Top Software for Smarter Entity Management in 2026

Entity management is essential for organizations that manage subsidiaries, affiliates, or complex corporate structures. Selecting the optimal governance software can streamline compliance, centralize data, and automate processes. In 2025, with rising regulatory demands and digital transformation, AI-enhanced governance platforms are revolutionizing entity management. This guide provides a balanced comparison of four leading solutions, which are the best solutions for Entity management now and in 2026: ContractZen, Diligent Entities, Athennian, and DiliTrust, evaluating them equally based on features, scalability, user suitability, and integration with legal and finance teams' needs.

Why Entity Management Software Matters

Managing legal entities is no longer just an administrative task. With evolving regulations such as GDPR, SOX, and ESG reporting, legal and finance teams face constant pressure to maintain accuracy and transparency.

Entity management software helps organizations:

• Centralize records across jurisdictions
• Track compliance deadlines automatically
• Visualize ownership and governance structures
• Prepare audit-ready data in minutes

According to the EY Law General Counsel Study 2025, 75% of legal departments say their top digital priority is developing or refining their legal technology and data strategies. This reflects a strong shift toward automation and smarter tools that reduce manual work, improve data integrity, and strengthen compliance.

Top Governance Software for Entity Management

1. Diligent Entities

Best for: Multinational corporations with complex, global operations requiring robust compliance and AI-driven insights.
Diligent Entities, part of Diligent’s governance suite, focuses on multi-jurisdictional entity management, centralizing data to reduce risks from manual processes. It's suitable for legal and finance teams in enterprises, emphasizing audit readiness and regulatory compliance.

• Key Features:
  • AI assistant for instant answers on ownership, directors, filings, and entity data.
  • AI-driven agenda and reporting to surface insights and reduce manual work.
  • Compliance flagging for issues like missing filings or regulatory changes.
  • Real-time organizational charting and visualizations for workflows.
  • Centralized data management to prevent compliance risks.
  • Integration with Microsoft Teams for AI-assisted queries.
  • Scalable reporting and audit preparation tools.
  • Secure data handling with enterprise-grade protections.
• Pros: Strong AI for analytics and efficiency, excellent for global compliance, scales with business growth.
• Cons: Higher cost and potential learning curve for smaller teams.
• Pricing: Visit Diligent for a custom request. (According to Capterra, starting price $10.000 per feature, per year).
• Free Trial: Varies; contact for details.
• User Fit: Legal and finance professionals in large enterprises managing global subsidiaries, tackling challenges like disconnected tools and audit complexities.

 2. DiliTrust

Best for: Legal teams in mid-to-large firms needing centralized data, AI analytics, and high cybersecurity for entity management.
DiliTrust offers a robust entity management module with AI and OCR for document processing, supporting collaboration and compliance. It's designed for internal and external stakeholders managing legal entities, shareholdings, and mandates.

• Key Features:
  • AI with OCR for document processing and machine learning support.
  • Keyword search to quickly locate information in documents.
  • Automatic reminders for deadlines, tasks, and compliance (e.g., audits, renewals).
  • Dynamic organigrams for visualizing shareholding and mandate structures.
  • Custom APIs and plug-and-play integrations with existing systems.
  • High cybersecurity with SOC 2, SSO, and end-to-end encryption.
  • Audit trails and automatic documentation of changes for entities.
  • Integration with e-signature providers like Adobe Sign and DocuSign.
• Pros: Flexible adaptation, strong security certifications, comprehensive audit tools.
• Cons: Limited mobile-specific features mentioned.
• Pricing: Contact DiliTrust for details.
• Free Trial: Varies; contact for details.
• User Fit: Legal departments and compliance officers in mid-to-large companies, focusing on secure data centralization and regulatory adherence.

3. Athennian

Best for: Legal, tax, and compliance teams managing corporate records and global subsidiaries.

Athennian is a modern entity management platform focused on automating compliance and corporate record-keeping. It’s known for its user-friendly design, automation capabilities, and cloud-native approach. Many law firms and in-house legal teams use Athennian to streamline governance workflows.

Key Features:

• Centralized digital corporate record system.
• Automated document generation and compliance workflows.
• Real-time ownership and organizational charts.
• Secure cloud infrastructure with SOC 2 Type II certification.
• Integrations with DocuSign, Google Workspace, and Microsoft 365.
• Audit-ready history logs and activity tracking.
• Role-based access and data-sharing controls.

Pros: Clean interface, strong automation tools, and excellent reporting capabilities.
Cons: Fewer built-in AI features than some competitors.
Pricing: $25,000/year for Essentials (100 entities included). For Professional and Enterprise packages, contact Athennian for details.
Free Trial: Available upon request.

User Fit: Legal and corporate secretarial teams managing subsidiaries, compliance documentation, and filings.

4. ContractZen

Best for: SMBs, startups, and growing organizations, particularly legal and finance teams seeking an all-in-one, affordable solution.
ContractZen is a governance cloud platform that simplifies entity management with effortless tracking of subsidiaries, legal representatives, and corporate records. It's widely used by legal teams for compliance and finance teams for audit-ready governance, offering a secure Virtual Data Room (VDR) for due diligence and M&A. Built on Microsoft Azure Cloud, it ensures GDPR compliance and data sovereignty.

• Key Features:
  • Secured through layered encryption at every stage, including data storage and in transit, on the trusted Microsoft Azure Cloud platform.
  • Dynamic tree view for visual ownership structures to understand complex entity relationships.
  • Built-in AI assistant: Powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI, the AI Assistant analyses legal documents, extracts key terms, identifies risks, and provides compliance and governance insights. It offers personalized recommendations, multilingual support, and secure, private AI interactions. 
  • AI-powered OCR with computer vision for searching inside documents and images.
  • Metadata-driven search engine with advanced operators (AND, OR, NOT) for quick data location.
  • Unified access across devices, including mobile apps for Android and iOS.
  • Centralized storage with global accessibility for decentralized updates and consistency.
  • Secure VDR with RSA 256 encryption, dynamic indexing, and robust access rights.
  • Automated email reminders for compliance deadlines and key dates.
  • Integrations with Microsoft 365, Google SSO, and integration with e-signature providers like Adobe Sign, Docusign, Assently, Visma Sign.
• Pros: User-friendly interface, cost-effective for SMBs, comprehensive mobile support.
• Cons: May require add-ons for highly advanced enterprise-scale customizations.
• Pricing: Advanced $27/user/month, contact for custom packages if 50+ users. Visit the ContractZen pricing for detailed plans, which start affordably and scale with features.
• Free Trial: 30 days (no credit card required).
• User Fit: Paralegals, controllers, compliance officers, and legal ops managers in  SMBs and growing organizations, addressing pain points like disorganized files, time-consuming audits, and regulatory reporting.

Comparison Table: Key Features

Choosing the Right Solution

Every organization has different goals and governance needs. Here is a quick guide to help you decide:

• For small or growing companies:
  ContractZen offers an affordable and secure AI-powered governance platform that saves time and reduces manual work.
• For global enterprises:
  Diligent delivers the compliance visibility needed for complex, multi-entity operations.
• For legal and corporate secretarial teams:
  Athennian automates record management and document creation with ease.
• For security-conscious organizations:
  DiliTrust stands out for its strong data protection and audit traceability.

Governance in 2026: Smarter, Simpler, More Human

Governance technology is evolving quickly. AI and automation are no longer optional; they are essential tools for better decision-making and compliance. The best solutions bring together clarity, security, and intelligence in one simple experience.

At ContractZen, we believe governance should be simple, secure, and human. Whether you manage a few entities or operate globally, having the right tools helps you stay organized, compliant, and ready for every opportunity.