8 Best Contract Management System Software in 2025 | CLM 365

September 29, 2025

6 min read

The way organizations handle contracts has changed dramatically. Legal used to manage everything but today, departments across the company play a role. Now, Legal Operations, Procurement, and even Finance are all part of the process.

If you are reading this, chances are you’re looking for a contract management system software that does not just store documents it simplifies, streamlines, and fits neatly into your existing workflow.

According to study by GlobeNewswire, the Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) Software Market was valued at USD 1.72 Billion in 2023 and is projected to soar to USD 5.10 Billion by 2032, growing at an impressive CAGR of 12.85% between 2024 and 2032.

With such rapid growth, it’s clear that organizations are increasingly recognizing the value of efficient contract management. In this guide, we will walk you through 8 top contract management system software that can make managing contracts faster, smarter, and more efficient.

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Quick Read

Summary generated by AI, reviewed for accuracy.

A contract management system software streamlines how teams draft, organize, and oversee contracts from start to finish all in a centralized platform. It minimizes mistakes, improves efficiency, and simplifies the entire workflow for both legal and business departments.

Signs Businesses Need Contract Management System Software

Managing contracts manually can take too much time, effort, and money. It might need contract management system software if.

Teams need an easy way to track deadlines, approvals, and obligations across multiple contracts.

Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts consumes too much time and effort.

Clear visibility into contract performance and key metrics is desired.

Compliance needs to be strengthened and risks minimized.

Collaboration across teams can be smoother and more efficient.

Contracts require secure, organized, and easily accessible storage.

Time can be saved, errors reduced, and overall workflow made more efficient.

Benefits of Contract Management System Software

Contract management system software can bring real, measurable benefits to businesses of all sizes. It helps save time, reduce costs, and make handling contracts much easier. Here’s how

1. Contract Ownership Is Unclear

The process drafting and preparing contracts can take a lot of time for legal teams. In fact, study by Bloomberg Law stats that 62% of professionals say that drafting, editing, and negotiating contracts take up at least half of their work. Contract management software provides ready-to-use templates, lists of common contract clauses, and step-by-step guidance. This makes creating contracts faster, easier, and more accurate.

2. Manages High Volume Contracts

When businesses handle many contracts manually, it is easy for things to get lost or delayed.

As per B2B Reviews, More than 71% of professionals report that they manage many contracts regularly.

A contract management software system allows businesses to store all contracts in one place, keep them organized, and track hundreds or even thousands of contracts without missing anything.

3. Saves Operational Costs

Each step from drafting and reviewing to storing and tracking adds up, which can make the process slow and costly.

As per B2B Reviews, Contract management system software can reduce this administrative workload by 25-30%, allowing businesses to save both time and money.

With less time spent on routine tasks, legal teams and other departments can focus on more important work, such as strategic planning, improving contract lifecycle management processes, or supporting business growth.

4. Reduces Contract Delays

A best contract management software helps contracts move through approval and review processes much faster. Automatic reminders and notifications make sure the right people see and act on contracts on time. As a result, businesses can complete agreements quickly, take advantage of opportunities without waiting, and keep operations running smoothly.

5. Helps Maintain Compliance

A good system makes it easy for businesses to follow internal policies and contract compliance.

By using standard contract terms and tracking responsibilities, teams stay organized and confident that agreements meet all requirements.

Contract management system software not only protects the business from fines or legal issues but also strengthens trust with clients, partners, and stakeholders.

6. Enhances Security

Contracts often hold important and sensitive information, such as business plans, client details, or financial data.

A strong contract management system software keeps all contracts in a protected space, allowing only the right people to access them.

This level of security gives businesses peace of mind, knowing their contract data is safe and well-managed, helping teams focus on growth and success.

7. Supports Contract Negotiation

Negotiating contracts becomes much easier with the right system. A good system tracks every change, stores all versions, and allows teams to work together effortlessly.

Contract management system software helps businesses complete agreements quickly, keeps teams coordinated, and makes the process smooth.

8. Provides Insights Through Analytics

Contract management software tracks key details such as contract value, renewal dates, and approval times, giving businesses a clear view of all their agreements.

Contract management system software helps teams recognize patterns, measure contract performance, and make well-informed decisions quickly.

With these insights, businesses can plan strategically, take advantage of opportunities, and achieve stronger results.

9. Boosts Team and Vendor Collaboration
Teams and vendors can work together in a single system, sharing the latest updates and information easily.

Everyone stays aligned, which improves communication, coordination, and overall productivity.

10. Increases Business Flexibility

Automated alerts, ready-to-use templates, and AI tools enable businesses to respond swiftly to new opportunities or changing circumstances.

Teams can adapt their plans quickly and act without waiting for approvals or manual follow-ups.

This flexibility allows companies to grow confidently, seize opportunities, and stay ahead in a dynamic market.

Best 8 Contract Management System Software

Here are the top 8 contract management system software solutions that help businesses manage contracts efficiently, save time, and make smarter decisions.

1. CLM 365

CLM 365 is reliable contract management system software designed to help businesses of all sizes handle contracts efficiently. Built to integrate seamlessly with SharePoint, MS Teams, Outlook, MS Copilot, and Power BI, CLM 365 connects smoothly within the Microsoft 365 environment, enabling teams to collaborate and manage contracts without switching between apps. The software is easy to deploy and comes with robust security protocols to protect sensitive contract information. With its extensive features, including automated workflows, reminders, analytics, and reporting. It enhances productivity, improves compliance, and helps businesses make smarter legal decisions.
Core Features

AI-powered system (No AI Tax)

Built in Native MS Copilot

AI Agent

Contract Redlining with MS Word

Easy contract creation with templates

Automated workflow routing

Contract compliance management

Contract negotiation process

Document storage and organization

Role-based access with audit logs

Contract negotiation tracking

Secure digital signing

Reporting and analytics

Alerts for renewals and obligations

What Makes it Stand Out

CLM 365 offers strong Microsoft integration and advanced automation capabilities. It enhances security, is easy to use, and includes AI features that summarize contracts and guide legal teams through the review process, making contract management faster and smarter.

Rating

G2: 4.8

Capterra: 4.8

Microsoft AppSource: 4.9 (79 reviews) 

Our Pricing: CLM 365 makes contract management easier and faster for businesses. It starts at just $29.99 per user.

2) Ironclad

Ironclad focuses on improving contract workflows and helping businesses save time on contract management. It streamlines the process from contract creation to approval, making it easier for teams to collaborate and stay organized. By automating routine tasks with contract management system software, Ironclad allows legal and business teams to focus on higher-value work and make faster, more informed decisions.

Core Features

Easy contract drafting

Pre-approved templates and clauses

Version control for negotiations

Secure e-signature

Customizable approval workflows

Dashboard for real-time tracking

Integrates with NetSuite, Mulesoft and Salesforce

Automated renewal alerts

Compliance management

What Makes it Stand Out

Ironclad offers advanced AI tools that help detect contract risks quickly and accurately. These intelligent features provide insights during the review process, highlight potential issues, and guide legal teams to make informed decisions.

Ratings

G2: 4.5

Capterra: 4.4

3) Zoho Contracts

Zoho Contracts is designed to be the perfect companion for businesses already using Zoho’s suite of applications. It brings contract creation, approvals, and management into one well-organized platform, reducing the effort required to keep contracts on monitoring. With native integration across Zoho apps, it gives teams a connected experience, making contract management simple, reliable, and remarkably efficient.

Core Features

Contract templates and clause library

Workflow automation

Secure digital signatures

Role-based access controls

Alerts for renewals and deadlines

Centralized document storage

Integrates with Zoho Suites and Leegality

Collaboration workspace

Reporting and analytics

What Makes it Stand Out

Zoho Contracts is a cost-effective solution that offers deep, native integration with the entire Zoho ecosystem. This connected experience allows teams to manage contracts without switching tools, saving time and improving efficiency.

Ratings

G2: 4.5

Capterra: 4.4

4) Icertis

Icertis is built for enterprises that manage complex contracts across multiple regions and industries. It centralizes contract creation, approvals, and compliance tracking on a single platform, making it easier for global teams to work together. With its scalability and powerful features, Icertis helps large organizations stay organized, reduce risk, and gain complete visibility into their contract portfolio.

Core Features

Global compliance management

Workflow automation

Template and clause management

Collaboration tools

Secure e-signature

Reporting and analytics

Alerts and notifications

AI-Driven insights

What Makes it Stand Out

Icertis is highly scalable contract management system software, making it ideal for large enterprises with global operations. It supports complex contract requirements across multiple regions, helping organizations stay compliant and consistent worldwide.

Ratings

G2: 4.2

Capterra: 4.4

5) ContractWorks

ContractWorks is a straightforward and reliable contract management solution designed for companies that want quick implementation without complexity. It offers secure document storage, built-in e-signatures, and intuitive features that make managing contracts easy from day one. With its focus on speed and simplicity, ContractWorks helps businesses get organized and stay in control of their agreements effortlessly.

Features:

Easy contract upload

Digital signature support

Role-based access

Expiry and renewal alerts

Document search

Template management

Reporting and dashboards

Audit logs for compliance

What Makes it Stand Out

User-friendly interface and quick implementation.

Ratings

G2: 4.8

Capterra: 4.8

6) Juro

Juro brings contract management and team collaboration together in a single platform. It allows users to create, edit, and approve contracts while working together in real time, reducing delays and keeping everyone aligned. With its user-friendly contract management system software design and focus on collaboration, Juro helps teams manage contracts faster and work more efficiently.

Features

Contract creation editor

Clause and template library

Collaboration workspace

Digital signature

Integrates with HubSpot, Zapier and HubSpot

Automated workflow

Version control

Role-based access

Reporting and analytics

What Makes it Stand Out

Juro stands out with its strong focus on collaboration, allowing teams to work together in real time on a single platform.

Ratings

G2: 4.6

Capterra: 4.8

7) CobbleStone

CobbleStone CLM is a versatile contract management platform designed to support both small businesses and large enterprises. It offers a full suite of features, including contract creation, workflow automation, e-signatures, and detailed reporting. With its flexible design, CobbleStone helps organizations of all sizes manage contracts efficiently and stay compliant with ease.

Features:

Contract creation and templates

Workflow automation

Digital signatures

Clause library

Contract tracking

Compliance management

Reporting and analytics

Connects with Salesforce, NetSuite and ERP system

Secure document storage

What Makes it Stand Out

CobbleStone stands out with its highly customizable workflows that adapt to the needs of different industries. This flexibility allows businesses to manage contracts in a way that matches their unique processes.

Ratings

G2: 4.8

Capterra: 4.7

8) Summize

Summize is an AI-powered contract management solution that focuses on simplifying contract review and negotiation. It allows users to generate instant contract summaries, highlight key risks, and extract important terms in seconds. With its browser plugin and integrations with tools like Slack, Summize brings contract insights directly into the apps teams use every day, making the entire process faster and more efficient.

Feature

Automated data extraction

Version control

Collaboration tools

Template and clause library

AI-driven contract review

Contract analytics

Integrates with Salesforce, Slack, and Jira

Renewal alerts

Digital signature

What Makes it Stand Out

Strong AI-driven insights and fast data extraction.

Ratings

G2: 4.7

Capterra: 4.7

Must-Have Features in Contract Management System Software

A good contract management system software should include these key features to simplify contract creation, improve compliance, and help businesses work faster and smarter.

1. Easy Contract Creation

Creating a contract does not have to take hours. With this feature, users can prepare contracts in just a few minutes by using pre-built templates and ready-to-use legal clauses.

This eliminates the need to start from scratch every time and reduces the risk of manual errors.

The legal team can focus on building relationships and closing deals instead of spending extra time drafting documents.

Faster contract creation means quicker business decisions and improved productivity.

2. AI-Powered System

Contract management system software with artificial intelligence brings a smarter way to manage contracts. The system can summarize through your documents, highlight risky terms, and suggest safer alternatives.

It learns from your past agreements and provides better recommendations with every use.

By 2027, Gartner predicts that 50% of companies will rely on AI for supplier contract negotiations. Using AI today gives your organization a competitive advantage and helps you stay ahead of industry trends.

3. Contract Clauses & Templates

Pre-approved clauses and clause library make every agreement follow company policies and legal rules.

Contract management system software reduces the chance of mistakes, keeps language consistent, and avoids delays caused by waiting for legal reviews.

Whether you need NDAs, vendor agreements, or employee contracts, your team can simply pick a template, customize it, and send it out quickly.

4. Automation

Routine contract tasks can slow down operations. A contract automation software takes care of these tasks for you from sending documents for approvals to notifying teams about upcoming renewals or expirations.

According to B2B industry insights, a significant 81% of companies are preparing to adopt contract automation solutions in the near future.

This reduces the risk of missed deadlines and keeps your contracts active without constant manual follow-up.

5. Contract Routing

Getting a contract to the right person at the right time is essential.

Automated routing delivers contracts directly to the correct department or stakeholder for review and approval.

Contract management system software eliminates challenges, speeds up decision-making, and ensures that no document gets lost in the process.

6. Contract Redlining

Contract redlining software makes negotiations simple and transparent. It automatically tracks every change made by both parties and highlights them clearly in the document.

This allows everyone to see edits in real time, review suggestions quickly, and approve updates with confidence.

By keeping all changes organized in one place, contract redlining software speeds up approvals, reduces back-and-forth emails, and helps both sides finalize agreements faster and with better clarity.

7. Contract Compliance Management

Signing a contract is just the beginning. This feature helps you track obligations, deadlines, and regulatory requirements after the contract is signed.

By staying on top of these commitments, you can avoid penalties, missed deliveries, or legal issues, protecting your company’s reputation and finances.

8. Safe & Secure Signing

Safe and secure contract signing allows teams to sign documents digitally from anywhere whether in the office or working remotely.

Each contract is encrypted, stored securely, and protected against tampering or unauthorized access.

This keeps every contract legally binding and properly archived for future use.

9. Contract Collaboration

The contract collaboration process allows teams, vendors, and legal departments to work together in real time on a single platform.

Everyone can review contracts, leave comments, suggest edits, and approve changes without switching between multiple tools.

This organized approach reduces endless email threads, keeps communication clear, and helps finalize contracts faster while keeping everyone aligned.

10. Role-Based Access with Audit Logs

Not all team members need the same level of access.

Role-based permissions let you control who can view, edit, or approve a contract.

Every action is recorded in an audit log, so you always know who made changes, when they did it, and what was modified. This builds accountability and transparency.

11. Contract Negotiation Workflow

Negotiating a contract often involves multiple rounds of edits and approvals.

This workflow organizes the process into clear steps from the first draft to the final signed version.

Every revision and comment is tracked, making it easy to revisit earlier discussions if needed.

Also Read: Best Contract Negotiation Software

12. Reporting & Analytics

The contract analytics gives you a clear view of how your contracts are performing.

You can track contract values, renewal dates, expirations, and supplier performance through detailed reports.

These insights help business leaders make informed decisions, discover cost-saving opportunities, and strengthen relationships with vendors and partners.

ROI of Investing in Contract Management System Software

Investing in a contract management system software delivers measurable benefits for your business. Here’s how your organization can gain value from implementing such a system.

1. Saving Operational Costs

Contract management system software reduces administrative tasks and manual processes, helping your team work more efficiently. Companies can cut operational costs by up to 25-30%, allowing resources to be used for higher-value tasks that drive growth.

2. Maximizing Revenue

Inefficient contract management can lead to missed deadlines or overlooked obligations, putting up to 40% of a contract’s value at risk, according to B2B reviews. The contract management system software ensures every contractual obligation is tracked and fulfilled, protecting revenue and maximizing contract value.

3. Time Savings

Spend less time drafting, reviewing, and approving contracts. Automated workflows, templates, and alerts reduce repetitive tasks, allowing your team to focus on strategic priorities rather than manual paperwork.

4. Faster Decision Making

Real-time alerts, notifications, and contract analytics help teams act quickly and make informed decisions. By having instant access to key contract data, managers can respond promptly to changes, renewals, or opportunities.

5. Improved Vendor Relationships

Clear timelines, tracked obligations, and transparent collaboration enhance communication with vendors and partners. By keeping everyone aligned and accountable, contract management system software helps strengthen long-term business relationships.

Tips for Selecting the Right Contract Management System Software

Picking the right contract management system software is an important decision for any organization. Below are some important things to consider before making a choice.

1. Understand the number and type of contracts handled

Start by carefully reviewing how many contracts are created and signed within a given time period monthly, quarterly, or yearly. This helps in selecting contract management system software that can handle the right workload.

A business that manages simple purchase agreements needs fewer features than a company handling detailed legal contracts with multiple approval stages and compliance checks.

Count the average number of contracts handled in a month or year to understand the workload.

Identify whether the contracts are simple or highly detailed with legal or financial terms.

Consider whether multiple people are involved in approving or editing contracts before they are finalized.

2. Check integration with current tools

Most organizations already use several tools for sales, accounting, storage, and communication. Picking software that connects smoothly with these existing system helps keep all data in one place and saves time spent copying information from one system to another.

Look for software that works with existing system and document storage platforms.

Make sure it supports automatic data sharing so details like names, dates, or prices.

Check if the system can send updates or notifications through email or project management tools already in use.

3. Review security and compliance features

Contracts often contain private information such as prices, personal details, and company policies. Strong contract security management is essential to protect this data from being accessed by the wrong people. A good contract management system software should also follow industry rules and government requirements so that records are always ready for audits or legal reviews.

Look for security measures like data encryption, role-based access, and secure logins.

Check if the software supports compliance standards like GDPR or industry-specific requirements.

Make sure there are features to track changes in a contract so it’s clear who made updates and when.

4. Look for smart features

Modern contract management system software often come with smart features powered by technology such as artificial intelligence. These features can make it easier to manage large volumes of contracts and avoid missed deadlines.

Choose a system that sends alerts for important dates like renewals, expirations, or approvals.

Consider AI-powered tools that can review contracts and highlight potential risks.

Look for features that suggest contract language or help during negotiation to save time.

5. Compare pricing and long-term benefits

The price of contract management system software matters, but it’s also important to look beyond the first bill. A slightly higher-priced tool may offer better features, save more time, and prevent costly mistakes leading to more value in the future.

Compare software plans and check if there are extra costs for storage or users.

Think about how much time and money will be saved if work becomes faster and fewer disputes happen.

Pick software that can grow with the organization, so it remains useful even as the business expands.

Best Practices for Managing Contracts

Managing contracts well helps businesses stay organized, meet deadlines, and build stronger relationships with partners and vendors. Following a few simple practices can make contract handling easier, faster, and more effective for everyone involved.

1) Maintain Better Collaboration with Internal Teams

Bring legal, finance, and operations teams together early when working on agreements. This helps everyone stay informed and makes decisions faster. When teams share updates regularly, contracts move forward smoothly, and all departments know what is expected of them. Use contract management suites that keep teams aligned and make communication easier throughout the process.

Recommended Read: Benefits of Microsoft Teams Contract Management

2) Transparency with Vendor Relationships

Share important information like deadlines, key terms, and responsibilities with vendors in a clear way. This helps build stronger partnerships and keeps everyone working toward the same goal. When vendors know what to deliver and when, projects move ahead without delays.

3) Reviewing Clauses

Use modern contract tools to check clauses quickly and make updates when needed. This saves time compared to doing it manually and helps teams focus on important decisions. Technology can also highlight areas that need changes, making the process faster and more accurate.

4) Fulfill Obligations

Track important dates like renewals, payments, and milestones. Automatic reminders or notifications help teams act on time and keep agreements moving forward. This supports smooth operations and healthy relationships with partners and clients.

5) Keep a Central Repository

Store all agreements in one secure, well-organized place so they can be found quickly whenever needed. A central repository makes it easy for teams to access documents, review past agreements, and stay updated on the status of each contract.

6) Regularly Monitor Performance

Check how well agreements are working by reviewing results and outcomes. This helps teams see what is going well and where small improvements can make contracts even more effective. Regular contract reviewing also keeps everyone focused on meeting shared goals.

7)Train Teams on Best Practices

Offer simple training sessions to help employees understand how to manage contracts effectively. When everyone knows how to handle documents, update records, and follow processes, work becomes easier and more organized.

How to Implement CLM 365

Review your existing contract lifecycle to identify delays, gaps, or areas that need improvement.

Take note of the tools and platforms currently used for drafting, approving, and storing contracts.

Activate CLM 365 and link it with your Microsoft 365 account for centralized contract management.

Integrate the system with Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, MS Copilot, and the Word plugin to enhance collaboration.

Set up approval workflows, assign role-based permissions, and enable automated alerts to keep contracts on track.

Provide your team with practical training, quick guides, and real-life examples to ensure smooth adoption.

Track performance metrics, evaluate efficiency gains, and refine processes to continually improve contract management.

Future of Contract Management System Software with AI

AI is shaping the future of contract management by:

Predicting potential risks and issues in contracts.

Automating contract creation, review, and edits.

Extracting critical data faster for analysis.

Helping teams make informed, strategic decisions.

Conclusion

Contract management system software is no longer optional for growing businesses. It saves time, reduces costs, improves compliance, and helps teams focus on critical tasks.

The right software can protect revenue, strengthen vendor and internal relationships, and provide insights to make smarter business decisions. Investing in a solution now prepares any organization for future growth and efficiency.

Try CLM 365 today with a 14-day free trial no credit card required. Explore powerful features see how it can transform the way contracts are managed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can contract performance be tracked?

Yes, contract performance can be measured using key data points such as

Turnaround time – how quickly contracts move from creation to signing.

Renewal rates – how many contracts are successfully renewed on time.

Contract value – insights into the financial impact of agreements.

How does CLM 365 help in analytics and reporting?

CLM 365 works with Power BI to give users real-time insights. It provides custom dashboards, visual reports, and detailed analysis that help teams track contract progress, measure outcomes, and make better business decisions.