Top 8 Digital Rights Management Software for 2021

Digital rights management software refers to an application that prevents content from being shared or distributed across unauthorized channels and copied without explicit permission from the author or content provider. That’s why the DRM software market is poised to become a $6+ billion market by 2025. This article introduces you to digital rights management software and the features to look for when purchasing a solution. It also lists the eight best DRM software in 2021.

Table of Contents

• • What Is Digital Rights Management Software?
  • Key Must-Have Features of Digital Rights Management Software
  • Top 8 Digital Rights Management Software for 2021

What Is Digital Rights Management Software? 

Digital rights management (DRM) software refers to an application that prevents content from being shared or distributed across unauthorized channels and from being copied without explicit permission from the author or content provider. Digital rights management software is an essential tool for enforcing content copyrights in the digital space and also for securing confidential enterprise information.

In a recent surveyOpens a new window , 60% of consumers admitted to having streamed or downloaded content illegally, violating the content providers’ copyright and distribution norms. However, 83% of this group said they tried to find legal avenues before committing piracy. By investing in digital rights management software, content providers would be able to expand their distribution networks, monetize these consumers, and cut down on piracy. 

Meanwhile, an enterprise reportOpens a new window found that intellectual property lacks requisite encryption and rights control in most cases. Only 21% of companies mandate encryption when sharing sensitive data externally, and this number rises to just 36% for internal sharing. 

 DRM software aims to achieve one of two things: 

• Keep sensitive enterprise information secure, tracking access, and preventing data leakage. 
• Prevent potential consumers from circumventing monetized channels when accessing content. 

As you can see from this definition, DRM software doesn’t work in isolation. You can integrate it with your content management systems (CMS), your digital asset management (DAM) systems, and your data loss prevention (DLP) systems to build a holistically secure content engine. 

Key Must-Have Features of Digital Rights Management Software

The features of your selected DRM software will depend upon the specific use case. For example, a consumer-facing content provider will need very different capabilities from their DRM than an enterprise working with patents and other forms of intellectual property. However, putting these variances aside, there are five key features to look for when purchasing digital rights management software: 

Key Features of Digital Rights Management Software

• Compatibility with the necessary content sharing standards & protocols: Content distribution must follow a set of standards and protocols, such as HTTPS, for online sharing or encryption for enterprise content. Identify which standards/protocols apply to you and begin your search for DRM software from this baseline.
• Trackability & analytics to monitor access: You should be able to obtain a clear picture of how your content is being distributed across channels and the consequent monetization. Detailed trackability is relevant for the enterprise, with accurate timestamps, editing attributions, and individual access records for a chain of accountability. Analytics is better suited to consumer-facing content, indicating which distribution channels are most effective.
• Integration with existing content infrastructure: DRM software must regularly interact with other application components like CMS, cloud-based content hosting, DAM, DLP, and cloud-based collaboration platforms. Ensure that the requisite connectors are in place before investing so that you don’t spend a disproportionate amount of time writing APIs and custom integrations.
• The installation environment or SaaS model: Depending on the nature of your business, you might require local or on-premise installation for your digital rights management software. This is particularly true for research institutions, which deal with highly confidential data that may be restricted from being stored/shared on the cloud. Or, you might be looking for SaaS-only deployment, making the DRM software universally accessible in a multi-OS operating environment. Check for this parameter before investing, as this could make or break other DRM functionalities.
• Alerts & notifications: This isn’t technically a must-have, but some of the more advanced DRM software in the market will send you proactive alerts if it detects unauthorized/illegal distribution of your content. This feature helps initiate proactive legal action to counter any breach of digital content copyrights. 

Top 8 Digital Rights Management Software for 2021

The DRM software marketplace is constantly evolving, with new entrants and emerging technologies disrupting old benchmarks. In this list, we assess eight of the most nightly-reviewed digital rights management software as per G2Opens a new window and CapterraOpens a new window , arranged in alphabetical order. At the end of the article, we also share a few honorary mentions that deserve your attention.

Disclaimer: These listings are based on publicly available information. Readers are advised to conduct their own final research to ensure the best fit for their unique organizational needs.

1. Bynder

• Overview: Bynder is a digital asset management platform provider with strong DRM capabilities. 
• Key features: 
  • • Automated usage notifications alerting employees to content restrictions
    • Download approval functionality to restrict access to specific groups or permission profiles
    • 100% locking of sensitive content
    • Version control and notifications, contracts, license, and other asset attachments
    • The ability to undo permissions and approvals 
• USP: It is a comprehensive platform for secure internal management of multimedia content. 
• Pros: Bynder is compatible with PDF documents and audio/video files. It also has an in-app video creation suite and brand management tool. 
• Price: Custom pricing is based on a three-step process, but Bynder does offer a free trial. 
• Notable customers: Puma, Siemens Healthineers, Scotch and Soda, Tata Steel
• Who is it meant for: Byder works best for medium to large brands with a globally distributed presence, video content creators, and distributors. 
• Editorial comments: Bynder has a 4.4/5 rating on Capterra and 4.5/5 rating on G2, making it one of the best digital rights management software options out there, despite the lack of mobile apps for either Android or iOS. But if you regularly work with video/audio assets, which are closely linked to your company’s brand presence, Bynder could be the tool for you.

2. CapLinked

• Overview: CapLinked is a virtual data room for secure content sharing, focused on documents and due diligence after mergers and acquisitions activity. 
• Key features: 
  • • Permission-based document access, including time-bound downloads
    • Manual or automated permissions rescinding
    • Document lockin to a specific location
    • One-click access switch off for individual users
    • Bank-grade 256-bit SSL encryption for content collaboration
    • Activity tracking and real-time analytics
    • Custom integrations through the developer portal 
• USP: CapLinked API that adds digital rights management must-haves such as permissions, watermarking, trackability, etc., to your existing apps. 
• Pros: It combines collaboration and security in a single software, compatible with PDF, video, and audio, excellent for audit trail maintenance. 
• Price: CapLinked starts at $99 per month for the Professional edition (5GB of protected data). It offers a free trial for 14 days. 
• Notable customers: Microsoft, KPMG, Thomson Reuters, Goldman Sachs
• Who is it meant for: Large companies with a complex document footprint, needing an accurate audit trail across the enterprise for compliance purposes. 
• Editorial comments: CapLinked has a 3.9/5 rating on G2 and 4.5/5 rating on Capterra. However, there is no on-premise or mobile option, and it’s not well-suited for consumer-facing use cases. However, as your digital rights management needs multiply after a major event (merger, acquisition, new IP, new geography, etc.), this software can help maintain visibility as the company evolves and lower non-compliance risks.
  

3. Digify

• Overview: Digify is a document security and virtual data room platform specializing in digital rights management for documents that are already sent/shared. 
• Key features: 
  • • Download and print permission setting
    • Tracking of files after they are emailed
    • Virtual data rooms with trackable access, permissions, time-bound access, and analytics
    • Automated watermarks for PDFs and documents
    • User activity analytics
• USP: This software has a patented moveable watermark technology to discourage screen recordings or screengrabs and an end-to-end solution for secure document access.
• Pros: Multi-platform deployment including on-premise, mobile, and SaaS, compatibility with PDFs, Microsoft Office documents, images, audio, and video, a simple and sleek user interface.
• Price: Starts at $99 per month for the Pro version (business plan) – customizable. 
• Notable customers: LinkedIn, Harvard Medical School, WeWork, Comcast. 
• Who is it meant for: Large companies with a multi-OS environment, witnessing large-scale document exchanges across the enterprise and outside of it. 
• Editorial comments: Digify is rated an impressive 4.9/5 on Capterra and 4.5/5 on G2, with a diverse customer base. If you find yourself sharing sensitive or confidential documents/media files via email, Digify is a handy tool to have around. One should, however, note that training is available only via live online sessions.

4. MemberSpace

• Overview: A unique digital rights management platform that helps to protect and monetize web content. 
• Key features:
  • • A simple UI meant for non-technical users
    • No lockin to a specific CMSOpens a new window
    • Exceptional customer support with weekly Zoom calls from the company’s CEO
    • Unlimited subscriptions for your customers
    • Timebound content access
    • Invoicing, taxation, and currency conversion support
    • Integrations with Stripe, Zapier, Rewardful, and others 
• USP: The tool has a three-click installation process and free migration from your existing membership system. 
• Pros: MemberSpace is highly customizable. It does not require a lot of technical know-how and comes with marketing capabilities like coupons, upselling, and flexible payments for your end-customers.
• Price: Starts at $25 per month and has a 14-day free trial. The software collects a transaction fee from membership revenues. 
• Notable customers: Ladies Of Real Estate, Visual Media Church, and other small businesses. 
• Who is it meant for: Small to mid-sized businesses looking to grow their online presence and monetize exclusive content. 
• Editorial comments: With an excellent rating of 4.5/5 on Capterra, MemberSpace is an affordable digital rights management software for individuals or small businesses looking to monetize online content, protect their distribution rights, and unlock a steady stream of revenues. It combines DRM with online marketing and website management to provide a one-stop solution. However, MemberSpace does not have an on-premise installation, and the content watermarking is missing.

5. Primetime DRM by Adobe

• Overview: It is one of the best digital rights management software options for television content, reaching 99% of US PayTV households currently. 
• Key features: 
  • • Machine Learning (ML)-based currency optimization to reduce waste
    • Dynamic ad insertion to improve ad experiences for live events
    • Multi-device content authentication with single sign-on
    • Concurrency monitoring to reduce the possibility of unauthorized account sharing
    • TVSDK, which is a workflow toolkit that simplifies video delivery at scale
    • Closed captioning of videos
• USP: A widely popular technology that acts as a foundation for some of the world’s leading broadcasters. 
• Pros: Global scalability with multiple languages, currency, and format support. 
• Price: Customizable – based on your Adobe Experience Cloud subscription, distribution regions/scale, etc. 
• Notable customers: Comcast, NBC, Star TV. 
• Who is it meant for: Large-scale media giants looking for a TV/OTT-specific digital rights management software that can function in various monetization scenarios. 
• Editorial comments: Adobe’s Primetime DRM is an undeniable leader in its space, providing a cloud-based digital rights management solution for TV content distribution at scale. For companies looking to make in-roads into the Us PayTV segment, this one is a no-brainer. It is quite expensive and may require a significant amount of technical skills and training. 

6. Red Points 

• Overview: It is a counterfeit and piracy management prevention platform that monitors online distribution channels to safeguard your brand while monetizing its content. 
• Key features:
  • • Brand protection by using ML-bots and photo analysis to scan online marketplaces for counterfeit products
    • Anti-piracy capabilities for on-demand TV/cinema, press/publications, live events, apps, and e-learning content
    • Video monetization on social media
    • Seller network monitoring and tracking to analyze content/product revenue channels 
• USP: Offers digital rights management capabilities for physical goods as well as digital content (software applications, audio, video), includes IP portfolio management and patent tracking capabilities. 
• Pros: YouTube-certified software provider to protect digital content on social media, offers add-ons digital rights management services like domain protection, unknown seller reports, infringement verifications, and more. 
• Price: Custom pricing for four standalone products. 
• Notable customers: Fila, Farsali, GameInsight, XD Design. 
• Who is it meant for: Online retailers, mid-sized brands, social media video content producers, companies facing frequent piracy threats, and those with an expansive reseller/distribution network. 
• Editorial comments: Red Points is a unique digital rights management software and services provider. It covers both physical and digital products, addressing your most critical use cases like piracy, counterfeits, and social media monetization. However, it does not offer document/PDF protection and is not available for on-premise installation. But is rated a solid 4.6/5 on Capterra, so you are in good hands. 

7. Vitrium Security

• Overview: A virtual data room for secure content creation, collaboration, publication, and distribution, meant for companies working with monetizable text content. 
• Key features:
  • • Military-grade encryption for all major video, image, and document file formats
    • Permitted access for users and user groups, integrating with Microsoft Active Directory or any third-party credentialing system
    • Distribution controls such as browser limits, time-bound access, print/copy controls, watermarks, and login forms
    • Secure content sharing via URL links, e-commerce, portals, internal networks, CRM, or third-party integrations 
• USP: It integrates with any third-party application landscape to create a seamless DRM and content management workflow, offers digital rights management services, including workflow redesign, DRM upgrades, and integration with LMS, CMS, CRM, and Intranet. 
• Pros: This software offers options for on-premise or SaaS installation, maintains a detailed audit trail of document access, and supports license management from within the platform. 
• Price: Vitrium Security is a customizable software. It comes in two versions: Professionals and Enterprise (the latter includes REST APIs, SSO, advanced DRM controls, file versioning, and local/on-premise hosting). 
• Notable customers: International Society of Automation, Wohlers Associates, Bayer AG, Write2Spell2Read, IHS Markit. 
• Who is it meant for: Research firms, advisory/consultancy services providers, academic institutions, ebook publishers, and enterprises working with a large repository of sensitive, monetizable, textual assets. 
• Editorial comments: Vitrium Security has a 4.6/5 rating on Capterra and a 4.8/5 rating on G2, placing it squarely among the top digital rights management software tools out there. Along with DRM, it offers robust analytics to track reader engagement with your documents, enhancing monetization. However, it has a slightly difficult learning curve and would take some time to adopt. 

8. Widevine

• Overview: It is a highly popular content protection technology (on the lines of Adobe’s PrimeTime) acquired by Google in 2010. All major content streaming platforms, including Netflix and Amazon Prime, require Widevine DRM L1 certification for streaming HD videos on any device. 
• Key features: 
  • • Delivers protected premium content at high-definition such as 4K, UHD, and HDR
    • Compatible with a massive range of chipsets across 5+ billion mobile, desktop, smart TV, and set-top box devices
    • Enables secure distribution and playback of video content on any device
    • Provides support for concurrent access, including legacy systems
    • Has a standardized encryption format that can play anywhere without effort duplication
• USP: Uses standards-based royalty-free technologies that you can use without paying any mandatory fee.
• Pros: Incredibly scalable, opening your content reach to literally billions of devices and customers around the world, includes subscription management for digital content. 
• Price: Free for use, but may involve additional training costs. 
• Notable customers: HBO, Disney, Warner Bros., Jio, Facebook, ShowTime, Google Home, LG 
• Who is it meant for: Global content houses and device manufacturers involved in the distribution of hi-definition OTT content across a wide range of device form factors. 
• Editorial comments: Widevine has a 3.9/5 rating on Capterra. There is no way around it: Widevine is a prerequisite if you are part of the global content distribution value chain, protecting the digital rights of consumer-facing multimedia content assets and preventing unethical use. However, one should keep in mind that it is highly technical and may require participation in the company’s training program.

Our list of the best digital rights management software and services providers only barely scratches the surface. faDRM covers a broad range of features and capabilities – and you might need to invest in two or more technologies to truly secure your content landscape. As promised, here are a few honorary mentions that you could look at, apart from our top eight: 

• CryptoGuard: One of the few blockchain-based DRM solutions in the market, CryptoGuard protects OTT content on technologies such as Widevine, FairPlay, and PlayReady, offers OTT starter as well as end-to-end distribution solutions.
• Seclore: Seclore is a digital rights management software purpose-built for Microsoft 365, addressing the inherent data protection weaknesses of Exchange, Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive, and other web apps.
• Verimatrix: This software supports digital rights management for nearly every consumption channel you can think of, from mobile to smart appliances and even connected cars. Its customers include the likes of Visa, AT&T, and Mastercard.
• Vualto: Vualto is a studio-approved digital rights management solution that works with foundational DRM technologies like Widevine, FairPlay, PlayReady, etc., unifying all your DRM needs on a single platform. 

As digital rights continue to be integral to our content experiences, the right DRM software can help you balance monetization with growing reach. The software solutions we discussed address both enterprise and consumer use cases across diverse formats to make information access as easy and convenient as possible without compromising ethics or security. 

Have you used any of the digital rights management software platforms that we listed here? If yes, how was your experience? Tell us on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We would love to hear from you!