Legal hold software is a critical part of eDiscovery and legal compliance systems. It helps organizations preserve electronically stored information (ESI) when litigation, investigations, or regulatory actions are expected.
These tools ensure that important data is not deleted or altered and maintain a defensible audit trail for legal processes.
What is Legal Hold Software?
Legal hold software is used to:
- Issue legal hold notices to custodians
- Preserve emails, files, and cloud data
- Track acknowledgment of legal holds
- Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
- Maintain audit-ready documentation
In simple terms, it ensures “data is preserved when legal action is expected.”
Top Legal Hold Software Solutions
1. Exterro Legal Hold
Exterro is a leading enterprise-grade legal hold solution.
Key Features:
- Automated legal hold issuance
- Custodian tracking and acknowledgment
- Strong audit trails
- Integrated eDiscovery workflows
Strengths:
- Highly scalable for enterprises
- Strong compliance and defensibility
- Deep legal workflow integration
Limitations:
✔ Best for: Large enterprises with complex litigation needs
2. Relativity Legal Hold
Relativity is widely used in legal and eDiscovery ecosystems.
Key Features:
- Legal hold notifications and reminders
- Custodian management
- Integration with eDiscovery platform
- Advanced reporting
Strengths:
- Strong litigation ecosystem
- Trusted by law firms globally
- Scalable for large cases
Limitations:
- Works best within Relativity ecosystem
- Steeper learning curve
✔ Best for: Law firms and enterprise legal teams
3. Microsoft Purview (eDiscovery & Legal Hold)
Microsoft Purview provides native legal hold for Microsoft environments.
Key Features:
- In-place hold for Microsoft 365 data
- Custodian management
- Advanced search and compliance tools
- Integration with Microsoft ecosystem
Strengths:
- Best for Microsoft-based organizations
- No extra infrastructure required
- Seamless cloud integration
Limitations:
- Limited outside Microsoft ecosystem
- Advanced features require premium licensing
✔ Best for: Organizations using Microsoft 365 heavily
4. Logikcull
Logikcull is a cloud-native, user-friendly legal hold tool.
Key Features:
- Automated legal hold workflows
- Simple interface
- Cloud data preservation
- Reporting dashboards
Strengths:
- Easy to use
- Fast deployment
- Transparent pricing
Limitations:
- Limited customization
- Not ideal for very large enterprises
✔ Best for: Small to mid-sized organizations
5. Everlaw Legal Hold
Everlaw is a modern litigation and eDiscovery platform.
Key Features:
- Legal hold management
- Custodian tracking
- Advanced analytics and review tools
- Collaboration features
Strengths:
- Strong analytics and UI
- Modern cloud architecture
- Good for litigation teams
Limitations:
- Premium pricing
- Focused more on litigation than simple holds
✔ Best for: Litigation-heavy legal teams
6. OpenText Legal Hold
OpenText is an enterprise information governance platform.
Key Features:
- Centralized legal hold management
- Retention policy integration
- Enterprise-grade reporting
- Multi-system data preservation
Strengths:
- Strong governance capabilities
- Highly scalable
- Suitable for regulated industries
Limitations:
- Complex implementation
- High cost
✔ Best for: Large regulated enterprises
7. Casepoint Legal Hold
Casepoint is an end-to-end eDiscovery and legal hold platform.
Key Features:
- Automated legal hold workflows
- Data collection and preservation
- Review and analytics tools
- Role-based access control
Strengths:
- All-in-one platform
- Strong compliance features
- Competitive pricing
Limitations:
- Interface complexity
- Learning curve for new users
✔ Best for: Organizations needing full eDiscovery lifecycle
8. Onna
Onna focuses on modern SaaS data preservation.
Key Features:
- SaaS data collection (Slack, Google Workspace, etc.)
- Legal hold automation
- Centralized data repository
- API integrations
Strengths:
- Excellent SaaS coverage
- Strong integrations
- Developer-friendly
Limitations:
- Not a full eDiscovery suite
- Limited advanced legal workflows
✔ Best for: SaaS-heavy organizations
Comparison Summary
Enterprise-Grade Solutions
- Exterro → Best for complex legal workflows
- Relativity → Best for litigation ecosystems
- OpenText → Best for governance-heavy industries
Cloud-Native & Easy-to-Use Tools
- Logikcull → Best simplicity and speed
- Everlaw → Best analytics and UX
- Casepoint → Best all-in-one legal lifecycle
Microsoft & SaaS-Centric Tools
- Microsoft Purview → Best for Microsoft 365 environments
- Onna → Best for SaaS data preservation
Key Differences
Enterprise Tools
- High scalability
- Strong compliance
- Complex setup
Mid-Level Tools
- Balanced features
- Easier usability
- Moderate pricing
SaaS-Focused Tools
- Fast deployment
- Easy integration
- Limited advanced legal workflows
How to Choose the Right Legal Hold Software
Choose based on your needs:
- Large enterprise compliance → Exterro, OpenText
- Litigation-focused teams → Relativity, Everlaw
- Microsoft-based organizations → Microsoft Purview
- Small to mid-sized teams → Logikcull, Casepoint
- SaaS-heavy environments → Onna
Conclusion
Legal hold software plays a vital role in ensuring legal compliance, data preservation, and litigation readiness. While enterprise tools like Exterro and Relativity offer powerful end-to-end capabilities, cloud-native tools like Logikcull and Everlaw provide simplicity and speed.
The right choice depends on your organization’s size, compliance requirements, data environment, and legal complexity.