Choosing the best CLM (Contract Lifecycle Management) solution for your business is critical. If you’re dealing with multiple contracts, legal reviews, and compliance issues, a solid CLM tool can save you time, reduce errors, and boost efficiency. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to work with different platforms, and here’s the lowdown on the best CLM solutions available today.
Top CLM Solutions
1. DocuSign CLM
DocuSign CLM is a widely recognized leader in the contract management space, particularly due to its integration with DocuSign eSignature. If you already use DocuSign for signatures, adding their CLM solution makes the whole process much smoother.
Why DocuSign CLM Stands Out:
- Seamless Integration with eSignature: You can quickly manage contracts from drafting through signing, all within the same platform.
- Automation: Automates contract workflows, approvals, and tasks like renewal reminders.
- Advanced Reporting: Get insights into contract statuses, key dates, and potential bottlenecks.
- Pre-built Templates: Use or create templates to standardize contracts across your organization, which reduces manual drafting time.
Downsides:
- Complex for Small Teams: The features are extensive, which may feel overwhelming for smaller organizations or simpler contract processes.
- Cost: More advanced features can get expensive, especially for small to mid-sized companies.
Best For: Mid to large businesses that are already using DocuSign for signatures and need advanced automation and reporting capabilities.
2. Icertis
Icertis is one of the most robust and flexible CLM platforms on the market, known for handling complex contract management processes. It caters to industries like healthcare, finance, and supply chain, where compliance and contract risk management are critical.
Why Icertis Works Well:
- Highly Customizable: From building workflows to integrating with other enterprise systems, Icertis can handle it all.
- AI-Powered Analytics: Uses AI to help you manage risk, find patterns in contracts, and even suggest improvements.
- Compliance Focused: It’s excellent for industries where compliance is crucial, offering robust tracking for regulatory requirements.
- Global Scalability: If you’re a global business, Icertis can handle contracts in multiple languages, currencies, and jurisdictions.
Downsides:
- Price: Icertis is one of the more expensive options, which could be prohibitive for smaller companies.
- Implementation Complexity: Due to its customization, it can take longer to implement and may require dedicated IT resources.
Best For: Large enterprises with complex contract management needs, especially those with global operations or strict compliance regulations.
3. Conga Contracts
Previously known as Apttus, Conga Contracts is part of the broader Conga Suite, which includes other business process automation tools. It’s a versatile CLM platform, and its integration with Salesforce makes it especially popular with sales-driven organizations.
Why Conga Shines:
- Salesforce Integration: Perfect if you’re already in the Salesforce ecosystem. Conga Contracts integrates tightly with Salesforce CRM, making it easier for sales teams to draft, manage, and close contracts.
- Automated Workflows: Automates approval workflows, renewal reminders, and compliance checks.
- Flexible Configuration: You can configure the platform to meet your specific contract needs, from basic contract management to more complex approval flows.
Downsides:
- Salesforce Dependency: While it works great with Salesforce, it may feel limited outside of that ecosystem.
- Complex UI: Users report a steeper learning curve, especially for non-technical teams.
Best For: Businesses that rely on Salesforce and need a robust CLM solution to integrate with their sales operations.
4. Agiloft
Agiloft is another highly customizable and flexible CLM solution that is widely praised for its scalability and automation capabilities. One of its biggest selling points is that it offers a no-code platform, meaning you can customize workflows and integrations without heavy IT involvement.
Why Agiloft is a Solid Choice:
- No-Code Customization: Easily create custom workflows, approval chains, and contract templates without requiring technical expertise.
- AI Integration: It uses AI for risk scoring, contract clause recommendations, and contract analysis.
- Strong Automation: Automate the entire contract lifecycle, from creation to negotiation, approval, and renewal.
- Quick Deployment: Faster than most competitors in terms of getting up and running, even for larger organizations.
Downsides:
- Overwhelming Features: It offers so much flexibility that it can be overwhelming for smaller companies or simpler use cases.
- UI Could Be Better: Some users report that the interface feels dated and not as intuitive as other platforms.
Best For: Companies of all sizes that need flexibility and want a no-code solution to manage contracts.
5. Ironclad
Ironclad is an increasingly popular CLM tool, particularly for legal teams and businesses looking for a clean, intuitive user interface. It’s designed to reduce bottlenecks in contract approval processes and improve collaboration between teams.
Why Ironclad Stands Out:
- User-Friendly Interface: It has one of the best interfaces among CLM solutions, making it easy to use for both legal and non-legal teams.
- Legal-Focused: Optimized for legal departments to collaborate with sales, procurement, and HR without getting bogged down by complex workflows.
- Contract Insights: Ironclad provides easy-to-digest analytics, helping you track contract performance and identify bottlenecks.
- Integration with Other Tools: Ironclad integrates well with a host of other business tools, including CRMs and ERPs.
Downsides:
- Limited Customization: While it works well out of the box, it lacks the extensive customization options that platforms like Agiloft or Icertis offer.
- Cost: Pricing is on the higher end, making it a better fit for mid-sized to large businesses with a legal focus.
Best For: Legal teams or companies with a focus on collaboration between departments and need an intuitive, legal-friendly CLM.
6. ContractSafe
If you’re looking for a simpler CLM solution, ContractSafe is worth considering. It’s designed for companies that want to quickly organize, store, and track contracts without the complexity of more robust platforms.
Why ContractSafe Works Well:
- Simple Interface: ContractSafe is incredibly user-friendly, with a focus on ease of use rather than feature overload.
- Fast Setup: You can upload and organize contracts quickly, making it ideal for companies that need to get started with minimal setup time.
- Affordable: Compared to more feature-heavy platforms, ContractSafe is priced more competitively.
- Searchable Contracts: It uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to make contracts searchable by text, so you can easily find key clauses and terms.
Downsides:
- Lacks Advanced Features: ContractSafe isn’t designed for companies that need extensive contract automation or AI-powered analytics.
- Limited Integrations: It doesn’t integrate as deeply with enterprise systems like Salesforce or SAP as other CLMs do.
Best For: Small to mid-sized companies that need a simple, affordable solution for managing and tracking contracts.
7. ContractWorks
ContractWorks is another straightforward and affordable CLM solution, perfect for smaller businesses or teams that need to manage a growing volume of contracts without a lot of complexity.
Key Features of ContractWorks:
- Ease of Use: It’s known for its simple setup and clean interface, which allows you to start managing contracts quickly.
- Secure Document Storage: Offers strong security features like role-based permissions and audit trails to ensure your contracts are safe.
- Automated Alerts: Helps you stay on top of renewals, expirations, and deadlines with automated alerts.
- Flat-Fee Pricing: Offers flat-fee pricing, making it easier to budget for without worrying about per-user or per-contract fees.
Downsides:
- Basic Features: While ContractWorks is easy to use, it lacks some of the advanced automation and AI features that larger companies might need.
- Limited Customization: You won’t get the depth of customization options available in tools like Agiloft or Icertis.
Best For: Small to mid-sized companies that need secure, easy-to-use contract storage and management at an affordable price.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a CLM Solution
- Ease of Use
- Does your team need something simple or more robust? If non-legal teams will be using it, an intuitive interface is key.
- Automation and Workflow
- Do you need automated workflows, approval chains, or renewal reminders? More advanced systems offer extensive automation, but simpler tools may focus more on basic management.
- Compliance and Security
- If your contracts contain sensitive information, you’ll want a CLM with strong security features like role-based access, encryption, and audit trails.
- Integrations
- Will you need the CLM to integrate with your existing tech stack (Salesforce, ERP systems, eSignature tools)? Look for a solution that offers deep integrations with your key platforms.
- Cost
- CLM pricing can vary greatly. Some platforms charge per user, while others use flat-fee pricing. Make sure you understand what’s included and what features you actually need to avoid overpaying.
Final Word
For small to mid-sized companies needing simplicity and affordability, ContractSafe or ContractWorks are excellent choices. If you need powerful automation, deep customization, and are ready to invest, Icertis, Agiloft, or Conga Contracts should be at the top of your list. DocuSign CLM and Ironclad excel for legal-centric or collaboration-heavy environments.
Make sure to consider your team’s needs, budget, and how well the tool will integrate into your existing processes before choosing your CLM.