Independent data room comparisons for UK businessesPrices shown in GBP where publishedUpdated October 2026
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Head to head · Updated 9 October 2026

Firmex vs iDeals for UK deals

Two established rooms with free trials; iDeals adds single sign-on and an API.

By the DataRooms.uk editorial team · How we score providers

Firmex logo
FirmexRanked 5 on our UK list
8.8
Price from
Quote on request
Free trial
Yes
Founded
2006
Head office
Canada
Read the Firmex review
iDeals logo
iDealsRanked 2 on our UK list
9.2
Price from
Quote on request
Free trial
Yes
Founded
2008
Head office
United Kingdom
Read the iDeals review

Our call

VerdictiDeals leads overall, 9.2 to 8.8, with stronger security and deal tools scores. Firmex scores higher on ease of use and matches iDeals on redaction, Q&A, watermarking and audit trail, with ISO 27001 and SOC 2 on both. iDeals adds single sign-on and an API. Both offer a free trial and both price by quote.

Firmex (founded 2006, Canada) and iDeals (founded 2008, United Kingdom) are close in age. Our data tags Firmex for mid-market and legal work and iDeals for enterprise due diligence and support. For UK law firms and corporate finance boutiques the decision often comes down to single sign-on and how much the client values a UK head office.

Score duel on our five UK criteria

iDeals is ahead overall, 9.2 to 8.8 out of 10. Firmex wins 1 of the 5 criteria, iDeals wins 4. The widest gap is on deal tools, 1.2 points in favour of iDeals, a criterion worth 25% of the overall score.

Firmex and iDeals: score duel on five UK criteria

Firmex 8.8 1 criterion won
vs
iDeals 9.2 4 criteria won
  1. Security & UK GDPR 30% weight
    Firmex 9.0
    iDeals 9.6

    iDeals by 0.6 Weighted: 2.70 vs 2.88

  2. Deal tools 25% weight
    Firmex 8.3
    iDeals 9.5

    iDeals by 1.2 Weighted: 2.08 vs 2.38

  3. Ease of use 20% weight
    Firmex 9.0
    iDeals 8.5

    Firmex by 0.5 Weighted: 1.80 vs 1.70

  4. Value for money 15% weight
    Firmex 8.5
    iDeals 8.8

    iDeals by 0.3 Weighted: 1.27 vs 1.32

  5. Support 10% weight
    Firmex 9.2
    iDeals 9.7

    iDeals by 0.5 Weighted: 0.92 vs 0.97

Widest gap: Deal tools, 1.2 points to iDeals. Overall, iDeals by 0.4.
datarooms.ukEditorial scores, not user reviews
Editorial scores out of 10 from our UK-weighted model. Weighted points are the score times the criterion weight; they add up to the overall score. Source: our facts database.

Firmex's ease-of-use lead is real, but it cannot offset deal tools, which carry 25% of the score. iDeals also scores higher on support and value, so its overall lead holds even if you reweight towards usability.

What only one of them has

Of the 12 features we track, the two share 7. Firmex lists nothing on our feature list that iDeals lacks. Only iDeals lists API access and single sign-on. Neither lists e-signature, mobile app and AI tools.

Only Firmex

Nothing on our list

Only iDeals

  • API access
  • Single sign-on

Both

  • Q&A workflow
  • Full audit trail
  • Dynamic watermarks
  • Redaction
  • Two-factor login
  • Bulk upload
  • Document rights control

Neither lists

  • E-signature
  • Mobile app
  • AI tools

For a law firm hosting several client matters, single sign-on is often the deciding line, because it lets the firm apply its own login rules to every room. iDeals' API matters to firms that want rooms opened or reported on from their own matter systems.

Cost in pounds, with and without VAT

Both quote and both offer a free trial, so you can compare the rooms hands-on before comparing prices. The calculator shows a typical market range for an enterprise project quote of your size. Ask each provider for a sterling quote on the same assumptions, with VAT treatment and extension rates stated.

VAT: UK-registered suppliers add it to the invoice; for suppliers based abroad, UK businesses usually account for it under the reverse charge. Ask your accountant how it applies to you.

Indicative cost for 6 months, excluding VAT

Firmex

£4,000 to £12,000 Typical market range for a project quote of this size Firmex prices by quote; this is not a price from Firmex

iDeals

£4,000 to £12,000 Typical market range for a project quote of this size iDeals prices by quote; this is not a price from iDeals

Indicative only, confirm with the provider. Published dollar prices converted at $1 = £0.75; higher tiers, storage, add-ons and the exchange rate on the invoice date change the real figure. Quote ranges follow our deal-type budget calculator.

UK GDPR and hosting: what to ask

Firmex lists Canada as its head office and iDeals the United Kingdom; both list ISO 27001 and SOC 2. The UK recognises Canada as adequate for commercial organisations subject to PIPEDA, but confirm which entity and which location actually handle your documents. Ask both for the hosting region, the data processing agreement and the sub-processor list.

CheckFirmexiDeals
Head office CanadaUnited Kingdom
Certifications listed ISO 27001, SOC 2ISO 27001, SOC 2
Two-factor login YesYes
Single sign-on Not listedYes
Full audit trail YesYes
Built-in redaction YesYes
Hosting region for a UK room Ask the providerAsk the provider
Data processing agreement Ask the providerAsk the provider
Sub-processor list Ask the providerAsk the provider
Transfer route if data leaves the UK Ask the providerAsk the provider
Where AI processing happens No AI tools listedNo AI tools listed

Facts as listed in our provider database. "Ask the provider" means we hold no verified answer; get it in writing for your room.

  1. Where will a UK room be hosted?Ask for the region in writing and whether it can be fixed in the contract. Our data does not record hosting, so treat any answer from a sales call as provisional until it is in the order form.
  2. Who is the processor, and under which agreement?Get the data processing agreement before documents go in. Check it names the contracting entity, the security measures and how the provider helps you answer subject access requests.
  3. Which sub-processors touch the documents?Hosting, support, email delivery and analytics vendors all count. Ask for the list and how you are told about changes during the deal.
  4. Can anyone outside the UK see the files?Firmex lists Canada as head office. Support access from abroad is a restricted transfer, so ask which safeguard covers it: UK adequacy regulations, the UK International Data Transfer Agreement or the UK Addendum to the EU standard contractual clauses.
  5. What happens to the room at completion?Agree the archive format, how long read-only access lasts and when the provider deletes everything, with a certificate of deletion if your retention policy needs one.

How each copes with four UK deals

Takeover Code bid

On a Code bid with bank advisers on both sides, iDeals' single sign-on is a practical advantage, and its higher deal tools score reflects the depth a contested process needs. Firmex covers the core tasks, including the full audit trail you rely on when answering equal information requests under Rule 21.3.

AIM admission

AIM admissions bring many advisers into one room for a long time. Firmex's ease-of-use lead helps there, while iDeals' API lets a firm connect the room to its own matter systems. Both offer redaction for board papers that name individuals.

SEIS or EIS round

Both offer a free trial, but both quote, so for a small SEIS or EIS round ask for a fixed price for a short, small room. Firmex's ease of use suits a founder running the room without an adviser.

Commercial property sale

Both have redaction for tenant data. Ask each about bulk upload limits for large scanned title plans. If a fund manager wants to automate uploads or reporting across several assets, iDeals' API is the deciding feature.

More deal types, each with a UK shortlist, on our solutions page.

Which to choose

Choose Firmex if

  • You value a straightforward room that clients and counterparties pick up quickly.
  • Single sign-on is not a requirement.
  • Your work is mostly mid-market and legal-led.

Choose iDeals if

  • Single sign-on or an API is required.
  • You want the higher deal tools and support scores.
  • A UK head office matters to the client.

Still unsure? Our data room quiz matches a shortlist to your deal type, and the UK ranking puts both in the context of all 18 providers we track.

Firmex vs iDeals: questions

What will Firmex and iDeals cost in pounds?

Both price by quote, so the figure depends on the months, pages and users in your project. For a sense check, our calculator above shows a typical market range for an enterprise project quote of your size. Ask each for a sterling quote that states VAT treatment and the rate for extra months.

Which features does only one of them have?

Firmex lists nothing on our feature list that iDeals lacks. Only iDeals lists API access and single sign-on. Both list Q&A workflow, full audit trail, dynamic watermarks, redaction and two-factor login and more.

Can I try Firmex and iDeals before paying?

Firmex: free trial. iDeals: free trial. Where there is no free trial, ask for a guided demonstration using a copy of your own folder index rather than the provider's sample room.

Is Firmex or iDeals better for a UK law firm?

If the firm needs single sign-on across client rooms, iDeals. If ease of use for clients and counterparties matters more, Firmex scores higher there. Both offer a free trial, so test each with a real matter index.

Do Firmex and iDeals have AI tools?

Neither lists AI tools in our facts database. If AI review matters to your deal, compare them with the providers that do list it on our providers page.

Can I get UK hosting from either?

Our data does not record hosting regions. Ask each provider directly and get the region written into the contract.

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