Comparison
Ellty vs Datasite
Ellty and Datasite both list the controls a deal room needs: Q&A, dynamic watermarks, view and download rights, an activity log, 2-step login, bulk upload and AI help. Datasite was founded in 1999 and is built around bank-led sell-side auctions, with redaction, single sign-on and a native mobile app. Ellty was founded in 2020, publishes its price at US$149 a month, about C$211, offers a 14-day free trial and adds built-in e-signature.
Ellty9.2Choose Ellty if
- You want a published price in dollars and a 14-day free trial before you commit
- You want NDAs signed inside the room with built-in e-signature
- Your deal team wants to open a working room the same day
- Your guests are occasional users who need an interface they learn quickly
Datasite8.6Choose Datasite if
- Your deal leads want a native mobile app on top of the mobile browser
- Your bank requires single sign-on for every external platform
- You need in-room redaction for employee or customer records
- A bidder's security team asks for an ISO 27001 certificate by name
For Canadian buyers
Ellty's published price converts to about C$211 a month at the Bank of Canada rate of 1.4154; Datasite quotes per deal, so ask for the figure in Canadian dollars. Add GST or HST to both. Neither lists a Canadian hosting region, so ask each vendor. For deals with Quebec employees or customers, ask about French-language support and plan a Law 25 s. 17 assessment before data leaves the province.
| Ellty | Datasite | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | about C$211 a month | Priced per project |
| Trial | 14-day free trial | Demo only, no trial |
| Canadian hosting | Ask the vendor | Ask the vendor |
| Certifications | SOC 2 (hosting) | SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR |
| Head office, founded | Australia, 2020 | United States, 1999 |
Ellty vs Datasite: cost in Canadian dollars
Choose the deal type, how many people on your side need access, the number of months and where your company is.
| Data room | Pricing | Total with tax |
|---|---|---|
 Onehub | Flat | C$95 |
 Citrix ShareFile | Flat | C$353 |
 Box | Per user | C$759 |
 Digify | Flat | C$768 |
| Ellty | Flat | C$954 |
 SecureDocs | Flat | C$1,600 |
 CapLinked | Flat | C$1,912 |
 DocSend | Per user | C$2,314 |
 iDeals | Estimate | ~C$11,300 to C$33,900 |
| Datasite | Estimate | ~C$11,300 to C$33,900 |
 Ansarada | Estimate | ~C$11,300 to C$33,900 |
 Firmex | Estimate | ~C$11,300 to C$33,900 |
 Drooms | Estimate | ~C$11,300 to C$33,900 |
 Intralinks | Estimate | ~C$11,300 to C$33,900 |
 SmartRoom | Estimate | ~C$11,300 to C$33,900 |
 DealRoom | Estimate | ~C$11,300 to C$33,900 |
 ShareVault | Estimate | ~C$11,300 to C$33,900 |
 Venue by DFIN | Estimate | ~C$11,300 to C$33,900 |
Rows marked Flat or Per user start from the price each vendor lists in US dollars, turned into Canadian dollars at the Bank of Canada rate for October 16, 2026 (US$1 = C$1.4154) and taxed at your province's rate. Rows marked Estimate belong to vendors that keep prices private; for them we show the range we see for the kind of project you chose, which is not that vendor's own figure. For planning only.
Verdict
Ellty scores 9.2 overall in our model and Datasite 8.6. Ellty leads on cost and ease of use: the price is public, a free trial opens a working room the same day, and guests learn the interface quickly. Datasite is a proven choice for large bank-run auctions, with broad certifications, redaction and a mobile app. For Canadian sellers, advisers and buyers who want the full deal toolkit without a quote cycle, Ellty comes out ahead.
Scores by criterion
Ellty Datasite
Overall: Ellty 9.2, Datasite 8.6 out of 10.
Feature differences
Only Ellty
- E-signature
Both have
- Q&A module
- Activity log
- Dynamic watermarks
- 2-step login
- Bulk upload
- View and download rights
- AI help
Only Datasite
- In-room redaction
- Mobile app
- Single sign-on
Place by Canadian use case
| Use case | Ellty | Datasite |
|---|---|---|
| M&A | #1 | #3 |
| Private equity | #1 | #2 |
| Startup fundraising | #1 | #3 |
| TSXV and CSE listings | #1 | #3 |
| CCAA restructuring | #1 | #2 |
| Commercial real estate | #1 | #3 |
| Mining deals | #1 | #3 |
| Life sciences | #1 | #3 |
FAQ
Does Datasite offer a free trial like Ellty?
Datasite does not list a free trial; a demo comes on request and pricing follows a sales conversation. Ellty offers a 14-day free trial and publishes US$149 a month, about C$211. If timing matters, a free trial lets a seller start building the index while advisers are still being engaged.
Do both have AI tools?
Yes, both list AI help in the vendor documentation we reviewed. Ask each vendor which tasks it covers, such as auto-indexing, search across documents, summaries or draft Q&A answers, and whether documents are processed in a region your privacy officer accepts. That question matters for PIPEDA and Law 25 reviews.
What about Firmex, which Datasite owns?
Datasite acquired 100% of Firmex, a Toronto-based data room company, in July 2021 and runs it as a standalone business unit. Firmex lists a Canadian hosting region, which Datasite does not. If Canadian residency is a hard requirement, compare Firmex too, and ask Ellty where its rooms are hosted.