Datasite Review

What is Datasite data room?
Datasite, formerly known as Merrill Datasite, is a leading provider of virtual data room solutions used primarily for mergers and acquisitions (M&A), fundraising, audits, and other financial transactions. It is designed to facilitate the secure sharing and management of sensitive documents during high-stakes deals and due diligence processes.
While many businesses turn to standard cloud solutions for data storage, Datasite offers an enterprise-grade, highly secure, and feature-rich virtual data room tailored specifically for corporate transactions and complex workflows.
Headquartered in the United States with a strong presence globally, including Datasite Singapore Pte Ltd, the platform supports companies throughout the deal lifecycle—from preparation to post-merger integration.
Who Owns Datasite?
Datasite is privately owned by CapVest, a European private equity firm. It was formerly part of Merrill Corporation, which divested its financial transaction business and rebranded it as Datasite in 2020.
Datasite Singapore Pte Ltd
Datasite Singapore Pte Ltd operates as the Asia-Pacific hub for Datasite’s services. Companies in Southeast Asia often choose Datasite for cross-border M&A and international fundraising activities, benefiting from localized support and APAC-specific compliance knowledge.
What Does Datasite Do?
Datasite data room enables dealmakers, legal teams, investment bankers, and corporate development professionals to manage confidential information efficiently and securely. Its primary use cases include:
- M&A Due Diligence
- Fundraising
- Restructuring
- IPO Preparation
- Audits & Compliance
- Strategic Partnerships
Datasite also provides analytics, project management features, and AI-powered tools that help accelerate deal completion and reduce risk.
Main features of Merrill Datasite
Merill Datasite data room stands out from the crowd of similar solutions because it may seem to be a solution tailored for big deals and collaboration only. There’s a grain of truth in it. However, the list of functions impresses:
Document Management
- Full-text search across documents
- Bulk upload and drag-and-drop functionality
- Support for PDFs, Microsoft Office files, and common image formats
Workflow and Collaboration Tools
- Task tracking and completion monitoring
- Approval workflows and lifecycle management
- Contract drafting and template management
User Access Control
- Granular permissions for users and groups
- Audit trails and activity monitoring
- Role-based access control
Security and Compliance
- Two-factor authentication (2FA)
- Data backup and retention policies
- Complies with global standards (but lacks some advanced security measures)
The advantages and disadvantages of Merrill Datasite
Being a business-oriented virtual data room Datasite focuses on financial operations and content management. However, it’s not equally suitable for all businesses – it lacks some crucial options. Let’s observe its pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
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While the platform meets the needs of many financial professionals, its security limitations and cost may lead some users to explore Datasite competitors like Firmex, iDeals, Intralinks, or Digify.
Datasite Pricing
Datasite pricing is not publicly disclosed, and the platform is known to have a higher starting cost compared to many of its competitors. Pricing is typically customized based on:
- Number of users
- Data storage requirements
- Deal complexity and duration
- Optional services (e.g., project management, translation)
If cost is a primary concern, it may be worth comparing Datasite vs Intralinks, Firmex, or other alternatives with more flexible pricing structures.
Datasite Competitors
Here are some top Datasite alternatives to consider:
- iDeals – Strong on security and ease of use
- Intralinks – Advanced for enterprise M&A and compliance
- Firmex – Popular among law firms and financial advisors
- Digify – Budget-friendly with solid document tracking
- Box – General-purpose cloud storage with VDR add-ons
- DocSend – Best for startups and pitch decks

ideals is a top-rated virtual data room offering ultra-secure document sharing, customizable permissions, and smart indexing for high-stakes deals.

Intralinks is a trusted VDR for enterprise M&A and due diligence, known for its advanced security features, compliance support, and scalability.

Firmex is an enterprise-level data room designed for M&A, compliance, and litigation, offering robust access controls and real-time document tracking.
Datasite vs Intralinks
When comparing Intralinks vs Datasite, both platforms cater to enterprise-level M&A and due diligence but differ in features:
Feature | Datasite | Intralinks |
---|---|---|
Mobile App | No | Yes |
Granular Permissions | Yes | Yes |
Virus Scanning | No | Yes |
Fence View | No | Yes |
AI-Powered Features | Yes | Limited |
Pricing Transparency | Low | Low |
Best for | M&A, fundraising | M&A, fundraising, compliance |
Final Verdict: Is Datasite Worth It?
If you’re a financial professional or enterprise organization managing high-value transactions, Datasite delivers the essentials: secure collaboration, detailed user controls, and robust workflow features.
However, if you prioritize mobile access, cutting-edge security, or affordability, you may find that Datasite falls short compared to ideals, Firmex or Intralinks. Its lack of virus scanning, fence view, and mobile apps make it less attractive in a security-first or mobile-centric environment.
FAQs
Merrill DataSite features:
Industry Solutions
Bankruptcy | |
Biotech Licensing | |
Debt Financing | |
Document Repository | |
Due Diligence | |
Fundraising | |
IPO & Exits | |
Litigation | |
M&A Buy Side | |
M&A Sell Side | |
Private Equity | |
Restructuring | |
Board Portals | |
Clinical Studies |
Files & Folders Management
File Formats Supported: | PDF, MS Office, jpg, jpeg, jpe, gif, bmp, png, tif, tiff |
Automatic Numerical Indexing of Files & Folders | |
Archives Upload & Extraction | |
Document Version Control | |
Drag & Drop Upload of Multiple Files and Folders | |
Export of Data Room Index to Excel | |
Multilingual Documents Index |
File Protection & Digital Rights Management
Granular Document Permissions | |
View-Only Access | |
Prevention of Download, Print and Copy | |
Remote Shredding of Documents | |
Customizable Document Watermarks | |
256-Bit SSL/TLS Encryption | |
Secure Fence View | |
Document Access Expiry |
Data Hosting
99.9% Uptime Guarantee | |
ISO 27001 Certified | |
Data Backup | |
SOC 2 Certified |
Access Security
Two-Factor Authentications | |
Granular User Permissions | |
Permission Groups | |
Access Expiration | |
Mobile Device Management | |
Access Limitation by IP Address |
Accessibility & Ease Of Use
No Plugins | |
Scroll-Through Web-Based Document Viewer | |
Mobile Device Interface | |
User Interface Languages: | |
iOS Application | |
Android Application |
Search, OCR & Filters
Search by Name | |
Search by Content (Full Text Search) | |
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) | |
Filtering by Parameters |
Collaboration Features
Basic Questions & Answers Module | |
New Document Email Notifications | |
Advanced Questions & Answers Module | |
Secure User Messaging | |
Files & Folders Notes |
Activity Tracking & Reporting
Tracking of All User Activity | |
Real-Time Audit Trail | |
Graphic Reports | |
Tracking of Document Viewing Time | |
Scheduled Reports (Sending to Email) |
Customization
Branded User Interface | |
Custom Login Page | |
Custom User Invitation Letter | |
Custom Agreements for Accessing Data Room | |
Single Sign-On Integration | |
Customer-Managed Encryption Keys | |
Integrations Through APIs |
Support & Services
Business Hours Support | |
24/7 Email Support | |
24/7 Phone & Email Support | |
Dedicated Project Manager | |
Data Room Archive on DVD or USB Drive | |
Translation Services | |
Support Languages: | Arabic, Chinese, German, Dutch, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish. |
Online Help Center | |
Live Trainings |
Deployment Options
Cloud (Web-Based) | |
On-Premise (Installed) | |
Multiple Datacenter Locations |
Trial & Pricing
Free Trial: | no |
Price: | Negotiable |
Company Info
Established: | 1967 |
Locations: | United States, Canada, CHINA, HONG KONG, INDONESIA, JAPAN, MALAYSIA, PHILIPPINES, SINGAPORE, SOUTH KOREA, THAILAND, UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE, GERMANY, IRELAND, ITALY, RUSSIA, SPAIN, SWEDEN, TURKEY, BRAZIL, CHILE, MEXICO, PERU, SOUTH A |
Employees: | 3800 |
Clients: | no data |