eDiscovery pricing models in 2026 -- per GB, per user, per matter, fixed fee
Updated 21 April 2026 | Interactive calculator | Not legal advice
Pricing is the most asked, least clearly answered question in eDiscovery. The 2025-2026 reset changed the landscape: aiR and EverlawAI are now included in base subscriptions, shifting the competitive differentiation from AI capability to overall cost model. Here are the five models explained, three reference matters modelled, and an interactive calculator for your specific matter.
eDiscovery cost estimator
Indicative only. Confirm with each vendor. Last verified April 2026.
| Platform | Model | Estimated total cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relativity | Per GB | $33k-$39k | aiR included from early 2026 |
| Everlaw | Per user | $16k-$27k | EverlawAI included; data hosting separate |
| DISCO | Custom | $30k-$48k | Indicative only; contact DISCO for quote |
| Logikcull | Per matter | $8k-$15k | Flat fee; best value under 200 GB |
| Nuix Neo | Per user + GB | $31k-$47k | Custom quote; enterprise focus |
Estimates exclude processing fees, user licence tiers above standard, hosting rate tiers, and professional services. Relativity and Everlaw costs include base AI features as of early 2026.
The five pricing models explained
Per GB
Primary vendors: Relativity
The producing party pays a monthly fee per gigabyte of data stored in the platform. As the primary pricing dimension, per-GB incentivises early data culling (reducing the population before ingestion lowers costs). Post-2025, Relativity's ~$11-13/GB/month includes aiR. Per-GB is typically better value at high data volumes with relatively few reviewers.
Per user
Primary vendors: Everlaw
The firm pays a fixed annual seat licence per reviewer, plus a separate (lower) data hosting charge. Per-user pricing is typically better value for firms with large review teams relative to data volume, or for firms running multiple concurrent matters on the same platform with the same reviewer pool.
Per matter (flat fee)
Primary vendors: Logikcull
A fixed fee per matter regardless of data volume or review time (up to platform limits). Logikcull pioneered this model. It provides budget certainty for small and mid-size matters; it becomes expensive per GB for very large productions. Best value for single matters under 500 GB.
Hybrid per user + GB
Primary vendors: Nuix, some Reveal tiers
Combines a per-user component with a per-GB data charge. This model distributes cost across both dimensions and can be competitive at mid-range data volumes with mid-range reviewer counts. Nuix Neo uses this model for enterprise contracts.
Service bundle (custom)
Primary vendors: DISCO, Lighthouse, Epiq, Consilio
Platform cost is bundled with professional services (project management, processing, quality control, production). The all-in number is often higher than a platform-only cost, but the total cost of a managed matter may be lower when internal reviewer overhead is factored in. Appropriate for firms without in-house lit-support capability.
Three reference matters modelled
| Matter | Relativity (per GB) | Everlaw (per user) | Logikcull (flat) | Better choice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 GB, 8 reviewers, 6 months | $33k-$39k | $17k-$22k | $3.5k-$7k | Logikcull if single matter; Everlaw if recurring |
| 5 TB, 25 reviewers, 14 months | $770k-$910k | $380k-$530k | Not applicable | Everlaw (per-user advantage at 25 reviewers) |
| 50 TB, 60 reviewers, 24 months | $13.2M-$15.6M | $8.4M-$12.1M | Not applicable | Relativity or Nuix (volume discount negotiation) |
Indicative. Excludes processing, hosting tiers, and professional services. Last verified April 2026.
Hidden costs to budget for
- Processing fees: ingestion, deNISTing, deduplication, and text extraction are billed separately by most platforms. Typical range: $0.10-0.50/GB for basic processing; higher for complex native files, container files, and foreign language processing.
- Hosting cost tier separation: active review data is typically billed at a higher rate than cold-stored inactive data. Most per-GB models have two tiers; budget accordingly.
- Translation fees: foreign language document translation ranges from $0.10-0.25/word for machine translation to $0.15-0.40/word for human post-editing. A 5 TB matter with 10% foreign language content can add $200,000-500,000 in translation cost.
- Production fees: TIFF or PDF production with endorsements and load files is typically billed per page or per GB. Budget $0.05-0.25/page for production depending on format and volume.
- Over-cap and burst pricing: per-matter flat-fee models have GB caps. Logikcull's standard pricing applies to matters under defined thresholds; larger matters are re-priced.