SecureDocs gives you a basic data room.Peony gives you an AI-powered one.
SecureDocs offers flat-rate pricing with unlimited users. But when you need AI document chat, screenshot protection, dynamic watermarks, NDA gating, and page-by-page analytics, you need Peony.Set up in under 5 minutes. No credit card required.
No credit card required
Side-by-side comparison
SecureDocs is a flat-rate virtual data room for startups and mid-market companies. Peony is a modern data room with screenshot protection, dynamic watermarks, NDA gating, and AI document chat — designed for fundraising, M&A, and due diligence.
PeonyWhy teams switch from SecureDocs to Peony
SecureDocs offers simple flat-rate pricing, but its feature set has not kept up with modern deal workflows. Teams switch to Peony for AI-powered intelligence, advanced security, and granular analytics.
AI document chat
SecureDocs has no AI capabilities. Peony lets investors and partners ask questions about your data room and get instant AI-powered answers pulled directly from your documents — around the clock, without waiting for your team to respond.
Screenshot protection
SecureDocs has no screenshot protection. Anyone who opens your documents can capture and forward them. Peony blocks screen captures, adds dynamic watermarks, and gates access behind NDAs to keep your deal documents confidential.
Page-by-page analytics
SecureDocs offers basic activity tracking. Peony shows you exactly which pages each investor read, how long they spent per slide, and their total viewing time — so you can prioritize follow-ups based on real engagement data.
Start free trial
SecureDocs charges $250 per month from day one — even if you only need to share a few documents. Peony lets you set up a data room, share documents, and track analytics at $0. When you scale, Pro ($20/admin/mo) gives you 200 GB with password protection and e-signatures. Business ($40/admin/mo) unlocks data rooms, watermarks, screenshot protection, and AI.
Pricing comparison
SecureDocs offers flat-rate pricing at $250 per month. Peony starts free and includes AI document chat, screenshot protection, dynamic watermarks, and page-by-page analytics — features SecureDocs does not offer at any price.
Peony
Free
$0
2 GB storage, unlimited links
Pro
$20/admin/mo
200 GB storage
Business
$40/admin/mo
1 TB storage
Analytics on every plan. Pro adds e-signatures. Business adds data rooms, screenshot protection, watermarks, NDA gating, and AI chat.
SecureDocs
Flat Rate
$250/mo
Unlimited users, basic VDR
Enterprise
Custom
Contact sales for pricing
No free tier. No screenshot protection. No AI features. No dynamic watermarks. No NDA gating. No e-signatures.
When to use each platform
SecureDocs works for teams that want simple, flat-rate pricing and basic data room functionality. Peony is the better choice when you need AI-powered intelligence, advanced security, and granular analytics for deal workflows.
Choose SecureDocs when you need
A basic data room with flat-rate, predictable monthly pricing
Unlimited users without worrying about per-seat costs
Simple document storage and sharing without AI or advanced features
A straightforward VDR for small to mid-market transactions
Choose Peony when you need
AI document chat so investors get instant answers without waiting for your team
Screenshot protection and dynamic watermarks to prevent unauthorized sharing of deal documents
Page-by-page analytics to see exactly which slides investors care about and prioritize follow-ups
NDA-gated access with built-in e-signatures for NDAs, term sheets, and closing documents
A modern, branded data room experience for fundraising, M&A, and investor relations
A free tier to share your first data room without a credit card
What Peony gives you that SecureDocs does not
Stop unauthorized screenshots of your deal documents
SecureDocs has no screenshot protection or dynamic watermarks. Anyone who opens your data room can capture every page and forward it. Peony blocks screen captures and stamps every page with the viewer's identity and timestamp — so if a document leaks, you know exactly who shared it.
Screenshot protection
Block screen captures of sensitive documents. SecureDocs has no equivalent — once a document is viewed, it can be screenshotted freely.
Dynamic watermarks
Every page stamped with the viewer's email and timestamp. Trace the source of any leak instantly — something SecureDocs simply cannot do.
NDA-gated access
Require investors to sign an NDA before they see a single page. Built-in e-signatures make it seamless — no separate signing tool needed.
Know exactly which slides your investors care about
SecureDocs offers basic activity logs. Peony shows you which pages were read, how long each investor spent per slide, and their total viewing time. Prioritize your follow-up calls based on real engagement data, not guesswork.
Let investors ask questions and get instant answers
SecureDocs has no AI capabilities. Peony's AI document chat lets investors and partners ask questions about your data room and receive instant, accurate answers pulled directly from your documents — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Close deals faster by removing information bottlenecks.
"Peony has been great for sharing documents with investors, employees, and customers. It's easy to use, good value, and new features are constantly being added. Definitely recommend!"
Ed Harris
Founder & CEO, Ligo Bio (YC S24)
Frequently asked questions
Is Peony a good SecureDocs alternative for startup fundraising?
Yes. Founders raising capital need to know which investors actually read the deck and where they drop off. Peony gives you page-by-page analytics on every plan so you can prioritize follow-ups with engaged investors. The Business plan ($40/admin/mo) adds a full data room with AI document chat, screenshot protection, dynamic watermarks, and NDA gating — everything a founder needs for investor diligence. Peony also offers a free plan ($0), while SecureDocs charges a flat $250 per month with none of those capabilities.
How does Peony pricing compare to SecureDocs for a small M&A deal team?
For a lean deal team running diligence, Peony starts free ($0) with 2 GB of storage and unlimited links. Pro is $20 per admin per month (200 GB) and adds password protection and e-signatures for closing documents. Business is $40 per admin per month (1 TB) and adds the full data room suite deal teams need: screenshot protection, dynamic watermarks, NDA gating, and AI document chat for counterparty Q&A. SecureDocs charges a flat $250 per month for unlimited users but lacks every one of those features. A three-person deal team on Peony Business pays $120 per month — less than half the SecureDocs price — and gets AI-powered diligence tools SecureDocs cannot match.
Does Peony have screenshot protection for confidential M&A documents like SecureDocs?
Yes. When deal teams share confidential information memoranda, financial models, or board materials, Peony's screenshot protection on the Business plan ($40/admin/mo) blocks screen captures so sensitive deal documents stay contained. SecureDocs does not offer screenshot protection at any tier, leaving your diligence materials exposed to unauthorized screenshots that could leak to competing bidders.
Can a startup use Peony as a flat-rate data room for investor diligence?
Founders can start sharing pitch decks and financials on Peony's free tier with no credit card. When diligence heats up and you need a full data room, Peony Business is $40 per admin per month. A solo founder or two-person team pays $40 to $80 per month for data rooms, AI document chat, screenshot protection, and dynamic watermarks — well under SecureDocs' flat $250 per month, and with AI capabilities SecureDocs does not offer at any price.
Does SecureDocs have AI document chat for due diligence Q&A?
No. SecureDocs does not offer AI document chat or any AI-powered features. During diligence, investors and counterparties constantly ask questions about your documents. Peony's AI document chat lets them get instant, accurate answers pulled directly from your data room — around the clock, without your deal team fielding every question manually. Peony also offers Smart Q&A, a structured 4-step workflow where counterparties submit questions, AI drafts responses, your team reviews, and approved answers are published — keeping the diligence process organized and auditable.
What security features does Peony have for M&A that SecureDocs lacks?
Deal teams handling confidential transaction documents need layered security. Every Peony plan includes AES-256 encryption at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit, SOC 2-ready, GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA compliance, 2FA, link expiry, and per-page analytics to track exactly who reviewed which diligence materials. Pro adds password protection and e-signatures for signing NDAs and closing documents. Business ($40/admin/mo) adds screenshot protection, dynamic watermarks stamped with each viewer's identity, controlled redaction for blacking out sensitive financials, and NDA-gated access. SecureDocs offers basic data room security but lacks screenshot protection, dynamic watermarks, NDA gating, and redaction.
Can a startup or small deal team migrate from SecureDocs to Peony mid-fundraise?
Yes. Founders and deal teams often switch platforms mid-process when they hit SecureDocs' limitations. Peony is designed for fast setup — you can create your first data room in under 5 minutes, upload your fundraising or diligence documents, configure security settings like watermarks and NDA gating, and share a single link with investors or counterparties. Most teams complete their SecureDocs-to-Peony migration in one session without disrupting the deal timeline.
What is the biggest difference between Peony and SecureDocs for growing deal teams?
SecureDocs is a traditional flat-rate VDR built for basic file storage. Peony is a modern data room built for how deal teams and founders actually work: page-by-page analytics on every plan show you which diligence materials each counterparty reviewed and for how long. The Pro plan adds e-signatures and password protection. The Business plan ($40/admin/mo) adds data rooms, AI document chat for instant counterparty Q&A, auto-indexing, screenshot protection, dynamic watermarks, and NDA gating — with no per-viewer or per-page limits. As your deal team grows or you move from fundraising to M&A, Peony scales with you.