Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Compare The Best Electronic Signature Software

Want to jump straight to the answer? The best electronic signature software for most people is signNow or SignWell.

Gone are the days when people used a pen to sign documents. With workforces going remote and hybrid, digital is the way to go today.

Business leaders are using electronic signature software to enter into contracts with people in different corners of the world within minutes. No paper to deal with. No physical mail to wait for. Best of all, these signatures are just as valid as handwritten ink.

The Top 9 Best Electronic Signature Software

  • signNow – Best value electronic signature software
  • SignWell – Best free electronic signature software
  • DocuSign – Best multi-purpose electronic signature software
  • HelloSign – Best for legally binding documents
  • Adobe Sign – Best for small businesses
  • Signeasy – Best for individual and personal use
  • KeepSolid Sign – Best for signing documents offline
  • GetAccept – Best for B2B sales
  • SignRequest – Best for simplifying the e-signature process
How to choose the best electronic signature software. Quicksprout.com's methodology for reviewing electronic signature software.

After reviewing the best e-sign software on the market today, I narrowed down the top nine options that I can confidently recommend. Use this guide to find the best e-sign software for your business.

signNow — Best Value Electronic Signature Software

  • Starts at $8
  • Robust API
  • Enterprise-grade security
  • Simple integrations
7 Day Free Trial

signNow is cross-platform e-sign software with a robust API. This makes it easy for businesses to embed electronic signature capability into their websites and apps.

It’s so easy you can create complex e-sign workflows and facilitate online signature requests without writing a single line of code. While there are other e-sign platforms out there that offer similar functionality, none are as straightforward as signNow.

signNow home page

signNow also integrates with a wide range of third-party apps. You can sync it with your CRM, accounting software, payroll system, ERP system, and marketing automation software with ease.

For such a powerful solution, signNow is surprisingly affordable.

  • Business – $8 per user per month
  • Business Premium – $15 per user per month
  • Enterprise – $30 per user per month
  • airSlate Business Cloud – $50 per user per month

As you can see, the pricing for the Business Premium plan is almost the same as most other software’s lowest-tier plan in this space. Unlike the Business plan, Business Premium allows users to have personalized branding, send documents in bulk, send signees reminders, and send links for signatures.

All plans come with unlimited templates and the signNow mobile app. signNow also offers enterprise-grade security. It’s GDPR compliant, OAuth 2.0, PCI DSS compliant, HIPAA compliant, and more.

Try signNow free for 7 days.

SignWell — Best Free Electronic Signature Software

  • Free for 3 docs per month
  • Unlimited docs start at $8
  • Audit reports
  • Document sharing and tracking
Start For Free

For those of you who only need the occasional document signed, SignWell is the perfect option. It’s safe, secure, and works on any device.

Most importantly, even thought the software is free, all SignWell signatures are legally binding.

SignWell home page

More than 9,500+ businesses rely on SignWell for e-signatures. The software is simple but still comes with all of the features you need to sign documents and collect signatures.

  • Instant signing
  • Document workflows
  • Multiple signatures on one document
  • Ready-to-use templates
  • Audit reports
  • Document sharing and tracking
  • Form field suggestions
  • Sales documents

The free SignWell plan supports up to three documents per month for a single sender. For unlimited signatures, the Personal plan for a single user starts at $8 per month. Business plans start at $24 and include three users.

If you only need a few documents signed, the SignWell free plan is perfect, It gives you up to three signatures each month. Check out SignWell today.

DocuSign — Best Multi-Purpose Electronic Signature Software

  • Safe and secure
  • 350+ integrations
  • Supports 43 languages
  • Contract lifecycle management (CLM)
30 Day Free Trial

DocuSign is one of the world’s most popular electronic signature solutions. More than 500,000 individuals and businesses across the globe trust this platform.

As a pioneer in the e-sign industry, the software has facilitated millions of signatures over the years.

DocuSign home page

DocuSign is one of the most versatile solutions in this category. It’s used in industries including financial services, real estate, government, education, healthcare, and insurance. The software is trusted by human resources departments, sales teams, and legal teams alike.

With DocuSign, you’ll enjoy features like:

  • 350+ integrations
  • Instant visibility statuses
  • Support in 43 languages
  • Reusable templates
  • 99.99% uptime
  • Mobile app signatures

The software is safe and secure. It has compliance certifications including GDPR, ISO 27001, PCI data security, CSA STAR, SSAE 16, FedRAMP, and HIPAA, just to name a few.

DocuSign has solutions for individuals, small businesses, and global enterprises. Whether you need to collect signatures on a daily basis or sign only the occasional contract, DocuSign is a scalable solution. It also has tools for complete contract lifecycle management, contract negotiation, and AI agreement analytics.

Here’s an overview of DocuSign’s plans and pricing:

  • Personal – $10 per month
  • Standard – $25 per user per month
  • Business Pro – $40 per user per month

Try DocuSign free for 30 days.

HelloSign — Best For Legally Binding Documents

  • Unlimited signature requests
  • Free for 3 signatures
  • Add e-sign to your app
  • Audit trail and status notifications
30 Day Free Trial

If you need an iron-clad agreement signed electronically, HelloSign is a top option to consider.

The software makes it easy for anyone to add a legally binding signature to any document. From new employee onboarding to NDAs and loan agreements, HelloSign accommodates a wide range of needs.

HelloSign home page

HelloSign is feature-rich and built for business. It gives you the ability to collect signatures from up to 20 people on a single document, either simultaneously or in a designated order. You can start collecting signatures in minutes with bank-level security.

You’ll also get business-class features like:

  • Team management tools
  • Custom templates
  • Custom business branding
  • Google integrations (Gmail, Drive, Docs, etc.)
  • Audit trails
  • Status notifications
  • 2FA (two-factor authentication)
  • Support for 17 file formats

HelloSign has exceptional customer support, and you can use the API to build e-sign functionality into your own app.

Here’s a closer look at the HelloSign plans and prices:

  • Essentials – $15 per month
  • Dropbox Pro + eSign – $24.99 per month
  • Standard – $25 per user per month

All of the plans come with unlimited signature requests. Try HelloSign free for 30 days.

Adobe Sign — Best For Small Businesses

  • 30% off small business plan
  • Automated reminders
  • Custom branding
  • Signable website forms
14 Day Free Trial

Adobe is a name that’s synonymous with high-quality software. Many of you have likely used Adobe Acrobat to view, create, print, and edit PDF files. So it’s no surprise to see Adobe Sign rank so high on our list.

Adobe Sign is perfect for small businesses that need a simple, straightforward, and secure way to sign documents.

Adobe Sign home page

The software comes with features and benefits including:

  • E-signature requests
  • Automatic notifications and signature reminders
  • Custom branding
  • User management
  • Bulk signature
  • Signable website forms
  • Payment collection
  • Enhanced authentication

Adobe Sign integrates with Microsoft Teams, Word, Powerpoint, Dropbox, Salesforce, and other popular business tools.

Acrobat Sign is priced upon consultation, but you can try it for free for 30 days. If you want basic signature collection, you can try Acrobat Pro DC free for 7 days, and then subscribe for $14.00 per month.

Signeasy — Best For Individual and Personal Use

  • Starts at $10
  • Mobile signatures
  • Multi-person approvals
  • Up to 40% off with year contract
14 Day Free Trial

Lots of electronic signature tools are marketed toward business users. But in addition to the 43,000+ organizations that rely on Signeasy, the software is used by over ten million people for personal use. 

This software definitely lives up to its name. Signeasy is one of the fastest and simplest ways to sign documents online—even if you’ve never used an electronic signature solution before.

For professionals with occasional electronic signature needs, Signeasy should definitely be taken into consideration. 

Signeasy home page

One unique standout of Signeasy is its ability to collect in-person signatures. With the iOS and Android mobile apps, you can use Signeasy as a replacement for carrying paperwork for in-person meetings. The app can also be used for virtual signing between remote parties as well.

Whether you just need a simple NDA signed or you’re going through a multi-person approval process, Signeasy gets the job done.

It’s affordable and even provides great value for solo users. Here’s a closer look at the Signeasy pricing:

  • Essential — Starts at $10 per month
  • Team — Starts at $15 per month
  • Business — Starts at $30 per month

The rates above are all based per-user with an annual contract. Month-to-month rates are available as well, but the price is $5 to $10 higher, depending on the plan. 

The Essential plan is best for single users, while the Team plan is designed for small teams of up to five people. You can try any Signeasy plan for free with a 14-day trial—no credit card required.

KeepSolid Sign — Best For Signing Documents Offline

  • Starts at $9.99
  • Offline mode
  • Personal signature storage
  • Free for signers
14 Day Free Trial

KeepSolid Sign is a multiplatform e-sign solution. The software has a unique feature compared to other tools on our list—offline signatures.

You can access documents and prepare everything, even when your device is offline. Everything will be sent automatically as soon as you get an Internet connection.

KeepSolid Sign home page

The software allows you to create your own unique electronic signature and store it for future use. Draw it on the app, import it as a picture, or take a photo of your actual signature.

Other top benefits of KeepSolid Sign include:

  • Support for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and web browsers
  • Team collaboration tools
  • Status notifications
  • Document templates

KeepSolid Sign is used by real estate businesses, HR departments, sales teams, and service industries.

Pricing starts at $9.99 per month for single users. The software is always free for third-party signers. You can save 25% with an annual contract. Try KeepSolid Sign free for 14 days.

GetAccept — Best For B2B Sales

  • All-in-one sales tool
  • Video and live chat
  • Proposal templates
  • Contract management
14 Day Free Trial

GetAccept is a bit unique compared to other solutions on our list. This electronic signature software is designed specifically for B2B sales.

It’s an all in one solution for closing deals. In addition to e-sign capabilities, GetAccept has tools for live chat, video, proposal designs, contract management, and more. This is by far the best way to engage with your B2B clients remotely.

GetAccept home page

Instead of just sending off a document to be signed, you can be there to offer support to your clients if they have questions or anything needs to be explained—all from a single platform.

GetAccept integrates with Salesforce, HubSpot, Zapier, Microsoft Dynamics, Slack, and more. They also have an open API that allows for custom integrations.

Here’s a closer look at the plans and pricing:

  • Free – $0 per month per user
  • Essential – $15 per month per user
  • Professional – $49 per month per user

GetAccept also has an Enterprise plan for high-volume developers. You’ll need to contact their team for a custom quote.

For B2B sales teams, this software will definitely be your best option. Try GetAccept free for 14 days.

SignRequest — Best For Simplifying The E-Signature Process

  • Free for 10 docs per month
  • Unlimited docs start at $9
  • Video tutorials
  • Easy to use
14 Day Free Trial

More than 300,000 people across the globe trust SignRequest for e-sign.

It’s not quite as feature-rich as some of the other platforms on our list. But if you’re looking for a simple and straightforward way to get a something signed online, you can upload a document and get started in minutes.

SignRequest home page

Best of all? SignRequest is free.

You can use it for up to 10 documents in a month at no charge. That’s more triple the amount of Docsketch (our top pick for free e-sign software). But Docsketch does come with better features.

SignRequest has two paid plans—Professional and Business. Both of these support unlimited documents. They start at $9 and $15 per month per user, respectively. You can try any paid SignRequest plan free for 14 days.

I also like how SignRequest has quick video tutorials on how to use the software. Examples include:

  • How to prepare an e-signature request
  • How to integrate e-signatures with your systems
  • How to place your signature on a Google Doc
  • How to send in bulk
  • How to customize your e-signatures
  • How to sign documents from Salesforce

The list goes on and on. This makes it easy for anyone to get their questions answered quickly.

Try SignRequest free for 14 days.

How to Find the Best Electronic Signature Software For You

While it may seem like all electronic signature software does the same thing, every solution is unique. It can be challenging to find the best option for your business if you don’t know what to look for.

There are certain factors that should be taken into consideration as you’re shopping around for electronic signature software. Use the methodology below to help narrow your search.

Cross-Platform Signatures

You want to make sure that the software is compatible with as many platforms as possible. If you send a document from a Mac computer, can the recipient sign from their Android smartphone?

It’s also important that your software supports a wide range of document types. Again, some document formats may not render properly on specific devices. But if the software supports multiple document types and platforms, you shouldn’t run into any problems.

Making sure that your electronic signature software is nimble enough to handle any device or platform gives you peace of mind going into the future as well. If the software struggles with certain devices now, you probably won’t have much confidence that it will be able to add new devices and formats as they appear in the future.

Along these same lines, if you often find yourself reviewing documents outside the office, you will want the electronic signature service you select to have a strong mobile app. You will want the app to give you the features you need to do all your work while on the go.

Generally speaking, most electronic signatures are legally binding. But with that said, you want to make sure the software you’re using is taking extra steps to protect you. If you ever had to go to court with an electronic signature, it helps to have things like audit trails, two-factor authentication, and other features to prove intent.

You should also consider the compliance regulations required for your industry. For example, some solutions offer HIPAA compliance, GDPR compliance, PCI compliance, and more.

Always protect yourself and your business when it comes to legally binding contracts. If you’re unsure about something, consult with your lawyer.

Document Volume

How often are you sending documents that need to be signed? If it’s just a handful of times per year, you shouldn’t be using the same software as a business that collects hundreds or thousands of signatures per week.

Do you need to collect multiple signatures from different people on the same document? Does it matter which order those names are signed in? These are the types of questions you should be asking yourself as you’re evaluating options.

There are plenty of unlimited plans on the market for high-volume users and even some free plans for infrequent use.

API and Integrations

Look for a solution that seamlessly integrates with third-party tools and software that you’re already using. For example, let’s say you’re using Salesforce or HubSpot as a CRM. It will make your life much easier if your e-sign software is compatible with those solutions.

If you need to embed e-sign functionality on your website or applications, then the software must have an open API that you can customize.

The Top Electronic Signature Software in Summary

Getting a physical signature on documents requires in-person appointments, printing, scanning, faxing, or mailing paperwork. All of this is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and unrealistic in many scenarios.

If you’re ready to improve your workflows and start signing documents electronically, signNow and SignWell are the best options for most people.



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