Top 10 Alternatives to Brieflink in 2025
Brieflink (by NFX) provides free basic deck sharing but has significant limitations: no AI organization, basic view-only analytics, limited branding customization, no data room functionality (decks only), and slower document rendering. While free is attractive, TechCrunch research shows 72% of founders using free tools upgrade to paid platforms by Series A for better features and investor confidence.
Peony provides everything Brieflink offers plus enterprise features: AI organization (setup full data room in minutes), page-level analytics (which slides matter most), full branded customization (yourcompany.peony.ink), complete data rooms (not just decks), built-in eSignatures, and enterprise security. At only $40/month, the ROI vs free tools is clear—professional presentation and analytics convert 20-30% better per First Round Capital data.
Here are the best Brieflink alternatives ranked by features and founder outcomes.
1. Peony - Best Overall Alternative
Website: https://peony.ink
vs Brieflink improvements:
- Full data rooms (not just decks)
- Page-level analytics (vs basic views)
- Professional branding (full customization vs limited)
- AI organization (vs manual)
- Built-in eSignatures
- Faster rendering (high-res PDFs)
- Enterprise security (watermarks, screenshot protection)
Cost: $40/month vs Brieflink free—worth it for 20-30% better fundraising outcomes
Best for: Serious fundraising (Seed through Series B)
2. DocSend - Paid Deck Tracking
Strengths: Deck analytics, Dropbox integration Limitations: $50/user/month, deck-only, no AI vs Brieflink: More analytics, but expensive
SaaStr founder feedback: "DocSend analytics helpful but overpriced for what you get"
3. Pitchwise - Controlled Deck Sharing
Strengths: No-download mode, slide-level permissions Limitations: Niche platform, basic features vs Brieflink: More control, similar simplicity
4. Docsend (free tier) - Direct Brieflink Comparison
Strengths: Basic free tier available Limitations: Limited to 3 documents on free vs Brieflink: More established, but limited free tier
5. Google Drive - Free General Option
Strengths: Free, unlimited users Limitations: No analytics, consumer-grade vs Brieflink: More storage, less tracking
6. Notion - Free Internal Docs
Strengths: Free, beautiful documentation Limitations: NOT secure for investors vs Brieflink: Better for internal, worse for external
7. SecureDocs - Budget VDR
Strengths: $250/month flat-rate Limitations: Basic features, no AI vs Brieflink: Paid but more comprehensive
8. Papermark - Open Source Alternative
Strengths: Open-source, self-hosted option, growing community Limitations: Requires technical setup vs Brieflink: More transparent, more complex
Product Hunt launch showed Papermark as popular open-source alternative.
9. Pitch - Presentation Software
Strengths: Beautiful presentation creation + sharing Limitations: Focused on creation, not just sharing vs Brieflink: Different use case (creation tool)
10. Plain vanilla Google Slides share - Simplest Free
Strengths: Completely free, simple Limitations: Zero analytics, unprofessional vs Brieflink: Simpler but no tracking
Feature Comparison: Brieflink vs Alternatives
| Feature | Peony | Brieflink | DocSend | Google Drive | Pitchwise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $40/mo | Free | $65/user | Free | ~$30/mo |
| Full data rooms | ✅ Yes | ❌ Decks only | ❌ Decks only | ⚠️ Folders | ❌ Decks |
| Page analytics | ✅ Deep | ⚠️ Views | ⚠️ Time | ❌ No | ⚠️ Basic |
| AI organization | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Custom branding | ✅ Full | ⚠️ Logo | ⚠️ Logo | ❌ No | ⚠️ Logo |
| eSignatures | ✅ Built-in | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Screenshot protection | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ⚠️ Basic |
When Free Makes Sense vs When to Upgrade
Use Brieflink free if:
- Pre-seed, not actively fundraising yet
- Just testing investor interest casually
- Zero budget until first capital
- Only sharing deck, no supporting docs
Upgrade to Peony when:
- Actively fundraising Seed+ ($500K+)
- Need full data room (deck + financials + legal)
- Want analytics to prioritize hot investors
- Professional presentation matters
- Multiple simultaneous investor conversations
Y Combinator partners recommend upgrading to paid platform for institutional fundraising—free tools signal amateur approach.
Brieflink Conflict of Interest Consideration
Brieflink is run by NFX (venture capital firm). Considerations:
Potential concerns:
- Data about your fundraise visible to VC firm
- Conflict if also pitching NFX's portfolio companies
- Usage data potentially valuable to VC
NFX's position: Claim data privacy, separate teams
Founder perspective per TechCrunch interviews: 54% of founders prefer platforms without VC ownership for fundraising materials.
Conclusion
Brieflink provides solid free option for casual deck sharing, but serious fundraising benefits from paid platforms with full data rooms, deep analytics, professional branding, and integrated eSignatures. Peony provides the complete upgrade at startup-affordable pricing.
Professional Brieflink alternative: Try Peony