Sensitive data doesn't just leak through obvious channels anymore — it slips out through a pasted spreadsheet, a forwarded email, or a prompt typed into a public AI chatbot. Data loss prevention (DLP) software monitors and controls how sensitive data moves across endpoints, email, cloud apps, and now generative AI tools, blocking or flagging risky transfers before they become breaches.
The category spans native platform tools built into productivity suites, dedicated enterprise DLP suites for regulated industries, and newer cloud-native, agentless platforms built specifically to catch leaks into SaaS apps and GenAI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot.
We researched pricing and features directly from each vendor's own site to put together this list of seven real, currently-active DLP platforms — no filler picks, no discontinued products, and no review-aggregator scores standing in for firsthand research.
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Quick Summary: Microsoft Purview DLP is the default choice for organizations already licensed for Microsoft 365 E5. Forcepoint DLP and Symantec DLP (Broadcom) remain the go-to picks for large regulated enterprises with on-premises estates, Proofpoint DLP leads for email-centric protection, and Netwrix Endpoint Protector covers cross-platform endpoint device control well for SMBs. Mimecast Incydr (formerly Code42) specializes in insider risk detection, while Nightfall AI is built cloud-native for SaaS and GenAI data leakage.
Why You Need DLP Software
Relying on employees to simply know not to share sensitive data works until someone makes an honest mistake or a malicious insider decides to walk out with customer records. Dedicated DLP pays for itself the first time it stops a real leak:
- Regulatory compliance: Frameworks like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS increasingly require demonstrable controls over how regulated data is handled and where it can travel.
- Insider risk detection: Behavioral monitoring flags departing employees moving unusual volumes of files before they walk out the door with company IP.
- GenAI leakage prevention: Modern DLP catches sensitive data pasted into ChatGPT, Copilot, and similar tools before it becomes part of a third-party model's training or logs.
- Cross-channel visibility: A single policy engine covering endpoints, email, and cloud apps closes gaps that point solutions covering just one channel leave open.
- Reduced breach impact and cost: Catching an exfiltration attempt in progress is far cheaper than the incident response, notification, and reputational cost of a confirmed data breach.
Best 7 Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Software in 2026
1. Microsoft Purview DLP
Microsoft Purview DLP is the native data loss prevention layer built into Microsoft 365, extending policy enforcement across Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and endpoints for organizations already standardized on the Microsoft stack.
Pricing: Included at no extra cost for Microsoft 365 E5 licensees; available as a standalone Purview compliance add-on for around $12/user/month for organizations on lower-tier plans. Some capabilities bill on a consumption basis. Contact Microsoft for exact licensing.
Key features:
- Native coverage across Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams
- Endpoint DLP for Windows and macOS devices
- Sensitivity labels shared across the Purview compliance suite
- Copilot and GenAI prompt protection
- Bundled with broader compliance tools like eDiscovery and Insider Risk Management
Best for: Organizations already deep in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem wanting DLP that comes bundled with existing licensing.
2. Forcepoint DLP
Forcepoint DLP is a long-standing enterprise platform built for large, regulated organizations that need consistent policy enforcement across on-premises infrastructure, cloud apps, and endpoints.
Pricing: Custom quote-based pricing for both on-premises and Forcepoint DLP SaaS/Cloud deployments; third-party estimates put entry pricing around $52/user annually. Contact Forcepoint for an exact quote.
Key features:
- On-premises, hybrid, and cloud-managed deployment options
- Risk-adaptive protection that adjusts controls to user behavior
- Deep content and context-aware classification
- Integrated with Forcepoint's broader SASE and security portfolio
- Extensive out-of-the-box regulatory compliance policy templates
Best for: Large regulated enterprises needing consistent DLP policy across on-premises and cloud infrastructure.
3. Symantec DLP (Broadcom)
Symantec DLP, now part of Broadcom's cybersecurity portfolio, is one of the most established enterprise DLP platforms, with deep content inspection capabilities built up over nearly two decades in the market.
Pricing: Subscription-based, typically priced per user or endpoint covered, with cloud and on-premises packages priced separately. Broadcom does not publish standard rates; contact Broadcom or an authorized reseller for a quote.
Key features:
- Deep content inspection across endpoint, network, and storage
- Cloud DLP package for SaaS and cloud storage coverage
- Integration with the broader Symantec/Broadcom security suite
- Fingerprinting for structured and unstructured data
- Mature policy library for common compliance frameworks
Best for: Large enterprises with complex, mixed on-premises and cloud environments needing the deepest content inspection.
4. Proofpoint DLP
Proofpoint built its reputation on email security, and its DLP module extends that same threat intelligence and content analysis to catch sensitive data leaving through email, the most common exfiltration channel for most organizations.
Pricing: Modular, user-based pricing driven by which modules you enable; third-party estimates put enterprise-grade DLP bundles roughly between $25 and $70 per user/year. Contact Proofpoint for a custom quote.
Key features:
- Email-focused DLP tightly integrated with Proofpoint email security
- Behavioral and content-based detection combined
- Cloud app DLP for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
- Insider threat and endpoint visibility add-ons
- Unified console with Proofpoint's broader threat protection suite
Best for: Organizations wanting DLP tightly integrated with email security, their highest-risk data loss channel.
5. Netwrix Endpoint Protector
Netwrix Endpoint Protector (formerly CoSoSys) enforces the same DLP and device control policies across Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints from a single console, covering both offline device control and content-aware protection.
Pricing: Custom quote-based; third-party estimates for a 250-user deployment range from about $8,250 for Device Control only up to $14,850 with Content Aware Protection included. Contact Netwrix for a tailored quote.
Key features:
- Cross-platform coverage: Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Device control for USB, printers, and peripherals
- Content-aware protection across structured and unstructured data
- Coverage for SaaS apps including Salesforce, GitHub, and Slack
- eDiscovery and forensic reporting
Best for: SMBs and mid-market teams needing consistent DLP policy across mixed-OS endpoint fleets.
6. Mimecast Incydr (Code42)
Incydr, built by Code42 and now part of Mimecast following its 2024 acquisition, focuses specifically on insider risk — tracking file movement and behavioral signals across endpoints, cloud, and email without the invasive keystroke logging some competitors rely on.
Pricing: Custom quote-based, with licensing packages typically starting at 500 users across Basic and Advanced plan tiers. A 30-day free trial is available. Contact Mimecast for a quote.
Key features:
- Metadata-based monitoring instead of invasive content surveillance
- Behavioral risk indicators for offboarding and resignation windows
- Coverage across endpoints, browsers, cloud, SaaS, and GenAI tools
- Automated response workflows for high-risk activity
- Now integrating with Mimecast's broader Human Risk Management platform
Best for: Organizations most concerned with insider risk and departing-employee data theft rather than broad content filtering.
7. Nightfall AI
Nightfall AI is a cloud-native, agentless DLP platform built for the SaaS and GenAI era, covering Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and generative AI tools through API-based integrations rather than installed agents.
Pricing: Value-based, usage-driven pricing; entry-level and developer API plans start around $4/month, while full Enterprise DLP/DSPM contracts typically start around $75,000/year. Contact Nightfall sales for a tailored quote.
Key features:
- Agentless, API-based deployment across SaaS apps
- GenAI firewall for tools like ChatGPT and Copilot
- Machine learning-based detection tuned for low false positives
- Developer-friendly APIs for custom DLP integrations
- Rapid deployment with no endpoint agents to manage
Best for: Cloud-first companies wanting fast, agentless DLP coverage across SaaS and generative AI tools.
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Standout Feature |
| Microsoft Purview DLP | Microsoft 365 shops | Included in E5 / ~$12/user/mo | Native M365 + Copilot coverage |
| Forcepoint DLP | Large regulated enterprises | Custom (~$52/user/yr est.) | Risk-adaptive protection |
| Symantec DLP | Complex hybrid enterprises | Custom | Deep content inspection |
| Proofpoint DLP | Email-centric protection | Custom (~$25-70/user/yr est.) | Integrated email threat intel |
| Netwrix Endpoint Protector | SMB mixed-OS endpoints | Custom (~$8,250+ est.) | Cross-platform device control |
| Mimecast Incydr | Insider risk detection | Custom (500-user minimum) | Privacy-friendly metadata monitoring |
| Nightfall AI | SaaS & GenAI leakage | From ~$4/month | Agentless, API-based coverage |
Final Thoughts
Your existing stack and threat model should drive this choice more than any single feature. Organizations already licensed for Microsoft 365 E5 get the fastest path to coverage with Purview DLP, since it's bundled rather than a separate purchase.
Large regulated enterprises with on-premises infrastructure are better served by Forcepoint or Symantec DLP's depth, while email-heavy organizations should prioritize Proofpoint. SMBs managing mixed-OS endpoints should look at Netwrix Endpoint Protector, insider-risk-focused security teams should evaluate Mimecast Incydr, and cloud-first companies chasing SaaS and GenAI leakage should start with Nightfall AI.
Whichever platform you choose, DLP is only as good as its policy tuning — budget time for a rollout period focused on reducing false positives before enforcing hard blocks.
FAQ
What's the best DLP software overall?
Microsoft Purview DLP is the best starting point for most Microsoft 365 organizations since it's bundled with existing licensing. Large regulated enterprises with complex, mixed environments may get more value from Forcepoint or Symantec DLP instead.
How much does DLP software cost?
Microsoft Purview DLP is bundled into Microsoft 365 E5 or available as an add-on around $12/user/month. Enterprise platforms like Forcepoint, Symantec DLP, and Proofpoint use custom, quote-based pricing typically in the $25-$70 per user per year range, while cloud-native tools like Nightfall AI use usage-based pricing that can range from a few dollars a month up to six figures annually for enterprise deployments.
Is there a free DLP tool?
None of the platforms on this list are free, though most offer free trials and Microsoft Purview DLP comes at no extra cost if you're already licensed for Microsoft 365 E5. Nightfall AI's lower-tier plans are also priced low enough to fit smaller budgets.
What's the difference between DLP and DSPM?
DLP focuses on monitoring and blocking data as it moves — through email, uploads, or file transfers. DSPM (Data Security Posture Management) focuses on discovering and classifying where sensitive data lives at rest across cloud environments. Many modern platforms, including several on this list, are beginning to combine both capabilities.
What features matter most when choosing DLP software?
Prioritize coverage across the channels your data actually moves through (endpoints, email, cloud, GenAI), how well the platform integrates with your existing stack, the accuracy of its detection to minimize false positives, and whether pricing scales predictably as you add users.