Top 7 Contract Lifecycle Management Software Solutions You Can’t Miss in 2025

Managing a business involves handling many different resources to keep operations running smoothly and efficiently. In recent years, enterprise resource planning (ERP) has become an increasingly important area of growth and development.

As businesses become more global and require immediate collaboration across teams and locations, ERP systems have become essential tools for many organizations. Whether you’re looking for software to better monitor your supply chain and inventory or a comprehensive platform that manages accounts payable, human resources, and sales, there’s an ERP system tailored to your needs.

Another valuable software type is contract lifecycle management (CLM) software. Many businesses overlook its importance until they actually need it. CLM software simplifies and automates the entire contracting process, from initial creation through approvals, signatures, and post-contract activities. Its purpose is to make contracts easier to draft, approve, and manage efficiently.

In this article, I’ll review the top CLM software options available today and highlight their standout features. By the end, you’ll have enough information to determine if a CLM solution fits your business. Let’s dive in!

What Are The Best CLM Software Options?

Below are some of the most recommended CLM systems to consider.

Best Overall For CLM Software

PandaDoc guides users through every step of contract management with its all-in-one solution. This platform is built to help companies automate the process of creating contracts, facilitate approval workflows, gather electronic signatures, and oversee all post-contract activities seamlessly. Its flexibility allows for extensive customization, document tracking, and real-time collaboration, making it suitable for organizations of all sizes seeking to simplify their contract operations.

The platform’s user-friendly design includes numerous templates and a drag-and-drop interface, enabling fast contract creation. Whether negotiating terms or obtaining signatures, PandaDoc makes the process straightforward and efficient.

Key Features:
– Instant access for creating, sending, and signing contracts from any location
– Easy collaboration through in-app commenting
– Workflow automation to speed approval processes
– Quick contract generation using reusable templates and intuitive drag-and-drop tools

User Experience:
PandaDoc offers a clear and simple process for document creation, requiring just a few clicks to generate comprehensive contracts. Its step-by-step wizard ensures all necessary details are included, making contract management less daunting and more efficient.

These are the available subscription plans:

Pros:

Cons:

ContractWorks provides confidence when managing contracts.

Designed to automate your entire contract lifecycle, this solution allows you to focus on other important business activities. It greatly enhances visibility into contracts and ensures compliance. Using ContractWorks can help you reduce risks, save substantial time, and boost overall operational efficiency.

Your contracts become searchable, scalable, secure, and compliant, enabling you to make well-informed business decisions at every stage.

This platform makes it straightforward to assign tags to documents and add them to the repository for quick access later. Additionally, users can organize contacts based on different projects for better management and collaboration.

The pricing plans for ContractWorks are as follows:

All plans are billed annually on a monthly basis.

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

DocuSign CLM provides access to advanced AI tools that enhance document precision, helping automate workflows and approval processes for quicker contract execution. Users can customize actions triggered when contracts are created, signed, or approved, maintaining comprehensive control. This platform also identifies trends and opportunities, aiding strategic decision-making. It reduces risks and uncovers insights to keep your business progressing in the right direction.

The platform seamlessly integrates with major CRMs, providing a highly intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface. This ensures users can complete tasks from start to finish without complications.

Reach out to their sales team to receive a personalized quote for DocuSign CLM.

What I like about DocuSign CLM is how easily you can send agreements directly from the platform, streamlining the signing process without needing to switch applications. Additionally, the ability to pre-set document expiration dates helps save time and keeps your contracts current. However, one drawback is that more flexibility with merge fields would improve contract creation, making the process more adaptable and customizable.

Recent updates include the addition of remote online notarization (RON) capabilities and improvements in account preferences and profile settings, making the software more user-friendly and efficient.

Ironclad CLM is regarded as one of the most sophisticated contract management tools available today, suitable for both small startups and large enterprise companies. It simplifies managing contracts through every phase, especially benefiting legal teams aiming to be more strategic and operationally efficient. Rather than handling contracts manually, users gain access to automated, data-driven insights that support smarter business decisions. The platform helps in balancing speed with compliance, enabling quicker contract signing workflows.

Key features of Ironclad CLM include a no-code workflow designer that lets you create and deploy automated contract processes swiftly. Business users can draft contracts independently via self-service features, reducing dependency on legal teams. The system also tracks any amendments or assignments, managing these relationships all in one place. Its intuitive search functionality allows for rapid location of contacts and documents, enhancing overall efficiency.

User experience is optimized with an interface designed for ease of use. The left-hand side menu enables users to organize contacts into folders for quick access and filtering, such as separating contracts by dollar amount thresholds, for example, contracts over or under $10,000. This organizational feature streamlines contract management and retrieval.

Pricing details for Ironclad CLM are available upon request or through direct contact with their sales team, allowing tailored packages suited to different business needs.

Sign up today for a demo to see how Ironclad CLM can streamline your contract processes and support your business growth.

Positives:

Areas for Improvement:

Outlaw emphasizes the human side of contract management, making it simple to ensure contracts are signed by the appropriate individuals at the right moments.

This software integrates smoothly with your existing tools, allowing you to continue using the software you prefer while managing contracts effectively. Designed also for users new to contract management, Outlaw offers extensive resources to assist them through the process.

Creating contracts is quick and straightforward thanks to a library of clauses and pre-made templates. End-users also benefit from a user-friendly interface that delivers the necessary information precisely when needed.

Outlaw’s interface makes it simple to add variables like dates, names, or prices directly within contracts, eliminating the hassle of editing contract code. This feature allows for quick and efficient contract creation, ensuring users can generate documents that are accurate and customized without unnecessary complexity.

Get a personalized quote to see how Outlaw can assist your business.

What I Like:

What I Dislike:

Conga Contracts accelerates the contract lifecycle by automating manual tasks, making the process faster and more efficient.

This platform provides complete management of the entire contract process, from initial drafting to final signing, helping you save time and close deals more quickly.

The system offers valuable insights into contract performance and status, giving you clarity and control throughout the contract’s lifecycle. This visibility is one of the key advantages, enabling better decision-making based on detailed data.

Request a demo of Conga Contracts to explore how it can benefit your organization.

Concord excels at simplifying the process of drafting, negotiating, and finalizing contracts. Its clean and intuitive interface makes it accessible for users of all experience levels—whether you’re new to contracts or an experienced professional. Unlimited electronic signatures and storage capabilities support seamless contract management and easy access to documents whenever needed.You can effortlessly organize all your contracts in a single location.

The system also enables automatic routing of documents to the designated signer, making the process much easier and more efficient.

If you’re tired of juggling multiple software platforms to handle your contracts, Concord could be the perfect solution for you.

These are the three subscription plans available:

Other contract lifecycle management tools not covered here include Salesforce, Agiloft, Icertis, and SAP Ariba.

Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) software simplifies the entire contract process by automating tasks and providing a central storage hub for all agreements. This makes it easier to handle contracts from start to finish, saving time and helping you close more deals. As the complexity of managing contracts increases, CLM systems offer essential tools to streamline and standardize workflows. They ensure compliance, boost efficiency, and enhance overall performance by consolidating negotiations, approvals, and signatures in one platform. Additionally, CLM solutions offer visibility into all stages of the contract lifecycle, promoting better teamwork and clearer communication among everyone involved.

Given the multitude of functionalities in contract management tools, identifying the most critical features can be overwhelming. Here’s a list of must-have capabilities to look for in a reliable CLM platform.

Whether drafting business agreements or notarizing real estate contracts, CLM software offers a centralized repository for all your contractual documents. Having a robust process for creating contracts is vital for any organization, especially when dealing with valuable corporate assets. The system allows for the development and storage of templates, making the contract creation process faster and more consistent.

The contract process doesn’t end once agreements are signed. Proper management of contract renewals is essential for maintaining ongoing business relationships. Many contracts, especially sales agreements, require timely renewal to keep services or partnerships active. CLM software can send automated reminders before expiration dates, helping you avoid gaps in service or missed opportunities.

Fast approval and signing processes are key to efficient contract management. Automated workflows enable quick approvals, reducing delays. Features like automating approval steps, identifying the best value agreements, and leveraging contract insights can save significant time and reduce costs. These systems are beneficial for both external vendor contracts and internal agreements.

Beyond automations, contract intelligence involves analyzing contract data to identify the most advantageous terms. This feature helps users make informed decisions by revealing insights that can lead to better negotiations and cost savings. Access to comprehensive data ensures that users can choose contracts that align with their goals.

A CLM system must serve as a secure, searchable archive for all contract-related files. This includes standard contracts, forms, and signed documents. Efficient document management not only facilitates easy retrieval but also supports the negotiation process by tracking modifications. Given the volume of documents stored, a robust system capable of handling extensive files is essential.

Keeping a detailed history of contract changes is beneficial, especially if disputes arise. An audit trail records all modifications and approval steps, providing transparency and accountability. It also allows users to monitor the progress of contracts, see who made what changes and when, and review system usage over time—useful for reporting and compliance.

Managing procurement involves obtaining goods and services efficiently. A good CLM platform can streamline procurement tasks by automating requests for proposals (RFP), assisting in vendor selection, and handling related workflows. This automation helps organizations save time, reduce errors, and ensure better control over procurement processes.A built-in marketplace feature enables users to discover the best deals on products and services. Sometimes, sales teams can also utilize a contract lifecycle management (CLM) system to oversee commissions and discounts effectively.

tracking and measuring milestones

Having real-time insight into the status of a contract is incredibly valuable for everyone involved. This is particularly important for milestone-driven agreements, as it helps track how the project is progressing. For SaaS providers, this data can be used to monitor system usage and ensure users comply with contract terms. Additionally, this information can be compiled into reports that display various performance metrics.

contract authoring

Contract creation involves drafting and establishing new agreements, often with input from the supply chain team, which typically develops standard contract templates. Making the contract authoring process efficient and straightforward is vital for organizational success, helping to avoid delays and errors.

metadata adjustments

Some contracts require specific metadata—descriptive data about the contract—to be attached rigorously. Metadata clarifies details such as the item’s price, quantity, and delivery date in a purchase order. A good CLM system should automatically attach the correct metadata to contracts, assisting in tracking progress and ensuring all parties follow the agreement’s terms.

Summing it upNegotiating business contracts can be a complex endeavor, requiring consideration of costs, timelines, and quality standards. The appropriate CLM software simplifies this process by automating tasks and equipping users with essential tools for making informed decisions. Choosing the right CLM solution can save time and money for an organization, so it’s important to research thoroughly before selecting software. Do you use CLM software? Which features do you find the most beneficial? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Proposal software complements CLM tools well; the best proposal software available in 2025 can help businesses save resources by automating the proposal creation process. It also helps ensure that clients receive the most current versions of proposals promptly. If you’re interested in learning how to run a more efficient business, check out this article on the differences between ERP and CRM systems. Understanding these tools can help you leverage technology to benefit your organization.