Insights Articles

Choosing the right technology is one of the most important decisions in any document review strategy. With multiple leading review platforms available—each offering different strengths—legal teams are often faced with a critical question: which solution best aligns with their needs?  

The conversation frequently centers around three major players: Relativity, Everlaw, and DISCO. Each platform is capable of supporting complex litigation and investigations, but the right choice depends on how your team approaches workflows, manages data, and prioritizes efficiency.  

This guide is designed to support informed tech selection by breaking down key considerations and helping you evaluate which platform is the best fit for your specific requirements.  

Start with Strategy, Not Technology

Before comparing features, it’s important to step back and define your goals. The most effective tech selection decisions are driven by use case—not brand recognition.  

Consider:

• The size and complexity of your matters  
• Whether review is handled internally or through a partner  
• Your preferred level of workflow customization  
• Timeline pressures and resource availability  
• The role of analytics and AI in your process  
   

By identifying these priorities early, you can approach review platforms with a clear framework for evaluation.  

Understanding the Strengths of Each Platform

While all three platforms offer end-to-end review capabilities, their design philosophies differ in meaningful ways.  

Relativity is widely known for its flexibility and scalability. It is often well-suited for:  

• Large, complex matters with significant data volumes  
• Teams that require highly customized workflows  
• Organizations managing multiple cases across different environments  
   

Its extensibility and broad ecosystem make it a strong option when control and configurability are top priorities.  

Everlaw is typically recognized for its intuitive design and streamlined experience. It is often a strong fit for:  

• Teams seeking faster onboarding and ease of use  
• Matters that benefit from built-in analytics and visualization  
• Collaborative workflows with distributed teams  
   

Its emphasis on usability can help reduce training time and accelerate review timelines.  

DISCO is often associated with simplicity and efficiency, particularly in AI-driven workflows. It is frequently considered for:  

• Teams prioritizing automation and rapid review  
• Matters where cost predictability is important  
• Workflows that benefit from integrated, out-of-the-box functionality  
   

Its approach focuses on minimizing complexity while maintaining strong performance.  

In any comparison of review platforms, these distinctions help clarify which solution aligns best with your operational model.  

Ease of Use vs. Customization

A key factor in tech selection is determining how much control your team needs versus how quickly you want to get up and running.  

• Platforms like Relativity offer deep customization, which can be powerful for complex workflows but may require more setup and expertise.  
• Platforms like Everlaw and DISCO often emphasize ease of use, allowing teams to begin reviewing more quickly with less configuration.  
   

The right balance depends on your internal resources and the complexity of your matters. For some teams, flexibility is essential. For others, speed and simplicity drive better outcomes.  

Analytics and AI: Practical Application Matters

Modern review platforms all offer advanced analytics and AI capabilities, but their effectiveness depends on how they are implemented.  

Key considerations include:  

• How intuitive are the analytics tools for reviewers?  
• Can AI workflows be easily integrated into your process?  
• Does the platform support both guided and customizable approaches?  
   

Some platforms prioritize visual, user-friendly analytics, while others provide more configurable AI models. The best choice is the one your team can use effectively—not just the one with the most features.  

Workflow Management and Collaboration

Efficient review depends on more than just document analysis—it requires strong workflow management.  

When evaluating platforms, consider:  

• How work is assigned and tracked  
• Visibility into reviewer progress and performance  
• Communication tools within the platform  
• Flexibility in managing teams across locations
   

Different review platforms take different approaches, from highly structured workflows to more collaborative, real-time environments. Aligning this with your team’s working style is critical.  

Cost Is More Than Pricing

Cost considerations often play a central role in tech selection, but it’s important to look beyond headline pricing.  

Factors that influence total cost include:  

• Hosting and data storage models  
• User licensing and access requirements  
• Efficiency gains from faster or more accurate review  
• Administrative and support overhead  
   

In many cases, the most cost-effective platform is the one that reduces review time and improves workflow efficiency—not simply the one with the lowest upfront cost.  

The Importance of a Platform-Agnostic Approach

One of the most effective ways to navigate tech selection is to remain platform-agnostic. Rather than forcing workflows into a specific tool, the goal should be to align technology with the needs of the matter.  

Working with a partner experienced across multiple review platforms can provide:  

• Objective guidance based on use case  
• Flexibility to adapt as matters evolve  
• Confidence that the chosen platform supports your strategy  
   

This approach ensures that technology serves the legal team—not the other way around.  

There Is No One "Best" Platform

The Relativity vs Everlaw vs DISCO discussion often leads to the same conclusion: there is no single platform that is universally “best.” Each has strengths that make it well-suited for specific scenarios.  

The right choice depends on:  

• The complexity and scale of your data  
• Your team’s technical expertise  
• Your preferred workflow structure  
• Your timeline and budget constraints
   

A thoughtful evaluation of these factors will lead to a more effective and defensible decision.  

Making the Right Choice

Selecting among today’s leading review platforms is ultimately about aligning technology with your broader litigation strategy. By approaching tech selection with a clear understanding of your priorities—and a willingness to evaluate each platform objectively—you can make a decision that supports both efficiency and accuracy.  

At Array, our teams work across platforms including Relativity, Everlaw, and DISCO, allowing us to recommend solutions based on what will deliver the best results for each matter. This flexible, client-first approach ensures that technology decisions are driven by outcomes, not limitations.  

In a landscape defined by growing data volumes and increasing complexity, the right platform can make a meaningful difference. With the right strategy—and the right support—legal teams can confidently choose a solution that keeps their review process efficient, scalable, and defensible.