DSAR Software: A Quick Overview
A brief governance-focused look at DSAR software options for businesses evaluating their compliance tooling needs.
Last updated: 2026-02-07
Choosing the Right Tool for Your Compliance Program
For businesses building a compliance program, one of the earliest operational questions is how to manage data subject access requests. The answer depends on your request volume, team size, and the complexity of your data environment.
DSAR management tools generally fall into three tiers:
- Enterprise platforms (OneTrust, TrustArc, BigID) -- Full-suite privacy management with deep integrations and automation. These carry five-figure annual costs and multi-month implementations, making them appropriate for large organizations with dedicated privacy teams.
- Mid-market tools (Ketch, Transcend, Osano) -- More focused and affordable, typically in the low-to-mid thousands per year. These suit growing businesses that handle dozens of requests annually and have some technical capacity.
- Manual approaches (spreadsheets, project management boards, templates) -- Low cost and quick to implement. For businesses handling fewer than 20 DSARs per year, a well-structured manual process is often the most practical starting point.
The most common mistake is over-investing in tooling before establishing a solid process. Software automates your workflow -- it does not replace it. Start by documenting your intake, verification, search, and response steps, then decide whether the volume justifies dedicated tooling.
For the comprehensive comparison — covering specific platforms, pricing realities, feature prioritization, and a decision framework to help you choose — visit boringdsar.com.
Get your process right first. Download the DSAR Compliance Guide for a step-by-step framework you can implement before spending a dollar on software.