and use. Additionally, it’s easy to permit users to have different levels of access rights. It is recognized in the financial industry as best-in-class and is trusted. It’s easy to see who has accessed the files and provides valuable information and privacy when it comes to M&A activity.”
– Datasite Diligence Virtual Data Room Review, Stephen G., Chief Financial Officer.
Redaction tools for sensitive information
Several reviewers mentioned using Datasite’s built-in redaction tool to spot and mask personally identifiable information (PII) before sharing documents. The AI-powered suggestions helped speed up the process when working through large batches of files. A few users wanted more flexibility when redacting at scale, but most found the tool reliable and easy to work with.
What G2 users are saying:
“Datasite allows permissions to be tailored specifically to different user groups, which is very helpful for revealing different data to different parties. The redaction tool helps me keep data private from parties who are not privy to certain information. Much easier than downloading data, deleting information, then re-uploading and replacing.”
– Datasite Diligence Virtual Data Room Review, Joshua N., Small Business.
Visibility into user activity
Reviewers appreciated being able to see who had viewed documents and when. That kind of visibility helped teams stay aligned and understand where counterparties spent time. A few users mentioned that they’d like this tracking to be a bit more accurate or easier to interpret, particularly when it came to document history or status updates.
What G2 users are saying:
“Datasite Diligence solves the problem of managing sensitive documents securely during complex transactions. It provides a centralized, secure platform where we can track activity, manage permissions, and ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements. This results in faster deal processes, enhanced collaboration between teams, and peace of mind knowing that our data is protected.”
– Datasite Diligence Virtual Data Room Review, Blaise S., Associate
G2 insights on Datasite pricing
Understanding the costs involved is essential when selecting a virtual data room for high-stakes work. While Datasite doesn’t publicly disclose pricing, G2 reviewers provided extensive feedback about the platform’s pricing and user experience.
Here’s what users are saying across company sizes:
How do small businesses feel about Datasite’s pricing?
Smaller teams were more vocal about pricing concerns. Many described Datasite VDR as being on the more premium end, with additional charges for things like Excel files, media uploads, or USB archives.
A few users also said it was hard to justify the cost on smaller deals, and they wished there were more transparent or flexible pricing models, especially for clients who are price-sensitive or working with limited budgets.
What G2 users are saying:
“The only con to Datasite is pricing. The legacy providers continue to charge based on page count and special media, while new entrants are offering a flat subscription price based on storage needs.”
– Datasite Diligence Virtual Data Room Review, Verified User in Investment Banking.
What is the outlook of enterprise teams on Datasite’s pricing model?
Mid- to large-sized organizations were less critical of Datasite’s pricing. While some did point out that Datasite is priced higher than competitors, the overall tone was more balanced. Does that mean the performance justifies costs for enterprise teams?
Many users weighed the cost against the platform’s performance, security, and support, often concluding that the value justified the spend. For teams managing large volumes of sensitive data or running complex transactions, the pricing is aligned with the service level.
What G2 users are saying:
“Pricing can be on the higher end, particularly when deals go into a continuation period, but well worth the costs relative to other VDR vendors.”
– Datasite Diligence Virtual Data Room Review, Verified User in Financial Services.
FAQs: Is Datasite VDR legit?
Yes, they are legit. If you have more questions for them? I’ve compiled a few that frequently show up on G2 reviews.
1. Is Datasite the most reliable?
Many users praise Datasite for being fast, stable, and reliable. They highlight features like smooth uploads, consistent uptime, and quick file access during live deals. Although some users have occasionally mentioned experiencing slowness or difficulty logging in, primarily when working with larger data sets, the platform is generally trusted for high-stakes projects.
2. What reporting features does Datasite offer for tracking document access?
Datasite gives teams visibility into how documents are being used, down to which users opened which files, which pages they viewed, and how often they returned to them. This level of detail helps identify serious interests, prioritize follow-ups, and keep internal stakeholders informed. Reporting can be scheduled, exported, and customized so teams don’t have to manually track engagement during fast-moving deals.
3. How do the user experience and collaboration tools of Datasite compare with other secure data room solutions?
Compared to other secure data room providers, users describe Datasite Diligence as structured and reliable. While the interface isn’t the flashiest, many teams value its built-in Q&A for managing bidder questions and its responsive chat support during time-sensitive deal cycles. Overall, users tend to prioritize Datasite’s control and deal-readiness over visual polish.
4. Which data room providers are best for large Fortune 500 companies?
Nearly half of the reviews for Datasite on G2 come from companies with over 1,000 employees, highlighting its relevance for large-scale dealmaking, including use cases common among Fortune 500 organizations. The platform supports high file volumes, complex access controls, and detailed activity reporting—features that align well with the needs of large enterprises.
5. How does Datasite compare to other secure data room solutions for due diligence and M&A?
When compared to other VDRs for due diligence and M&A, G2 reviewers often point to Datasite’s ease of use, responsive customer support, and AI-powered tools as key differentiators. Features like built-in Q&A, fast search, flexible permission settings, and multi-language OCR detection make it well-suited for complex, cross-border deals. While pricing is higher than some alternatives, many users feel the usability and service justify the investment during high-pressure M&A processes.
6. How does Datasite compare to Intralinks?
In the reviews I evaluated, I saw frequent praise for Datasite’s intuitive navigation, responsive customer support, and ease of setup. Compared side by side on G2, Datasite currently scores higher than Intralinks across core usability categories like ease of use, administration, and support. Intralinks is still widely used and seen as a solid platform, but based on the current G2 data, Datasite seems to be taking the lead.
Closing the deal on Datasite
So, is Datasite VDR legit? The reviews I evaluated show that it’s a strong contender, particularly for investment banking, legal teams, and enterprise-level transactions. Users consistently praised its ease of use, granular permission controls, and reliable performance during high-pressure due diligence processes. On the other hand, some teams flagged concerns around pricing transparency, large file uploads, or the need for a more modern UI.
Still, for many deal professionals, the value lies in how well the tool holds up when the stakes are high. With real-time activity tracking, built-in redaction, and support that shows up when you need it, Datasite delivers on the core expectations of a secure, deal-ready virtual data room.
Is it the right fit for every team or budget? Not necessarily. But if your priority is reliability, control, and support throughout the M&A process, Datasite is a platform worth considering.
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