Best Data Privacy Software

Data privacy software deals with a complex and sensitive issue. Organizations of all sizes need to adhere to data privacy laws as it is a legal and regulatory requirement. However, the world of data privacy is vast and means different things to different companies. 

At the small and medium enterprise level, companies must, at a minimum, incorporate data privacy workflows that keep them compliant with laws like GDPR, CCPA, Quebec Law 25, and others where they do business. This means incorporating effective cookie consent management, informing users of personal information collected via privacy policies, and allowing customers access to their data via data subject access requests (DSARs).

Larger enterprises typically deal with tremendous volumes of data flowing through their servers and therefore may have more complex needs. For example, consumer software companies that process large amounts of sensitive personal information (Facebook, Snapchat, Pinterest) have a lot more on the line.

One misstep can result in a PR disaster, attract hundreds of millions of dollars in fines, and cause users to quit the solution en masse. Therefore, they must keep investing in things like third-party risk assessments, data integrity, data governance, privacy impact assessments, and more.

Even B2B companies that don't typically deal directly with consumers may have advanced data privacy needs. For example, a defense contractor working with the U.S. government that processes highly sensitive information will need to keep a close eye on how that data is handled. 

The world of data privacy is a multifaceted issue with no 'one-size-fits-all' solution. And data privacy software reflect this reality — some solutions offer incredibly advanced products around threat assessment and privacy incident management while ignoring the fundamentals such as cookie consent and data subject access requests.

Others concentrate on the lower end of data privacy - the 'must-haves' but don't take it a step further into enterprise needs. 

This post of the best data privacy management tools considers how well companies balance cost and product considerations, while offering a robust solution able to manage the entire gamut of data privacy needs. We analyze whether the software is able to deliver on:

• Ability to meet regulatory compliance needs around GDPR, Quebec Law 25, CCPA, and more
• Region-specific cookie consent management and additional privacy workflows like the Right to be Forgotten
• Advanced features like data mapping, privacy impact assessments, data governance, and more
• A track record of excellence and customer satisfaction

The best data privacy management software is able to protect sensitive data, maintain compliance as privacy laws change, and introduce security measures that help organizations manage web traffic and permissions.

Later down this post, we expand this criteria to include things like ease of onboarding, user experience, customer support, and pricing. But for now, let's dive straight into our recommendations:

The 11 Best Data Privacy Software & Tools

The best data privacy software platforms are those that provide the right balance of security, functionality, customizability, and ease of use. Here's our list:

1. Enzuzo (Our Top Pick for Data Privacy Software)

Enzuzo is a versatile tool that's recently added a host of value-added features to help companies tackle all their data privacy needs. Let's explain why it's our #1 pick for the best data privacy software.

Features & Product

Enzuzo offers a global automated legal compliance solution that helps businesses of all sizes comply with regulations across GDPR, CCPA, LGPD, Quebec Law 25, and more. Its most recent core update is a world-class cookie consent management tool that can be toggled to appear for website visitors from specific regions and countries.

For example, Enzuzo’s cookie consent tool can be configured to show the cookie banner for visitors from Europe and Canada, but not those in the United States. This is a critical aspect of GDPR compliance, as well as compliance with newer regulations like Quebec Law 25. 

Enzuzo’s list of features for medium-sized enterprises includes auto-updating privacy policies, terms of service agreements, data subject access request (DSAR) forms, software subscription agreements, and more. These are all helpful with compliance as well as guarding against lawsuits and chargebacks. 

Enzuzo caters to larger corporations, those in the market for data governance and data mapping services, privacy impact assessments, RoPA procedures, and third-party threat assessments in its enterprise plan. While these advanced features are not offered as a self-serve experience, Enzuzo's white glove onboarding service means engineers are on board to assist with the migration and set up all technical environments beforehand.

UI / UX

One of the best things about Enzuzo is how multiple features and requests can be handled inside a simple, user-friendly dashboard. 

It's engineered to be fast, simple to set up, and quick to install. All standard compliance workflows and legal pages can be embedded on your website with a couple of lines of Javascript — no complex integrations needed. Enzuzo will host and manage forms like Data Subject Access Requests and alert you when there's a ticket to be addressed.

Enzuzo's ease of use is a regular highlight across its reviews on G2.

Onboarding and Customer Support

We've analyzed customer support as a critical point here because things tend to break in software environments and quick customer service is crucial, especially in sensitive industries like data privacy.

Enzuzo offers personalized onboarding and assistance with technical migrations free of charge to help customers switch from another tool. What's more, another feature of its reviews is how quick customer service is to reply to any questions 👇

Pricing

Data privacy compliance software is a crucial cog in your business, but shouldn't come at a colossal price tag. Many of the recommendations on this list expect customers to sign long-term contracts with average contract values in the multiple tens of thousands of dollars.

Enzuzo's cookie consent and compliance services are month-to-month, and customers can cancel anytime. What's more, the pricing plans are reasonably priced and guaranteed to beat the competition.

For example, Enzuzo's 'Right to be Forgotten' privacy workflow is included in its growth plan for $29/month. Some other service providers sell it as an add-on for $275/month.

Enterprise plans can be customized to each client's needs, but will also be similarly priced at a discount to the rest of the industry. 

Overall Thoughts

Enzuzo streamlines compliance management and offers plenty of integrations with major web platforms such as Shopify, Squarespace, and Wix. However, it does have some drawbacks such as an inability to integrate with connected TV environments or provide solutions for OFCCP compliance.

Nonetheless, if you're looking for the trifecta of cost-effective data privacy compliance, easy onboarding, and cost-effectiveness, we reiterate our stance that Enzuzo is our recommended data privacy management software.

With automatic updates, simple UI and dashboards, and support for 25 major languages, Enzuzo is your reliable partner for all things data privacy.

Learn more about how Enzuzo can assist with your compliance needs. Book 1-1 time with Mate Prgin, CEO👇

2. DataGrail

DataGrail is a privacy management tool that helps companies streamline compliance, allowing companies to track and manage customer data across various systems and departments. It also provides helpful tools to automate DSAR and other privacy-related tasks.

DataGrail helps organizations manage things like data subject requests and conforms to many regulatory standards set by governments around the world.

The software offers a range of features, including data mapping and inventory, consent management, policy and notice management, and vendor management. It also provides real-time dashboards and analytics to help businesses monitor their compliance efforts and identify areas of risk.

Pros:

• Technical feature set suitable for advanced users

• Strong customer service support

• Access to comprehensive training tools

Cons:

• High cost & need for technical resources

• Long onboarding and training time

• Poor usability

Overall Thoughts:

DataGrail offers an advanced suite of features that makes it a great choice for technical users, and it offers a range of helpful integrations with various popular systems such as Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Marketo, and HubSpot. In fact, DataGrail integrates with over 1,900 different enterprise applications to allow seamless data management across platforms.

DataGrail's mission is to simplify privacy compliance for companies of all sizes and to provide a more transparent and trustworthy relationship between businesses and their customers. However, the system tends to be rather technical and may be unsuitable for users interested in a more straightforward system of compliance management. It also comes with a higher price tag, meaning managing data privacy may be costlier than expected.

For those with the technical acumen and resources to invest into training, however, DataGrail is a powerful option for data privacy.

3. OneTrust

OneTrust is a leading provider of privacy, security, and governance technology solutions. The company offers a comprehensive suite of software products that help businesses comply with global regulations, including GDPR, CCPA, LGPD, and more.

OneTrust's software products are designed to give organizations a powerful suite of features to manage their privacy, security, and governance programs. The software is scalable and can be customized to meet the unique needs of businesses across various industries. OneTrust also provides a range of professional services that include consulting and training, which help businesses optimize their privacy programs and comply with global regulations.

OneTrust is a great choice if you have hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend on compliance and can rely on in-house implementation and privacy experts to assist. We estimate that average contract values can be upwards of $50,000, depending on how many features you include in your plan. However, the firm makes it difficult to cancel and charges extra for onboarding assistance.

Plenty of reviews point to how time-consuming and difficult it is to onboard OneTrust:

Pros:

• Strong features ideal for advanced users

• Centralized repository for documentation

• Many customization options

Cons:

• High learning curve

• Clunky onboarding and poor support

• Expensive pricing above the industry average

• Long contracts required

Overall Thoughts:

OneTrust is known for its innovative approach to privacy technology and has received numerous awards and recognitions for its products and services. The company has also established partnerships with leading organizations, including the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), to advance the privacy and security industry.

It's a fantastic choice for Fortune 500 customers, those with in-house privacy compliance officers, and corporations with deep pockets to spend on compliance services. 

The drawbacks of OneTrust include a steep learning curve, high licensing costs, and long contract terms. Modules and processes will need substantial configuration to perform correctly, which can be time-consuming. However, OneTrust is known for its excellent service and strong community of users, both of which can help companies understand the system’s intricacies. This combined with OneTrust’s training tools can help ease the learning curve and ensure users get the most value out of the system.

4. PrivacyEngine

PrivacyEngine is designed to help organizations manage their data privacy risks and build a privacy-first culture across the organization. PrivacyEngine offers a range of features, including data inventory and mapping, privacy risk assessments, DSR management, incident management, and vendor management. It excels at helping organizations understand and manage their data privacy risks through customizable risk assessments and privacy impact assessments.

Pros:

•  Strong feature set suitable for enterprise customers

• User-friendly interface that supports simple management

• Additional support offered through the OneTrust community

Cons:

• High starting costs

• No free plan available

• Time and effort required for implementation

Overall Thoughts:

PrivacyEngine provides a wide range of features and tools to help organizations manage data privacy. It offers a comprehensive solution for compliance management. Its strongest points include a user-friendly interface and a powerful feature set.

However, PrivacyEngine can be expensive, especially for small and mid-sized organizations that may have limited budgets. The cost of the software can also increase as an organization's needs grow or as they add more users. And like many comparable platforms, implementing and maintaining PrivacyEngine can be complex and time-consuming. Organizations may require significant resources to ensure the software is properly configured and integrated into their systems and processes.

5. Securiti

Securiti is a privacy and data security automation solution that provides a comprehensive platform for security, governance, and compliance across on-premise, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments in different geographies. Securiti's software products provide a range of features designed to provide end-to-end data protection, including sensitive data discovery, data cataloging, access intelligence & controls, security posture management, and more.

By providing a comprehensive approach to data privacy, Securiti helps organizations better understand and manage their sensitive data, reduce the risk of data breaches, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Pros:

• Affordable costs across implementation and management

• User-friendly dashboards & data visibility

• Technical documentation and support available

Cons:

• No API key authentication

• No analytic capabilities

• Challenges when deploying at scale

Overall Thoughts:

Securiti is a strong privacy solution that leverages advanced techniques to help organizations automate key aspects of data privacy, governance, and security. The platform can scan and discover hundreds of different data types across structured and unstructured assets, both in on-prem and cloud native environments.

A key selling point of Securiti is the wealth of features it provides at a reasonable price point. The platform coordinates a series of helpful dashboards and visualization tools to promote data transparency, and it comes with helpful technical resources to support onboarding.

However, users should note that Securiti does lack analytic capabilities found by other entries in this list as well as an API key. While users can harden their security architecture to accommodate this, it’s a distinction that may create downstream complexities as the company grows.

6. Collibra

Collibra is a cloud-based data intelligence platform that helps organizations manage and govern their data assets. The platform enables businesses to understand, trust, and leverage their data. It is designed to support a range of use cases, including data governance, cataloging, data lineage, and data quality.

Collibra's software products provide a range of features that include automated data discovery and classification, data lineage visualization, data quality monitoring, data cataloging and indexing, and workflow management. The platform also includes collaboration and communication tools, which enable data stewards and analysts to work together and share knowledge.

Pros:

• Strong data governance functions

• Many integrations available

• Numerous product enhancements available

Cons:

• Steep learning curve with substantial onboarding required

• Poor UI management

• Third-party deployment support may be necessary

Overall Thoughts:

Collibra's platform is highly customizable, which enables businesses to tailor their data governance and management programs to meet their unique needs. The company is known for its innovative approach to data governance and management, and it offers a powerful way to get a handle on metadata management across the enterprise.

The complexity of Collibra’s platform is a big advantage for users with the technical acumen to pull it off, but less technically-minded organizations will struggle with implementation. Collibra’s interface can be unintuitive for many users, and even with proper planning, users may need to lean on third-party implementation support to truly get the most out of their investment. For organizations willing to invest the time into Collibra setup and management, it’s a worthy choice for data discovery and compliance.

7. Palqee Data Privacy

Palqee is a comprehensive solution to help a company achieve all aspects of its governance, risk, and compliance goals. The software includes great features for data management across data mapping, assessments, subject rights management, documentation, and building a stronger, privacy-first culture overall.

With helpful customization options, pre-set templates, and a strong community that supports the platform’s growth, Palqee has established itself as a great choice for compliance management and collaboration, with a specific focus on South American and Brazilian markets.

Pros:

• Many advanced data management features and tools

• Intuitive interface and usability

• Free trial available

Cons:

• High costs

• Long contracts required

• Best suited to region-specific markets

Overall Thoughts:

Palqee offers a great range of data management tools to bring visibility to a company’s governance, risk, and security management goals. The platform features a rare combination of advanced features delivered through a user-friendly interface, giving users the best of both worlds in technical capability and usability. The platform can even be tested ahead of time through a free 14-day trial period to make sure it’s a proper fit.

However, Palqee comes with high implementation costs and requires users to sign on for longer contract periods than many other software entries in this list. Also, Palqee’s compliance features and community are primarily centered around South American markets, which can limit its potential value for companies that operate outside the region.

Despite these drawbacks, Palqee is a pioneering data privacy solution that can substantially improve the way a company communicates and collaborates on compliance initiatives.

8. Osano

Osano provides businesses with a great range of tools to help them comply with data privacy regulations and manage their website and app privacy policies. Its basic features include website and app privacy scanning, consent management, and compliance monitoring. Osano also provides privacy policy templates and compliance reports for businesses, which can be customized to a variety of different applications.

Pros:

• Simple and intuitive management

• Interface customization options to support usability

• Effective cookie consent management tools

Cons:

• Expensive

• Slightly more complex onboarding
• Doesn't offer native apps for Shopify and others

Overall Thoughts:

Osano’s platform is user-friendly, with a clear dashboard and intuitive features. It also features some helpful tools, such as a detailed privacy scanning module that can scan the current cookies for each website. 

However, Osano is expensive for what it offers. It's a fantastic tool for data privacy compliance, but doesn't match up to Enzuzo when judged from a cost and reliability perspective. For example, its top-tier plans can run north of $500/month — which include features crucial for GDPR compliance like DSARs. Enzuzo's comparable plans start at $29/month.

Cookie consent management is cheaper with Enzuzo, too, while offering the same features such as region selection, CSS customizability, and analytics.

Read more about alternatives to Osano.

9. TrustArc

TrustArc provides a comprehensive privacy management platform that coordinates privacy frameworks, intelligence, reporting insights, and data inventory capabilities to deliver a centralized compliance management experience.

TrustArc offers a fully-automated platform for end-to-end compliance management that goes beyond the basics, making it a great choice for businesses that want to streamline their time-consuming and tedious compliance processes. Better yet, the platform is backed by a superior customer support team to address issues that may arise during implementation.

Pros:

• Full range of flexible compliance tools and automated processes

• High level of customizability

• Strong customer support for issues

Cons:

• Substantial hands-on management required

• Can be complex to implement for enterprises

• May be too costly for small businesses

Overall Thoughts:

TrustArc is a comprehensive privacy management software that offers a wide range of features, with a special focus on bringing customization and automation to a business’s compliance processes. TrustArc is known for its advanced features, and its helpful customer support staff who can help buyers address problems at any stage throughout implementation. This support can ease the technical burden of implementation and management.

The drawbacks of TrustArc relate to the sheer scope of services and customization options available. Users may find that substantial hands-on management is required to keep data up-to-date and make TrustArc the single source of truth it’s meant to be. This means that enterprises with multiple business units will face some complexities during implementation. Smaller companies may struggle as well due to the platform’s costs, so companies will need to assess their needs carefully to determine whether TrustArc is a suitable option for their business.

10. BigID

BigID is a data discovery and intelligence platform that helps businesses discover and manage data across their entire enterprise. The tool specializes in data discovery and intelligence, and it offers great tools for the assessment, classification, and management of sensitive data sets. BigID accomplishes this through a series of tools, both out-of-the-box and configurable, that help companies make sense of their information.

Pros:

• Enterprise-grade toolsets for data classification and cataloging

• Frequent updates to product releases & features

• Responsive customer support team

Cons:

• High effort required for data management

• Scope may be unsuitable for SMBs

• Poor UI & usability

Overall Thoughts:

BigID is an enterprise-grade solution for data discovery and classification, and the platform’s pros and cons reflect that. While users will certainly find value in the powerful toolsets and broad range of discovery tools, the tools also require some hands-on management. Combined with a relatively unintuitive interface, navigation through BigID can be a challenge for the uninitiated.

Despite this, BigID is backed by responsive technical and customer support teams. New updates are released frequently, and customer service representatives are willing to help users navigate any problems they may encounter. BigID is a great data discovery tool for enterprises, (over half of its user base is companies with $10B+ revenue), but its cost and complexity make it less suitable for smaller companies.

11. Mine

Mine does a lot of things right, such as its intelligent data governance solution, data sources, and an incredible array of integrations. It's a technical, enterprise product with the features to back it up. 

The downside of Mine is that it can't cater to self-serve environments or companies with lower budgets. It also doesn't cater to things like GDPR compliance and is mostly concerned with threat assessments, data governance, and other high-end enterprise features.

Pros of Mine:

• Robust, ironclad solution
• Impressive engineering and product roadmap
   

Cons of Mine:

• Can't cater for compliance needs
• Very pricey
• Unsuited for medium-sized enterprises

Things to Consider When Choosing Data Privacy Software

We spoke about our criteria for ranking companies on this list, but let's take it a little further. Here are some additional factors we used for our ranking criteria: 

• User Interface (UI) and Dashboards: We evaluated companies based on ease of use, with intuitive dashboards and user interfaces. We also took into account whether the software include analytics, multi-user support, and more. 

• Robust Customer Support: We analyzed whether the software offered reliable support and training resources to help users get the most out of the platform and address any issues that may arise. This includes both training resources for onboarding as well as live customer service support.

• Customization Potential: The data privacy landscape is always changes, so we took into account whether the software offered customization. This included the ability to add or remove features, customize workflows, and integrate with other systems, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and other software as necessary.

• Costs: Bang for your buck was a major consideration factor. 

• Cookie Consent Tools: All the new data privacy laws are clamping down hard on cookies, so we took cookie consent management as one of our core ranking factors.

• Automatic updates: All legal pages should update when there are new regulations. That's why we had that as a ranking factor. 

• Multi-language support: Multi-language options support a seamless compliance process across a variety of markets, particularly when companies operate in different regulatory environments. 

Data Privacy Software FAQs

Who uses data privacy management software?

Data privacy management software is used by a wide range of businesses and organizations that handle sensitive data, including financial institutions, healthcare providers, government agencies, and e-commerce businesses. Technical audiences, including data analysts, data architects, and IT professionals, are key users of data privacy management software because they manage data privacy risks and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.

What are some of the top features of data privacy management software?

Technical teams can use data privacy management software to automate data discovery and classification, streamline the data inventory and mapping process, and enable data access control, monitoring, and audit trails. This software can also help technical teams ensure that data is encrypted, anonymized, or pseudonymized when appropriate. It also ensures that access controls are in place to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Data privacy management software can help technical teams manage user consent for data collection and processing, maintain compliant privacy policies, and manage DSAR for access, deletion, and correction of personal data.

What happens if my company fails to achieve compliance with these regulations?

Fines for data privacy violations can be significant, especially under GDPR and similar data protection laws in other countries. The fines can range from a few hundred euros to millions of euros or dollars, depending on the severity of the violation.

Aside from the monetary fines, your company's reputation may suffer, leading to loss of business because customers may lose trust in your organization. Your company may also face legal action from affected individuals or regulatory authorities, resulting in further financial losses.

It's important to note that data privacy violations can have serious consequences, and organizations should take steps to ensure that they comply with all relevant data protection laws and regulations.