Best contract management software in 2025

Increasingly, more companies seek the best contract management software to streamline this crucial business task. Also called contract lifecycle management (CLM) software, these tools optimize contract creation, negotiation, tracking, storage, and compliance. CLM tools speed up contract management to minimize value erosion and maximize revenue.

Software reviews are my area of expertise, so, assisted by the Cybernews research team, I have compiled a list of the 9 best contract lifecycle management tools. Below, you will find each CLM tool's in-depth review, key features, comparison with other CLMs, and tips on choosing the best software for contract management for your needs.

Best contract management software tools – shortlist

1. PandaDoc – best CLM for contract template creation
2. Docusign CLM – the best contract lifecycle management tool overall
3. airSlate SignNow – outstanding document signing and sharing software
4. Juro – AI-driven CLM for workflow automation
5. Qwilr – innovative proposal drafting approach
6. ContractWorks – best for contract storing and lookup
7. Ironclad – user-friendly enterprise CLM
8. Cobblestone Contract Insight – experienced enterprise CLM provider
9. Conga – CLM with great Salesforce CRM integration

The best contract management software – compared

Before proceeding with the detailed CLM software reviews, here's a brief contract management software comparison with business focus and key features.

Software	Best for	Key features
PandaDoc	Business sales growth	Drag-and-drop document creator, searchable content repository, real-time contract status tracking, legally binding signatures
Docusign CLM	Businesses with large volumes of contracts or complex contract lifecycles	Broad integration with third-party services, pre-built contract templates and clause libraries, multiple electronic signature options, strong security and compliance features
airSlate SignNow	Electronic document signing	Legally binding electronic signatures, multiple signing options, document status tracking, customizable signing order
Juro	Medium-to-large business development	Beginner-friendly app, highly customizable contract creation, AI-powered contract lookup
Qwilr	Sales proposal generation	Innovative sales proposal crafting, electronic signatures, proposal interaction tracking, drag-and-drop document creation
ContractWorks	Small-to-medium business contract storage and lookup	AI-powered contract lookup, uses optical character recognition, simplistic and intuitive app, fast deployment
Ironclad	Large enterprise workflow automation	AI-powered contract analysis, unique AI Jurist feature, relatively fast implementation, excellent workflow automation capabilities
CobbleStone Contract Insight	Large enterprise complex contract management	Searchable contract repository, workflow automation, electronic signatures, compliance assistance
Conga	Large enterprises that use Salesforce CRM	Salesforce integration, sales-driven features (CPQ, billing), workflow automation

Top 9 contract management software tools in 2025

Below is my list of the top 9 contract management tools outlining core features, business focus, benefits, and potential setbacks.

1. Docusign CLM – end-to-end CLM for large contract volumes

Pricing starts from:	$25/month
Demo:	Free demo account for non-developers and a free virtual tour
Free trial:	30-day

Visit Docusign CLM

Docusign CLM is the best contract management software to automate the contract lifecycle from generation to renewal or termination.

One of the key Docusign CLM strengths is its broad integration with over 900 services, including Salesforce, Microsoft Office apps, and Slack. This CLM tool is beginner-friendly, with helpful in-app instruction and visual cues. I also value that there's a free tour on the Docusign website that demonstrates its essential features.

Pre-built templates and clause libraries help users generate contracts quickly, which can then be shared with team members and shareholders for commentaries. Docusign allows uploading an image of a signature to sign the contract, as drawing it with a mouse or a smart pen can sometimes be challenging.

Docusign CLM protects contracts using data storage and transit encryption to meet ISO 27001, SOC2, and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance. Role-based access control and audit logs ensure that the contracts have not been tampered with.

2. airSlate SignNow – best electronic contract signing tool

Pricing starts from:	$2/month
Demo:	Yes
Free trial:	7-day

Visit airSlate SignNow

airSlate SignNow excels at electronic signatures but also offers CLM features like customizable document templates and workflow automation.

Although airSlate SignNow is not a full-fledged CLM platform like Docusign CLM, it's a robust electronic signature service provider with additional CLM software benefits. These include contract document creation and sharing, version tracking and auditing, data encryption, and compliance with security regulations.

However, it lacks dedicated CLM features like clause libraries, contract term adherence, and complex contract templates. I recommend this service for casual users and businesses seeking an effective electronic signature solution instead of dedicated software for contract management.

However, airSlate SignNow allows setting a document signing order and also issues automatic signature reminders and alerts of pending signatures. It is compliant with security regulations like SOC2, HIPAA, and the U.S. Esign Act. It also encrypts data in transit and document storage space and provides signer verification using two-factor authentication.

3. PandaDoc – sales-driven contract lifecycle management

Pricing starts from:	$19/month
Demo:	1 on 1 personalized app presentation
Free trial:	14-day

Visit PandaDoc

PandaDoc is one of the best contract management software solutions that’s focused on document creation, team collaboration, and driving sales.

Its standout feature is a document creator with a drag-and-drop editor to craft custom contract templates. Its wide range of benefits encompasses document workflow automation and contract management tools, like real-time status tracking, redlining, content locking, and a searchable contract repository.

PandaDoc CLM solution gets mostly positive reviews on independent rating sites like Gartner and TrustPilot. Users praise its broad set of features, document tracking, and sales-centric approach. On a less positive note, negative commentators point out contract termination issues and inadvertent renewal fees.

Alongside contract management tools, PandaDoc also offers legally binding electronic signatures that are eSign Act and UETA-compliant. The tool seamlessly integrates with various CRM and ERP platforms, like Hubspot and Salesforce, and also payment gateways like Square and Stripe.

4. Juro – beginner-friendly and scalable CLM

Pricing starts from:	Undisclosed
Demo:	Personalized app introduction
Free trial:	No

Juro is one of the more recent CLM solutions that has been streamlining contract lifecycle management for a few years but has already made a reputation.

I strongly recommend Juro for CLM beginners. Any legal department looking to create custom contracts quickly and easily will have no issues navigating this no-code CLM software. It's an end-to-end contract management tool with a strong team collaboration focus, which is excellent for fast-growing companies.

Although Juro does not disclose its initial pricing, users and independent reviews rate the service as too pricey for small companies or personal use. I recommend it for medium to large businesses seeking to streamline contract lifecycle management in a single intuitive app.

Juro also excels at contract lookup and finds documents using optical character recognition and extensive tagging structure. A majority of user reviews outline its user-friendliness and seamless task automation. Meanwhile, critical voices would like to see more integration options, which are likely to come as Juro develops.

5. Qwilr – sales proposal software with good CLM features

Pricing starts from:	$35/month
Demo:	Yes, a call with Qwilr expert
Free trial:	14-day

Qwilr is a sales proposal software with sufficient CLM solutions to secure a spot in the best CLM tools list.

It focuses on sales contract generation, allowing users to craft visually appealing and interactive documents with embedded images, videos, and pricing. Instead of sending contracts via multiple PDF attachments, Qwilr issues a proposal via URL, resembling a website browsing experience.

Businesses that require advanced CLM features, like document version control and compliance management, may find Qwilr a bit lacking. However, it offers an electronic signature, buyer interaction tracking, and proposal generation automation, which are all must-have CLM tools.

Qwilr integrates with Slack, Quickbooks, Zoho CRM, Salesforce, and other business development software. At first glance, the integration scope may seem limited. Still, Qwilr is also compatible with Zapier, which connects it to a variety of web applications to streamline project management, automate marketing tasks, control notifications, and more.

It's worth noting that some users have reported issues integrating Qwilr with Hubspot, so I suggest using its 14-day free trial or scheduling a demo to test it.

6. ContractWorks – focused CLM for SMB contract storage

Pricing starts from:	$700/month
Demo:	Yes, personalized app introduction
Free trial:	Yes

ContractWorks is an end-to-end contract management software that excels at secure storage and fast and accurate contract retrieval.

This CLM tool is best for small-to-medium companies that seek secure and efficient contract storage and a speedy lookup. ContractWorks uses AI-powered optical character recognition to make scanned documents searchable and can retrieve them using data or metadata tags.

ContractWorks maintains high user ratings on Capterra, Software Advice, and other independent software ranking websites. Users praise it for user-friendliness, fast deployment time, and outstanding customer support. Meanwhile, a few critical opinions outline minor issues in AI tagging and somewhat restricted contract analytics.

I recommend ContractWorks to businesses that deal in large volumes of relatively simple contracts. Because ContractWorks shifts towards focused CMS solutions to streamline contract storage and retrieval, large enterprises with high customization demands may find it limited.

7. Ironclad – enterprise CLM with fast deployment time

Pricing starts from:	Undisclosed
Demo:	Yes, a personalized platform introduction
Free trial:	Yes, 14-day

Ironclad is among the best contract management software for large enterprise workflow automation that is relatively easy to implement.

Typically, enterprise CLMs have a lengthy deployment time and require some tech know-how to operate. The Ironclad CLM platform is easy to get used to, although it is still much more complex compared to most focused CLMs.

Ironclad excels at large enterprise task automation and provides tools to create workflows adapted to specific business processes. At the same time, Ironclad facilitates collaboration and negotiation by supporting redlining, commenting and annotations, automatic notifications, and secure document access for external stakeholders.

Alongside the CLM solution, Ironclad also has an AI assistant called Ironclad Jurist, which is trained to do legal work. Casting aside the dystopian connotation, users praise its capabilities of analyzing contract language and extracting essential data points, as well as identifying potential issues.

Ironclad's numerous features may be redundant for businesses with simple demands, so I recommend using its free trial or scheduling a demo before buying.

8. Cobblestone Contract Insight – highly customizable enterprise CLM

Pricing starts from:	Undisclosed
Demo:	Yes, business-focused app presentation
Free trial:	Yes, 30-days

CobbleStone has been assisting contract management since 1995, and its Contract Insight CLM tool brings decades of experience for large enterprises.

Although it focuses on procurement optimization, CobbleStone has enriched its software with a wide selection of CLM features. It receives almost only positive user reviews on Gartner, G2, and Capterra that outline its elaborate workflow automation options, timely alerts, and professional customer support attitude.

This is a feature-rich contract management solution so it can be overwhelming for new users, even with its intuitive interface. Contract Insight offers electronic signatures, purchase order management, a contract writing system, customizable alerts, and good integration options. I suggest trying out the 30-day free CobbleStone trial to familiarize yourself with its numerous features.

CobbleStone receives very positive contract management software reviews, but keep in mind that they come from large enterprises. Small and medium businesses without complex contract management demands may find its numerous features unnecessary.

9. Conga – CLM with sales-driven features

Pricing starts from:	Undisclosed
Demo:	Yes, personalized app presentation
Free trial:	No

Conga CLM is a well-known contract management software focused on integration with the Salesforce CRM tool.

Conga contract lifecycle management software is an enterprise CLM that checks all the right boxes to be placed on this list. It offers contract generation and electronic signature features, AI-powered content assistance, and revenue-focused benefits like CPQ (configure, price, and quote), digital commerce platform, and automated billing.

Conga's key selling point is a robust integration with Salesforce, which is one of the most used CRM tools worldwide. Additionally, Conga offers strong automation and scaling capabilities but falls a bit short regarding app design.

I recommend Conga CLM for experienced marketing professionals also versed in Salesforce. Multiple online user reviews also outline a bumpy experience with customer support, so Conga or CLM in general, newcomers may struggle to get timely assistance. Otherwise, this CLM platform offers unique benefits for Salesforce users.

How we tested the best contract management software

For this article, I used comparative analysis to select the best contract lifecycle management tools for various business needs. The Cybernews research crew assisted me in researching each CLM tool's essential features, like contract creation workflow, task automation capabilities, contract version tracking, security and compliance, and electronic signing.

I also checked for integration with popular third-party tools, like Salesforce, Hubspot, Slack, and similar. Just as important is user-friendliness and mobile app availability to sign and track contracts at all times. Lastly, I compared scalability options, real-world use cases, and pricing, which the Cybernews researchers then verified to ensure factual accuracy.

Once I had gathered the facts-checked data, I narrowed down the list to the nine best CLM software with the best offerings. I overviewed selected software websites, white paper releases, and news sites for important updates. I then continued to research first-hand opinions on social networks like Reddit and Quora to identify CLM tool strong points and possible real-world issues.

Lastly, I read reviews on reliable, independent software ranking websites like G2, Capterra, and Gartner. The best and worst reviews help me identify selected software pros and cons based on genuine user opinions combined with expert reviews.

This way, my CLM software comparison is grounded on real user experience, verified facts, and the latest updates users should be aware of. The result is an unbiased overview and comparison of the best CLM solutions tailored to specific business needs.

What is contract management software

Contract management software is a digital tool that helps businesses optimize and track a contract throughout all of its lifecycle. Although contract management and contract lifecycle management software are often used interchangeably, they have a few noteworthy differences.

Firstly, contract management software focuses on the organization and safe storage of documents and their retrieval from repositories. Meanwhile, a CLM solution encompasses the whole contract lifecycle, from document creation to renewal or termination. A CLM also offers more features, like customizable notifications, but contract management software can be more affordable.

As you can see, the similarities outweigh the differences, and you will encounter full-fledged CLM solutions that include contract management features most often. Expanding business needs also demand a more robust CLM platform that would track document versions and encrypt data to meet security compliances like GDPR and HIPAA.

Let's take a closer look at the contract lifecycle. Contract initiation is its first stage, during which participating parties negotiate key objectives, which the agreement should include. Then follows contract drafting, which CLM tools like Docusign or Qwilr streamline by providing pre-built templates, clause libraries, and document customization options.

The third stage is contract term negotiation. Once again, CLM software streamlines the process by redlining key points in the same document so that negotiating parties can promptly resolve issues. Then, the contract is approved and monitored until its termination. The best CLM software offers customizable alert triggers so that businesses are aware of any changes in the document and upcoming renewal or termination dates.

Choosing contract management software: our step-by-step guide

There's a wide selection of contract management vendors, so picking the best one for your needs could be challenging. Here are straightforward tips to pick the right CLM software

1. Identify your needs. Firstly, define the problems that the CLM tool should solve. Some tools, like Qwilr, focus on contract drafting, while PandaDoc is oriented at sales, and Docusign is a versatile, although somewhat pricey, CLM. Identify the features you need and choose a CLM solution accordingly.
2. Evaluate core features. All CLM software should cover the basis of contract lifecycle management. Verify that your chosen one automates workflows to optimize contract drafting, approval, and tracking. It should also offer renewal or termination alerts and meet data security compliance requirements.
3. Check integration. You will likely use CLM alongside other business development tools, like CRM, ERP, and communication platforms. Check the CLM tool's website to identify its integration options. Most importantly, it should integrate with your current business development software, but compatibility with other highly popular choices is also advantageous.
4. Consider user-friendliness. Scalable CLM tools for large enterprises can be overwhelmingly complex and require extensive employee training. Evaluate your IT team's capabilities and look for a beginner-friendly CLM with responsive customer support and in-app usage tips.
5. Test the software. Testing the software first-hand before subscribing is always best to make an informed decision. I recommend using a free CLM trial or scheduling a demo because most contract management vendors offer at least one of these options.
6. Assess support and security. Due to increasing data security regulations, the best contract lifecycle management software must protect contracts and client data using encryption and other cybersecurity tools. Professional and responsive customer support is paramount for timely problem solving, as well as advice on the best CLM use practices.

Visit Docusign

Why is contract management software essential for modern business

Contract management software is becoming a must-have for most modern businesses. The complexities of a modern global economy increase the number of dependencies that require efficient and transparent contract management to avoid miscommunication, misaligned expectations, and compliance issues.

Contract management software solutions are highly beneficial in solving these challenges. A centralized and searchable contract repository ensures data visibility for all relevant parties. The best CLM alerts of any changes to the contract, as well as of upcoming deadlines, renewal, or termination dates. It also eliminates human error so that you can be sure that clauses, dates, and agreements are stated clearly and accurately throughout.

Many contemporary CLM tools contribute to companies' risk management policies. For example, GDPR was released in Europe in 2018, obliging businesses in the Union to follow new data safety and consumer privacy directives. CLMs ensure that the necessary legal clauses are included in each contract and that each document is updated whenever the legal circumstances change.

CLMs also organize business growth and scaling. Companies increasingly rely on third-party solutions like SaaS and cloud services to outsource some tasks to save resources, which increases the number of contracts. According to Juro CLM research, manual management of large volumes of contracts results in delays of up to 4 weeks, which diminishes contract value by up to 40%.

To summarize, reliable software for contract management optimizes all stages of the contract lifecycle. Simultaneously, it contributes to risk management, business growth, and contract value retention.

Focused CMS vs enterprise CMS: key differences

Two categories help to understand contract management better and pick the right CLM tool for specific business needs. Most CLMs fall into two categories: focused contract management systems and enterprise contract management systems. Let's overview each in more detail.

Focused CMS

Focused contract management systems solve a specific task, like contract drafting, storage, workflow automation, etc. This software is typically oriented at small-to-medium businesses that require only a few CLM features, but large companies may also deploy it to streamline a specific task.

Focused CMS generally prioritizes user-friendliness, quick deployment, and affordability. These tools exchange a wide selection of advanced CLM features for an efficient single-solution approach. Businesses can streamline a specific process quickly and without overspending but will run into focused CMS limits with more complex contract management demands.

Enterprise CMS

These tools are optimized to meet large enterprise demands or assist businesses in strictly regulated industries. They are developed to handle large volumes of highly complex contracts often met in the healthcare, financial, and energy sectors.

Enterprise CMS typically requires a lengthy deployment period, employee training, and professional maintenance, like Ironclad and Conga on this list. This type of contract management aims to streamline all of its lifecycle.

Often much pricier than focused CMS, it encompasses compliance tracking, AI-powered contract generation, tracking, and lookup, and integration with enterprise CRM, ERP, and similar systems. Enterprise CMS is also generally more customizable than focused to adapt to complex large organization's needs. Take a look at the table below for a side-by-side comparison.

	Focused CMS	Enterprise CMS
Best for:	Small-to-medium businesses seeking to solve a specific contract management task	Large organizations with large contract volumes, businesses in strictly regulated industries
Deployment period:	Short, typically from two weeks to two months	Lengthy, typically from six months and up to a year
Ease of use:	Easy to use without extensive training	Requires employee training and professional maintenance
Customization options:	Limited customization options	Often highly customizable software

Contract management tool benefits for your business

CLM tools benefit businesses of all sizes, especially those that deal in larger volumes of contracts. Here are four contract management benefits essential to modern business longevity.

Increased efficiency and time savings

Time savings is one of the core CLM benefits evident soon after software implementation. By automating numerous contract lifecycle tasks, your employees will have more time to focus on issues that cannot be solved without human interaction. Simultaneously, automated contract lifecycle management is free from human error.

Improved compliance and risk mitigation

Having all contracts in a single searchable repository ensures that employees can always review contract details. This way, the legal team can inspect whether selected contracts meet compliance requirements. CLM clause libraries let legal experts add clauses to multiple contracts simultaneously and ensure each new draft adheres to laws.

Centralized storage and better document management

It's not uncommon for large enterprises to manage thousands of third-party dependencies to outsource and streamline specific processes. Before modern computers, it would take hours to shuffle through stacks of paperwork to find a specific contract. Instead, it takes only a few seconds with a CLM like PandaDoc that excels at document lookup and tracking.

Improved team collaboration and seamless communication

Both parties are interested in signing a contract quickly, but negotiating the terms over email can take days. Redlining is one of the core CLM benefits that allows negotiating terms in a single document. Employees are immediately notified of document changes, which significantly speeds up the process.

---

Other business tools you might be interested in:

---

Final takeaways: our top picks of the best contract management software

As with most business development tools, the best contract management software depends on specific business needs. However, it is certainly possible to rank CLM tools based on available features, pricing, first-hand user reviews, and objective research.

Docusign secures the top spot in this list due to a wide selection of CLM benefits. It is a scalable tool that can help a business grow and meet data security compliance, increasing contract volumes, electronic document signing, and integration with other apps.

I recommend considering airSlate SignNow if you mostly require electronic signatures with basic CLM features for a very modest price. Meanwhile, PandaDoc and Qwilr provide outstanding contract creation tools to make your proposal appealing and interactive.

CLM's are becoming a must-have with the increasing amount of software dependencies. Most CLMs on this list offer a free trial or a demo, and I strongly recommend using it to experience some of CLM's benefits.

FAQ