Everyone needs to use their signature somewhere or the other and businesses require it all the time especially for onboarding new clients.
Over the past few years, almost all SMEs have embraced the use of eSignatures when sending PDF documents via email or other cloud services. And why not, we are moving into a paperless era, and signing process is still going to be a thing.
But first let’s look at what the signing experience should entail before you go and automate the business processes.
Things to Consider when Choosing an Electronic Signature Software
Before pandemic the signature request just meant a handwritten signature if a person couldn’t sign the PDF document. Not anymore. Covid-19 has made sure that everyone is fully ready to work remotely and hence the boom in every online service facility catering to businesses, freelancers and even big enterprises.
So how do you choose an electronic signature service because there are several… Here a short guide followed by the services you can sign up with.
- Secure & Legally Binding: The first thing is to make sure the service you pick is meeting all the security standards. It should be GDPR compliant along with eIDAS from European Union and must follow the UETA & eSign Act.
- Flexible Solution: Look for an solution integrating with the CRM systems and collaboration tools your organisation uses.
- Mobile Friendly: Pick a service that optimises your signing process on all mobile devices and platforms, making the customer experience user-friendly.
- Signing Capture Methods: Handwritten signature on mobile devices is one way to sign a document but there are other ways such as uploading, typing in different fonts and colours. Pick an electronic signature service wich supports different capturing methods.
So let’s take into account some of the best eSignature services available that we can all use no matter the size or niche of your business.
Best Electronic Signature Services
There are over 50 eSignature services available, but we think you should try these if you are looking into a reliable solution.
PandaDoc
PandaDoc is a standout eSignature solution that also functions as a CRM, supporting a paperless environment for documents like Docs, PDFs, quotes, contracts, and agreements.
With over 1,000 customisable templates and drag-and-drop tools, you can create and share documents in minutes. PandaDoc integrates seamlessly with platforms like HubSpot, Salesforce, and QuickBooks, enhancing workflow by automatically syncing data and tracking recipient actions.
Recent updates have introduced the PandaDoc CPQ for HubSpot, enabling users to generate precise quotes quickly using customisable rules that manage complex product catalogs and dynamic pricing. Additionally, the platform now features knowledge-based authentication (KBA) for increased document security and new installment payment options that provide flexibility while ensuring timely payments
Smart Forms automate data entry into documents from collected information, significantly speeding up the process and reducing manual errors. For Salesforce users, a new two-way, real-time sync feature ensures CRM data and document statuses are always up-to-date
The addition of PandaDoc Rooms offers a collaborative space for teams to manage proposals, contracts, and more efficiently.
These enhancements make PandaDoc an even more powerful tool for businesses looking to streamline document management processes and close deals faster. Plus, PandaDoc’s integration with Stripe allows for direct payment capture, boosting efficiency and close rates.
If you’re considering this solution, PandaDoc offers a 14-day free trial to explore its features and see how it can improve your workflows
eSign
eSign is a user-friendly eSignature solution that’s catching a lot of positive attention because of it doesn’t just function in isolation but integrates seamlessly with various business apps, enhancing workflow efficiency significantly.
People appreciate the mobile app that supports signing from any device, perfect for those who need to handle word documents on the go. It’s also packed with features like legally binding signature compliance with eIDAS, advanced security with 256-bit SSL encryption, customisable templates, and real-time tracking. Plus, they offer a 14-day free trial, allowing businesses to test out the platform’s capabilities.
They take security seriously too—operating from UK-based data centers and adhering to strict certifications like ISO 27001. This gives a lot of peace of mind, especially in sectors like healthcare or government where data security is critical.
While most feedback highlights how it simplifies and speeds up the document signing process, there’s room for improvement in customer support response times.
Overall, eSign.co.uk offers a solid, reliable way to manage legally binding esignature software, especially useful for those dealing with high volumes or sensitive information.
Adobe Acrobat Sign
Adobe Acrobat Sign enhances document signing with its updated, intuitive platform.
This solution offers advanced authentication to meet strict legal standards and allows you to manage and sign documents easily on any device, including the option to send agreement links via SMS, enhancing accessibility and convenience for urgent or mobile-first communications.
Its new interface streamlines the esignature process by letting users upload word documents, set parameters, and add recipients efficiently, reducing setup time. The system integrates smoothly with various business systems like Salesforce and Microsoft Office, and provides substantial cloud storage for document archiving. Adobe’s API also allows for seamless integration into business websites, reinforcing its secure and reliable reputation.
Interested users can try Adobe Acrobat Sign through a 14-day free trial to experience these improvements firsthand and see how they fit with their business needs.
DocuSign
DocuSign is a powerhouse in the eSignature landscape, trusted by over 200 million users to handle document signings seamlessly from anywhere at any time. Perfect for those always on the move, it offers a 30-day free trial, giving you a firsthand look at its capabilities.
The platform isn’t just about signing documents; it also ensures that all your documents are stored securely and can be managed easily with robust password protections and permissions.
Recently, DocuSign has really upped its game with some exciting updates. The introduction of Intelligent Agreement Management (IAM) has revolutionized how businesses manage agreements. Tools like DocuSign Maestro allow you to automate workflows without needing to code, and DocuSign Navigator helps you manage and analyze your agreements more effectively. These tools are designed to cut through the complexity of agreement processes, making everything more streamlined and efficient.
Another handy feature is the ability to send agreement links via SMS and WhatsApp. This means you can reach signatories instantly on their mobile devices—ideal for urgent documents that need a quick turnaround.
If you’re considering a digital signature solution, DocuSign’s blend of security, convenience, and advanced management tools make it a compelling option. Why not take it for a spin with their free trial and see how it can smooth out your document workflows?
Secured Signing
Secured Signing brings a robust suite of features designed to simplify electronic document signing.
With its ability to provide legally binding digital signatures and innovative video confirmations, the platform integrates smoothly into existing business workflows, offering convenience and security. It also supports remote online notarization and employs smart tags to expedite document processing.
Despite these strengths, users have pointed out some areas for improvement, such as the platform’s user interface, which can be tricky to navigate, especially for new users adjusting to the system.
Additionally, the limited customisation options can be a hurdle for those needing more flexibility in document setup.
EverSign (Xodo Sign)
Eversign, now known as Xodo Sign, provides a user-friendly electronic signature solution that integrates well with apps like Google Docs and Dropbox, making it a handy tool across various industries.
It’s appreciated for its simplicity and the ability to customise a signed document with built-in templates, streamlining the process of getting the electronic document ready for signature request.
While Eversign shines in user-friendliness and integration capabilities, it does have a few kinks that could use some ironing out. Users have expressed concerns about its performance, noting occasional sluggishness and a notification system that could be more streamlined to alert only after all parties have signed.
There’s also a call for better document organisation tools within the platform to keep everything neat and accessible. But overall, Eversign serves its purpose well but stands to benefit greatly from some refinements to enhance reliability and UX.
PDC Flow
PDCflow is particularly well-suited for financial institutions, offering a robust eSignature solution that supports a variety of business sizes, including law firms, insurance companies, and hospitals.
The platform allows users within an organisation to request eSignatures and create multiple templates with authorization language for separate payments.
Unique among electronic signature solutions, PDCflow integrates extensive tracking capabilities and transactional features, supported by a wide array of APIs. Unlike standard pricing models, PDCflow offers tailored plans through a demo request, ensuring solutions meet the specific needs of each business. This customisation, combined with its strong customer support and easy integration, makes PDCflow a top choice for managing secure transactions and digital signatures in finance-focused environments.
SignEasy
SignEasy is a cloud-based eSignature service with a significant focus on simplicity. They offer pretty much everything which above signing solutions provide. You can use SignEasy via any app on web interface. You can annotate signature boxes so that it’s crystal clear who needs to sign and where. You can keep a track of progress and remind the signatories to expedite the process if they haven’t signed the document or proposal etc. You can even get notifications as to who has signed and who still needs to.
While maintaining secure encryption and digital tracks, SignEasy integrates easily with all the best cloud storage solutions and other apps like Zoho and Evernote. If you have a huge business and want to embed the service within your website, you can purchase the API otherwise they have 3 basic plans with a 14-day free trial.
OneSpan
OneSpan is another eSignature service. With a 30-day free trial, OneSpan gives you a very robust cloud-based eSigning solution for both small and large businesses. At present, it is the most widely used eSignature service in various parts of the world. Highly secure, OneSpan offer only two pricing plans but is available on both mobile and web platforms.
SignRequest
Another cloud-based eSignature solution that allows you to sign documents using signatures that are legally binding is SignRequest.
The EU based solution offers businesses a user-friendly digital signature application at an affordable price. It is quite suitable for both small and large-scale enterprises.
One unique feature of this software is that it accelerates business workflows that requires signatures from essential personnel, clients, and top management team without compromising on security. Though the features list is quite lengthy; one of the innovations which quickly grabs the attention is, it enables the user to create, save and reuse multiple signing templates for every type of document, deal or contract. Its swift API can be integrated on any website even if it is your personal website or your online store.
SignRequest offers a free account as well as paid ones. But if you are looking to get started on a paid account, there is a 14-day trial available on all plans. By far, this can turn out to be the best deal for students and emerging freelancers.
Ironclad
Ironclad is a web-based electronic signature platform that enables users to sign, send and receive documents electronically. Some of the unique features of Ironclad includes built-in templates, template editors, version control, real-time contract collaboration, and document management. The software also allows users to generate custom URLs that can be sent directly to customers.
Enough with the usual features? Let’s unravel some of the more unique ones like a web application providing tech edgy tools and features like dynamic and data-driven charts, in-app contracts, on-the-go templates, the coolest built-in editor equipped with the drag-drop functionality and a bit more!
SignNow
Imagine you have forwarded a document for approval and time is of the essence. With many other eSigning solutions, it’d notify the client only once, but with SignNow application, you can add several reminders to a single document which will keep the signatory in the loop and will keep pinging him until the document is signed and sent your way.
SignNow is a cloud-based eSignature service platform for small and large scale businesses. The software has lots of built-in templates that can be used to set up a document, and email notifications. It also has an audit log that shows the entire details of each report from creation, to sign and verify processes involved. You can add CC recipients and can also set an expiration date to the document. It doesn’t come with a built-in editor, because it’s template directory is filled with dozens of cool forms for every single type of contract. Another outstanding feature is, all the templates are legally binding and are certified designs from legal agencies. You can explore the rest of the highlights of SignNow by signing up for a 30-day free trial.
Signable
eSigning wouldn’t have been easier and economically convenient if it weren’t for Signable!
A UK based signature platform that allows users to affix their signatures on various documents and files. One beautiful thing about this eSignature solution is that the system makes it possible for the material to be sent electronically to the signers without delay. The software is straightforward to use and does not require serious training. With Signable, you can send a document to clients in different parts of the world online.
Most of its features are too mainstream, and on several fronts, it lacks that specific set of features which its competitors are well-endowed with, but the strongest suit of Signable is its simplicity and the price which is affordable.
For the startups or organisations who are still in their formative period can make the best use of Signable as their eSigning Solution app! The 14-days trial period is also there to help you check out its features.
Finally, all eSignature services listed above are perfect for firms that want to reduce tedious and time-consuming tasks. However, the choice a business owner makes will largely depend on the area of specialisation and the services rendered.
Did we miss a cool eSigning Service? We are positive that we have, but if you have used one which is fantastic and is a must mention, let us know in the comments below and we’ll check it out and add to our list.