Document control that passes audits — free
Automatic version control, approval workflows, and audit trails for every controlled document. Built for ISO 9001 and IATF 16949. Free for commercial use — no per-seat licenses.
Shared folders quietly fail every audit requirement
In most shops, “document control” means a network folder — and it fails quietly, every day, until an auditor or a bad part makes it loud.
Which revision is current?
A folder full of files named FINAL_v3_APPROVED.pdf proves nothing to an auditor — and even less to the operator running the job. Somebody, somewhere, is working from the wrong one right now.
Who approved this?
Approvals that live in email threads scatter the evidence. When the auditor asks who signed off on Rev C and when, "let me search my inbox" is not a document control system.
Who saw the change?
A revision nobody was told about is a nonconformance waiting to happen. Shared drives have no distribution records and no read acknowledgment — you find out on the floor.
What real document control needs
Strip away the standards language and document control is a short list of capabilities. All of them are in the free tier.
Automatic version control
One current revision of every document, full history retained, no overwrites. "Which version is this?" always has exactly one answer.
Approval workflows
Route documents for sign-off with timestamps and identity attached. The approval evidence builds itself as the work happens.
Audit trails
Every view, edit, approval, and distribution logged automatically — the record your ISO 9001 or IATF 16949 auditor actually wants to pull.
Controlled access
Permissions per document and per partner, expiring links, and PIN protection for the sensitive ones.
CAD-native
STEP, IGES, and STL models are controlled documents too — viewable in the browser with the same revision control, no CAD licenses needed.
See the free CAD viewer →Ready for ISO 9001 / IATF 16949
Control of documented information, revision status, distribution, retention — the requirements are the product's spine, not an add-on.
Free means free
| Capability | GatesFlow | Paid DCS tools per-seat licenses | Shared drives SharePoint, Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free for commercial use | |||
| Single enforced current revision | |||
| Routed approvals with identity & timestamps | |||
| Automatic audit trail | |||
| Browser CAD viewing without licenses |
How it works
Create your free account
Two minutes, no credit card, free for commercial use.
Upload your controlled documents
Start with the twenty that matter — control plans and work instructions for your highest-running parts. Revision history starts immediately.
Route for approval and share
Sign-offs get timestamps and identity. The floor reads documents at a link that always resolves to the current revision.
Part of the GatesFlow platform
Controlled documents connect to everything downstream: engineering changes in PLM, FMEAs and PPAP packages in quality management, and 3D models in the free CAD viewer — one system, no re-entering data.
Frequently asked questions
Is GatesFlow document control really free?
Yes — free for commercial use since July 1, 2026, including version control, approval workflows, and audit trails. There are no seat limits on viewing, so the whole team and your suppliers can read controlled documents at no cost.
Does it meet ISO 9001 / IATF 16949 requirements?
It implements the document-control requirements — control of documented information, revision status, distribution, and retention. Certification always depends on your overall QMS, but the evidence trail auditors ask for is built in automatically.
Can I control CAD files, not just PDFs?
Yes. STEP, IGES, STL, and OBJ files get the same revision control and approval workflows, and they're viewable in the browser without CAD licenses.
How is this different from SharePoint or Google Drive?
Drives store files; they don't enforce a single current revision, routed approvals, or read receipts. GatesFlow does — which is the difference between storage and document control.
Put your critical documents under control this week
No credit card. No per-seat licenses. Audit-ready evidence from day one.
Create Free Account