What Is Intralinks Used For: Top Features and Use Cases
Curious about what Intralinks is and how SS&C Intralinks can streamline your next M&A, fundraising, or board reporting project?
What are its standout features, and are there drawbacks you should know before committing budget to it?
In this guide we answer those questions in detail and explore an alternative VDR provider if you want similar security with transparent, lower pricing.
Let's dive in.
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What is Intralinks (SS&C Intralinks) overview and features
Intralinks—officially SS&C Intralinks after its 2018 acquisition—is an enterprise-grade virtual data room (VDR) and secure collaboration platform trusted by dealmakers worldwide. It focusses on M&A, capital raising, licence deals, restructuring, and investor reporting, offering:
- Granular permission controls to gate view, download, and print rights on a per-file basis.
- Industry-standard security such as ISO-certified data centres, multi-factor authentication, and dynamic watermarking.
- Integrated Q&A and workflow for streamlined due-diligence communication.
- AI-powered redaction and auto-classification (new in 2025) to speed doc-prep.
- Dashboard analytics showing file activity, user engagement, and compliance metrics.
While Intralinks remains a heavyweight, alternatives like Papermark offer unlimited data rooms and page-by-page analytics at a fraction of the price. See our dedicated Intralinks alternatives comparison.
If you'd like to test Papermark Data Rooms instantly, spin up a room in 3 clicks here.
What is Intralinks?
At its core, Intralinks is a secure online repository built to let dispersed teams share confidential documents during critical transactions. Its role is to reduce friction throughout due diligence, investor relations, and board workflows by centralising sensitive files behind enterprise-grade security.
What is Intralinks used for?
Teams rely on Intralinks primarily for:
- Secure document sharing – uploading sensitive P&Ls, cap tables, or legal docs during a transaction.
- Advanced permission management – controlling exactly who can view, print, or save information.
- Due diligence & collaboration – using its built-in Q&A, audit trail, and granular analytics to keep deals moving.
Intralinks Data Room's main use case: document sharing
Key capabilities include:
- Granular permissions: Toggle view, download, and print per user or group.
- Dynamic watermarking & IRM: Automatically stamp documents with recipient info and revoke access post-download.
- AI-assisted redaction: Quickly mask PII before releasing files.
- Usage reporting: Track who accessed which file and when.
Note: Some advanced analytics (e.g., page-level heatmaps) are only available via pricey add-ons. For that insight out-of-the-box, try Papermark's analytics.
Intralinks analytics dashboard and reporting
Admins can review high-level metrics—log-ins, top-viewed files, unanswered questions—but insights stop short of telling you which pages investors lingered on. Papermark covers that gap natively.
Intralinks' main use case: permission management
Intralinks' permission matrix lets admins mix and match rights such as View, Print, Download, Edit, and Revoke. Controls can be applied to whole folders or individual files.
User roles and group permissions
Typical roles include Administrator, Publisher, and Viewer, each with pre-set abilities. You can also build custom groups for buyers vs. sellers, investors vs. advisors, etc.
Intralinks' main use case: due diligence & collaboration
Stand-out workflow features:
- Structured Q&A where participants ask questions tied to specific docs.
- Auto-notifications & reminders to keep everyone on schedule.
- Excel export for auditors who need an offline trail.
How much does Intralinks cost?
Like many legacy VDRs, Intralinks does not list pricing publicly. Based on customer interviews and industry reports, expect:
- Standard Package (short-term projects): entry-level price per GB with limited users.
- Pro Package: mid-tier with AI-redaction and expanded support.
- Enterprise Package: unlimited users, white-glove onboarding, and premium analytics.
Total cost often climbs into five figures annually once storage overages and add-ons are factored in.
Looking for a more affordable VDR alternative to Intralinks?
See our full Intralinks alternatives breakdown.
Benefits of using Intralinks
- Global trust & brand recognition: Over 4M registered users across 240,000+ deals.
- AI redaction: Saves legal teams hours scrubbing sensitive data.
- Bank-grade compliance: SOC 2 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001, and GDPR ready.
- Mobile app: Access data rooms on iOS and Android.
Drawbacks of using Intralinks
- Opaque pricing: Must negotiate with sales to get a quote.
- Expensive for SMBs: Minimums often exceed the budget of smaller teams.
- Limited page-level analytics: Hard to gauge true investor interest.
- Complex UI for first-time users: Steep learning curve compared to modern tools.
- Storage overages: Additional GBs can inflate the final invoice.
Why an alternative is needed for Intralinks VDR?
- Unlimited data rooms & storage aren't included until top-tier plans.
- Transparent pricing matters when comparing bids quickly.
- Deeper analytics like page heatmaps drive smarter follow-ups.
- White-label flexibility for branding decks to investors.
- Self-hosting options for stringent data-sovereignty mandates.
Papermark: A better alternative to Intralinks
If you need iron-clad security plus unlimited rooms without sticker shock, Papermark is designed for you.
Papermark combines open-source transparency with enterprise features such as:
- Unlimited data rooms and storage
- Page-by-page analytics
- Custom domains & full white-labelling
- Self-host or cloud deploy
Papermark's main use case: secure document & data room sharing
1. Unlimited data rooms & storage
Create as many rooms as you need—no surprise overage fees.
2. Link sharing & granular security controls
From email verification to screenshot protection, you stay in control. Learn more about link permissions.
3. Full white-label branding
Swap colours, logos, and even the domain to stay on brand.
Papermark's main use case: advanced document analytics
Know exactly which slide convinces investors and where they drop off.
How much does Papermark cost?
Papermark publishes pricing up front:
- Business: €59/mo, 1 room included
- Data Rooms: €99/mo, unlimited rooms + advanced analytics
Benefits of using Papermark
- Unlimited data rooms & storage out-of-the-box
- Page-level engagement analytics for smarter follow-ups
- Open-source codebase for unparalleled transparency
- Self-hosting option for sensitive industries
- Simple UI that non-technical users grasp in minutes
- Transparent pricing with monthly or annual billing
Drawbacks of using Papermark
- No dedicated mobile apps (web responsive works across devices)
- Data room features require paid tier (free tier covers single-file sharing)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Intralinks?
Intralinks—also known as SS&C Intralinks—is a virtual data room for secure document sharing during financial transactions.
How secure is Intralinks?
Very secure: it holds certifications such as SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001, plus features like dynamic watermarking and MFA.
How much does Intralinks cost?
Pricing is quote-based. Customers report paying anywhere from a few thousand dollars for short-term projects to five-figure annual contracts.
What are the best Intralinks alternatives?
Modern, more affordable options include Papermark, Venue by DFIN, and Ansarada.
Can I self-host Intralinks?
No. Intralinks is only available as a hosted SaaS. If you need on-prem, consider Papermark's self-hosting.
Conclusion
Intralinks remains a trusted VDR for complex deals, offering robust compliance and AI tools. However, its opaque pricing and limited analytics push many teams to explore alternatives.
If you prefer transparent costs, unlimited rooms, and page-by-page insights, Papermark deserves a closer look.