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# Hyland OnBase vs M-Files Comparison - What are their main differences?

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Hyland OnBaseM-Files[+ Add Product](#)

Pricing

**Hyland OnBase**
Free Trial

No pricing available

**M-Files**

**Contact Vendor for Pricing** · Contact Vendor

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Perceived Cost

**Hyland OnBase**
$$$$$

**M-Files**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**Hyland OnBase**
7%

**M-Files**
8%1% more

Uncover valuable pricing insights from real user feedback to improve your shopping experience.
See it for free

Time to Implement

**Hyland OnBase** 6 months
Based on 100 responses

**M-Files** 6 months
Based on 100 responses

Return on Investment

**Hyland OnBase** 6 months
Based on 100 responses

**M-Files** 6 months
Based on 100 responses

 ![Hyland OnBase](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/ab26ad500037a024c205aef3572781c9/hyland-onbase.svg "Hyland OnBase")

 ![M-Files](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/ef8c6b6ad184a941226571c99359fb58/m-files.svg "M-Files")

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**Pros & Cons**
from reviews

**Hyland OnBase**

Ease of Use (70)

Document Management (42)

Missing Features (31)

Update Issues (24)

**M-Files**

Ease of Use (93)

Document Management (52)

Learning Curve (32)

Training Required (26)

Integrations

**Hyland OnBase**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_072232548a7a15072969c18d6ea3e2f8/boomi-managed-file-transfer.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Boomi Managed File Transfer

](https://www.g2.com/products/boomi-managed-file-transfer/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_1d691480aa3fba0192c2518d27b928f0/epic.jpeg "Product Avatar Image")

Epic

](https://www.g2.com/products/epic/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_cffad295578940e207663002906b53f5/infor-cloudsuites-m3.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Infor CloudSuites (M3)

](https://www.g2.com/products/infor-cloudsuites-m3/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_ae5d46296d0f8afa0fd352fc44bf419d/microsoft365.png "Product Avatar Image")

Microsoft 365

](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft365/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/hyland-onbase/integrations)

**M-Files**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_ae5d46296d0f8afa0fd352fc44bf419d/microsoft365.png "Product Avatar Image")

Microsoft 365

](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft365/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_69054bc7d40597b06fc3905720ccc914/microsoft-outlook.png "Product Avatar Image")

Outlook

](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-outlook/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b8b49f2b6f9cd484b0efa52a4abd8269/microsoft-microsoft-power-bi.png "Product Avatar Image")

Microsoft Power BI

](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-microsoft-power-bi/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_cbdded440dd46c7dcb4debe3e10b5048/microsoft-sharepoint.png "Product Avatar Image")

Microsoft SharePoint

](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-sharepoint/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/m-files/integrations)

Screenshots

**Hyland OnBase**
 ![Hyland OnBase screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/1245891/Invoice-Processing-Dashboard.jpg)

**M-Files**
 ![M-Files screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/1361531/search.png)

**Ratings**
from reviews

Meets Requirements

**Hyland OnBase**

**8.8** /10

Based on 169 responses

**M-Files**

**8.8** /10

Based on 221 responses

Ease of Use

**Hyland OnBase**

**8.3** /10

Based on 291 responses

**M-Files**

**8.5** /10

Based on 222 responses

Ease of Setup

**Hyland OnBase**

**7.6** /10

Based on 203 responses

**M-Files**

**8.2** /10

Based on 181 responses

Ease of Admin

**Hyland OnBase**

**8.1** /10

Based on 94 responses

**M-Files**

**7.7** /10

Based on 87 responses

Quality of Support

**Hyland OnBase**

**8.3** /10

Based on 152 responses

**M-Files**

**8.5** /10

Based on 212 responses

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**Hyland OnBase**

**8.9** /10

Based on 92 responses

**M-Files**

**8.4** /10

Based on 86 responses

Product Direction (% positive)

**Hyland OnBase**

**8.0** /10

Based on 163 responses

**M-Files**

**8.9** /10

Based on 216 responses

**Features**
ratings from reviews

Enterprise Content Management (ECM)

**8.4** /10

Based on 110 responses

**8.6** /10

Based on 196 responses

Cloud Content Collaboration

Not enough data

**9.3** /10

Based on 48 responses

HR Service Delivery

**9.3** /10

Based on 14 responses

Not enough data

Uncover more feature rated insights from real users to improve your shopping experience.

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Workflow Management

Not enough data

**8.9** /10

Based on 73 responses

AP Automation

**9.1** /10

Based on 20 responses

Not enough data

Engineering Document Management

Not enough data

**9.3** /10

Based on 35 responses

Business Process Management

**8.5** /10

Based on 61 responses

Not enough data

IT Documentation

Not enough data

**9.3** /10

Based on 61 responses

No-Code Development Platforms

**8.7** /10

Based on 5 responses

Not enough data

User Insights

**Reviewers' Company Size**

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
5.8%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
42.1%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
52.1%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
5.8%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
42.1%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
52.1%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
33.3%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
49.6%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
17.1%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
33.3%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
49.6%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
17.1%

**Reviewers' Industry**

[![Hyland OnBase](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/ab26ad500037a024c205aef3572781c9/hyland-onbase.svg "Hyland OnBase")](https://www.g2.com/products/hyland-onbase/reviews)
Hyland OnBase

Government Administration
13.8%

Higher Education
13.5%

Financial Services
10.3%

Hospital & Health Care
10.0%

Insurance
9.3%

Other
43.1%

[![M-Files](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/ef8c6b6ad184a941226571c99359fb58/m-files.svg "M-Files")](https://www.g2.com/products/m-files/reviews)
M-Files

Information Technology and Services
16.7%

Marketing and Advertising
4.8%

Construction
4.8%

Oil & Energy
4.8%

Computer Software
4.4%

Other
64.3%

Alternatives

**Hyland OnBase Alternatives**

 ![Laserfiche](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1549935323/laserfiche.svg "Laserfiche")

[
Laserfiche
](/products/laserfiche/reviews)

 ![DocuWare](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1522071240/docuware.svg "DocuWare")

[
DocuWare
](/products/docuware/reviews)

 ![Square 9 Softworks](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_c9188cffa6bbbf52ca3f0cf31d373cf1/square-9-softworks.gif "Square 9 Softworks")

[
Square 9 Softworks
](/products/square-9-softworks/reviews)

 ![Seismic Enablement Cloud](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/ed986be4caf286c41712882d89b63766/seismic-enablement-cloud.svg "Seismic Enablement Cloud")

[
Seismic Enablement Cloud
](/products/seismic-enablement-cloud/reviews)

**M-Files Alternatives**

 ![DocuWare](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1522071240/docuware.svg "DocuWare")

[
DocuWare
](/products/docuware/reviews)

 ![Laserfiche](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1549935323/laserfiche.svg "Laserfiche")

[
Laserfiche
](/products/laserfiche/reviews)

 ![Revver](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_8d9b1b35ae4dde5e7e28c8bcc945df6f/revver.png "Revver")

[
Revver
](/products/revver/reviews)

 ![iManage Work](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/e55d757a195abe94be51287f2f16e2ac/imanage-work.png "iManage Work")

[
iManage
](/products/imanage-work/reviews)

## Hyland OnBase vs M-Files FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 14, 2026

### What is the difference between Hyland OnBase vs M-Files?

Hyland OnBase and M-Files are both highly rated ECM platforms, but M-Files stands out for its metadata-driven organization and slightly higher Ease of Setup and Quality of Support scores, while Hyland OnBase is noted for its robust customization and workflow capabilities.

| [Hyland OnBase](https://www.g2.com/products/hyland-onbase/reviews) | [M-Files](https://www.g2.com/products/m-files/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.4/5 (324 reviews) | 4.4/5 (273 reviews) |
| Enterprise | Mid-Market |
| 7.6 | 8.2 |
| 8.3 | 8.5 |
| Customization and workflow efficiency | Metadata-driven organization and ease of use |

### How do the pricing models of Hyland OnBase and M-Files compare?

M-Files is rated higher for value, with reviewers expressing greater satisfaction with its pricing compared to Hyland OnBase.

- **Hyland OnBase:** In recent reviews, several reviewers mention rising costs and express concerns about value, especially as additional modules and features increase the total price.
- **M-Files:** Reviewers consistently describe M-Files as affordable and worth the price, with positive sentiment around its cost-effectiveness and the value delivered for document management and workflow automation.

### What are the best alternatives to Hyland OnBase and M-Files?

The top 3 alternatives to Hyland OnBase and M-Files are DocuWare, Laserfiche, and SharePoint.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Hyland OnBase](https://www.g2.com/products/hyland-onbase/reviews) | 4.4/5 (324 reviews) | Enterprise | Costs continue to climb with additional modules | Customization and workflow efficiency |
| [M-Files](https://www.g2.com/products/m-files/reviews) | 4.4/5 (273 reviews) | Mid-Market | Affordable and worth the price | Metadata-driven organization and ease of use |
| [DocuWare](https://www.g2.com/products/docuware/reviews) | 4.4/5 (251 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Document management and workflow automation |
| [Laserfiche](https://www.g2.com/products/laserfiche/reviews) | 4.7/5 (1247 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Ease of use and powerful automation |

### Which Enterprise Content Management (ECM) features should I prioritize when comparing Hyland OnBase and M-Files?

Buyers comparing Hyland OnBase and M-Files should prioritize Search, Workflow Automation, Integration Capabilities, Customization, and Security.

- **Search:** M-Files has 31 all-time mentions for search functionality, while Hyland OnBase is frequently praised for document retrieval and search in recent reviews.
- **Workflow Automation:** Hyland OnBase has 21 all-time mentions for workflow management and 22 for workflow efficiency; M-Files has 30 all-time mentions for automation and 29 for efficiency.
- **Integration Capabilities:** Hyland OnBase has 21 all-time mentions for integrations, with Epic specifically cited; M-Files has 37 all-time mentions for integrations, with Microsoft 365 and Outlook highlighted.
- **Customization:** Hyland OnBase is cited 25 times for customization and 24 for customization options; M-Files is praised for its flexible metadata-driven structure and customizable workflows.
- **Security:** M-Files has 34 all-time mentions for security, while Hyland OnBase is frequently cited for secure document management in recent reviews.

### What are the pros and cons of Hyland OnBase vs M-Files?

Hyland OnBase's headline strength is its customization and workflow efficiency, while M-Files is most praised for its metadata-driven organization and ease of use.

- **Hyland OnBase strengths:** Customization (25 all-time mentions), workflow efficiency (22), automation (21), integrations (21), and robust document management (42).
- **Hyland OnBase trade-offs:** Missing features (31), update issues (24), learning curve (20), complexity (19), and variable customer support (21).
- **M-Files strengths:** Ease of use (93), metadata indexing (31), search functionality (31), integrations (37), automation (30), and security (34).
- **M-Files trade-offs:** Learning curve (32), training required (26), and some reviewers note the user interface can feel outdated or complex for new users.

### Is Hyland OnBase or M-Files better for small businesses?

M-Files is a better fit for small businesses, as it is most popular in the Mid-Market segment and is frequently praised for ease of use and affordability by small-business reviewers.

- **Hyland OnBase:** Largest segment is Enterprise; reviewers in smaller organizations mention a steep learning curve and complexity as trade-offs.
- **M-Files:** Largest segment is Mid-Market; small-business reviewers highlight ease of use, fast search, and value for money.

### Which Enterprise Content Management (ECM) platform has better integrations?

M-Files is favored by reviewers for integrations, with more frequent and diverse integration mentions than Hyland OnBase.

- **Hyland OnBase:** Integrates with Epic, with 6 all-time mentions; reviewers also note general integration capabilities.
- **M-Files:** Integrates with Microsoft 365 (3 all-time mentions) and Microsoft Outlook (2 all-time mentions); reviewers frequently cite integration with other business systems and highlight ease of connecting with existing tools.

### How do Hyland OnBase and M-Files compare on customer support?

M-Files and Hyland OnBase are rated nearly identically on Quality of Support, with M-Files at 8.5 and Hyland OnBase at 8.3, indicating parity.

- **Hyland OnBase:** Reviewers describe support as prompt and helpful, though some mention inconsistent experiences and a desire for more proactive assistance, especially for on-premise implementations.
- **M-Files:** Reviewers consistently praise the support team for responsiveness, expertise, and valuable guidance during setup and ongoing use.

### Which is easier to implement, Hyland OnBase or M-Files?

M-Files scores higher on Ease of Setup (8.2 vs. 7.6), indicating it is easier to implement than Hyland OnBase.

- **Hyland OnBase:** Reviewers note a steep learning curve and complexity during setup, but also mention that ample training is provided and implementation is manageable with support.
- **M-Files:** Reviewers highlight straightforward setup, especially for metadata-driven organization, and describe the implementation process as smooth with helpful support, though some mention an initial adjustment period for new users.

### Which product has better Search?

M-Files is the stronger product for Search, with more frequent and positive reviewer mentions and a higher Ease of Use score.

- **Hyland OnBase:** Ease of Use score: 8.3; reviewers praise document retrieval and search but also note limitations with full-text indexing.
- **M-Files:** Ease of Use score: 8.5; 31 all-time mentions for search functionality, with reviewers consistently highlighting fast, metadata-driven search as a core strength.

## Hyland OnBase vs M-Files

When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found M-Files easier to use and set up. However, Hyland OnBase is easier to administer. Reviewers also preferred doing business with Hyland OnBase overall.

- Hyland OnBase and M-Files both meet the requirements of our reviewers at a comparable rate.
- When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that M-Files is the preferred option.
- For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of M-Files over Hyland OnBase.