Reviewed 11 October 2026. Knowa publishes this comparison. It is based on the providers' public documentation, linked below, rather than independent product testing. These are selected capabilities, not complete feature lists or a ranking. Availability, hosting and pricing should be confirmed with each provider.
Choosing board software means looking at the full job: preparing papers, discussing them, recording decisions and making sure the next steps happen. Several platforms support this work. The right choice depends on how well the product fits your team and keeps your record useful over time.
Comparing Knowa with your current Diligent setup? Our Knowa vs Diligent Boards guide goes deeper into knowledge search, collaboration, governance tools, migration and costs.
What the providers document
| Platform | Documented capabilities | Ask to see in your demo |
|---|---|---|
| Knowa | Documents, collaboration, meeting packs, Knowa Verse minutes, Knowa Q, actions and a searchable governance record.Explore Knowa | Try a question about a previous decision and follow it to the source, then check actions and permissions. |
| Diligent Boards | Board materials, AI meeting preparation, Smart Minutes and an Action Tracker.Diligent product documentation | Which capabilities are included in your proposal, and how do they work across your committees? |
| OnBoard | AI-generated draft minutes from meeting recordings, with templates and editing before approval.OnBoard minutes documentation | Show the review and approval process, source access and how agreed actions are followed up. |
| Azeus Convene | Meeting notes, actions, votes, minute approval and a searchable minutes archive.Convene minutes documentation | Demonstrate a complete meeting cycle and confirm which AI functions your subscription includes. |
| Board Intelligence | An AI Minute Writer that uses meeting context and templates to prepare minutes for review.Board Intelligence minutes documentation | Use a representative agenda and papers to show how the draft is checked and approved. |
| iBabs | Actions with named owners and deadlines, alongside decision tracking.iBabs actions documentation | Show how an action connects to the decision and how overdue work is followed up. |
Give every provider the same practical test
- Find a past decision. Ask who agreed it, which papers they reviewed and what happened next. Follow the answer back to the record.
- Prepare and finish a meeting. Build an agenda, share papers, review draft minutes and assign an action with an owner and deadline.
- Change a member's access. Check what a new member, adviser or external reviewer can see, and what happens when they leave.
- Check the full cost. Ask what the proposal includes for users, AI, support, migration and any additional workspaces.
- Plan for the record's future. Review exports, retention, deletion and access after a board or scheme closes.
For security, request current certificate scope and validity, data locations, AI processors and contractual terms. Our security review checklist sets out the documents to request from Knowa.
What to look at in Knowa
Knowa brings documents, discussion, meetings, decisions and follow-up work together. Knowa Q helps you ask questions of your own record with source references. Knowa Verse prepares draft minutes for human review. Actions and governance tools help the work continue between meetings.
Over 1,000 boards use Knowa, governing more than £300bn in assets. Explore the full platform and judge it against the work your own team needs to do.
A supported start, in around 30 minutes
White-glove onboarding gets you set up in around 30 minutes and operational on day one. We help with your initial documents, access permissions and a practical walkthrough. For a larger rollout, we plan the remaining migration and training with you.
For a single board, start with the people and papers for your next meeting. For an advisory firm or a group of organisations, get the first workspace running, then agree a supported rollout for the rest. See how onboarding works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a board portal and governance software?
Providers use these terms in different ways. Compare the actual work supported: documents, meetings, discussion, decisions, actions, reporting and access to past records. A product label alone does not tell you its scope.
Do other board platforms offer AI minutes and actions?
Yes. Several providers document AI minutes or action tracking, as the linked examples above show. Test the quality, review controls and subscription terms with each provider.
Can Knowa replace our existing board portal?
Knowa supports documents, meeting packs, collaboration and minutes, alongside governance tools and a searchable record. Review your current workflows and export needs with our team to plan the move.
How quickly can we start using Knowa?
White-glove onboarding gets you set up in around 30 minutes and operational on day one. We help with your initial documents, access permissions and a practical walkthrough. For a larger rollout, we plan the remaining migration and training with you.