Updated Oct 16, 2026
How we score
Every data room gets five scores out of 10, combined into one weighted score. The same facts file and the same formulas apply to all 16.
How the score is built
Field average 8.4/10
Field average 7.3/10
Field average 8.6/10
Field average 8.1/10
Field average 7.1/10
| Criterion | Weight | The question | How it is calculated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investor access control | 26% | Can you decide exactly which investor sees which file, and prove later who opened what? | 55% of our security rating, plus 0.9 points each for viewer watermarks, file-level view and download rights, 2-step login and an activity log, plus 0.5 for redaction inside the room, capped at 10 |
| Diligence workflow | 22% | Will the room carry a full diligence process, questions and answers included, without a second tool? | Half of our feature rating, plus 2.5 points for a built-in Q&A module, 0.8 for bulk upload with folder structure kept and 1.2 for AI help listed by the vendor, capped at 10 |
| Security and compliance | 18% | Will the platform pass the security review a fund, a limited partner or a buyer's IT team runs? | 70% of our security rating, plus 1.2 points for a SOC 2 report, 1.6 for ISO 27001 and 0.4 for single sign-on, capped at 10 |
| Speed to launch | 18% | Can a founder or an associate open a working room the same day, without a training session? | 75% of our ease-of-use rating and 25% of our support rating |
| Cost clarity | 16% | Can you see the price before the first sales call, and test the product before you pay? | 45% of our value rating plus 2 points, then 2.5 more if the price is published and 1 more for a free trial, capped at 10 |
Where the facts come from
For each platform we record its published price and pricing model, free trial, security certifications (SOC 2, ISO 27001), hosting, founding year and headquarters, and twelve features: Q&A, activity log, viewer watermarks, redaction, e-signature, mobile app, public API, single sign-on, 2-step login, bulk upload, view and download rights and AI help. Sources are vendor documentation, pricing pages, trust centres and help articles. We also keep editorial ratings for security, features, ease of use, support and value, based on that documentation.
The five criteria
The table above shows each criterion, its weight and the exact formula. Investor access control weighs most, because the first question in any raise or sale is who can see which file and what they can do with it.
Use-case rankings
Our seven use-case lists (venture capital, private equity, startup fundraising, M&A, hedge funds, IPOs and real estate) use the same five scores with different weights. For example, the startup fundraising list gives more weight to speed to launch and cost clarity; the hedge fund list gives more weight to security and compliance. Platforms whose stated focus matches the use case receive a small bonus of up to 0.3 points.
Editorial choices
Scores are computed, and editors may adjust the final order within a ranking. Partners cannot buy a position. We show one decimal; ties are broken by the unrounded score and then by name.
Updates
Facts are rechecked every month and when a vendor tells us about a change. A change to a price, a certification or a feature flows through to every score, ranking and calculator on the site at the next build.