COMPARISON · UPDATED MAY 2026
ShieldDrop vs Relativity:
Do You Really Need Enterprise E-Discovery?
Relativity is the gold standard for large-scale e-discovery. But if you're a solo practitioner or small firm, you're paying enterprise prices for features you'll never use. Here's what you actually need.
Bottom line: If you process 10,000+ documents per case and need TAR/predictive coding — Relativity is unmatched. If you need practical daily tools (metadata scrubbing, AI trial prep, transcription, redaction) at 1/4 the price — ShieldDrop does more for less.
| Feature | ShieldDrop | Relativity |
|---|---|---|
| Target market | Solo attorneys & small firms | BigLaw, government, large enterprises |
| Pricing | $49/mo (all tools included) | $150-200+/user/month |
| Setup time | Instant — browser-based | Weeks to months (training required) |
| File processing | Your browser (WebAssembly) | Relativity cloud servers |
| Data retention | Zero — files never stored | Full retention (by design) |
| Metadata scrubbing | ✅ Core feature — 200+ fields | ⚠️ Via third-party add-ons |
| AI trial preparation | ✅ TrialMind — 7 modes | ⚠️ aiR for Relevance (limited) |
| Anonymous transcription | ✅ VaultDictate — local only | ❌ Not included |
| Document redaction | ✅ RedactAI included | ✅ Built-in redaction |
| Case brief generation | ✅ CaseBrief included | ❌ Not included |
| E-discovery workflows | ❌ Not included | ✅ Core strength |
| TAR / predictive coding | ❌ Not included | ✅ Industry-leading |
| Contract required | No — cancel anytime | Annual enterprise contract |
| Free tier available | ✅ 10 scrubs/month | ❌ No |
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$49/mo. 11 tools. Zero data retention. 7-day free trial.
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