Ironclad may work well for legal teams—but what about other departments?
While Ironclad is a popular CLM platform, many organizations run into common challenges: lengthy implementation timelines, limited integrations, high costs, and workflows that don’t always align with the needs of procurement, sales, or finance teams.
If your team is spending more time managing the platform than managing contracts, it might be time to explore other options.
In this blog, we’ve listed the top 10 Ironclad alternatives for 2025. Whether you’re looking for a more agile solution, better cross-functional collaboration, or a platform that fits your budget, these alternatives offer the flexibility and performance to support your contract management goals. Let’s get started.
Why Consider Alternatives to Ironclad?
Ironclad is a well-regarded contract management solution for legal teams handling complex agreements. With 4.3 Stars on G2, it is widely trusted by enterprise-scale businesses. However, Ironclad may not perfectly suit every organization’s needs. Based on user feedback and industry insights, Ironclad has certain limitations that could affect your contract management processes.
Challenges With Ironclad
- High Pricing: Ironclad's premium pricing suits larger teams but may strain smaller businesses and startups with tighter budgets.
- Complex Onboarding: The implementation can take several weeks, especially when migrating existing contracts, potentially delaying your operations.
- Integration Limitations: It integrates well with mainstream tools like Salesforce and Slack but less with specialized software, requiring extra effort or customization.
- Customer Support: While generally reliable, Ironclad's support might lack immediacy, posing challenges for teams requiring quicker, more hands-on assistance.
- Feature Gaps: Excellent for legal reviews, Ironclad might fall short for teams prioritizing sales-oriented documents, advanced e-signatures, or detailed post-signature analytics.
If Ironclad's limitations align with your pain points, exploring other contract management platforms could improve efficiency, streamline cost management, and offer better integrations.
How Do We Analyze and Select These Tools?
To find the right Ironclad alternative, we evaluated over 30 contract management tools to identify the top 10 that truly stand out. Here’s how we curated the list:
We started with what matters most: ease of use, integrations, security, and scalability. These are the essentials for any team looking to streamline contract management.
Then, we turned to real users. We combed through Ironclad’s reviews on trusted platforms like G2 and Capterra to understand:
- What users love
- Common pain points
- Features that deliver real value vs. overhyped functionalities
We examined the complete picture, from every day wins to frustrating pain points. After all that, we narrowed it down to 10 tools that consistently perform and earn user trust. Whether you’re a growing startup or a large enterprise, these picks offer promising alternatives to Ironclad.
Let’s dive into the top 10 ironclad competitors and alternatives.
What Each Ironclad Competitor is Best For
| Ironclad’s Competitor | Best for |
 | AI-powered contract irautomation within ServiceNow. |
 | eSignature integration and enterprise-grade contract management. |
 | Sales teams need fast document generation and eSigning. |
 | Intuitive, end-to-end contract workflows for legal teams. |
 | Salesforce-native contract management and automation. |
 | Customizable, no-code contract lifecycle management. |
 | AI-driven contract analysis and post-signature insights. |
 | Fast-growing businesses seeking a modern, user-friendly CLM. |
 | Vendor and contract management in procurement-heavy industries. |
 | Enterprise-level contract intelligence and compliance. |
1. Aavenir Contractflow
About Aavenir Contractflow
Aavenir Contractflow transforms contract management by providing enterprises with a smarter, faster, and more connected way to manage contracts across procurement, sales, legal, HR, and beyond. Designed as an integral part of Aavenir's Source-to-Pay (S2P) suite, this contract management software uniquely configures into your enterprise workflows, powered by intelligent automation and AI.
With features including a full-text searchable repository, easy-to-use customizable workflows, and Avy, an intelligent AI assistant for contract management with over 90% accuracy, Aavenir makes managing contracts simpler and more efficient. Additionally, Aavenir’s integrations with business tools help connect your contract lifecycle with other departments’ processes.
Aavenir Contractflow Compared with Ironclad
Aavenir offers several advantages over Ironclad, making it a compelling choice for contract lifecycle management. Here are some key differentiators:
| Aspects | |  |
| Platform | Built on ServiceNow, enabling seamless integration with enterprise IT workflows | Proprietary platform; limited native integrations with enterprise IT systems |
| AI Assistant | Comes with Avy, a purpose-built AI that offers >90% accuracy for clause generation, risk analysis, and contract summarization | Offers AI features like Smart Import and Playbooks but lacks a named assistant with Avy's depth |
| Time to Value | Faster deployments with low-code/no-code connectors for SAP, Oracle, and MS Dynamics | Typically, longer onboarding and customization cycles |
| Compliance Management | Includes Obligationflow for post-signature compliance and obligation tracking | Strong pre-signature tools but less focus on post-signature compliance |
| Customization | High flexibility due to ServiceNow foundation; supports enterprise-grade workflows | Less customizable; more focused on standard legal workflows |
| Risk & SLA Impact | Proven 90% reduction in penalties and 45% SLA improvements | No public metrics available with similar depth |
| Procurement & Vendor Use Case | Strong fit for procurement and vendor contract management | Primarily focused on legal team workflows |
| Security | Enterprise-grade security with ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR compliance | Enterprise-ready, but Aavenir highlights broader certifications and SSO control |
| Customer Segments | Built for BFSI, manufacturing, education, and healthcare with complex procurement needs | Strong in tech and legal-first enterprises, less tailored for procurement-heavy industries |
Aavenir Pricing
Aavenir Contractflow offers two core packages designed to meet different business needs, making contract management simpler and more effective. Here’s what each brings to the table:
- Aavenir CLM Essentials: Great for companies with large contract volumes scattered across different places, this pulls all agreements into one secure, searchable cloud system. It includes expiration alerts and essential tools to get started with contract management.
- Aavenir CLM Expedite: Perfect for teams that value contracting speed and TAT, this full-suite solution offers intelligent workflows, consistency across departments, and clear tracking of every CLM step.
Aavenir doesn’t list a standard pricing rate. Pricing is based on specific needs, like the number of users or contracts to be managed. Industry estimates suggest it starts at around $1,000 per user, which can vary depending on your setup.
You can reach out to the Aavenir team to get an exact quote.
Highlights of Aavenir
| 80% Faster Contract Cycles | 90% Reduction in Penalties and Fines | 5X Improvement in Risk Reduction | 30% Decrease in Vendor and Customer Support Costs |
What Do Aavenir Users Say?
4/5 stars
Aavenir helps our internal teams to track and manage contracts effectively. The entire lifecycle of the contract is stored in a central database, which is very helpful from an audit perspective. Also, the fact that the applications sit on ServiceNow as a platform allows us to manage the base data across the systems in the organization. I love working with Aavenir’s team; they are very meticulous in gathering all the requirements and providing super-fast solutions always!
Rob P
Director, Head of IT Service Management
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
5/5 stars
We purchased Aavenir Contractflow to replace a legacy solution that had been in place for a couple of years. We found Aavenir via the ServiceNow store, and since we are big users of the ServiceNow platform, it seemed like a good fit. Aavenir applications sit inside our ServiceNow platform, which leverages all our investments and internal ServiceNow resources to the fullest. This was a key consideration when moving forward with Aavenir.
Darren B.
Small Business (50 or fewer emp.)
Reduce Contract Cycle Times By 80
Aavenir Contractflow connects legal, procurement, finance, and sales teams—ensuring every contract moves faster, with fewer risks and zero silos.
2. Docusign CLM
About Docusign CLM
Docusign CLM is an enterprise-grade contract lifecycle management solution that streamlines every step of the contract process, from creation and negotiation to signing and tracking, with powerful automation and AI-driven insights.
Building upon Docusign's proven eSignature platform, Docusign CLM provides legal teams, procurement groups, and sales professionals with the tools they need to simplify complex contract workflows and reduce turnaround times. Its smart, AI-driven analytics empower teams to manage contracts, mitigate risks, and increase compliance.
Key Features of Docusign CLM
- AI-powered Contract Workflows: AI understands your contracts and automatically directs them where they need to go.
- One-Click Salesforce Contract Generation: Enables sales teams to create ready-to-send contracts with customer details with just one click on Salesforce.
- Advanced Obligation Management: Helps you track contract commitments easily with reminders and visuals that prevent missed deadlines and reduce stress for your team.
- Integration Ecosystem: Smoothly integrates with platforms like Salesforce, SAP Ariba, Coupa, NetSuite, and Workday.
Pros and Cons of Docusign CLM
| Pros | Cons |
| The interface is simple, making adoption easier for teams. | Moving existing contracts from legacy systems can be complex and often requires help from Docusign’s team. |
| Docusign lets businesses add their branding to contracts. | Stakeholders outside Docusign CLM can’t edit contract attributes, leading to extra manual work after negotiations. |
| Integrates with external tools like Salesforce, Google Workspace, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft, Slack, Stripe, Zoom, and other business applications. | Priced on the higher end and may not be viable for small and medium-scale businesses. |
3. PandaDoc
About PandaDoc
PandaDoc simplifies contract management by allowing businesses of all sizes to effortlessly create, manage, negotiate, and sign documents in a single, user-friendly platform. Leveraging intelligent automation and built-in collaboration tools, PandaDoc accelerates the entire document workflow, making it ideal for sales, marketing, and customer-facing teams.
Trusted by over 50,000 companies globally, PandaDoc enhances productivity, collaboration, and customer engagement through intuitive automation features.
Key Features of PandaDoc
- Built-In Analytics: Provides detailed tracking insights, showing when recipients open, view, or sign your documents. Helps track how much time stakeholders spend on each section, helping you refine your approach and close deals faster.
- Payment Collection: Allows you to accept payments directly through your documents by integrating with payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal, making it easy to receive payments.
- Content Library: Stores and organizes reusable content blocks like text, images, and pricing tables in a centralized library so you can quickly assemble consistent, branded documents without starting from scratch.
Pros and Cons of PandaDoc
| Pros | Cons |
| The intuitive interface simplifies creating and managing documents with little to no training. | Connecting with platforms like Salesforce and Stripe can be tricky at times. |
| Users love the quick and helpful responses from PandaDoc’s support team. | Occasionally, proposals and documents end up in spam, causing communication gaps. |
| It starts at around $35 per user, making it an affordable choice for small and mid-sized businesses. | While essential functions are straightforward, mastering complex features takes time. |
Ironclad Not the Right Fit? Try Aavenir Contractflow
Aavenir Avy brings AI-powered automation to streamline your legal and procurement workflows.
4. Juro
About Juro
Juro is the best choice if you're looking for an easier-to-use contract management tool than Ironclad. It’s designed for fast-growing businesses that need an all-in-one contract workspace without the complexity of traditional CLM systems.
Companies like Deliveroo, Trustpilot, and Cazoo rely on Juro to handle contracts quickly and collaboratively. Juro has been recognized in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for CLM for its user-friendly approach, which legal and business teams love.
Juro’s pricing plans are flexible, transparent, and scaling-friendly, making it an excellent Ironclad alternative for growing teams and enterprises alike.
Key Features of Juro
- Juro AI: Speeds up contract workflows with AI-powered summaries, clause recognition, and smart suggestions, reducing manual review time.
- Browser-Based Contract Editor: Helps draft, review, and edit contracts in real time with stakeholders directly in the browser, with no need for Word or PDFs.
- Native E-signature: Enables secure contract signing within the platform without switching tabs or tools, speeding up the agreement process.
- Approval Workflows: Sets custom workflows and permissions to keep contract processes compliant, structured, and on brand.
Pros and Cons of Juro
| Pros | Cons |
| Simple, clean UI makes collaboration easy for legal and commercial teams. | Complex formatting options may be less robust compared to Word. |
| Covers the entire contract lifecycle without third-party tools. | Detailed pricing information isn’t readily available on their site. |
| Enables real-time edits, comments, and approvals within the platform. |
5. Conga Contracts
About Conga Contracts
Conga Contracts is a great alternative to Ironclad for businesses that widely use Salesforce. It’s built to seamlessly integrate with CRM systems, making it a go-to choice for sales and procurement teams managing high contract volumes.
Big names like Hilton, AT&T, and Siemens use Conga to streamline their contract processes. It’s frequently highlighted in Forrester’s CLM Wave report and consistently gets high G2 and Gartner Peer Insights ratings.
Key Features of Conga Contracts
- Salesforce-Native Integration: Seamlessly operates within Salesforce, making it ideal for sales-driven organizations that want to manage contracts without switching platforms.
- Clause Library & Templates: Standardizes legal language with pre-approved clauses and contract templates to minimize risk and ensure consistency.
- Advanced Workflow Automation: Customizes complex contract management workflows using logic-based routing, approval chains, and smart notifications.
Pros and Cons of Conga Contracts
| Pros | Cons |
| Built to handle large-scale contract operations and integrations. | Can be complex for smaller teams or first-time CLM users. |
| Helps ensure legal and regulatory alignment with clause management. | Setup and maintenance often need technical or admin assistance. |
| Perfect for organizations already using Salesforce CRM. | Some users report a less modern interface compared to newer CLM tools. |
6. Agiloft
About Agiloft
If customization is your priority, Agiloft might be better than Ironclad. It’s a no-code CLM platform, meaning businesses can tweak workflows and automation rules without IT support. That’s why companies like CDW, Roche, and Chevron trust it to handle complex contract processes.
Agiloft has been named a Leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for CLM multiple times and even won the 2023 Gold Stevie Award for Best CLM Platform. It’s a strong pick for enterprises that need flexibility without sacrificing automation. Agiloft’s pricing plans offer flexibility and scalability, making them excellent for growing teams.
Additionally, if you are looking for more AI-focused CLM options, you can explore Agiloft alternatives that offer better automation capabilities.
Key Features of Agiloft
- No-Code Customization: Easily tailors workflows, fields, dashboards, and permissions to match your internal processes, no developers required.
- AI-Powered Contract Insights: Extracts metadata, detects risks, and analyzes terms using built-in AI to streamline review and improve compliance.
- Integrations: Connects seamlessly with Salesforce, MS Teams, Docusign, Adobe Sign, and other enterprise systems to keep contract data synced.
Pros and Cons of Agiloft
| Pros | Cons |
| Offers unmatched flexibility for unique business needs. | Some users find the UI less modern compared to newer CLM platforms. |
| Strong Security & Compliance: Supports SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, and other key standards. | Implementation can be lengthy due to deep customization options. |
| Suitable for both mid-sized and enterprise-level organizations. | Initial onboarding may take time, especially for non-technical users. |
7. LinkSquares
About LinkSquares
LinkSquares is an excellent alternative to Ironclad for legal teams needing powerful AI-driven contract analysis. While Ironclad balances legal and business workflows, LinkSquares focuses heavily on post-signature contract visibility, helping companies like Wayfair, Fitbit, and DraftKings stay on top of obligations and risks.
Its fast-growing reputation has landed it a spot in Forbes’ Cloud 100, and it’s been recognized by Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500.
Key Features of LinkSquares
- AI-Powered Post-Signature Analysis: Automatically extracts and indexes key contract data, clauses, and dates to simplify compliance and reporting.
- Contract Repository: Organizes all your contracts in a secure, searchable repository for instant access and better version control.
- Smart Reporting Dashboards: Tracks contract status, key metrics, and renewal timelines with customizable, real-time dashboards that drive strategic decision-making.
Pros and Cons of LinkSquares
| Pros | Cons |
| Built with legal teams in mind, offering tools tailored to their needs. | Less robust than some platforms when it comes to drafting and negotiation. |
| Excels in post-signature analysis and metadata extraction. | It may lack sales-oriented features found in all-in-one platforms. |
| Find clauses, terms, or obligations in seconds across thousands of documents. | Premium features may be cost-prohibitive for smaller teams or startups. |
8. SpotDraft
About SpotDraft
If you want Ironclad’s automation without the enterprise price tag, SpotDraft is worth considering. It’s an AI-powered CLM built for legal and business teams that need speed without losing control. Companies like Notion, Airbnb, and Chargebee use it to reduce contract turnaround times.
While Ironclad is known for its enterprise focus, SpotDraft is an excellent fit for mid-sized businesses and startups. It’s been featured in Gartner’s Market Guide for CLM and is a favorite on G2 and Capterra for its easy-to-use interface.
Key Features of SpotDraft
- SpotDraft AI: Automates contract drafting, review, and negotiation. It speeds up legal workflows by suggesting compliant clauses, flagging risks, and comparing third-party terms with approved language.
- VerifAI: Scans contracts for risks, missing terms, and policy misalignments.
- Clickthrough: Manages digital acceptance of terms like privacy policies and user agreements through clickwrap and browsewrap. Ensures enforceability and tracks versioned consent across your user base.
- LegalHub: Centralizes legal knowledge base for storing approved templates, clauses, and playbooks.
Pros and Cons of SpotDraft
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to onboard teams with minimal training. | Fewer out-of-the-box integrations than some competitors. |
| Great for in-house legal teams to reduce manual work. | It may require customization for deeper analytics. |
| Competitive pricing for mid-sized businesses. |
Struggling with complex workflows?
Aavenir’s AI-driven CLM offers flexible automation, seamless ServiceNow integration, and smarter contract management.
9. Gatekeeper
About Gatekeeper
If you are looking to manage both contracts and vendors in one platform, Gatekeeper is a strong competitor to Ironclad. It’s used by companies like AstraZeneca, The Telegraph, and Randstad to manage contracts alongside supplier relationships, something Ironclad doesn’t focus on.
Recognized in Spend Matters’ CLM rankings, Gatekeeper is a strong pick for procurement teams wanting a contracting solution beyond legal workflows.
Key Features of Gatekeeper
- AI Extract: Automates data extraction from contracts. It scans contracts, identifies key clauses, and extracts critical metadata like dates, obligations, and renewal terms.
- Smart Forms: Simplifies contract intake and request management. Uses customizable fields and conditional logic to ensure relevant information is collected based on contract type or department needs.
- eNegotiate: Streamlines contract negotiations by providing a centralized platform for real-time redlining, version control, and automated approvals. Ensures faster and more accurate contract finalization.
- Workflow Engine: Automates contract processes. It enables users to set up predefined approval paths, assign tasks, and track contract progress, reducing bottlenecks and improving compliance.
Pros and Cons of Gatekeeper
| Pros | Cons |
| Combines contract and supplier data for complete visibility. | It may lack some features for creating and managing legal workflows. |
| Kanban boards and dashboards simplify complex processes. | Some users may need time to get used to the interface and configuration. |
| Ideal for tracking vendor compliance and obligations. | Initial AI configuration can be time-intensive. |
10. Icertis
About Icertis
For large enterprises that need deep AI-powered contract intelligence, Icertis is one of the biggest players in the CLM space, alongside Ironclad. Companies like Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, and Google rely on it for contract governance, compliance, and risk assessment at scale.
While Ironclad is known for its sleek UI, Icertis is built for organizations that need highly configurable contract workflows. Icertis’s user reviews for its high performance and recognition as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for CLM make it an excellent alternative to Ironclad.
If Icertis’s pricing is high for your business, you can explore the top Icertis alternatives offering excellent contract management capabilities at a fraction of the price.
Key Features of Icertis
- Icertis Copilots: Leverages AI to assist with contract-related tasks. Provides intelligent recommendations, automates routine processes, and enhances decision-making across the contract lifecycle.
- ExploreAI: Uses AI to search, interpret, and summarize key contract data, helping users gain insights and make informed decisions quickly.
- NegotiateAI: Suggests optimal contract terms, automates redlining, and ensures compliance by referencing historical agreements and predefined playbooks.
- AI Studio: Enables users to build and customize AI models for contract management. Helps organizations to train AI on their specific contract data, improving automation and accuracy.
Pros and Cons of Icertis
| Pros | Cons |
| Built to handle large-scale, high-complexity contract environments. | Requires onboarding and training, especially for smaller or non-technical teams. |
| Advanced insights help drive smarter decisions and mitigate risk. | Higher cost compared to mid-market CLM solutions. |
| Ideal for multinational organizations managing varied regulatory needs. | Deep customization often leads to extended deployment timelines. |
How is Aavenir Contractflow the Best Alternative to Ironclad?
Aavenir Contractflow offers intelligent automation, seamless ServiceNow integration, and end-to-end CLM automation. Aavenir’s intelligent AI contracting assistant software—Avy—is designed to simplify contract processes while reducing risks, costs, and cycle times.
Whether you're managing thousands of contracts or trying to connect siloed systems, Aavenir Contractflow offers the speed, flexibility, and clarity modern teams need. Built for results, not just features, Aavenir delivers:
- 80% faster contract cycles
- 90% reduction in penalties
- 45% SLA performance improvement
- 30% reduction in support costs
If you're ready to move beyond a legal-first tool and adopt a truly connected CLM solution, Aavenir is the smarter, scalable alternative to Ironclad. Book a demo today to know more about Aavenir Contractflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which Ironclad alternative is best for procurement teams?
Aavenir Contractflow and Gatekeeper are standout choices for procurement-led organizations. Built on the ServiceNow platform, Aavenir supports complex vendor workflows, post-signature compliance (via Obligationflow), and seamless integrations.
Gatekeeper, on the other hand, offers smart intake forms and real-time collaboration to help streamline the pre-execution stages of vendor contract management.
2. Which Ironclad competitors are best for enterprise businesses?
Some of the best Ironclad alternatives for enterprises include Aavenir Contractflow, Agiloft, Icertis, and Conga. These platforms offer contract lifecycle management features tailored to enterprise needs, such as automation, compliance tracking, AI-powered contract analysis, and integrations with existing enterprise systems.
3. What security standards do these CLM platforms meet?
Leading Ironclad alternatives like Aavenir, Agiloft, and Icertis follow enterprise-grade security protocols such as:
- ISO 27001
- SOC 2
- GDPR compliance
- Role-based access control (RBAC)
- Single Sign-On (SSO)
