Datasite Diligence Virtual Data Room (formerly Merrill DataSite) is a heavyweight virtual data room built for high-stakes M&A deals. Its functionality is impressive, but Datasite pricing is still calculated on a legacy per-page basis, meaning the total Datasite cost can climb into six figures even for modest projects. As a result, the platform is rarely the best fit for startups, small businesses, or any finance team that needs predictable spend.
In this guide we explain how Datasite pricing works, where hidden fees appear, and which modern alternatives like Papermark deliver the same enterprise-grade security at a fraction of the cost.
This comprehensive guide breaks down Datasite's pricing structure, features, and how it compares to modern alternatives like Papermark.
Datasite pricing overview
Unlike many modern VDR providers, Datasite follows a traditional page-based pricing model. This means the total cost of your virtual data room will depend on various factors including document volume, user count, and project duration.
Note: Datasite operates on a quote-based pricing model, and exact costs are only available through their sales team. The pricing information in this article is based on aggregated user reviews from G2, Software Advice, and Capterra. While we strive for accuracy, actual prices may vary. For precise pricing tailored to your needs, we recommend contacting Datasite's sales team directly.
Understanding Datasite costs
Datasite's pricing structure is based on several key factors:
Per-page upload costs (approximately $0.60 per page)
Storage volume requirements
Number of users and access levels
Project duration
Special file type handling (Excel, media files, etc.)
Additional features and services
For example, a typical 10 GB implementation with Datasite can cost up to $720,000 annually. This makes it one of the more expensive options in the virtual data room market, especially for smaller deals that face proportionally higher costs due to the pricing structure.
Datasite cost calculator (estimates)
Pages uploaded
Rate ($/page)
Estimated cost
10,000
$0.60
$6,000
50,000
$0.60
$30,000
100,000
$0.60
$60,000
200,000
$0.60
$120,000
1,000,000
$0.60
$600,000
1,200,000 (≈10 GB example)
$0.60
$720,000
Datasite pricing plans
While Datasite doesn't publicly disclose their exact pricing plans, here's what we know about their cost structure:
Basic VDR Implementation
Page-based pricing starting at $0.60 per page
Limited storage allocation
Basic security features
Standard support
Core VDR functionality
Enterprise Implementation
Custom pricing based on volume
Expanded storage options
Advanced security features
Premium support
Full feature access including:
AI-powered categorization
Automatic content translation
Smart redaction features
Advanced analytics
Key features included in Datasite cost
When evaluating Datasite pricing, consider these included features:
Document Management
Drag-and-drop file upload
Bulk import functionality
Built-in templates
Email-to-project upload
Folder structure preservation
AI Capabilities
AI-powered categorization
Automatic content translation
Smart redaction
OCR technology
Machine learning document classification
Security Features
End-to-end encryption
Custom watermarking
Granular permissions
Detailed audit trails
Advanced access controls
We saved 70% by transitioning to Papermark. And managed to scale our sales. Our team loves this modern data rooms.
Alonso Benavides Panizo
SVP of Finance at Yuno | Founding team
Analytics and Reporting
Real-time activity monitoring
Document-level tracking
Team activity analysis
Custom reporting dashboards
Scheduled reports
Hidden costs in Datasite pricing
When considering Datasite's cost structure, be aware of potential hidden expenses that users report on review platforms. According to user reviews, many customers encounter unexpected charges for Excel file handling and special media processing beyond the standard per-page rate. Projects that extend beyond their initial timeline often incur duration-based surcharges, while adding new team members typically results in additional user access fees.
Users also report significant costs for training sessions and implementation support, which are usually not included in initial quotes. Furthermore, upgrading to higher support tiers or activating certain advanced features can lead to substantial additional expenses that weren't initially anticipated in the base pricing.
Is there a Datasite free trial?
Datasite typically offers custom demos rather than a standard free trial. To get pricing specific to your needs, you'll need to contact their sales team directly.
More affordable Datasite alternative
For finance teams that want enterprise-grade security without the enterprise-level invoice, Papermark is a modern virtual data room that delivers the same AI-powered indexing, granular permissions, and page-level analytics as Datasite, yet charges a predictable flat fee.
Customers typically cut their data-room spend by 80-90 percent after switching, spin up new projects in under five minutes, and never worry about per-page overage surprises.
Papermark pricing highlights:
Flat fee of €99 per month
Unlimited data rooms
Unlimited storage
Unlimited guest access
No per-page fees
No hidden costs
Feature comparison
Compare plans
Papermark Papermark Data Rooms Plan
Datasite Datasite Diligence VDR
Pricing Save up to 70% with Papermark
€99/month (3 users included)
Custom quote (page-based)
Unlimited Data Rooms
✔️
❌
Unlimited Storage
✔️
Limited
Unlimited document visitors
✔️
❌
Max file upload
Unlimited
Limited
Page-level analytics
✔️
✔️
Custom domain & branding
✔️
Limited
Watermark & screen protection
✔️
✔️
Granular access controls
✔️
✔️
Video upload & advanced analytics
✔️
Limited
Q&A module
✔️
✔️
API access & webhooks
✔️
Limited
Self-hosted / on-prem
✔️
❌
Open-source core
✔️
❌
Conclusion
While Datasite offers a robust virtual data room solution with advanced features, its complex, page-based pricing model can lead to significant costs, especially for smaller organizations or longer-term projects. The lack of transparent pricing and potential for hidden fees makes it challenging to budget effectively for Datasite implementation.
For organizations seeking a modern alternative with predictable pricing, Papermark offers a comprehensive virtual data room solution at a fraction of Datasite's cost, while maintaining enterprise-grade security and features.