Best Board Management Software of 2026

Here's what we'll cover:

What you need to know about board management software

What is board management software?

Essential features of board management software

Benefits and competitive advantages of using board management software

How to choose the best board management software for your business

Software related to board management

More resources for your board management journey

What you need to know about board management software

Board management software provides a centralized platform for board directors, executives, and administrative teams to collaborate efficiently. It simplifies the scheduling of meetings, the distribution of important documents, and the tracking of key decisions, all while maintaining security and compliance.

We have 86 products on our site and gathered 687 verified user reviews in the past year to give you an idea about the board management software market. This means various solutions for board-level decision-makers and administrators suited to different organizational needs, from small boards to large, complex corporate governance systems.

Board management software prices start at $44.39 for basic plans, $80.79 for mid-tier plans, and $334 for high-end plans. Enterprise-level plans provide added features such as advanced security, access controls, compliance support, and custom reporting capabilities.

When evaluating board management software, first-time buyers should assess key factors such as its ability to manage board communications securely, the scalability of features to fit your organization’s needs, and compliance with governance standards. Here are some important questions to ask potential vendors:

• How does the software ensure the secure sharing and storage of sensitive board documents, such as financial reports and meeting minutes?

• Can the software handle complex meeting scheduling and integrate with tools like calendars to accommodate multiple board members across different time zones?

• What collaboration features does it offer to support real-time discussions and decision-making during meetings?

• How does the software handle compliance with regulations specific to your industry (e.g., the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for financial organizations)?

• Can this software integrate with other tools (e.g., calendar apps, CRM) to enhance workflow and data synchronization across your organization?

What is board management software?

Board management software is designed to help organizations efficiently manage board meetings and governance tasks. It centralizes key activities, such as scheduling meetings, sharing documents, and tracking decisions, making it easier for board members to stay organized and collaborate in a secure environment.

Key features of board management software include collaboration tools that allow for smooth communication, meeting management capabilities for scheduling and organizing agendas, and minutes management to ensure accurate documentation. These functionalities help improve efficiency, reduce administrative workload, and ensure that governance processes are correctly followed.

Essential features of board management software

When selecting board management software, it's important to understand its core and common features. Core features such as meeting management, minutes management, and collaboration tools support efficient governance and decision-making. After analyzing reviews and speaking with board management software providers, we've also identified common features typically included to enhance functionality.

Core features of board management software

Common features of board management software

Benefits and competitive advantages of using board management software

Based on insights from our proprietary data analysis of user reviews and expert feedback, board management software significantly improves governance processes for organizations. It centralizes meeting management, enhances team collaboration, and ensures efficient communication, making it an invaluable tool for boards of all sizes.

Board management software delivers key benefits, as highlighted by user feedback:

• Efficient meeting scheduling and agenda creation: Board management software simplifies scheduling and preparing agendas, reducing administrative time and ensuring that all necessary topics are covered. This allows board members to focus on strategic discussions rather than logistical concerns.

• Faster decision-making through enhanced collaboration: With real-time document sharing and discussion features, board members can collaborate more efficiently, ensuring faster decision-making and reducing delays. This improved collaboration leads to more effective governance and timely responses to key issues.

• Centralized communication that eliminates information silos: Board management software keeps communication in one place, with notifications and messaging systems that ensure board members are always up to date. This eliminates the risk of missed communications, enhancing transparency and alignment within the board.

• Improved navigation and access to meeting materials: The software's intuitive interface allows board members to quickly access meeting materials, action items, and member directories. This ease of navigation reduces confusion and ensures that all members are prepared and informed during meetings.

• Seamless integration and easy setup: Board management software integrates smoothly with existing systems, allowing for quick implementation without disrupting current workflows. This ease of setup ensures that organizations can immediately benefit from enhanced governance practices.

How to choose the best board management software for your business

1. Define your requirements

Defining your requirements is the first critical step in selecting board management software. Understanding what your board needs—handling complex compliance regulations, facilitating secure collaboration, or integrating with existing systems—ensures you choose software that aligns with current demands and future growth. Focus on the specific features that will improve your board’s efficiency and governance.

Assess your board's size and structure

Start by evaluating the size and structure of your board—how many members and committees are involved, and how your organization collaborates. This will help determine whether you need a feature-rich platform for a large, complex board or a simpler system for smaller teams. According to our analysis from the past year, 36% of companies using board management software have fewer than 50 employees, suggesting a wide range of needs across organizations of different sizes.

Our analysis also shows that non-profit organizations (16%), financial services (13%), and education management (6%) are key users of board management software. While these percentages may seem modest, they indicate that board management software is particularly valuable in sectors with heavy governance and compliance requirements.

Understand the cost and its ROI

When evaluating board management software, it is important to weigh the cost against the potential return on investment. Consider the time savings, enhanced efficiency, and reduced administrative burden that could improve meeting productivity and governance. These benefits can easily justify the cost in the long run.

• Basic plans starting at $44.39/month: These plans typically cover essential features like meeting scheduling, basic document storage, and standard collaboration tools. They are ideal for small organizations or boards with basic needs.

• Mid-tier plans starting at $80.79/month: This tier adds more robust functionalities, such as enhanced collaboration tools, agenda management, and integration with other business tools. These plans are suited for mid-sized organizations needing more flexibility and control.

• High-end plans starting at $334/month: Enterprise-level plans offer advanced features like enhanced security (e.g., role-based access control), compliance support, custom reporting capabilities, and in-depth analytics. This tier is best for large organizations or those with complex governance requirements.

Be aware of software limitations

Even though board management software offers many benefits, it’s important to know some limitations while selecting the right tool. Some common challenges include document upload restrictions, limited calendar management, pricing tiers that don’t meet your needs, and inadequate e-signature capabilities. If not properly addressed, these limitations can hinder your board's efficiency.

Here’s how to address these limitations:

• Choose software with file compression features or cloud integrations that allow for handling large documents, ensuring no limit on file size.

• Seek tools for automated meeting scheduling, including conflict detection, to eliminate manual coordination and avoid double-booking.

• Avoid unnecessary pricing tiers by carefully comparing the feature sets across plans to find a balance between cost and required functionality.

• Ensure the software allows bulk sign-offs and integrates with secure platforms like DocuSign for faster, legally binding approvals.

Identify integration needs and capabilities

Board management software should work seamlessly with the tools your board already relies on—email platforms, calendar systems, or document management software. If the software doesn’t integrate easily, it can lead to unnecessary manual data entry or missed updates. Check if the software supports integrations with tools like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or any custom systems your organization uses, ensuring a smooth flow of information and saving time on administrative tasks.

Identify specific governance needs

If your board operates in a compliance-heavy industry—healthcare, finance, or legal—choosing board management software that supports industry-specific governance and reporting requirements is essential. Look for features that help manage compliance with regulations like Sarbanes-Oxley or HIPAA, and ensure the software offers secure data storage, audit trails, and robust reporting tools tailored to your sector’s needs.

2. Make a shortlist of board management software

With so many board management software options available, narrowing down the right choice can be overwhelming. Creating a shortlist based on your organization's specific needs simplifies the process and increases your chances of selecting a solution that boosts board efficiency and governance.

Consult with board management software advisors

Expert guidance can make all the difference when selecting the right board management software. At Software Advice, our advisors specialize in understanding the unique governance needs of different organizations. They provide personalized consultations to help you understand the strengths and limitations of various board management solutions. Whether you prefer an online chat or an in-depth phone consultation, our advisors will work with you to create a tailored shortlist of board management options that align with your needs and budget.

3. Pick your best option

When selecting the right board management software, it’s crucial to go beyond basic features and understand how well the software will integrate into your board's specific needs. Picking the best option means evaluating the features and how they will evolve with your organization and its future requirements.

Evaluate through demos and trials

While reviews and feature lists are helpful, there's no substitute for hands-on experience. Use product demos and free trials to test how well the software matches your organization’s needs. Use this time to explore key tasks such as creating meeting agendas, uploading documents, and tracking action items. 

During the trial, ask yourself: Is the user interface intuitive for all board members, especially those with less tech-savvy backgrounds? Does the software streamline your meeting processes, or does it add complexity? Be proactive by involving a few board members in the trial to get their feedback and see if they find the software effective in real-world scenarios.

Analyze customization and configuration options

Customization is key to ensuring the software fits your board’s unique processes. Look for flexibility in customizing features, such as agenda templates, meeting layouts, and user access levels. Ensure the software adapts to your board's specific needs and growth, whether expanding your membership or adapting your workflows. Flexibility now means fewer headaches as your board evolves.

Assess long-term scalability

Scalability is critical when selecting board management software. Can the software grow with your organization? Check if it can handle increasing members, meetings, and documents. Look for flexible storage and the ability to scale with new committees or additional teams. Also, ensure the platform integrates well with other systems as your needs become more complex.

Check for future-proofing features

Choose board management software with ongoing updates and evolving features to avoid future disruptions. Check if the vendor offers regular improvements, new integrations, and security upgrades. Look for a strong user support community to help solve any issues. Future-proof software ensures long-term efficiency, allowing your board to stay current with new technological trends and industry best practices.

4. Make the most of your board management software

To maximize the value of your board management software, it’s crucial to integrate it fully into your board's workflow. With the right setup and ongoing use, the software can improve productivity, enhance communication, and streamline governance. Here are some key steps to ensure you get the most out of the platform:

• Conduct onboarding and training for board members: Ensure all board members are comfortable with the software. This may include training sessions or providing an easy-to-follow user guide.

• Set up automated reminders and notifications: Use the system to send reminders for upcoming meetings, document updates, and action items. This minimizes follow-ups and keeps everyone on track.

• Update meeting templates and agendas regularly: Based on user feedback, consistently refine meeting and agenda templates. Customizing these can streamline future sessions and boost engagement.

• Leverage the reporting and analytics tools: Take full advantage of built-in reporting tools to track decisions, actions, and attendance. These insights can highlight how well your board is performing and reveal areas for improvement.

Software related to board management

While searching for the perfect board management software, you may come across various software types that offer similar functions or can be integrated to enhance your board’s capabilities. These related software categories provide specialized tools that complement the broader functionality of board management systems. Here’s a look at some key software types often aligned with or enhancing board management solutions:

• Entity Management Software: Helps organizations manage legal entities, corporate governance, and compliance. It ensures all corporate data is up-to-date and can be integrated with board management software for streamlined compliance tracking.

• File Sharing Software: Facilitates secure sharing and storage of documents. Integrating with board management systems ensures that board members can access and collaborate on documents without security concerns.

• Meeting Software specializes in scheduling, managing, and conducting meetings. This software can complement board management tools by providing robust meeting functionalities like virtual collaboration and tracking meeting outcomes.

• Portal Software: Provides a secure online space for board members to access documents and information. Portal software integrates with board management systems to streamline communication and document management in one place.

• Reporting Software: Offers tools for generating reports and visualizing data. It can be linked with board management software to provide in-depth insights into meeting outcomes, attendance, and governance performance.

• Scheduling Software: Focuses on organizing appointments and meetings, which can integrate with board management software to automate scheduling and ensure better alignment of meetings with board members’ availability.

• Web Conferencing Software: Enables virtual meetings, making it a natural complement to board management software for conducting remote meetings while maintaining secure communications and collaboration.

More resources for your board management journey

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About our contributors

Author

Shubham Gupta is a writer at Software Advice, specializing in project management. His focus is to guide project managers from planning to execution and beyond. His expertise also spans construction, manufacturing, and other related topics.

Shubham’s research and writing for Software Advice is informed by nearly 200,000 authentic user reviews and more than 10,000 interactions between Software Advice software advisors and project management software buyers. Shubham also regularly speaks to project managers and PMO leaders so he can provide the most up-to-date and helpful information to small and midsize businesses purchasing software or services.

Outside work, Shubham likes to explore the depth of Urdu poetry and enjoys his time with his dog.

Editor

Parul Sharma is a content editor at Software Advice with expertise in curating content for various niches, including SaaS, digital marketing, and search engine optimization. With over half a decade of experience in content writing and editing, Parul has the expertise to simplify complex terms into engaging, valuable content for targeted audiences. She completed her graduation and post-graduation in English literature from Delhi University and was awarded the Dr. Asha Sahni Memorial Award for being the highest scorer in her graduating class. Parul has contributed to the news, lifestyle, education, and health verticle of DNA India, India’s premier media channel. Outside of work, she can be found curating healthy recipes, coloring in mandala books, and spending quality time with her family.

Sources 

1. Software Advice reviews data: Software Advice reviews are collected from verified users for individual software products. For this report, we analyzed reviews from February 2024 to December 2024. Read the complete methodology. 

2. Software Advice software pricing data: Only products with publicly available pricing information and qualified software products within the category, as of May 2024, are included in the pricing analysis. Read the complete methodology.