Contract redlining often stretches longer than planned, especially when reviews move across multiple systems. 

Comprehensive AI-supported software is closing that gap. In fact, automation now eliminates much of the manual work, cutting legal task time by up to 82%. It also brings turnaround times down from 92 minutes to under 30 seconds. 

Despite these gains, most legal teams still struggle with fragmented workflows, coordinating Word docs, email threads, and disconnected signatures that cost time and bring in risk.

That “disconnect” is the placeholder in this guide. Below, we discuss 5 contract redlining tools that are purpose-built to centralize reviews and reduce avoidable risk, including the only tool supporting redlining up to 5–10× faster than manual review.

‍

Why Should You Use Contract Redlining Tools?

‍

Before: Multiple copies of the same contract circulating, confusing file names, comments buried in email threads, and last-minute reviews to confirm which version is actually current.

After: A single shared document, changes tracked in real time, full visibility into edits, and far fewer follow-ups just to move the deal forward.

Here’s how contract redlining tools make that possible for in-house legal teams and RevOps leaders:

• No more manual redlining: Edits are recorded automatically, eliminating line-by-line hunting and version confusion. Legal teams that automate review can cut contract review time by 50–75%. This helps deals move faster so contracts close in the same quarter. Also, legal spends less time chasing clauses and more time supporting revenue.
• Built-in version control: You always know which version is the latest.
• Smoother collaboration: All parties involved can leave comments, suggest edits, or approve changes in one shared space.
• Faster review cycles: Prevents missed renewals and penalties. Aline’s AI Playbooks can redline contracts up to 10× faster and cut review time by 50–75%. This helps legal teams catch renewal clauses and avoid revenue drag from slow negotiations.
• Fewer mistakes: Real‑time tracking and clear change logs help legal teams catch risky terms and mistakes before finalizing contracts. This is essential as poor contract quality can cost organizations up to 9% of annual revenue.
• Supports the full contract process: From contract drafting to final approval, redlining tools help keep things moving.
• Better recordkeeping: Every edit is logged, which makes audits or follow-ups a whole lot easier. As one of Aline’s users says:

‍

‍

“The volume of paper crossing my desk was staggering; redlining a simple MNDA took up to 45 minutes of focused work. Now, I can do the same task in under two minutes.” 

— Daniel Telford, Sr. Director, Legal, Xevant.”

‍

‍

Best Contract Redlining Software You Can Try Today

‍

Choosing your first contract redlining software can feel tricky, especially with so many tools out there offering similar features.

The key is choosing a tool that fits in-house legal, finance, and RevOps teams at SMB and mid-market companies (roughly 50–5,000 employees). It should also support how they draft, redline, approve, and close contracts as they scale.

The following are the top options to consider:

‍

1. Aline

‍

In many legal teams, manual redlines are “slow, error-prone, and inefficient”. Aline provides AI-powered Playbooks that were built to eliminate those errors at the source, letting teams move fast without losing accuracy.

‍

‍

Many redlining tools focus narrowly on tracking edits, leaving teams to manage the downstream processes themselves. 

Aline is designed to cover the full contract flow in one place. It covers everything from AI-assisted drafting and redlining, supported by its AI agent, to approvals, e-signatures, and searchable storage, so reviews don’t slow down at hand-offs.

That speed is tangible at the task level. An Aline customer reported reducing the time to redline a standard MNDA from roughly 45 minutes to under 2 minutes. This focus on end-to-end workflows, combined with an interface that users can pick up quickly, removes the friction that’s common in tools designed only for markup.

Whether you’re a solo legal counsel or managing a high volume of contracts with sales, procurement, and compliance teams involved, Aline gives you a clean, systematic way to get contracts drafted and approved quickly.

‍

The Aline Advantage

• Aline AI: One-click drafting, redlining, and analysis aligned to your preferred terms. Have legal drafts ready XX% faster, contracts clear legal sooner, helping sales close deals XX% earlier and pull revenue forward in the quarter.
• AI Playbooks: S Use custom templates to guide redlining, negotiation, and contract risk management, ensuring consistent clauses, lowering review mistakes, and trimming outside-counsel costs by $XX per contract.
• Aline Associate: Use a dedicated AI agent that can review, edit, and summarize contracts with context, like a smart assistant built for legal.
• AlineSign: Send and sign unlimited contracts securely with built-in e-signature tools that are compliant with ESIGN and UETA standards.
• AI Repository: Centralized, AI-tagged contract storage with instant clause and term extraction. You can quickly surface critical dates, reduce review errors, and avoid potential $XX penalties from missed obligations.
• Collaborative workflows: Coordinate Legal, Sales, and Ops in one platform for drafting, approvals, and signatures → eliminate version chaos and speed up review cycles by XX%. 

See it in action, import a redacted contract into Aline’s 14-day sandbox and watch review time shrink in minutes.

Pros

‍

• Cuts redlining time by up to 75%
• Perfect for legal teams and senior contract professionals managing 50–200 contracts monthly, offering automation while keeping oversight tight.l
• Easy to roll out across legal, sales, and procurement teams
• Keeps contracts organized and searchable after signing
• Aline is SOC 2 Type II certified with zero‑retention AI, so your contracts and edits stay private and are never used to train external models.

Legal teams report dramatic reductions in manual effort. For example, a first pass on a 50-page commercial agreement can be completed in about 15 minutes, rather than the much longer manual cycle.

‍

Want to learn more about how the entire Aline platform works? Start your trial today!

‍

‍

‍

‍

2. HyperStart CLM

‍

HyperStart CLM is a contract lifecycle management tool that includes redlining as part of a broader system built for legal professionals and cross-functional teams.

Source: G2

It supports AI contract review, approvals, and storage in one platform, with a focus on usability and integration with familiar tools like Microsoft Word.

The redlining process in HyperStart allows legal teams to make contract edits, monitor changes, and manage comments in real time. It’s useful for organizations that want to improve their contract workflows without moving away from existing document formats.

Best Features

• Microsoft Word integration: Supports redlining and editing directly within Word, which can make it easier for users used to traditional formats.
• Contract review tools: Built-in features to highlight changes, leave comments, and assign tasks during contract negotiations.
• Collaborative redlining: Multiple stakeholders can make edits or suggestions in the same version of the document.
• Obligation tracking: Helps monitor contractual obligations after signing, linking them back to the original redlined clauses.
• Contract workflow automation: Set up approval paths and reminders to keep contract edits and reviews moving.
• Audit trails: Full visibility into who made what changes and when to support accountability during the redlining process.

Pros

• Keeps the editing experience familiar for teams using Microsoft Word
• Supports organized contract review and approval steps
• Allows legal professionals to stay on top of contractual obligations post-signature

Cons

• It may feel more CLM-focused than redlining-specific for some teams.
• Less flexibility if you're not using Microsoft Word workflows.
• Basic AI capabilities compared to newer legal AI startups.

‍

3. ContractPodAi

‍

ContractPodAi is a contract lifecycle platform that can support the full contract redlining process. It blends AI-driven editing tools with real-time collaboration features to help legal and sales move through contracts faster. This is particularly useful when multiple parties are involved.

Source: G2

The platform lets users compare previous versions, track proposed changes, and centralize contract data. It’s made for teams that need structure without giving up flexibility, and it supports integrations with tools like Google Docs to make contract collaboration smoother.

Best Features

• AI-powered redlining: Suggests edits based on risk profiles, contract data, and preferred language to reduce manual work.
• Contract version comparison: Lets you review previous versions side by side and oversee changes throughout the redlining process.
• Real-time collaboration: Multiple users can view and edit documents at the same time. This helps improve operational efficiency during contract review.
• Clause management: Stores and reuses commonly used language across different contracts, saving time for sales teams and legal.
• Integration support: Works with platforms like Google Docs, making it easier for people to collaborate in familiar environments.
• Change tracking: Clearly shows proposed changes, who made them, and when, which can reduce the risk of confusion or delays.

Pros

• Good fit for legal and sales teams working across different tools
• Supports faster contract edits with real-time input from multiple parties
• Helps you maintain a clean record of all proposed changes and versions

Cons

• The interface may take some getting used to for first-time users
• The full platform might be more than you need if you're only looking for redlining
• Limited customization in lower-tier plans

‍

4. LEGALFLY

‍

LEGALFLY is a lightweight contract review tool that is suitable for businesses that want a straightforward way to manage redlines without adding extra complexity. It’s especially useful for smaller legal teams or companies looking to cut down on back-and-forth during negotiations.

Source: G2

The platform helps you manage redlines and comments in one place, which can reduce delays and misunderstandings that often happen when contracts are passed around by email.

LEGALFLY isn’t packed with extras, but it focuses on doing one thing well: helping departments stay aligned during contract edits.

Best Features

• Simple redlining interface: Makes it easy to review contracts, suggest changes, and avoid confusion across different departments.
• Contract sharing: Share documents with external or internal stakeholders without leaving the platform.
• Basic contract approval workflows: Assign tasks or approvals to move contracts along and reduce slowdowns.
• Error reduction: Keeps everything in one version to avoid error-prone manual edits.
• Policy templates: Upload and reuse company policies and terms to speed up reviews and stay consistent.
• System compatibility: Designed to work alongside other systems without requiring a major setup.

Pros

• Allows you to close deals faster by reducing back-and-forth
• Keeps contract edits clean and centralized
• Reduces misunderstandings with clear markup and approval paths

Cons

• Fewer advanced features for teams needing deep clause analysis
• Suited for smaller teams, but may not scale well for larger legal departments
• Doesn’t include native e-signature or contract storage tools

‍

5. Sirion

‍

Sirion CLM is an enterprise-level contract management tool with built-in redlining features designed to support collaboration between legal, procurement, and business teams.

Source: G2

It focuses on keeping the contract process clear and compliant when multiple parties are involved, which, in turn, reduces the time spent tracking different versions or chasing approvals.

Sirion’s redlining tools make sure that all edits and comments stay tied to the latest version of the agreement. It can manage contracts across departments and keep everyone in sync, especially when one party makes a change and others need to review or approve it quickly.

Best Features

• Multi-party collaboration: Allows legal and business teams to review agreements together.
• Version Control: Keeps everyone working off the latest version of the document to avoid conflicting edits or confusion.
• Compliance checks: Flags issues or missing terms that may require attention before final approval.
• Timeline tracking: Shows when and where changes were made, helping you reduce time spent digging through different versions.
• Audit history: Maintains a clear record of all redlines and responses from other parties throughout the review cycle.
• Integrated workflows: Helps keep the agreement moving by automating follow-ups and tasks across teams.

Pros

• Suitable for managing redlines across legal, business, and vendor teams
• Minimizes mistakes by keeping all parties on the same page
• Tracks the full contract lifecycle from draft to final agreement

Cons

• More complex setup compared to lightweight tools
• Stronger fit for enterprise users; may be too much for smaller teams
• Some users report a learning curve with multi-feature navigation

Looking for proof beyond feature lists?

See how teams across multiple industries use Aline to speed reviews and keep contracts audit-ready.

‍

Looking for a Smarter Way to Handle Redlines? Start With Aline

‍

‍

Contract cycle delays of even 2–3 days can push revenue into the next quarter, slow onboarding, and create unnecessary friction between Legal and Sales. Over time, those delays compound into real financial and operational costs. 

In fact, poor contract processes can cost organizations up to 8.6% of their annual contract value due to inefficiencies and missed obligations.

With Aline’s AI-assisted drafting, redlining, and approvals built into one platform, legal teams can cut repetitive work and focus on real decisions. Aline users consistently report that redlining substantial agreements takes minutes instead of hours, with AI support.

Ready to see the difference for yourself?

See how fast contracts move when everything: drafting, redlines, approvals, and e-sign, happens in one place. Launch a no-card, 14-day sandbox and watch multiple page agreements go from draft to redline in under an hour.

‍

FAQs About Contract Redlining Software

‍

What is redlining software?

Redlining software is a tool that lets you track changes, leave comments, and manage edits during contract review. Think of it as a digital version of using a red pen, only smarter, cleaner, and built for collaboration.

‍

How do I redline a contract?

To redline a contract, you upload or open the document in a redlining tool, suggest edits, and track any changes made. The software highlights differences between two versions and lets everyone involved respond or approve edits.

‍

What is the best software to manage contracts?

The best contract management software is one that handles the entire contract lifecycle in a single place. Tools limited to redlining still leave teams managing approvals, e-signatures, and storage across separate systems. Platforms like Aline bring drafting, redlining, approvals, signing, and contract tracking together, reducing handoffs and speeding up reviews.

‍

What software do you use to write a contract?

You can draft contracts using basic tools like Word or Google Docs, but redlining software with built-in drafting features saves time and reduces errors. Platforms like Aline let you write, edit, and redline contracts all in one place.

‍

How does redlining software help with contract negotiations?

Redlining software keeps the contract negotiation process clear by tracking edits, showing comments, and comparing versions in one place. It helps all parties stay aligned, reduces confusion, and speeds up the back-and-forth that usually happens when reviewing and finalizing terms.

‍

What’s the difference between redlining tools and contract management software?

Redlining tools focus on tracking edits and managing feedback during contract review, while contract management software covers the full contract process, including drafting, approvals, e-signatures, storage, and more. Some platforms include both, depending on what your team needs.