If you are looking for a Microsoft Purview alternative, the deciding question is usually channels. Purview governs Microsoft 365 well. Comma Compliance captures WhatsApp, iMessage, Signal, SMS and 40+ other channels in one archive, so firms with mobile messaging exposure can supervise it alongside Microsoft 365.
Microsoft Purview is the compliance and governance platform built into Microsoft 365. This page compares it with Comma Compliance on architecture, channel coverage, licensing, and exam readiness.
At a Glance
Purview is built for Microsoft. It governs Exchange email, Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive well. The SEC’s enforcement actions since 2021 haven’t been about Teams or Exchange. They’ve been about WhatsApp, iMessage, and Signal. Here is how the two compare on those channels:
- Coverage. Comma captures WhatsApp, iMessage, Signal, and 40+ other channels natively. Purview’s WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, WeChat, and Android connectors routed through TeleMessage, which was breached and suspended in May 2025 (CNBC, 404 Media) and is now documented by Smarsh as Capture Mobile. Microsoft’s documentation still lists TeleMessage as the provider of these connectors, including Signal, WhatsApp, Telegram, WeChat, and Android (pages updated in June 2026). Our timeline of the TeleMessage breach has the dates and sources.
- Capture. Comma captures at point of delivery. The WhatsApp, Signal, and Android capture code is published openly on GitHub.
- Cost. All 40+ channels are included at a flat price, with no per-connector fees. Purview’s Communication Compliance requires Microsoft 365 E5 or a separate add-on.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Comma Compliance | Purview |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | End-to-end — capture, archive, supervision, policy matching, and exam-ready case management, with open source transparency. | Microsoft 365-native governance platform — strong for Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive; non-Microsoft channel capture requires third-party connectors |
| Built-in archive | Yes — included in platform | Yes |
| WORM storage | Yes — written at point of capture | Yes |
| iMessage capture method | Point-of-delivery — not iCloud-dependent | Via third-party connector. Previously routed through TeleMessage infrastructure |
| WhatsApp capture | Captures both WhatsApp Business and personal WhatsApp | Via TeleMessage connector |
| Signal capture | Yes — open-source capture code published on GitHub | Via TeleMessage connector |
| Transparency | WhatsApp, Signal and Android text messaging capture code published openly on GitHub — no NDA, no request required | Proprietary |
| Channels supported | 40+ channels where conversations happen: iMessage, WhatsApp, Signal, SMS, Microsoft 365, Teams, Exchange, OneDrive, Gmail, Google Workspace, Slack, Zoom, Webex, Bloomberg Chat, Salesforce, Telegram, and more. | Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Yammer, Microsoft 365 Copilot. Non-Microsoft channels require third-party connectors; many mobile/messaging connectors. |
| Personal vs. business separation | Automatic contact-based filtering | Not natively supported for non-Microsoft channels |
| Policy processing | Yes — built in | Yes |
| Custom policy matching | Yes | Yes |
| Case management | Built for regulatory examination prep, with legal holds and e-discovery that covers WhatsApp, Signal and iMessage alongside Microsoft 365 | Oriented toward litigation, legal hold, and internal investigations |
| AI compliance monitoring | Real-time policy scanning; human validation before escalation; no client data used for training without consent | Yes |
| Data ownership | Client retains full ownership; never sold or shared outside authorized sub-processors | Data governed by Microsoft’s data processing terms; subject to Microsoft 365 data residency policies |
| Infrastructure | AWS and Azure, multi-AZ clustering | Microsoft Azure global infrastructure |
| Pricing model | Transparent pricing, enterprise pricing available. All platforms included. No per-connector fees, no storage overages, no export fees. | Bundled with Microsoft 365 E3/E5 licensing; Communication Compliance requires E5 or add-on; third-party connector costs additional |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial, no credit card required | Yes (via Microsoft 365 Purview Suite trial) |
Competitor feature descriptions reflect publicly available documentation and may not capture all capabilities. Information is reviewed periodically.
When Purview may be a better fit
- Teams already licensed on Microsoft 365 E5 or planning to standardize on Microsoft’s compliance stack
- Organizations operating primarily within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem (Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive)
When to look for a Purview alternative
- Your supervision scope includes WhatsApp, iMessage, Signal, or text messages, not only Microsoft 365
- You want supervision, policy matching, and case management without standardizing on Microsoft 365 E5 or buying a separate add-on
- You need exam-ready case management that covers mobile messaging alongside Microsoft 365
- You want to see how capture works before you buy, including the published WhatsApp, Signal, and Android capture code
On Licensing
Communication Compliance (the supervision piece of Purview) requires Microsoft 365 E5 licensing or a separate add-on. E5 is Microsoft’s premium enterprise tier, typically priced at $57–$66/user/month. Organizations on E3 or below need to purchase Communication Compliance separately. Comma Compliance includes supervision, policy matching, and exam-ready case management at a flat price. All channels. No add-ons.
Microsoft-First vs. Communications-First
Purview governs Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive natively and well. For organizations whose compliance exposure lives entirely within Microsoft 365, it’s a logical choice. But financial services enforcement has concentrated on WhatsApp, iMessage, and Signal — not Exchange. Comma Compliance captures iMessage, WhatsApp, Signal, and 40+ other channels natively, with no TeleMessage dependency and no connector gap.
Due Diligence
Questions to Ask Any Compliance Vendor
- 01
Where exactly is the message first captured - at the point of delivery, or after a backup or sync cycle?
- 02
What conditions must be true for a message to be captured? What happens if any of those conditions aren't met?
- 03
If a user edits or deletes a message before capture occurs, what version gets archived?
- 04
Can you show documentation - architecture diagrams, code, or an independent audit - of how your capture actually works?
- 05
Where are encryption keys stored, and who controls them?
- 06
Are all channels included in the base price, or are there per-connector fees?
- 07
Are there export or egress fees?
- 08
Does your case management workflow support regulatory examination prep?
- 09
Can cases be opened directly from flagged message threads?
- 10
Is any client data used to train your models? Under what conditions?
- 11
Can we adjust, refine, or contribute feedback to my policy models? (e.g., different languages, customer-complaint responses)
See why firms switch from Microsoft Purview to Comma.
A 20-minute walkthrough — real capture, real-time flagging, transparent pricing.
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