Dock vs Aligned: What’s the Best DSR for Your Team?

Choosing the right Digital Sales Room platform can feel a bit like choosing a co-pilot for your revenue team: You want someone (or in this case, something) that anticipates your next move, keeps every stakeholder in the loop, and makes the whole journey smoother, not more complicated.

Two names you’ll see again and again in this space are Dock and Aligned. On the surface, they promise the same thing: a centralized, shared space where you and your buyers can collaborate, share content, agree on timelines, and track progress, without resorting to endless email threads or scattered documents. But under the hood, they take noticeably different approaches.

If you’re wondering which one is right for your team, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll break down Dock and Aligned feature by feature, compare their strengths and limitations, and highlight where each shines. And, just like in our Highspot vs. Seismic guide, we’ll keep things practical, balanced, and grounded in real-world usage, not just marketing claims.

By the end, you’ll know exactly which platform is the better fit for your sales motion (and where an alternative like Flowla might make even more sense).

Dock vs. Aligned at a glance

Dock positions itself as more than just a sales tool – it’s a revenue workspace designed to support the entire customer lifecycle. That means you can use it to run deal rooms during the sales process, manage onboarding after the close, and even create ongoing client portals for renewals or account growth. Its focus is on keeping everything in one place for both your team and your customers, with customizable templates, embedded timelines, and a clean, brandable interface.

Best for: Teams that want one platform to cover sales, onboarding, and client success without jumping between tools.

Standout traits:

• Deep customization for branding and layouts
• Multi-stage lifecycle coverage (sales → onboarding → CS)
• Governance features like workspace permissions and role-based access

Aligned takes a more sales-first approach, zeroing in on helping reps and buyers align on the next steps and get deals done faster. Its DSRs are designed to be set up in minutes, with guided templates for proposals, mutual action plans, and content sharing. The platform’s freemium model lowers the barrier for adoption, especially for smaller teams or those new to buyer enablement.

Best for: Sales teams who want to start fast, share content simply, and upgrade as they grow.

Standout traits:

• Freemium on-ramp (3 rooms per seat on free plan)
• Simple, fast setup with ready-to-use templates
• Collaboration tools built directly into each workspace

Looking for an Aligned alternative? Check out our comparison page for more info.

Feature-by-feature comparison

1. Content & templates

Dock’s content management is built around fully customizable workspaces. You can embed almost anything – PDFs, videos, decks, links, forms – directly into the buyer portal, and control how it’s displayed with flexible page layouts. Templates can be created for different stages (discovery, proposal, onboarding, renewal), so reps don’t have to reinvent the wheel for each deal. Content lives inside Dock rather than being just linked, which means it’s all accessible in one place for your buyer.

Aligned also offers templated workspaces, but its focus is on speed of setup rather than deep customization. You can quickly spin up a buyer room with drag-and-drop sections for documents, videos, pricing tables, or meeting links. While it’s not as flexible in layout design as Dock, the lighter structure makes it easier for reps to launch a room in under five minutes – ideal for teams that prioritize agility over granular control.

Key takeaway:

• Choose Dock if you want deep customization and lifecycle-specific templates.
• Choose Aligned if you value quick room creation and minimal setup steps.

How Flowla compares:

Flowla blends speed with structure: You can spin up branded templates in seconds, but also enrich them with dynamic elements like auto-generated proposals, call summaries, and proof-of-value tracks. It’s designed so content creation is partly automated, cutting down on repetitive admin while keeping rooms polished.

2. Mutual Action Plans & collaboration

Dock integrates interactive timelines directly into its workspaces, allowing you to assign tasks, set due dates, and create clear accountability for both sides. Buyers can comment, mark items complete, and see the whole journey in one view. This feature extends beyond sales: Teams use it for onboarding and renewal planning as well.

Aligned keeps Mutual Action Plans simpler: Think of them as lightweight checklists embedded into the buyer room. They’re quick to set up and easy for the buyer to follow, but they lack some of the advanced dependencies and task ownership flexibility that Dock offers.

Key takeaway:

• Choose Dock if you need robust, multi-stage project tracking with buyer involvement.
• Choose Aligned for straightforward action plans that don’t require heavy project management.

How Flowla compares:

Flowla is the only DSR tool that automates MAP creation from your call notes or CRM stage changes, so a draft is ready before the meeting even ends. Tasks, owners, and dates can be pre-filled, and updates sync back to your systems, turning what’s usually a manual step into a seamless workflow.

3. Sharing, security & governance

Dock offers granular permission controls, letting you decide who sees what within a workspace. You can create private sections for internal teams, set view-only access for sensitive materials, and control download permissions. This makes it a good fit for regulated industries or enterprise deals where governance is critical.

Aligned focuses on secure but simple sharing: You send a single link to your buyer, and they can access all the shared materials. Permission controls are basic (room-level rather than item-level), which keeps the experience straightforward but offers less flexibility for compliance-heavy use cases.

Key takeaway:

• Choose Dock for granular security and compliance needs.
• Choose Aligned for ease of access when governance is not a top concern.

How Flowla compares:

Flowla keeps sharing frictionless but adds contextual guardrails, like private sections visible only to certain stakeholders. The goal is to protect high-value information without adding extra clicks for your buyer.

4. Integrations & workflows

Dock connects directly with Salesforce for two-way syncing, letting teams trigger workspace creation or update deal rooms without leaving the CRM. It also embeds tools like Gong recordings into the buyer workspace, so key context stays in one place. The emphasis is on keeping sales workflows centralized and reducing manual copy-paste between systems.

Aligned’s integrations are lighter in scope. While you can link to resources and pull in common tools, it doesn’t offer the same level of CRM-triggered automation or embedded partner tools as Dock. The focus here is on speed and simplicity, getting a deal room live with minimal setup steps, even if it means less behind-the-scenes connectivity.

Key takeaway:

• Choose Dock for deeper CRM-native workflows and embedded sales tools.
• Choose Aligned for quick setup and simpler integration needs.

How Flowla compares:

Flowla goes automation-first, pulling data from your CRM to auto-create rooms, pre-fill mutual action plans, and send nudges based on deal stage changes or inactivity. This removes the need for manual workspace setup and keeps both reps and buyers moving without extra clicks.

5. Analytics & signals

Dock provides pretty detailed engagement analytics, showing who visited the workspace, what content they interacted with, and how long they stayed. This visibility helps sales teams prioritize follow-ups and tailor their outreach based on buyer behavior.

Aligned’s analytics are more lightweight, offering basic insights into workspace visits and content views. It’s enough for simple tracking, but lacks the depth and filtering options found in Dock.

Key takeaway:

• Choose Dock for deeper engagement analytics and granular tracking.
• Choose Aligned for simple visibility into buyer activity.

How Flowla compares:

Flowla offers real-time engagement tracking and notifications, plus aggregated dashboards to spot patterns across deals. Alerts can be triggered by specific buyer actions, helping reps act at the right moment.

Comparing Dock vs Aligned pros & cons (based on user feedback)

Dock earns high marks from users for its mix of flexibility, ease of use, and polished client-facing presentation. Many teams highlight that it not only streamlines their internal workflows but also improves the buyer experience.

• “It is so easy to use and really limitless with how you can build it for your needs.” — Praised for being both intuitive and adaptable.
• “Clients and prospects love being able to navigate and use Dock … quick to create a new workspace and customize with company branding.” — Strong customization and branding options are a consistent differentiator.
• “Dock’s tasks and goal setting with automated email notifications of updates is extremely helpful.” — Built-in task tracking reduces admin work and keeps both sides aligned.
• “Definitely a client-facing platform to improve organization, centralize resources, and improve brand.” — Centralization makes it easier for buyers to find what they need.

While generally well-received, some users note small pain points that can affect day-to-day use, especially in more complex deal cycles.

• Bugs in workspace features: One reviewer observed that “sections in workspaces break often, pricing cards don't load properly, Slack channel connections broken, etc., providing an untrustworthy experience.” Another put it bluntly: “I’ve found 5+ confirmed bugs… features break… causing me to spend several hours to redo everything.”
• User interface friction: Some users find the UI less intuitive in places. An analyst noted that “some aspects of the interface aren’t as user-friendly as others…and you have to log in every time… there are also some issues with randomly getting logged out.”
• Template limitations: While Dock provides workspace templates, the same review pointed out a limited archive – users may end up starting from scratch when their use case lacks a suitable template.
• Higher-tier prerequisites for core integrations: A product overview flagged that integrations with key tools like HubSpot and Salesforce may only be available in higher-tier plans, creating unexpected gatekeeping for users expecting CRM connectivity out of the box.

How Flowla tackles these issues

Flowla reduces the common friction points teams face with DSR tools – like workspace glitches, repetitive setup, and limited integrations – by automating key steps and keeping core features accessible from the start. AutoPilot builds rooms, proposals, and action plans from CRM updates or meeting notes, while adaptive templates cut down on rebuilds. With Salesforce, HubSpot, Gmail, Slack, and e-signatures included out of the box, plus notifications sent from the rep’s own inbox, Flowla keeps deals moving smoothly and buyers engaged.

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Aligned consistently wins praise for its clean, intuitive interface and ability to streamline deal workflows. Whether used by sales or customer success teams, the platform is often described as both powerful and easy to adopt, making it a favorite among users looking to simplify collaboration without sacrificing professionalism.

• “A fantastic tool for our team” notes how quickly Aligned has driven impact. One reviewer highlighted: “The user interface is designed with clients' preferences in mind… setting up usually takes less than 10 minutes with a saved template.” 
• The platform’s role as a centralized workspace gets echoed across reviews: “Aligned outshines other digital sales rooms in its ease of use and UI… you can tell they understood that a tool is only powerful if you actually use it and that’s both your team and the prospect.” 
• Efficiency is another repeated theme. One user shared: “Incredible tool to keep sales materials, cycles, and communications housed in one spot.” 
• Support and onboarding also stand out. A reviewer emphasized: “Overall, Aligned delivers a smoother, more professional buyer experience, helping us maintain control and transparency throughout the deal cycle.” 

While Aligned earns high marks overall, users point out a few limitations as they scale usage or demand more advanced flexibility.

• Feature and analytics gaps: Users frequently want deeper insight capabilities and richer integrations. One reviewer remarked that “enhanced analytics features for better insights and improved integration with other tools” would make it stronger. 
• Limited customization: Though easy to use, room layouts and branding have constraints. A user noted: “It would be great to have a little more flexibility in customizing the layout or visual branding of the rooms, especially for enterprise clients who care about brand consistency.” 
• Constraints on starter plan: Some users hit limits quickly. One commented: “There have been random bugs… but ultimately were resolved,” while others faced room-creation or document upload caps. 
• Adoption learning curve: A few users mentioned that getting stakeholders initially comfortable can take effort. One said adoption can be tricky for first-timers, but that once people “are in, the value speaks for itself.” 

How Flowla tackles these issues

Flowla tackles common challenges like limited customization, basic analytics, and feature caps by offering adaptable, branded templates with embedded analytics from the start. Workspaces can be tailored to each deal while tracking buyer engagement in real time, and core integrations – CRM sync, Gmail, Slack, forms, e-signatures – are available on all paid plans. This way, teams get flexibility, insight, and workflow connectivity without waiting to scale.

Pricing comparison: Dock vs. Aligned

Dock’s free tier is fairly limited – ideal for very light use or individual experimentation. To access core features across a full team, you’ll need to move up to $350/month for a 5-person “Standard” plan. That unlocks essential integrations and unlimited workspace capabilities.

Aligned’s free tier is more generous for pilots or small teams, offering 3 rooms per seat with basic analytics and branding. Scaling up is straightforward: at just $29 per seat/month, you immediately get unlimited rooms and collaboration tools.

Our verdict: Which one should you choose?

Both Dock and Aligned deliver strong buyer collaboration experiences, but the right fit comes down to your sales motion, team size, and appetite for customization.

Go with Dock if you want a single, branded workspace that can follow the customer from first call to renewal. It’s a good match for teams that need deep customization, governance, and multi-stage lifecycle coverage and are ready to invest in a plan that supports integrations and advanced workflows from day one.

Choose Aligned if speed, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness are your top priorities. Its free and entry-level plans make it easy to pilot Digital Sales Rooms, and its intuitive design reduces onboarding time for both reps and buyers.

If you’ve tried either tool and found yourself wishing for less manual setup, more automation, or faster room creation tied directly to your CRM activity, there’s also a new breed of DSR like Flowla that bakes in automation and adaptive templates from the start. It’s designed to keep the buyer experience polished while letting your reps spend more time selling, not building workspaces.

What makes Flowla a better alternative to Dock and Aligned?

Dock and Aligned both solve the “scattered buyer journey” problem, giving sellers a shared place to collaborate with prospects. But many of their trade-offs come down to the same two issues: manual setup and limited automation.

Flowla approaches Digital Sales Rooms differently. Instead of asking reps to build and maintain rooms by hand, Flowla uses automation and adaptive templates to do the heavy lifting. Rooms, proposals, and mutual action plans can be generated automatically from CRM updates or meeting notes, and next-step nudges are triggered without requiring manual follow-up.

If you’re evaluating Digital Sales Rooms, it helps to see where Flowla shines in real-world scenarios:

• When speed matters → Rooms, proposals, and mutual action plans are auto-created from CRM updates or meeting notes, so setup never slows the deal.
• When you need consistency across teams → Adaptive templates ensure every rep delivers the same polished, branded buyer experience—without extra admin work.
• When integrations can’t wait → Salesforce, HubSpot, Gmail, Slack, forms, and e-signatures are available from the start, so automation runs out of the box.
• When insights drive action → Real-time engagement tracking, alerts, and summaries give reps the signal to follow up at the right moment.
• When scaling without complexity → Flowla reduces the manual upkeep that can make DSRs hard to adopt at team or company-wide scale.

Flowla is built for revenue teams that want the polish of a buyer collaboration hub combined with the automation of a workflow engine—helping you sell more, while clicking less.