Contract management software can make a big difference in the efficacy of your business processes — and it can also save your employees a lot of grief. Every day, thousands of workers around the world face the challenging reality of manual contract management. This can look like:
- Hunting through chaotic cloud storage folders to find an old contract they can draw from
- Grappling to re-format a series of Frankensteined clauses copied and pasted from various sources
- Exporting their document as a PDF and sharing it in a Slack channel, then via email
- Praying there are no edits requested (there will be)
- Having to print a contract, sign it by hand, scan it, and send it back out to the next signee
This tireless rigamarole of context- and app-switching costs your company time and resources. But it also leaves employees feeling burnt out, scatterbrained, and lacking a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. In the digital world, there’s no sense in sacrificing employee engagement and productivity when tools that can help are available.
Choosing to use one of these top contract management software means automating manual workloads, facilitating legally binding e-signatures, and keeping important documents organized and secure. Check out the detailed overviews in this list to find the right tool to support your team!
Best Contract Management Software Shortlist
Here’s the shortlist of the best tools that I’ll cover in this article:
- PandaDoc - Best for all-around document management
- LinkSquares - Best for digitizing existing contracts
- Proposify - Best for managing proposals and quotes
- Ironclad - Best for managing contracts across company departments
- Qwilr - Best contract management software for sales teams
- DocuSign CLM - Best for international and multilingual contract management
- SpotDraft - Best for outstanding customer support
- Evisort - Best AI-powered contract management software
- Juro - Best for a straightforward user interface
- Oneflow - Best for creating a more personalized experience
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What Is Contract Management Software?
Contract management software are tools that support the entire contract lifecycle process for businesses. They bring drafting, negotiating, signing, and managing contracts for your company into a single platform. Users can build contract templates and automate their workflows to reduce manual workloads and speed up their processes. These software facilitate legally binding digital signatures, and many also have analytics and reporting features.
How I Selected the Best Contract Management Software
Like adding any new tool to your tech stack, you want to be sure you’ve found the best contract management system for your needs. So you might be wondering how I selected the top tools to include in this list.
First, I compiled a long list of the best contract management software based on positive user reviews. Then I evaluated them against one another, taking into account the selection criteria I’ve outlined below. Having worked in Rev Ops for years, I drew on my first-hand experience to find the most valuable and impactful features that make for a great contract solution.
To learn more about the key features I looked for in my research, the stages of contract management, and additional tools to support your business operations, jump to the People Also Ask section farther down in this roundup. You can also skip directly to my detailed software summaries to see what each of the tools on the shortlist has to offer.
Selection Criteria
These are the main selection and evaluation criteria I used to develop my list of the best contract management software, each with a short description.
Usability
Contract lifecycle management usually involves multiple stakeholders, sometimes from various company departments. Whether it’s your procurement, HR, or sales team using the software, it needs to be user-friendly and simple enough to learn.
Features
Generally, features like contract creation, redlining, electronic signatures, approval workflows, and a contract repository for document management are considered standard features. But more specialized features like customizable templates, artificial intelligence, dashboards, and auto-population of contract data definitely set certain contract management tools apart from others.
Integrations
Connecting your CLM software to your other SaaS tools can support automation and reduce app-switching. Whether you’re looking for Salesforce, Microsoft, HubSpot, or Stripe integrations, I made sure to include a list with each tool overview.
Pricing
The pricing can be quite varied for different contract management solutions. Of course, budget is an essential factor in deciding on a new software solution to add to your tech stack, but you also want to be sure the software you choose has the proper functionality to support your needs. I took both cost and value into account with every tool on the list.
Overviews Of The 10 Best Contract Management Software
Below, I’ve outlined general overviews of each tool based on my selection criteria. Read on to understand how each tool stands out from other contract management software.
1. PandaDoc - Best for all-around document management
PandaDoc is a cloud-based document management platform that enables companies to share, review, and manage all their documents, including contracts, proposals, quotes, and forms.
Why I picked PandaDoc: Users can manage their contracts and other documents in the same place with this software. The platform has over 750 templates that can be customized and saved to speed up and standardize document creation. Version tracking, comments, and approvals keep things organized and clear, and automated features like variables and conditional logic prevent and reduce errors.
The platform’s capabilities make it suitable for businesses of any size, in any industry. For contracts specifically, the tool’s features enable customization, negotiation, and e-signatures. In addition to ready-to-use contract templates, the software hosts a library of clauses users can draw from to craft custom contracts. Customizable user permissions and approval flows help automate the contract development and signing process.
PandaDoc Standout Features and Integrations
Features include signing orders, version history, audit trail, signature requests, reminders, expirations, regulatory compliance, and customizable templates.
Integrations include Authorize.Net, HubSpot, Omniscient, PayPal, Pipedrive, QuickBooks, Salesforce, Stripe, and Zoho. More integrations can be unlocked with a paid Zapier account.
Price: Plans start at $19/user/month
Free Trial: Free 14-day trial available
Pros
- Simple, user-friendly experience for people signing contracts
- Quick setup and time to value
- Robust feature set brings all types of company documents into a single platform
Cons
- Mobile apps could be more user-friendly
- Updating existing documents can be difficult, users say they’ve needed to start over
2. LinkSquares - Best for digitizing existing contracts
LinkSquares is an artificial intelligence-powered legal contract management software. Users can draft, sign, and manage contracts using the platform.
Why I picked LinkSquares: The tool uses AI to help speed up the contract drafting process and digitize existing contracts for use within the platform. It also has collaboration tools and e-signature capabilities to support the contract execution workflow. Analytics and reporting tools support contract management and search.
For companies looking to digitize their contracting operations, this software is a great option because the AI scans existing documents and renders them searchable and editable. The tool’s intelligence can also facilitate contract review, and search and organize contracts using smart variables like renewal terms and effective dates.
LinkSquares Standout Features and Integrations
Features include customizable contract templates, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), private cloud storage, encryption, and a dedicated support specialist.
Integrations include AdobeSign, Amazon S3, Box, DocuSign, Egnyte, Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft Word, OneDrive, Salesforce, ShareFile, and SharePoint.
Price: Pricing available upon request
Free Trial: Free demo available
Pros
- Simple, user-friendly dashboard
- Responsive and knowledgeable support team
- Truly best-in-class technology
Cons
- Lacking in contract update notifications
- Limited task scheduling features
3. Proposify - Best for managing proposals and quotes
Proposify is document management software for contract development and management. Users can create contracts using templates and have them signed with e-signatures.
Why I picked Proposify: Users can draft contracts using the customizable templates provided in the software or from scratch. The software auto-populates fields to speed up the drafting process and reduce manual errors. Approval workflows can be set up in the product with set editing and sending privileges and user permissions.
This platform is particularly suited to sales and marketing teams as it can also be used to draft and manage proposals and quotes. Sales teams can use the templates for quicker turnaround with client communications. Meanwhile, marketing teams can craft branded sales enablement collateral and pre-approved copy to be used across departments.
Proposify Standout Features and Integrations
Features include a content library, roles and permissions, customizable templates, custom branding and design, auto-populated fields, and approval workflows.
Integrations include Basecamp, Drift, FreshBooks, Gong, Harvest, HubSpot, Intercom, Olark, Pipedrive, QuickBooks, Salesforce, Stripe, and Zoho. Access additional integrations when you get a paid Zapier account.
Price: Plans start at $49/user/month, billed quarterly or annually
Free Trial: 14-day free trial available
Pros
- Users can centralize proposals, quotes, and contracts in the same software
- Some fields are auto-populated and design assets are automatically added, saving time
- Templates are designed to be eye-catching and incorporate your branding
Cons
- Getting comfortable with the editor can be a learning curve
- Proposals are the centerpiece of the product, and have more features than contracts
4. Ironclad - Best for managing contracts across company departments
Ironclad is a digital contracting software with contract generation, negotiation, approval, signature, and storage functionalities.
Why I picked Ironclad: A contract editor lets you draft and develop contracts and a workflow designer lets you create and automate approval and signature flows. Storage and organization are also built into the system, and users can search and filter through their contract repository to find and repurpose existing contracts. The tool’s reporting feature offers data visualization on contract processing status and helps users spot bottlenecks.
This software was built by legal professionals but can be used by legal, sales, marketing, HR, procurement, and finance teams. It’s a good option for companies that manage contracts in several departments. The workflow designer and analytics dashboard help users keep track of contracts across an organization.
Ironclad Standout Features and Integrations
Features include editing, commenting, and track changes in DOCX files; an AI-powered repository; data visualization; approval flows; and automated compliance.
Integrations include Adobe Acrobat Sign, Box, Deloitte Legal, DocuSign, Dropbox, Egnyte, Eigen, FiveTran, Formstack, Google, OneDrive, OneTrust, and Salesforce. Users can access additional integrations with a paid Zapier account.
Price: Pricing available upon request
Free Trial: 30-day free trial available; free demo available
Pros
- “Launch forms” walk users through contract requirements to start drafting
- Negotiation features enable back-and-forth between signers and stakeholders to finalize contracts
- Visual representation of each contract’s workflow helps users track progress
Cons
- Users without a legal background may face a learning curve with technical aspects of the product
- Lacking templates, a feature many competitors offer
5. Qwilr - Best contract management software for sales teams
Qwilr is a sales automation and content management software with contracting, collateral, and buyer tracking capabilities.
Why I picked Qwilr: This platform goes beyond contract management to include sales automation and reporting and analytics features. Contract, proposal, and quote development can be automated with personalized variables like company names, contact details, and pricing information. E-signature, brand control, and permissions simplify contract management.
For sales teams looking to automate their processes and manage contracts and other collateral in one platform, this can be a great tool. Ready-made templates with drag-and-drop customization and an Unsplash image library make it easy for sales reps to design polished, branded collateral quickly. The tool’s buyer engagement tracking feature sends users real-time notifications on buyer actions.
Qwilr Standout Features and Integrations
Features include drag-and-drop collateral builder, template gallery, automated variables, custom API to pull data from other sources, and buyer activity insights.
Integrations include HubSpot, Pipedrive, QuickBooks, Salesforce, Slack, Stripe, and Zoho CRM. A paid Zapier account gives users access to additional integrations.
Price: Plans start at $35/user/month, billed annually
Free Trial: 14-day free trial available; free demo available
Pros
- Live updates make reviewing documents and accessing the most up-to-date version easy
- Highly adaptable and customizable content builder
- Responsive and knowledgeable customer support team
Cons
- Certain content blocks lack flexibility
- Product is catered to sales teams and may not deliver as much value to other departments
6. DocuSign CLM - Best for international and multilingual contract management
DocuSign is a contract lifecycle management (CLM) software with automation features that speed up the process of generating, signing, and storing contracts.
Why I picked DocuSign CLM: Users can quickly produce contracts using the template and clause libraries and auto-population. Comments, notifications, and detailed version control facilitate the revision and negotiation process. A drag-and-drop editor and over 100 pre-configured workflow steps help users to design custom workflows for the contract lifecycle. All contracts are stored in a central repository with permission controls as well as search and filtering.
A standout feature of the software is that it can be used in over 180 countries, and it has 44 languages available for signers and 14 available for senders. The tool is suited to HR, legal, procurement, and sales teams and can be used across an organization to facilitate contract management. In addition to contract lifecycle management, the software offers digital notarization and identity verification functionality.
DocuSign CLM Standout Features and Integrations
Features include multiple language options, drag-and-drop workflow builder, template and clause libraries, auto-population, version control, permission controls, and a mobile app.
Integrations include Apple, Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce, SAP, Smart Communications, Stripe, Workday, and Zoom. Additional integrations can be accessed with a paid Zapier account.
Price: Plans start at $15/month
Free Trial: 3-day free trial available
Pros
- Users can bundle multiple documents in a single ‘envelope’ for consolidated sending
- Full visibility of the lifecycle stage and status of each contract
- Friendly user interface with color coding and intuitive navigation
Cons
- Difficult to make updates and adjustments once a document is finalized and sent
- Documents may be ‘canceled’ if signers fail to sign by the deadline
7. SpotDraft - Best for outstanding customer support
SpotDraft is contract management software with templates, workflows, a repository, reporting, and campaign management.
Why I picked SpotDraft: The software’s template feature allows users to create editable templates from scratch or from existing Word documents. Variables in an existing template can be turned into placeholders for easy personalization when it’s used in the future. The workflow feature can auto-assign tasks to specific users, and auto-signing can even be set up for certain basic, standardized contracts.
Users can store, search, and access contracts in the tool’s repository, with role-based access controls and automated report generation. The software also enables contract linking to connect relevant documents to one another, so they can all be tracked in a single view. Reporting can be done based on contract status, type, dates, users, or custom tags.
SpotDraft Standout Features and Integrations
Features include approval workflows, auto-assignment of tasks, auto-sign, role-based access, automated reporting, contract linking, customizable templates, and Microsoft Word plugin.
Integrations include Adobe Sign, BambooHR, Copper, DocuSign, Gmail, Google Drive, HubSpot, Jira, Lever, Pipedrive, QuickBooks, Salesforce, Slack, Xero, and Zoho.
Price: Pricing available upon request
Free Trial: Free demo available
Pros
- Customer support and onboarding team are responsive and knowledgeable
- Product team is receptive to feedback and regularly ships new product features
- User interface is friendly and easy to navigate
Cons
- Product is still new and lacks certain features that competitors offer
- E-Stamp Paper is not currently supported but is required in some states
8. Evisort - Best AI-powered contract management software
Evisort is AI-powered contract management software with drafting, negotiation, automation, management, analytics, and reporting capabilities.
Why I picked Evisort: The artificial intelligence in this product helps users migrate their existing contracts and automate contract drafting and management based on data from their historical agreements. Users can populate a clause library using excerpts from their legacy contracts and establish automated best practices for new contracts, such as fallback language or standard terminology. Existing contracts can also be turned into templates for future use.
In addition to automated contract drafting, the software automates contract workflows, management, and reporting. Standardized request and review processes can be set in the tool for simplified contract lifecycle management, and AI-extracted contract data helps users easily search the contract repository. Users can develop reports on request trends, cycle times, and ticket volumes to understand their contract management efficacy.
Evisort Standout Features and Integrations
Features include AI-powered migration of existing contracts, template and clause libraries, workflow and approval processes, AI-powered search, and reporting.
Integrations include Adobe Sign, Amazon S3, Box, DocuSign, DropBox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Microsoft SharePoint, Salesforce, and a custom API.
Price: Pricing available upon request
Free Trial: Free demo available
Pros
- Migration of legacy agreements means users don’t have to start from scratch
- Ability to search repositories based on document contents and keywords
- Responsive and knowledgeable customer onboarding and support team
Cons
- Workflow logic configuration is less complex than some competitors
- Some elements of the tool have a learning curve
9. Juro - Best for a straightforward user interface
Juro is contract automation software for contract creation, execution, and management purposes. Users can have contracts drafted, negotiated, and signed using the platform.
Why I picked Juro: Users can draft contracts and templates directly in the platform, or by uploading an existing document. Conditional logic and drag-and-drop fields can be used to customize a contract or template. The no-code workflow builder helps users create approval flows and track the progress of their contracts. Users can stay up-to-date on contract negotiations with split internal and external versions with comments, threads, and suggestions.
The platform has advanced e-signature capabilities with identity verification and the ability to sign from any device. Users can set multiple signatories with sequential logic, and audit trails of key actions help users keep up with the status of each contract. Reminders can be automated to ensure no steps are missed or skipped, and the searchable repository stores all contracts in one place.
Juro Standout Features and Integrations
Features include in-browser redlining, drag-and-drop fields, conditional logic, AI-driven OCR tagging, no-code workflow builder, split internal and external versions, e-signature on any divide, and identity verification.
Integrations include Gmail, Google Drive, Greenhouse, HubSpot, Salesforce, Slack, Webhooks, Workday, and a REST API. A paid Zapier account gives users access to additional integrations.
Price: Pricing available upon request
Free Trial: Free demo available
Pros
- User-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate and quick to learn
- Highly customizable, so users can mold the tool to fit their needs
- Users can see when a contract has been viewed
Cons
- Reporting tool has fewer features and options than some competitors
- Once a contract has been sent, it can’t be updated and must be duplicated to edit
10. Oneflow - Best for creating a more personalized experience
Oneflow is a contract lifecycle software that handles the pre-sign, signing, and post-signing process of digital contract management.
Why I picked Oneflow: Users can record a video walking the signer through the contract to add context and create a more personalized experience. Contract fields can be left open for signers to fill in themselves, and live negotiation tells users when contracts have been opened, updated, or signed. The software also allows users to edit and update contracts after sending.
The personalization features of this platform make it a good option for HR, procurement, and sales teams. Users can create a more engaging and human virtual signing experience, helping them stand out from their competitors. The tool also has a secure repository with automated updating to delete expired and rejected contracts, workflow automation, and access control features.
Oneflow Standout Features and Integrations
Features include collaboration and real-time editing, AI-generated content, a library of customizable templates, the ability to edit after sending, interactive fields, live notifications, and e-signature on any device.
Integrations include Google Workspace, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Pipedrive, Sympa, Teamtailor, Upsales, and Workable. A paid Zapier account unlocks additional integrations.
Price: Plans start at $21.45/user/month
Free Trial: 14-day free trial available; free demo available
Pros
- Ability to edit contracts after sending
- Personalization features make for a more human experience
- Expired and rejected contracts are automatically deleted to support GDPR compliance
Cons
- People must be set up as users to review contracts
- Some fields in templates don’t auto-populate or sync with each other
Other Options
Didn’t find the perfect match in the overviews above? Here are a few more contract management software that didn’t make the shortlist:
- Contractbook - Best for automated workflows
- INHUBBER - Best for signing various file types
- Concord - Best for collaborating with external contributors
- Lexion - Best for contract workflow management
- CobbleStone Contract Insight Enterprise - Best for enterprise-level management
- Conga Contracts - Best for a digital commerce platform
- PocketLaw - Best for legal teams
- ContractHero - Best for managing contracts by category
- ContractSafe - Best for high-security standards and compliance
- Contract Logix - Best for healthcare and pharmaceutical companies
People Also Ask: More About Contract Management
Wondering what else you need to know about contract management? Here are answers to a few common questions.
What are the three stages of contract management?
You can break down the contract management lifecycle in a few different ways, but generally speaking, these are the three stages of the contract process:
- Drafting: In this stage, the contract is being developed. The necessary dates, contact information, and clauses are being compiled into a comprehensive document that outlines the parameters of an agreement. Sometimes multiple stakeholders are involved, and contract drafting usually has a clear approval process.
- Signing: Sometimes, there’s a contract negotiation stage between drafting and signing to ensure the document meets the expectations of all parties involved. Once the draft is finalized, all relevant parties can sign it. Contract management software offers e-signature capabilities for digital signing.
- Management: Once a contract is signed, it needs to be properly stored for reference, amendments, renewal, or cancellation. Stored contracts can also be used to support the drafting of new contracts by repurposing sections and clauses. It’s important that contracts are effectively managed with privacy, security, and access guardrails in place.
What are key features of contract management software?
Here are 5 key features to look for in contract management software. Depending on your needs, some may be more important to you than others.
- Templates: Complete contract templates or clauses that can be repurposed help users create contracts more quickly, without having to start from a blank page.
- E-signature: Contracts are nothing if not signed! Digital signature features make it possible to have legally binding contracts signed on various devices.
- Workflows: Each stage in the contract lifecycle is important, and workflow tools help users streamline and manage this sometimes complex process.
- Repository: Goodbye, filing cabinets! Most contract management software have a cloud-based, searchable central repository.
- Security: This can include things like permissions, end-to-end encryption, how e-sign is facilitated, and how contract data is stored and used.
What other revenue operations software should I use?
Contracts are just one piece of the bigger picture of your revenue operations, and there is plenty of software out there that can support your sales, marketing, and success teams. Here are a few to consider:
- Marketing Automation Software
- Pricing Software
- Sales Enablement Software
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software
Streamlining Your Contract Management Process With Software
When you introduce a great contract management platform, you’re able to streamline your process from authoring contracts all the way through to signing and securely storing them. It also makes a big difference in the day-to-day experience of employees at your company. Rather than getting bogged down in the busy work, teams can focus on the work that really counts.
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