Document management goes beyond simply storing documents.

It depends on your needs and your documents’ lifecycle. Perhaps you need accurate capture, simple and fast implementation, task management, automated workflows, automated file retention…

If your current DMS or ECM isn’t checking your boxes, you need to find a better fit for you. And quick.

We bring you 5 DocStar alternatives to help you choose software that suits your needs perfectly.

What is DocStar?

DocStar ECM is an ECM builtfor midsized and large organizations that focuses primarily on document storage and workflow automation.

DocStar can help you capture, store, and manage documents electronically.

It supports both structured and unstructured data, and integrates with ERP systems such as Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle JD Edwards, and Epicor.

DocStar offers the classic features you can find in an ECM, including:

• Content management

DocStar allows you to sort your company’s content through metadata tagging.

Within your files, you can comment, add annotations, and edit in real-time. All changes will be saved through version control.

DocStar provides flexibility when organizing your content, so you can store and retrieve documents whenever you need to.

• Document capture

DocStar uses OCR and machine learning to read, classify, and extract data from relevant document.

DocStar’s intelligent document capture is a scalable tool that can route documents directly into the appropriate workflow.

However, users have reported that the initial setup requires serious technical expertise.

• Workflow automation

Like most ECM software, DocStar included automated workflows for approval chains.

You can design multi-stage workflows with triggers, parallel approvals, and conditional rules.

For example, an invoice might pass from an AP clerk to a department head to a CFO automatically, with full visibility at every step.

Although it has a very simple workflow designer, your workflows may have to be on the simple side.

• Security and compliance

Every action, viewing, editing, or deleting, is logged in audit trails, which is an important features in any ECM software, especially if you work under strict regulatory requirements such as HIPAA, SOX, or GDPR.

When should you choose DocStar?

DocStar ECM is best suited for large organizations with complex document lifecycles, high regulatory demand who need easy collaboration between departments.

Some industries that could benefit from this ECM include manufacturing, finance, healthcare, and government.

The issue with DocStar is that its features require a pretty steep learning curve, so it might require having a specialized IT team or having an adjustment period, which could slow production down.

The interface and setup process can feel dated compared to modern ECM platforms, such as Dokmee.

So, if you’re looking for an alternative, we have 5 great options for you.

5 Best DocStar Alternatives

DocStar is a good choice, but let’s compare it to 5 more DMS and ECM solutions to help you understand other tools’ focus to make sure your choice aligns with your company and its specific needs.

Software	Best For	OCR Quality	Workflow Automation	Customization & Security	Integration Strength	Ideal Use Case
Dokmee	Organizations who need full control over document workflows	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Advanced OCR, flexible workflows, and strong metadata control
DocuWare	Teams focused on process automation and compliance	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Efficient document routing and approvals
Microsoft SharePoint	Businesses within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Collaboration and easy file sharing over automation
M-Files	Firms who need advanced organization and compliance	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Complex, versioned data management
NetDocuments	Regulated industries that prioritize security	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Audit trails and strict governance

1. Dokmee

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ratings

G2 4.5/5 | Capterra 4.7/5

Overview

Dokmee is one of the most comprehensive and scalable alternatives to DocStar.

It offers both DMS and ECM solutions so you can decide the capabilities you need. Additionally, Dokmee offers modular subscriptions. Meaning you can add document capture, E-forms, cloud ECM and other features as need by.

This means you pay only for what you need.

One of Dokmee’s major benefits is that it is a completely customizable tool. You can create as many files, metadata tags, and indexing as you require and assign individual roles and permissions to ensure only authorized team members can edit, sign, view, or share your documents.

Dokmee Capture can handle large volume of files, automatically classifying and indexing them using metadata tags, and it works seamlessly with the native Electronic Forms builder.

When should you choose Dokmee over DocStar

Choose Dokmee if your organization needs automation flexibility and deep customization.

It is ideal for businesses that need precise OCR capabilities, secure metadata tagging, and easy integration into existing workflows.

Dokmee’s modular design also makes it a better fit for organizations that expect to expand or customize their document management ecosystem over time.

Some industries that benefit form Dokmee ECM include government, education, manufacturing, real estate, human resources, and more.

2. DocuWare

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ratings

G2 4.4/5 | Capterra 4.6/5

Overview

DocuWare is currently one of the most popular DMS and workflow automation solutions for smaller businesses who do not need ECM advanced features.

DocuWare offers solid workflow automation where you can include steps such as document approvals, HR onboardings, or invoice management, for example.

It supports digital document capture, archiving, and advanced search functionalities.

DocuWare has a clean user interface and integration options that make it a good solution if you need to automate business processes without heavy technical involvement.

DoocuWare also includes a task manager to handle your team’s assignments.

So this is a good option if you need one unique tool to store your documents and have increased team collaboration.

Although, if you only want document management (including storage, editing, and retention), DocuWare might be overkill.

When should you choose DocuWare over DocStar

DocuWare is a better fit if your main goal is workflow automation rather than accurate document management.

It’s a good option if you’re looking for cloud accessibility, fast deployment, and compliance-oriented automation.

If OCR precision is not the top priority, DocuWare offers a simpler, more streamlined approach compared to DocStar.

3. Microsoft SharePoint

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ratings

G2 4/5 | Capterra 4.3/5

Overview

Microsoft SharePoint is a document management system created to integrate natively into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

Microsoft SharePoint offers some solid document management features, particularly regarding team collaboration (thanks to native integration with productivity tools), file sharing, document storage, and security features. In this aspect, it pretty much matches DocStar.

However, it lacks advanced OCR and automation, so we’d recommend SharePoint as an alternative if you do not have time and resources to tackle a high learning curve and if you’re currently using other Microsoft products.

SharePoint provides centralized storage for company documents, integrates seamlessly with tools like Teams, Word, and Outlook, and includes version control and co-authoring features.

When should you choose SharePoint over DocStar

Choose SharePoint if your organization primarily needs collaboration and accessibility over document automation or advanced features. In other words, if you’re looking for simple document storage.

It’s best suited for companies already using Microsoft 365 who want a cohesive environment to manage internal documentation, communication, and project materials without investing in specialized OCR or workflow tools.

4. M-Files

⭐ Ratings: 4.7/5

Overview

M–Files is a document management system with a unique approach.

It has a metadata-driven artchitecture that classifies documents by what they are, rather than in separate files.

This is a good alternative to DocStar if you’re not concerned by the learning curve, as you would have to take some time to design an entirely new document storage, classification and metadata tags.

M-Files supports workflow automation, versioning, and integrations with popular business tools like Microsoft Office and Salesforce.

M-Files also includes compliance management features and AI-assisted categorization, you simplify your processes and ensure regulatory compliance.

When should you choose M-Files over DocStar

M-Files is a good option if you’re looking for a different approach with a metadata-based system that allows youto handle complex information structures efficiently.

It’s particularly strong in industries such as legal, finance, and engineering, where compliance and version control are critical.

Choose M-Files if you value automation and organization powered by AI and metadata rather than traditional file hierarchies.

5. NetDocuments

⭐ Ratings: 4.6/5

Overview

NetDocuments is a cloud DMS that is especially used in legal and accounting firms due to strong governance, security, and collaboration features.

It offers compliance features (including SOC 2 Type II certification), granular access controls, and native integrations with Microsoft 365.

NetDocuments also includes workflow automation, e-signature capabilities, and document versioning.

However, NetDocuments’ user interface can feel rigid and less intuitive compared to newer platforms like DocStar.

Customization and user experience are often limited by its highly regulated design. This can result in a steeper learning curve for non-technical users or organizations outside of the legal and accounting sectors.

This is a good choice if you don’t need clean and simple UI but you do require very strong security measures.

When should you choose NetDocuments over DocStar

NetDocuments is a good choice if you need enterprise-grade security and compliance.

It’s particularly suitable for regulated industries that handle sensitive client or financial data.

If your business values data protection, audit trails, and centralized collaboration within a secure cloud infrastructure, NetDocuments provides a more specialized solution than DocStar.

So, how can you choose?

All DMS and ECM will manage and store your documents, however, its the extras that will decide if a tool is right for you or not.

For example, do you need a modern UI? Strong file retention features? Accurate document capture with OCR? What about integrations?

There are many questions to be answered.

However, we can narrow it down for you.

• Choose DocStar if you need an ECM with OCR, workflows and integrations for general business use.
• Choose Dokmee if you want maximum customization, modular design, advanced OCR, automated indexing and powerful workflows.
• Choose DocuWare if your priority is workflow automation and process efficiency rather than accurate document storage and capture.
• Choose SharePoint if you mainly need collaboration and document sharing within Microsoft 365.
• Choose M-Files if you want a smart, metadata-driven approach to document organization.
• Choose NetDocuments if you work in a regulated industry where security, auditability, and compliance are non-negotiable.

If you’re ready to try out the most complete ECM, contact Dokmee now.