Best Document Management Software 2021

Document management software is built to support various types of businesses with storing and creating files, facilitating team management, and streamlining workflows. There are document management systems that focus primarily on file storage, as well as more robust solutions offering a number of file creation and team management features.

These solutions typically offer features like file creation, cloud storage, electronic signatures, and workflow automation. Document management software provides value for a wide range of user types. The best document management solution for you will depend on whether you only need to store and transfer files, or require additional team and workflow management features.

Document management software is one of the foundational software systems that all small businesses should use along with human resource software and accounting software.

Highest Rated Document Management Software

Document management software is used by all types of businesses to manage their files and teams. Document management is often used for file creation and storage, team communication, and workflow automation.

Google Workspace
Rating: 95
Starting Price: $6 per month per user

Overall, Google Workspace is a powerful document management solution used by a diverse range of businesses. It’s best for businesses interested in content creation and team collaboration. Businesses looking for an entire suite of business tools rather than simple document storage features will find Workspace particularly beneficial.

Pros:
  • You can create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in Google Workspace
  • Google Workspace comes with powerful communication tools like Gmail, Google Meet, and Google Chat
  • Google Workspace’s version history shows exact edits made by your teammates
  • Google Workspace’s various applications facilitate collaboration better than any other document management software
Cons:
  • Google Workspace’s workflow automations have a very steep learning curve
  • You cannot make comments on files without opening them
  • Google Workspace’s file recovery cutoff date is far shorter than it is in Dropbox Business and Box
Microsoft 365
Rating: 95
Starting Price: $5 per month per user

Microsoft 365 is a full featured document management solution used by a wide range of businesses. Microsoft 365’s suite of tools help your business manage not only your documents but your team as well. We highly recommend Microsoft 365 for any business that prefers Microsoft over Google, and wants to take advantage of internal chat and team management tools like Microsoft Teams.

Pros:
  • You can create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations using Microsoft 365
  • Microsoft 365 conveniently packages its document and team management features in Microsoft Teams
  • Microsoft 365’s workflow automations are more accessible than in Google Workspace
Cons:
  • Microsoft 365’s version control is not as detailed as alternatives
  • Microsoft 365’s file recovery cutoff date is shorter than it is in Dropbox Business and Box
  • You cannot make comments on files uploaded to OneDrive
Zoho Workdrive
Rating: 93
Starting Price: $3 per month per user

Zoho WorkDrive is an affordable document management system used by a wide range of businesses to create and store their company’s files and maximize workflow efficiency. Its standout points are its affordability, document creation tools, and workflow automation.

Pros:
  • You can create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations using Zoho WorkDrive
  • Zoho WorkDrive is one of the more affordable document management solutions
  • Zoho WorkDrive’s workflow automations are more accessible than in Google Workspace
Cons:
  • Zoho WorkDrive’s single file upload sizes are lower than alternatives
  • The file recovery cutoff date in WorkDrive is shorter than in Dropbox Business and Box
  • You cannot make comments on files uploaded to WorkDrive
Dropbox Business
Rating: 87
Starting Price: $15 per month per user

Dropbox Business is a powerful document management solution best for businesses interested more so in improving the way their documents are stored, rather than a system to create documents. Businesses particularly interested in collaboration will find Dropbox Business’ features very helpful for their needs.

Pros:
  • Dropbox Business has a robust and flexible admin console
  • Collaboration is very easy to set up and facilitate
  • Dropbox Business comes with a wide variety of native integrations
Cons:
  • You cannot create documents, slideshows, or spreadsheets in Dropbox Business
  • File version histories are not as robust as Google Workspace
  • Dropbox Business does not come with workflow automations like Box
Box
Rating: 85
Starting Price: $7 per month per user

Overall, Box is a powerful document management solution best for businesses interested more so in maximizing their workflow efficiency and storing their documents. Medium sized businesses will particularly find Box helpful.

Pros:
  • Box’s workflow automations will streamline your company’s operations and save significant time
  • Box’s admin console comes with numerous permissions that are all easy to assign
  • Commenting on files is more robust than Dropbox Business
Cons:
  • Advanced security options are only available in Box’s most expensive plan
  • You cannot create spreadsheets and presentations in Box
  • File version histories are not as robust as Google Workspace

Document Management Software Prices

Document management software prices range from $5 to $50 per month per user. Most small businesses will pay around $5 to $15 dollars per month per user for document management software. Here are details that will help you compare prices for the most popular document management software platforms.

Software VendorStarting Monthly Price per UserFree TrialSubscription Add-Ons
Google Workspace$6Yes
  • Additional licenses
Microsoft 365$5Yes
  • Additional licenses
Zoho WorkDrive$3Yes
  • Additional storage
  • Additional client users
Dropbox Business$15Yes
  • None
Box$7Yes
  • None

Document Management Software FAQs

Document management software allows small and medium sized businesses to create and store files, facilitate team collaboration, and streamline their workflow. Common features include file management, team communication tools, and workflow automation.

There are numerous benefits that document management software offers. This includes:

  • Creating and storing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations
  • Transferring large files to clients and team members
  • Chatting and video calling with team members
  • Automating repetitive tasks with workflow automation

The cost of document management software depends on how many team members you have. You can expect to spend about $5 to $50 per month per user depending on which software and plan you're purchasing.

The best document management software for you depends on what your business needs. The best software for companies who simply want to store and transfer large files with minimal team collaboration tools is Dropbox Business. Companies in need of the most advanced solutions for document and team management will find Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 ideal.

Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 are two of the most popular document management tools in the market today. Both have served millions of customers.

The most common document management software features are:

  • Admin console
  • Cloud storage
  • File management
  • Collaboration
  • Workflow automation

Document Management Software Research & Advice

How to Use OneDrive

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OneDrive vs. Google Drive

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Dropbox Business vs. Box

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Why You Should Trust Our Recommendations

The team at SoftwarePundit has been testing software since 2017. We’ve hand-tested over 250 software products in that time, including four in the document management category. We applied the same rigorous process to each piece of document management software that we analyzed. The specifics of our document management category research process are outlined below.

Yousef led our analysis of document management software. He has spent more than 250 hours evaluating leading document management software solutions.

In addition, all research and content was overseen by Bruce Hogan, SoftwarePundit’s Co-founder & CEO. Bruce has more than a decade of experience researching, building, and reviewing the world’s best software products. His technology advice has been featured on a wide range of media sites such as AngelList, CMSWire, Dental Economics, iPhone Life, Reader’s Digest, Thrive Global, U.S. News, and the Zapier Blog.

How We Selected the Best Document Management Software

We selected the best document management software based upon a number of criteria. The most important criteria were each software tool’s features, usability, price, and customer support. The details of our analyses are captured in the in-depth reviews we publish about each software tool.

There are a handful of critical features that you should look for in document management software. We prioritized the following features in our analysis:

  • File Management: Document management tools allow you to store and transfer your business' files. Some solutions focus solely on storing and transferring files while others have the additional benefit of allowing you to create and collaborate on files.
  • Cloud Storage: Cloud storage features include offline access to your files and file recovery capabilities. Offline access to your files ensures you can update your work on multiple devices whether you have internet or not. In regards to file recovery, many document management solutions allow you to recover files from at least a month after deletion.
  • Collaboration: Many document management tools offer a multitude of ways to communicate and collaborate with your company team members. This can range from building documents, spreadsheets, and presentations together to hosting video calls and group chats.
  • Workflow Automations: Workflow automations are rules you can set to automate repetitive tasks for your team. Examples in document management software include automatically sending new hires onboarding documents or sending alerts when a user’s password changes.

How We Evaluated Document Management Software

We used the same rigorous process to evaluate document management software as all other software categories. For the document management category, Yousef invested several weeks researching the market, testing out key document management features, and publishing his insights about the tools.

Yousef signed up for free trials of each solution listed above to gain a deeper understanding of each document management tool. This allowed him to authenticate the features offered by each solution. He spent hours testing each tools’ admin console, cloud storage, file management, collaboration, and workflow automation capabilities. He also downloaded the mobile app version of document management solutions to understand the mobile experience for small businesses.

In addition to conducting conversations with the software companies and hand-testing every piece of software, Yousef also spent dozens of hours interviewing real customers of the software tools listed above. Document management software customers that provided insights that were included in our analysis and reviews were:

  • Christian Newman: Christian Newman is the CEO of Rise Digital. His company currently uses Google Workspace.
  • Eric Kim: Eric Kim is a co-founder at LA Tutors. His company currently uses Dropbox Business.
  • Wajahath Ali: Wajahath Ali is a digital marketing manager at Enablix. His company currently uses Google Workspace.
  • Hardeep Matharoo: Hardeep Matharoo is head of marketing at Best Response Media. His company currently uses Google Workspace.