Electronic signatures, or eSignatures or eSign, have fundamentally changed how documents and contracts are signed. Although they’re a part of mainstream business vocabulary, organizations still struggle to find the right eSign solution to streamline their document and contract management processes.
Common issues like the complexity of the signing process, concerns over the security and legality of electronic signatures, difficulties in integrating signature solutions with existing systems, and the high costs associated with some platforms make it hard for businesses to choose the right fit.
In this blog, we’ll explore the best eSign solutions available in 2024, and take a look into their functionalities, user-friendliness, security measures, and integration capabilities.
Whether you are a small business owner, a legal professional, or part of a large enterprise, this guide will help you navigate through the top options to find the perfect solution for your company’s electronic signing needs.
What is an eSignature solution? An eSignature solution is a digital tool that allows individuals and businesses to sign documents electronically. These solutions provide a secure, efficient, and legally binding way to sign contracts, agreements, and other important documents without the need for physical paper and ink.
eSign solutions are widely used in various industries, including construction, real estate, finance, legal, healthcare, and human resources, to expedite the signing process and reduce reliance on paper-based documentation.
Key features of an eSign solution include:
Electronic signature creation: Allows users to create their electronic signatures using various methods, such as typing their name, drawing their signature with a mouse or touchscreen, or uploading an image of their handwritten signature.Document management: Facilitates the uploading, managing, and storing of documents that require signatures. This often includes features like document templates, version control, and easy retrieval of signed documents.Security and authentication: Ensures the integrity and authenticity of the signed documents through encryption, audit trails, and authentication methods like email verification, SMS codes, and biometric verification.Compliance: Adheres to legal standards and regulations related to electronic signatures, such as the ESIGN Act in the United States, eIDAS in the European Union, and other regional laws. This ensures that electronic signatures are legally recognized and enforceable.Integration: Syncs with other business software and platforms, such as CRM systems, document management systems, and cloud storage services, to streamline workflows and improve productivity.Mobile accessibility: Offers mobile-friendly interfaces and apps, allowing users to sign documents on the go using their smartphones or tablets.Collaboration: Supports collaborative signing processes, enabling multiple parties to review, comment, and sign documents sequentially or simultaneously.Top 5 eSignature solutions and why you should consider them To create our list of the top 5 eSignature solutions, we thoroughly researched various platforms, focusing on key factors like ease of use, pricing, feature offerings, and customer support.Â
We gathered insights from trusted review sites such as G2 and Capterra alongside official product documentation. This ensured that the solutions we recommend cater to diverse business needs, from small teams to large enterprises.
1. Signeasy Source A leading platform for eSignatures and contract management, Signeasy helps businesses send, sign, and manage contracts easily.
While the platform has a use case in many departments, including legal and compliance, human resources, procurement, and sales, IT teams love Signeasy as it helps reduce admin burden by allowing them to manage user permissions centrally.Â
Signeasy streamlines administrative workflows by offering secure, legally compliant eSignatures. It integrates seamlessly with existing systems, supports remote work, and automates document management.Â
Its user-friendly interface enhances efficiency and productivity while reducing costs associated with paper-based documentation.
Pricing and plans
Plans for businesses and enterprises, billed monthly per user: Business ($40), Business Plus ($60), Enterprise (Customized). Free trial: 14 days
Plans for individuals and small teams, billed monthly per user: Free, Essential ($10 per month, supported only with yearly billing), Team ($30). Free trial: 14 days
Features that stand out
A combination of user-friendly design, robust security and compliance measures, mobile accessibility, seamless integrations with Google Workspace, HubSpot, SharePoint, and Microsoft 365, and dedicated customer support make Signeasy a standout choice in the eSignature market.
Signeasy’s eSignature API offers deeper functionality directly into your workflow, website, or app. It is designed for simplicity, offering well-documented and easy-to-follow guides that help developers integrate eSignature capabilities into their applications quickly.
Who is it best for
Fast-growing businesses across various industries, including consulting, education, finance, and more, find Signeasy to be an affordable, invaluable tool for enhancing document workflow efficiency, security, and compliance.Â
This is the best eSign solution for your business if you want to automate your company’s contract journey, reduce contract turnaround times, and secure your contracts with digital signature certificates.
2. Docusign Source Docusign is an eSignature and digital transaction management platform designed to streamline the process of signing, sending, and managing documents electronically. The platform’s security measures are top-notch, featuring encryption, secure access controls, and detailed audit trails to protect sensitive information.
Pricing and plans
Docusign has four plans billed monthly per user: Personal ($15), Standard ($45), Business Pro ($65), Enhanced Plans (Customized). Free trial: 30 days
Features that stand out
Docusign integrates seamlessly with a wide array of business applications, including leading CRM systems like Salesforce, ERP systems like SAP, productivity tools like Microsoft Office 365, and cloud storage solutions like Google Drive and Dropbox.Â
Who is it best for
Docusign is a comprehensive eSign solution for large businesses due to its advanced features, scalability, robust security, and extensive integration capabilities. It efficiently handles high volumes of transactions and supports complex workflows, making it ideal for large-scale operations.Â
Its advanced features, such as bulk sending and detailed analytics, streamline document management processes, while its compliance with global eSignature regulations ensures legal security.
Small companies can find the price of Docusign plans too steep and the extensive range of features overwhelming.
3. airSlate SignNow Source airSlate SignNow is a cloud-based electronic signature solution designed to simplify the signing process and enhance document management for individuals and businesses. It has a user-friendly interface, which allows users to easily create, send, and sign documents from any device.Â
The platform supports advanced document editing capabilities, enabling users to customize templates, add fields, and include images or text as needed.
Pricing and plans
airSlate SignNow has four plans billed monthly per user: Business ($20), Business Premium ($30), Enterprise ($50), Site License ($1.50/signature invite). Free trial: 7 days
Features that stand out
airSlate SignNow distinguishes itself from competitors through several key features and competitive pricing strategies. For one, its intuitive interface simplifies the document signing process and makes it accessible for users of all technical levels. This ease of use encourages quick adoption within organizations.
The platform’s pricing is structured to be economical for teams, allowing multiple users to access the platform at a lower overall cost. This makes it an attractive choice for organizations looking to implement eSignature solutions without significant financial investment.
Who is it best for
airSlate SignNow offers the best ROI for small and medium businesses. Its intuitive UI, transparent pricing, flexibility in configuration, and ease of API integration make it a great budget-friendly eSign solution.
4. Adobe Acrobat Sign Source Adobe Acrobat Sign combines the power of Adobe Acrobat with simple and secure eSignature solutions. With Adobe Document Cloud, users can create, sign, send for signature, manage, and track documents from one place.
The platform integrates with Microsoft 365, Teams, Outlook, and other Microsoft app. It also extends smart integrations for CRM systems like Salesforce and ERP systems like Workday.
Pricing and plans
Acrobat Standard DC for teams (starting $14.99 per license per month), Acrobat Pro DC for teams (starting $16.99 per license per month), Acrobat Sign Solutions (Customized)
Features that stand out
The one feature that stands out in Adobe Acrobat Sign is the combination of PDF editing and signing. Its integration with Adobe Acrobat's advanced PDF editing tools allows users to seamlessly prepare, edit, and finalize PDF documents before sending them for signature.Â
Users can easily add or modify text, images, and form fields, as well as annotate and customize PDFs directly within Adobe Acrobat. Once the document is ready, it can be sent for signature through Adobe Acrobat Sign without leaving the Adobe environment.Â
This combination of powerful PDF editing and secure eSignature capabilities within a single platform significantly enhances the efficiency and accuracy of document preparation and signing processes.
Also, it is globally compliant and legally binding in nearly every country, minimizing legal and compliance risks.
Who is it best for
Adobe Acrobat Sign is ideal for teams working with PDF documents. Its effortless integration with other Adobe products like Adobe Acrobat, Adobe PDF services, and Adobe Document Cloud allows users to streamline workflows within the Adobe environment, reducing the need to switch between multiple applications.
5. Dropbox Sign Source Dropbox Sign, formerly known as HelloSign, is an eSign solution integrated into the Dropbox ecosystem, designed to streamline the process of signing, sending, and managing documents electronically.
Pricing and plans
Essentials ($20/month), Standard ($30/month/user), Premium (Customized). Free trial: 30 days
Features that stand out
Dropbox Sign’s user-friendly, intuitive, and simple interface reduces the learning curve required to adopt this eSign solution.
It allows users to automatically sync and save signed documents and find them anytime in their preferred cloud storage — Dropbox, Google Drive, Evernote, OneDrive, Box, or SharePoint.
Who is it best for
Dropbox Sign is ideal for small teams already using Dropbox for file storage as they can often bundle Dropbox Sign within their existing subscription plan, potentially reducing overall costs compared to using separate services for storage and electronic signatures.
How to choose the best eSignature solution Choosing the best eSignature solution involves evaluating various factors to ensure the tool meets your specific needs and requirements. Here are some key considerations to guide you in selecting the right one for your business:
Security and compliance some textAuthentication: Look for multi-factor authentication to verify the identity of signers.Audit trails: Check if the solution provides detailed audit trails that track all activities related to document signing.Compliance: Ensure the solution complies with relevant legal standards and regulations such as ESIGN, UETA, and eIDAS.Access: Look for features that help you have control over your document access and visibility, common workspace, etc. Ease of use some textUser interface: The solution should have an intuitive and user-friendly interface.Mobile accessibility: Check if it offers mobile apps or a responsive design for signing on smartphones and tablets.Customer support: Reliable customer support is crucial for addressing any issues or questions.Features and functionality some textCustomization: Ability to customize the signing process and documents.Templates: Availability of document templates to streamline repetitive tasks.Integrations: Integration with other tools you already use.Bulk sending: Ability to send documents to multiple recipients simultaneously.Pricing some textCost structure: Evaluate the pricing plans to ensure they fit within your budget.Free trials: Take advantage of free trials to test the solution before committing.Scalability: Ensure the pricing model allows for scalability as your business grows.Reputation and reviews some textCustomer reviews: Check reviews and testimonials from other users to gauge satisfaction and performance.Case studies: Look for case studies or success stories that demonstrate the solution’s effectiveness in real-world scenarios.Specific needs some textIndustry requirements: Consider any specific industry requirements, such as HIPAA compliance for healthcare or FINRA compliance for financial services.Workflow automation: Look for features that support workflow automation to enhance productivity.Vendor reputation some textCompany stability: Choose a vendor with a strong track record and stability in the market. Future updates: Ensure the vendor regularly updates the software with new features and improvements.By carefully evaluating these factors, you can choose an eSignature solution that best fits your needs, enhances your workflow, and ensures the security and legality of your electronic signatures. Signeasy is trusted by 48,000 customers in over 100 countries. Sign up for a 14-day free trial to get a first-hand experience of why Signeasy is one of the most preferred eSign solutions.
