SignNow vs. DocuSign: Which electronic signature solution is the right fit for you?

If you’re familiar with esignature solutions, you’ve probably heard of DocuSign. They’ve been pioneering the electronic signature industry for a while, and their products are rightfully considered to be top-shelf, especially among enterprise customers

SignNow, on the other hand, is mostly favored by small and medium-sized businesses (though the company is also testing the waters in the enterprise sector). The product is well known for delivering robust esignature features at the best price on the market.

But does SignNow hold up against DocuSign? If you are looking for a reasonably-priced eSignature application for your daily business needs, SignNow is among the best DocuSign alternatives.

Product overview: DocuSign vs. signNow

✅ DocuSign has been around since 2003, which makes it a household name on the eSignature market. With over a billion users worldwide, DocuSign is the largest vendor of eSignature software — serving customers in finance, healthcare, life sciences, real estate, and other industries.

Boasting a polished interface and advanced features, DocuSign has a high satisfaction rating among its users. However, DocuSign’s expertise and reputation come at a price. The company is well known for setting higher overall subscription prices than the competition while also charging extra for some of its premium features.

✅ signNow is among the most popular DocuSign alternatives for small to medium-sized businesses due to its attractive pricing, ease of use and deployment, and rich feature set. With over 28 million users globally, signNow may not be as widely known as DocuSign, yet the user rating of 4.6 out of 5 against DocuSign’s 4.5 on G2 speaks for itself.

As a part of the airSlate‘s all-in-one document workflow automation solution, SignNow enables companies or individuals to move fast with everything they need to send and eSign their documents. SignNow is an easy to use electronic signature solution that scales with your workflow. Whether you want to pay for users or invites, our flexible pricing lets you choose what best fits your needs. SignNow makes your documents easy to sign, on any device, and gives your team visibility into the signing process with real-time document tracking and notifications.

Overall rating	SignNow	DocuSign
G2	4.6/5 ★	4.5/5
TrustRadius	8.5/10 ★	8.4/10
Gartner	4.4/5	4.4/5

Pricing

The signNow pricing model is identical to that of DocuSign: four subscription tiers, each paid per single user, monthly or annually. signNow also allows each subscriber to buy up to 10 additional user seats. With DocuSign, you can buy up to 5 user seats per subscription (starting with the Standard plan).

With significantly lower prices, signNow holds an indisputable advantage over DocuSign, especially when compared to annual billing. It is also worth mentioning that DocuSign doesn’t disclose the price of their highest-tier subscription on their website as they calculate the cost per the customer’s request. 

Meanwhile, if you don’t mind paying $10 more than DocuSign’s Business Pro subscription, SignNow grants you access to its robust solution for organizations with multiple teams and complex electronic signature workflows with an option to request payments, add attachments, create conditional documents, add smart fields, and more advanced features.

signNow pricing vs. DocuSign pricing

​​The SignNow Site License package is a usage-based pricing option for large businesses and enterprises sending over 1,000 signature invites per year. SignNow charges $1.50 per invite with volume discounts available over 3,000 invites.

While SignNow may be more cost-effective than DocuSign, it also provides users with more premium features for less, especially when comparing the mid-range plans.

SignNow
Business	Business Premium	Enterprise	Business Cloud
$8/user/month	$15/user/month	$30/user/month	$50/user/month
DocuSign
Personal	Standard	Business Pro	Enhanced Plans
$10/user/month	$25/user/month	$40/user/month	Custom price

While SignNow may be more cost-effective than DocuSign, it also provides users with more advanced functionality for less, especially when comparing the mid-range plans.

	signNow	DocuSign
	Business	Personal
Legally-binding eSignatures with Audit Trail		5 signature requests per month
Unlimited templates
In-person signing on a mobile device
	Business Premium	Standard
Bulk send
Document groups
Signing link invites (Power Forms)
	Enterprise	Business Pro
Smart Fields

Both DocuSign and SignNow offer a free trial but neither provides a free plan. So, if you are looking for free DocuSign alternatives, you may want to consider other esignature vendors offering a free account for personal use, such as Dropbox Sign.

Watch the video below for a more in-depth signNow vs. DocuSign comparison:

Features

In terms of technology, DocuSign is rightfully considered the industry leader. Over 20 years of continuous development and innovations allowed the product to grow into an advanced contract management platform suited to the largest of enterprises.

Meanwhile, signNow isn’t lagging far behind. Users across multiple review platforms confirm that signNow has everything they need to get documents signed electronically – at a much lower price than DocuSign.

Basic features

Both signNow and DocuSign offer all the basic features you would expect from an eSignature app: 

• Electronic document signing 
• Sending documents for eSignature to one or multiple recipients
• Assigning and configuring signer roles
• Setting a signing order
• Configuring document routing
• Signature collection via shareable links
• In-person signature collection via a mobile device
• Bulk-sending documents for signature
• Real-time signature tracking
• Automatic reminders and notifications
• Easy-to-use fillable forms
• Data validation for fillable fields
• Basic PDF editing tools
• Requesting attachments
• Payment collection
• Managing documents in the cloud
• Reusable templates
• Audit Trail and document history
• Mobile-friendly signing (mobile apps available for iOS and Android)

Advanced features

Both products support an array of enterprise-grade features, including:

• Admin dashboard for managing multiple user accounts
• Collaboration tools and asset sharing
• Custom branding
• Rich API for seamless integration with any stack
• QES (Qualified Electronic Signature)

On top of that, DocuSign boasts some features that signNow is currently lacking:

• Signing groups 
• Business fields
• Document markup and collaborative fields
• Smart sections
• Self-service web forms
• Signer identity verification
• Cloud signatures
• QES (qualified electronic signatures)

Enhanced capabilities for digital signature make DocuSign a more suitable solution for highly regulated industries and countries where specific methods of identity validation are required.

However, SignNow is already taking steps toward closing that gap by introducing PKI-based digital signatures (AES).

Therefore, if you are looking to collect authentic digital signatures verified by unique ID certificates, you may find signNow to be a viable alternative to DocuSign.

Document generation and management features

Both signNow and DocuSign allow you to upload documents in various formats from your device or cloud storage and prepare them for signing using basic editing tools and various types of fillable fields. You can open a document in an easy-to-use drag and drop editor and add the elements you need in seconds: text, date, checkmarks, signatures, initials, stamps, fillable fields, etc. A fillable form can then be converted into a reusable template, saved to your account, or exported to the cloud.

With SignNow, you can:

• Open a document in an easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor 
• Add elements: text, date, checkmarks, signatures, initials, stamps, and fillable fields 
• Convert a document or fillable form into a reusable template, saved to your account, or exported to the cloud 
• Prepare documents for signing using basic editing tools and various types of fillable fields 
• Sign documents and forms with a legally binding electronic signature 
• Upload documents in various formats from your device or cloud storage

However, if you need advanced document preparation and management tools, you will have to choose between the ultimate subscription plans of either signNow or DocuSign. Both offer proprietary solutions for enhanced document management at an additional cost.

SignNow can be bundled with all-encompassing software for streamlining business processes and document workflows:

• pdfFiller: A robust PDF editor that empowers users to seamlessly edit PDFs, eSign, collaborate, and manage documents from a single, cloud-based platform
• airSlate WorkFlow: A powerful all-in-one solution that enables businesses to create rich customer experiences by automating their entire document workflow
• US Legal Forms Library: The largest online library of state-specific legal and business forms

DocuSign, in turn, provides intelligent automation systems that facilitate agreement generation and management:

• DocuSign CLM: A contract lifecycle management system that allows you to generate, negotiate, and automate agreement workflows, as well as centralize agreement storage and searches.
• DocuSign Negotiate: A solution for automating the generation, negotiation, and approval of agreements from your CRM.
• DocuSign Gen: Allows you to automate the generation of agreements from your CRM.
• DocuSign Click: Enables you to embed the capture of consent to agreement terms on your websites and apps.
• Intelligent Insights by Seal Software: AI-driven concept searching, clause identification, and analytics.
• Guided Forms by Intelledox: Replaces complex forms with an intuitive “wizard-style” experience.

Signing process

When you weigh SignNow vs. DocuSign for how you go about signing documents, you’ll find that both provide a smooth experience but take slightly different paths:

SignNow

• SignNow starts the signing process with an email notification that prompts recipients to review and sign the document. It’s also possible to access the document using a web link in the email.
• When they open the document, they can scroll it down to find a signature field and add their signature by drawing, typing, or uploading an image of their handwritten signature. 
• Thanks to SignNow’s user friendly and intuitive interface, recipients can easily review and sign documents.

DocuSign

• DocuSign also starts the signing process with an email notification that prompts recipients to review the document they need to sign electronically. The email notification includes a message from the sender and a URL to access the document.
• DocuSign users can access the document via the DocuSign website by entering the security code sent in the email.
• To initiate the signing process via email, recipients must select “AGREE AND CONTINUE.” They are then redirected to review the document either by scrolling or using page thumbnails in the right-side navigation before proceeding with the signature.

Security and compliance

Is signNow legit just like DocuSign? Yes, it is. Both signNow and DocuSign offer legally-binding electronic signatures that are court-admissible in the US, Europe, and other regions worldwide (where eSignatures are accepted). signNow and DocuSign comply with the following standards and regulations:

• ESIGN (Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act)
• UETA (Uniform Electronic Transactions Act)
• eIDAS (electronic IDentification, Authentication and trust Services)
• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
• CCPA (California Consumers Protection Act of 2018)

Both vendors are certified to provide eSignature solutions for highly regulated industries such as healthcare, food and drug, finance, etc., as they maintain the following compliances: 

• HIPAA
• 21 CFR Part 11
• PCI DSS
• SOC 2 Type II

Currently, signNow is lacking ISO 27001, 27017, 27108, CSA Star, and FedRAMP certifications, which gives DocuSign a competitive edge in certain use cases.

Just as with DocuSign, signNow is committed to helping customers maintain data security by providing strong encryption algorithms, two-factor authentication, and detailed Audit Trails.

Integrations

	signNow	DocuSign
Number of available integrations	270+*	350+*
CRM/ERP systems	Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365, NetSuite, Oracle CRM, Autodesk BIM 360, Procore	Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365, NetSuite, Oracle CRM, Autodesk BIM 360, Procore, SAP
Payment systems	Stripe, CardConnect, eSignPay, Braintree	Stripe, Braintree Authorize.net, CyberSource, Zuora, Elavon
Productivity apps	Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Workplace, Gmail, Slack, Zapier, SharePoint, Plumsail	Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Workday, Gmail, Slack, Zapier, SharePoint, Plumsail
Cloud storage services	Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, Egnyte, DocuShare, PaperWise, Gooper	Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, Egnyte

Integrations are of critical importance for building efficient and seamless eSignature workflows inside different software environments, and both signNow and DocuSign know that. 

Over the course of its long-standing history, DocuSign has managed to come up with a somewhat broader selection of pre-built integrations. However, signNow integrations play well with the most popular CRM systems, productivity apps, and cloud storage services.

In addition to advanced integrations, both companies offer powerful APIs and Zapier connections, which means near unlimited possibilities for building custom eSignature workflows.

Customer support

Both DocuSign and SignNow put a heavy emphasis on self-service support. SignNow offers a comprehensive Support Center, step-by-step tutorials on its YouTube channel, FAQs, blogs, release notes, and other educational content on how to use SignNow.

DocuSign ticks the same checkboxes and even goes the extra mile by setting up a support community where users can participate in discussions, answer each other’s questions, and share useful tips.

Both DocuSign and signNow provide live chat and ticket-based support. Additionally, signNow offers phone support and personal integration support for customers with its top-tier subscription.

Meanwhile, DocuSign managed to turn its customer service into a product of its own by offering separately paid support plans that feature additional support channels and improved response times. 

Customer support	signNow	DocuSign
G2	8.7/10 ★	8.5/10
Gartner	4.5/5	4.5/5
Capterra	4.3/5	4.5/5 ★

SignNow customer service vs. DocuSign support: What users think

signNow reviews and ratings show a very high customer satisfaction level, which basically means two things:

• First, the eSignature solution meets the requirements and expectations of the majority of users in terms of functionality, customer support, and pricing. 
• Second, signNow is doing a good job keeping up with industry leaders such as DocuSign.

Overall rating	signNow	DocuSign
G2	4.6/5 ★	4.5/5
TrustRadius	9.3/10 ★	8.6/10
Gartner	4.4/5	4.5/5 ★
Capterra	4.6/5	4.8/5 ★

signNow reviewers mostly praise its ease of use, setup, and management. They are also pleased with how easy it is to do business with signNow and how much value it brings considering the price tag.

We use SignNow in our law firm and it is easy to use and makes life easier for all parties involved. SignNow is very easy to set up for the signature process. I have had to contact customer service on a few occasions and they have been very helpful and quick to resolve any issues. We use SignNow almost daily in our workdays!

Shaelah B. Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

DocuSign is often commended on its ability to simplify contract workflows due to its intuitive interface and powerful features. Reviewers say that DocuSign is very straightforward and reliable.

The customer support is excellent. Both our account manager and also the general customer service are very fast, resolutive and helpful. We have created a couple of tickets and we got contacted within 24-48h even if we had marked them as not important/urgent.

Verified HR professional. Enterprise (>1000 employees)

SignNow vs. DocuSign: Which eSignature solution is right for you?

Both signNow and DocuSign are great tools that simplify your daily operations and make paperwork less time-consuming. DocuSign is best suited for larger companies that require its innovative features and are ready to invest in them. Enterprises can benefit from DocuSign’s AI-driven contract management solutions, advanced compliances, and a broad array of pre-built integrations.

Although DocuSign continues to lead the market, signNow is steadily expanding its reach toward the enterprise segment. The company keeps working on add-value features for large organizations while polishing its API — allowing a wider range of products to integrate with its eSignature software. 

If you are looking for a cheaper DocuSign alternative, signNow brings tons of value for considerably less money. With powerful eSignature functionality, high security and compliance standards, and honest pricing, signNow has plenty of successful customer stories to share.

Ready to switch from DocuSign to SignNow?

signNow ensures a painless transition. You can migrate from DocuSign to signNow hassle-free by easily transferring your templates and users. Find the step-by-step migration guide here.