Papermark

Papermark data room review

Papermark is emerging as a modern, open-source-friendly alternative to corporate virtual data rooms. Its lightweight design and privacy-focused approach have made it increasingly popular with startups, small teams, and early-stage investors who want a simpler, faster way to share sensitive documents.

In this Papermark review, we explore how the platform compares to established UK and global providers and whether it’s the right fit for your business. From file sharing to investor engagement, we break down what the solution offers and where it might fall short.

What is the Papermark virtual data room?

This is a modern virtual data room that provides secure document storage without the complexity of traditional corporate deal rooms. Built on open-source principles, Papermark’s code is publicly available on GitHub. This transparency allows anyone to see how it works, review its security, and trust that their data is handled responsibly.

Papermark focuses on the following areas:

• Simple file sharing. Users quickly upload, manage, and share documents with their teams and investors.
• Privacy-first architecture. Companies protect sensitive information with robust security measures.
• Modern interface. Teams create and distribute pitch decks, investor documents, and client portals easily.

Unlike other providers like Datasite or Dealroom, Papermark is built for smaller deals and fast, collaborative workflows. It’s ideal for UK startups and early-stage investors who need a simple, secure, and flexible way to share confidential documents.

Key features

Papermark keeps workflows simple and fast, focusing on the tools teams need. Here’s what the solution offers:

Papermark prioritises speed and ease of use over complex deal management tools. That makes it perfect for small M&A projects, early fundraising rounds, or any scenario where you need a secure platform and quick file sharing.

Security and compliance

Papermark VDR offers the following features for data protection and compliance:

• AES-256 encryption. Papermark scrambles all files into a secure code so only people you authorise can read them. This keeps your documents safe from hackers and accidental leaks.
• Role-based access and team management. Data room admins can assign roles to team members, organise them into groups, and restrict access by domain or email. Thus, they control exactly who can see and edit each document.
• Link controls. Every shared file can have an expiration date, a password, and require email verification. This way, users can decide if others can download a particular document and get notified when someone opens it.
• Dynamic watermarking. You can add watermarks that show viewer information or custom text. This discourages sharing outside your team and identifies who accessed the document.
• NDAs and agreements. Data room viewers can be required to accept NDAs or other agreements before opening documents. This feature adds a legal layer of protection.
• GDPR compliance. Papermark follows EU data protection rules and applies strong safeguards to keep personal and confidential information secure, including when data moves outside the EU.

The solution combines user controls with strong data security features. Therefore, UK firms can share investor, legal, and client documents safely.

Papermark pricing

Papermark offers both a free plan and a fully open-source version. Thus, users can start for free or self-host the platform. The free plan is ideal for early-stage UK startups testing investor interest before committing to a paid solution.

Note: Official pricing on Papermark’s website is displayed in euros. Users should check the website for the most up-to-date pricing before choosing this solution.

Deployment and ease of use

Papermark virtual data room is fully browser-based, so there’s no installation required. Teams can access it from any device with an internet connection. Also, the platform adapts well to tablets and larger screens. According to user reviews, some documents may not display perfectly on smaller mobile screens, though the browser view remains professional. Also, branding is clear on the viewing page.

It takes minutes to create a secure data room on Papermark and requires no IT support. This simplicity gives small teams and early-stage investors a fast way to share pitch decks, investor materials, and client documents.

Customer support

Papermark provides multiple support options to help users get the most out of the platform. Available channels include the following:

• Documentation. Detailed guides and FAQs for self-service learning.
• Email support. Direct assistance for general queries.
• Migration assistance. Help transferring documents from other platforms.
• Standard support. 24–48 hour response times for routine issues.
• Self-hosting support. Guidance for teams running the software on their own servers.

Papermark relies primarily on online documentation and community resources rather than live agents. This fits its open-source ethos, offering transparency and community-driven help, but it may limit real-time support for urgent issues.

Pros and cons

✅ Pros

• Free tier available, ideal for early-stage startups
• Fast setup with a clean, intuitive interface
• GDPR compliant, ensuring UK and EU data protection
• Open-source transparency allows teams to review and modify the software
  

✖️Cons

• Limited enterprise-level features for large or complex deals
• No dedicated UK data hosting
• Advanced analytics tools are lacking
• Minimal live support, relying mostly on documentation and community resources

Papermark alternatives

Papermark excels at speed, simplicity, and ease of use. However, some leading solutions offer features it doesn’t, especially for more complex deals. 

The following alternatives provide advanced analytics, enterprise-grade security, and full lifecycle deal management:

• Ideals is an enterprise-grade virtual data room for highly regulated industries. The provider offers advanced compliance, secure data storage, ease of use, and instant user support. Its structured workflows and strict access controls make it ideal for financial, legal, and corporate governance-heavy transactions.
• Dealroom supports the full M&A lifecycle, including analytics, investor tracking, and structured workflows for complex deals. Its integrated deal pipeline and market intelligence tools help teams identify and manage opportunities throughout the transaction.
• Ansarada uses AI-driven tools to streamline due diligence, monitor engagement, and provide actionable insights during fundraising and M&A processes. Its predictive risk scoring technology and smart document recommendations speed up the review process and improve decision-making.

Verdict

Papermark is an open-source virtual data room with a self-hosted version that lets teams keep sensitive documents under their control. It prioritises speed, simplicity, and transparency, making it a strong choice for UK startups, small teams, and early-stage investors.

While Papermark does not offer the enterprise-grade features, advanced analytics, or full M&A lifecycle tools of solutions like Ideals or Dealroom, it provides an accessible, low-cost, and secure way to share sensitive documents. Thus, it offers clear value for teams seeking efficiency without sacrificing security.