DocuSign is one of the most popular e-signature platforms on the market.
It’s relied upon by businesses of all sizes for its ease of use as a collaboration tool and security features.
However, one of several DocuSign alternatives may better suit your needs.
In this article, we will compare six of the best DocuSign alternatives available.
Each alternative has unique features, so read our overviews carefully to see which one is right for you.
In the comments below, let us know if you agree with PandaDoc as our top pick out of the six DocuSign alternatives.
An Overview of DocuSign
Before bringing you information about DocuSign alternatives, let’s review what you need to know about DocuSign itself.
What Is DocuSign?
DocuSign is a cloud-based electronic signature platform that conforms to the E-Sign Act.
It enables users to sign documents from anywhere in the world electronically.
The program also allows users to track the status of the document signing process and send reminders to co-signers.
To use DocuSign, you first create an account and then upload the document you need to have signed.
After that, you add the email addresses of the signatories and set up when and how they will sign the document.
Why Is DocuSign Useful?
There are several reasons why DocuSign is useful.
First, it’s a time saver.
Rather than printing out documents and physically signing them, you can sign them electronically with DocuSign.
Second, DocuSign is environmentally friendly because it eliminates the need for paper.
Third, the platform is secure.
DocuSign uses 128-bit SSL encryption to protect each signed document from tampering.
What Are the Limitations of DocuSign?
You should be aware of a few limitations when using DocuSign.
It’s not a free service.
There is a monthly subscription fee for the use of the platform.
However, you can try the software free for 30 days before committing to a paid plan.
Some users have reported issues with the interface being slow or unresponsive.
DocuSign includes file size limitations.
You can attach files up to 25MB for what the company calls envelopes.
When attaching files to emails, you can attach files up to 5MB in size.
DocuSign Alternatives
Let’s review each DocuSign alternative so you can choose your best document software solution.
Adobe Sign
Why We Suggest This
Adobe Sign is designed for businesses of all sizes and industries that need a simple way to collect legally binding signature requests from employees, customers, partners, and vendors.
- Best For: Signing agreements and contracts
Adobe Sign is first on our list of potential alternatives to DocuSign.
What Is Adobe Sign?
Adobe Sign (formerly EchoSign) is a cloud-based electronic signature software designed for businesses of all sizes and industries who need a simple way to collect legally binding signature requests from employees, customers, partners, and vendors.
Best For
Adobe-based product alternative.
What Makes Adobe Sign Stand Out?
Adobe Acrobat Sign wasn’t initially designed for signing agreements and contracts.
It also offers features that will help with creating a digital media portfolio and marketing it.
Who Is Adobe Sign Best For?
Any businessperson already using other Adobe products.
Pros of Adobe Sign
- Flexibility: You can use the software for more than just signing contracts.
- Integrations: Easily integrate Adobe Sign with other software like Microsoft Word, Salesforce, and Google Drive.
- Templates: Quickly create contracts and other legal documents with Adobe Sign’s templates.
- Activity Notifications: Stay up-to-date on the status of your documents with notifications.
Cons of Adobe Sign
- Locked features: You can’t access automated workflows or CRM integrations, for instance, unless you use the Enterprise plan.
- No custom branding: You can’t remove Adobe branding from documents or add your logo as you can with DocuSign.
Technical Specifications
Adobe Sign works with Chrome, Firefox, and Safari browsers.
It supports files such as PDF, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Rich Text, and graphics (JPG, TIF, PNG, and more).
HelloSign
Why We Suggest This
You don’t need a tech expert to help you get started with HelloSign. The platform works for users of all levels of technical expertise.
- Best For: Small businesses, freelancers, and individuals who need to capture signatures
Many people consider HelloSign as one of the top competitors of DocuSign.
What Is HelloSign?
HelloSign is a web-based platform that allows users to sign documents and request signatures from others electronically.
Best For
Closest match to DocuSign.
What Makes HelloSign Stand Out?
Dropbox owns HelloSign.
It means that one of its plans gives you Dropbox features that you can’t find with any other electronic signature solution.
Who Is HelloSign Best For?
A small business, freelancer, and individual who needs to capture signatures.
Pros of HelloSign
- Easy to use: You don’t need a tech expert to help you get started with HelloSign. The platform works for users of all levels of technical expertise, from first-time users to experienced professionals.
- Team management tools: HelloSign makes it easy to manage your team by allowing you to see who has signed which document and when.
- Custom branding: HelloSign allows you to brand your documents with your company’s logo, colors, and fonts.
- Templates: HelloSign comes with a library of templates for standard documents, so you don’t have to start from scratch every time you need to sign a document.
Cons of HelloSign
- Doesn’t capture metadata: Without this, it makes it more challenging to search through contract data.
- No document editor: You’ll need to connect the software to other platforms like Google Docs.
Technical Specifications
- Supported document formats: PDF, Word, Excel, and more
- Supported browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari
- Mobile app: iOS and Android
signNow
Why We Suggest This
SignNow is one of the only e-signature solutions offering free unlimited signing for personal and confidential documents.
- Best For: Businesses of all sizes
You’ll find signNow works as a flexible DocuSign competitor.
What Is signNow?
signNow is a cloud-based software that helps businesses automate their workflow with e-signatures.
Best For
A budget alternative to DocuSign.
What Makes signNow Stand Out?
signNow is one of the only e-signature solutions offering free unlimited signing for personal and confidential documents.
Who Is signNow Best For?
It works well for businesses of all sizes that need a solution for integrating the process for unlimited signatures with their existing workflows.
Pros of signNow
- Document management: Upload and manage documents in the cloud.
- Signature workflows: Set up signature workflows for your business. Use this feature to keep track of document progress and ensure the collection of all required signatures.
- Templates: Create a reusable template for your most commonly used document creation needs to save time.
- Integrations: signNow integrates with a range of business apps, making it easy to get started with e-signatures.
Cons of signNow
- Lack of editing features: While you can upload and manage documents in signNow, you can’t edit them within the app.
- Lack of integrations: Although it integrates with third-party software, two integrations missing from signNow include Workday and Salesforce.
Technical Specifications
You can use the following browsers with signNow.
- Chrome
- Safari
- Firefox
- Internet Explorer
- Brave
- Opera
- Microsoft Edge
It supports files such as PDF, PNG, JPG, and more.
PandaDoc
Why We Suggest This
PandaDoc is great because it has the ability to track the status of documents in real-time. The software makes it easy to see at a glance who signed your documents and who you need to chase down.
- Best For: Businesses that need to send many documents for signature
Overall, PandaDoc offers a more comprehensive business plan tool for contract management than DocuSign does.
What Is PandaDoc?
PandaDoc is a contract management software that helps businesses automate the creation, approval, and signing of contracts and other documents.
Best For
Upgrade alternative to DocuSign.
What Makes PandaDoc Stand Out?
PandaDoc’s standout feature is its ability to track the status of documents in real-time.
The software makes it easy to see at a glance who signed your documents and who you need to chase down.
The ability to add internal comments on documents also makes PandaDoc stand out above other competitors.
Who Is PandaDoc Best For?
PandaDoc is best for businesses that need to send many documents for signature and need to track document status.
Pros of PandaDoc
- Plenty of templates: You can find a template for almost any document you need to send out for signature.
- Advanced tracking: The ability to track document views, recipient actions, and even who’s opening your documents on what device is extremely valuable.
- Integrations: PandaDoc integrates with several other software platforms you might already use, making it easy to add to your workflow.
- Custom branding: You can brand your documents with your company’s logo, colors, and font to maintain a professional appearance.
Cons of PandaDoc
- Formatting: As you go about importing and exporting documents, you may find that some formatting and styling get lost.
- No contract metadata: The absence of this data makes it hard to search through and audit contracts.
Technical Specifications
You can use PandaDoc on browsers like Microsoft Edge, Safari, Google Chrome, and Firefox.
It lets you work with JPG, PNG, and PDF files without any trouble.
Juro
Why We Suggest This
With Juro, you can manage, negotiate, and renew contracts and other types of documents. Most e-signature platforms focus on helping increase efficiency during the signing process.
- Best For: Legal teams dealing mainly with contracts
Similar to PandaDoc, Juro gives you a more robust alternative to creating better proposals.
What Is Juro?
Juro is a cloud-based contract management software that enables you to manage your contracts and unlimited documents in one place.
It offers features such as electronic signatures, templates, and workflow automation.
Best For
One of the more comprehensive DocuSign alternatives.
What Makes Juro Stand Out?
Juro differentiates itself as an all-in-one solution.
You aren’t limited to simply signing documents.
With Juro, you can manage, negotiate, and renew contracts and other types of documents.
Most e-signature platforms focus on helping increase efficiency during the signing process.
You get that from Juro plus additional features during the lifecycle of a contract.
Who Is Juro Best For?
Juro is best for legal teams dealing mainly with contracts.
Pros of Juro
- Automated workflows: Juro offers a wide range of automation capabilities to help streamline your contract management processes.
- The contract workspace: The interface makes it simple to create, manage, negotiate, review, sign, and renew contracts. Everything for managing each of these tasks exists in one workspace area.
- Advanced functionality: You’ll find that Juro offers many features, including custom branding, real-time information, and conditional logic. It also allows for internal and external comments.
- Contract metrics: The Juro dashboard gives you analytical insights. Use this feature to conduct contract audits effectively.
Cons of Juro
- Pricing: Juro will cost you more than DocuSign or HelloSign.
- Unused features: You might not need all the features provided by Juro. If so, you could find that you’re paying for advanced functionality that your business doesn’t use.
Technical Specifications
You can easily use Juro with Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Firefox.
It supports JPG, CSV, PDF, and PNG files.
SignRequest
Why We Suggest This
With SignRequest you will get the basic features required to sign electronic documents and upload them into your customer relationship management software for safekeeping.
- Best For: Small businesses and individuals who need an affordable e-signature solution
Consider SignRequest if you’re looking for an affordable alternative to DocuSign.
What Is SignRequest?
SignRequest is an esignature solution that lets you sign and send documents.
It’s one of the most affordable DocuSign alternatives, with paid plans starting at $9 per month.
Best For
One of the cheapest DocuSign alternatives.
What Makes SignRequest Stand Out?
SignRequest stands out from a budgeting perspective.
It doesn’t offer a lot of bells and whistles.
You’ll get the basic features required to sign electronic documents and upload them into your customer relationship management software for safekeeping.
Who Is SignRequest Best For?
The SignRequest software works well for small businesses and individuals who need an affordable e-signature solution.
Pros of SignRequest
- Templates: SignRequest offers a wide variety of PDF document templates that you can use to save time.
- Free plan: If you only need to use SignRequest’s features less than ten times per month, its free plan will work for you. It does mean that SignRequest adds its branding to your documents, however.
- Audit trail: You can use SignRequest to get documents signed while also gaining the ability to audit each legally-binding document.
- Easy to use: One of the most significant advantages of SignRequest is that it’s easy to use. You don’t need any technical skills to send and sign documents.
Cons of SignRequest
- Limited features: When compared to DocuSign, SignRequest doesn’t offer as many features. For example, you can’t set up workflows or automate document sending like you can with DocuSign.
- Customer support: You may become frustrated with SignRequest’s customer support wait times, especially when using the free plan.
Technical Specifications
SignRequest is available on all devices that have an Internet connection.
For example, you can sign documents on a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone.
It works with the following browsers: Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Internet Explorer.
You can use the following file formats with SignRequest.
- Google Doc
- Google Sheet
- HTML
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
Wrapping Up
DocuSign is a popular digital signature software that lets you create a secured signing environment.
However, plenty of DocuSign alternatives exist.
PandaDoc is our clear winner.
It wins due to its branding options, internal commenting, and advanced tracking while keeping your budget in line with what DocuSign costs.
Our runner-up is Juro.
It offers many more features than DocuSign does.
If you need more advanced software to capture the right signature on your contracts, choose Juro over DocuSign.
Here’s one last pro tip: Try one or two free trials these DocuSign competitors offer before committing to a paid solution.
Pro Tip: If you are looking for alternatives because of price, first check out the DocuSign discounts that are offered to users.
