Ellty vs iDeals
Two full diligence rooms: published pricing and AI on one side, ISO 27001, SSO and redaction on the other.
Ellty and iDeals both sit near the head of our leaderboard, and for good reason. Each one covers the working kit a sell-side team leans on: questions routed through a proper Q&A queue, permission groups down to the file, watermarking that stamps the viewer, control over viewing, printing and downloading, folder uploads in bulk and a log of every action. Neither is a file-sharing tool dressed up for deals. Where they part ways is in how each vendor handles security paperwork, enterprise IT integration, pricing transparency and the newer layer of AI assistance.
iDeals, run from the United Kingdom since 2008, holds SOC 2 plus ISO 27001 and names GDPR in its certification list. Redaction, single sign-on and a public API are all native, and nobody on our list earns a higher deal support mark. Ellty is the newer company (2020, Australia). Its case rests on AI features, an uncluttered interface, rooms an admin can open alone, and a price it prints openly: $149 monthly, with fourteen days to try it at no cost first. iDeals scopes a quote for every project.
Bottom line
Ellty finishes slightly higher under our weights: the same depth of deal tooling, plus AI, a price you can read before calling anyone, and a room you can open this afternoon. iDeals remains the stronger choice where buyers or your own IT team require ISO 27001, single sign-on, native redaction or API access, and where top-rated deal support matters more than a known bill.
Choose Ellty if
- Budget sign-off needs a printed number ($149 monthly) and a fortnight of trial time before any quote
- Built-in AI features are on your list for the diligence workflow
- Your own admins will build the room without vendor onboarding, and closing papers should be signed inside it
Choose iDeals if
- Counterparties or compliance require ISO 27001 alongside SOC 2
- You need native redaction, single sign-on and a public API in the same room
- Deal support is your top priority; iDeals holds the highest support rating on our list
Scores side by side
Ellty against iDeals, mark by mark
Ellty 92 iDeals 90 Feature checklist: where they differ
- Signing in the room
- Built-in AI
- Q&A threads
- Access history
- Live watermarks
- 2-step sign-in
- Bulk uploads
- Print and download rights
- Redaction tool
- Integration API
- Corporate SSO
How the two rooms run a live deal
On the core diligence work, the two products overlap heavily. Both offer a Q&A module, permission controls, dynamic watermarking, view, print and download rights, two-factor login, bulk upload and an audit trail, which covers what most sell-side processes need from day one. The split comes in the extras. Ellty adds built-in e-signature and AI features; iDeals adds native redaction, single sign-on and a public API. Neither lists a mobile app in our facts file, so plan for browser access on both. If your process leans on redacting documents inside the room, iDeals saves you a step.
Security paperwork and IT fit
iDeals publishes SOC 2 and ISO 27001 and lists GDPR among its certifications. Ellty lists SOC 2 for its infrastructure, meaning the hosting layer, and has no ISO 27001 in our facts file. For many deals that difference never comes up, but some buyers, banks and regulated counterparties ask for ISO 27001 by name in their security questionnaires. The same goes for single sign-on: if your firm insists that every external tool authenticates through its identity provider, iDeals supports that and Ellty does not. Check both items against your counterparties' requirements before you shortlist.
Pricing, trials and getting started
Ellty publishes its entry price at $149 a month and offers a 14-day free trial, so you can open a room, load a sample folder and invite colleagues before any commercial conversation. iDeals also offers a free trial, but its pricing is quote-based, which means the final bill depends on project scope, users and term. That is common in this class and can work in your favor on large mandates. Treat any published price as indicative, and ask iDeals what happens to the fee if the deal timetable slips.
What each costs for your term
Move the sliders to your expected term and user count. Published entry prices only; quote-only providers show a labelled market range.
Neither side charges per seat on its lowest tier, so the total moves with the number of months alone.
Worked out from each vendor's lowest published tier in US dollars. Bigger plans, extra storage, more admins and sales tax all lift the real figure, so read it as a floor and get the vendor's own number. Budgeting detail is on the pricing page.
Specs
| Ellty | iDeals | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 92/100 (No. 1) | 90/100 (No. 2) |
| Entry price | $149 a month | Quote only |
| Trial | 14-day free trial | Free trial offered |
| Attestations | SOC 2 (infrastructure) | SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR |
| Checklist features | 8 of 12 | 9 of 12 |
| Top lists it makes | 13 of 13 | 12 of 13 |
| Founded | 2020 | 2008 |
| Head office | Australia | United Kingdom |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
From the shared provider facts file, checked monthly. Prices in USD, indicative; confirm with each provider.
Ellty vs iDeals: questions
Is Ellty as full-featured as iDeals?
On the core diligence toolkit, yes. Both include Q&A, permissions, dynamic watermarks, document rights, bulk upload, two-factor login and an audit trail. Ellty adds AI features and e-signature; iDeals adds native redaction, single sign-on and a public API. Which set matters more depends on your deal and your IT requirements.
Which one has stronger security certifications?
iDeals publishes SOC 2 and ISO 27001 and lists GDPR. Ellty lists SOC 2 for its infrastructure layer and has no ISO 27001 in our facts file. If a buyer's security questionnaire asks for ISO 27001 specifically, iDeals clears that requirement without extra explanation.
How much do Ellty and iDeals cost?
Ellty publishes an entry price of $149 a month, which is indicative and can change with plan and usage. iDeals does not publish prices; it quotes per project based on scope, users and duration. Ask iDeals for a written quote that covers an extended timeline as well as the planned one.
Can I try both before committing?
Yes. Ellty offers a 14-day free trial and iDeals also offers a free trial. Use the trial window to load a representative folder, set up two permission groups and send a sample question through Q&A, then compare how quickly outside reviewers find their way around.