The Ultimate Guide to the Best Electronic Signature Apps in 2024
In today‘s fast-paced digital world, businesses can‘t afford to get bogged down by cumbersome paper-based signing processes. Electronic signatures offer a faster, more convenient and secure way to get documents signed from anywhere in a matter of minutes. By eliminating the need for printing, scanning and overnighting paper documents, e-signature technology can shave days off your contract and approval workflows.
The e-signature market has exploded in recent years and is expected to exceed $25 billion globally by 2024, according to market research by P&S Intelligence. The COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated the shift to digital signatures, with 60% of business leaders reporting increased e-signature adoption in a 2021 survey by OneSpan.
Choosing the best electronic signature app for your business can be tricky, with an overwhelming array of options on the market. In this ultimate guide, we‘ll dive deep into the top e-signature solutions available, comparing their key features, pricing, benefits and potential drawbacks.
Whether you‘re an enterprise, small business or freelancer, you‘ll come away with actionable insights to help you choose the best e-signature app to streamline your signing workflows in 2024 and beyond. Let‘s get started!
What Is An Electronic Signature?
An electronic signature, or e-signature for short, is a digital version of a handwritten signature that indicates the signer‘s consent or approval on an electronic document. An e-signature is legally equivalent to a physical signature in the U.S. and most countries around the world.
E-signatures are created using e-signature software that securely encrypts and binds the signature to the document. The most common types of electronic signatures include:
- Typed signature – The signer types their name or initials into a designated field.
- Drawn signature – Using a mouse, stylus or finger, the signer draws their signature.
- Uploaded signature – The signer uploads an image file of their handwritten signature.
- Digital signature – A certified signature created with a digital certificate and cryptographic key.
Most e-signature apps use a combination of these methods. To be legally valid, an e-signature must be applied with the clear intent to sign, consent of all parties, attribution to the signer, and retention of the signed record.
Key Benefits of Electronic Signatures
So why should your company switch to electronic signatures? Here are some of the top benefits and reasons cited by business leaders:
- 🚀 Accelerate signing workflows – Reduce document turnaround time from days to minutes
- 💰 Save money – Eliminate costs of paper, ink, printers, postage, couriers
- 🌳 Reduce environmental impact – Go paperless and minimize your carbon footprint
- 🔒 Strengthen security & compliance – Secure documents with encryption, audit trails, access controls
- 📱 Enable remote signing – Get signatures from anywhere on any device
- 😊 Improve customer experience – Offer a modern, frictionless signing process
- 🤝 Integrate with business systems – Plug into CRM, ERP, cloud storage and more
In terms of quantifiable ROI, adopting e-signatures can drive major efficiency gains and cost savings. DocuSign customers reported an average of:
- 28x faster agreement turnaround time
- 410% ROI over 3 years
- 55% of agreements completed in less than 1 day
- $36 saved per agreement
Top Electronic Signature Apps for 2024
Here‘s our list of the best and most popular e-signature software solutions to consider this year:
| App | G2 Rating | Capterra Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| DocuSign | 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Enterprise, larger teams |
| Adobe Sign | 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | 4.6/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | Global compliance |
| HelloSign | 4.6/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Ease of use |
| PandaDoc | 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Sales documents |
| SignNow | 4.6/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Mobile signing |
1. DocuSign
- Ratings: 4.5/5 on G2, 4.7/5 on Capterra
- Pricing: Starts at $15/user/month (discounts for annual plans)
- Free trial: 30-day free trial
The pioneer and enduring leader in the e-signature space, DocuSign is the gold standard for enterprises and larger teams. Its intuitive user interface makes it simple to upload documents, drag and drop signature fields, and send to multiple signers. DocuSign offers the widest breadth of features, including reusable templates, bulk send, advanced fields, and payment collection.
DocuSign shines when it comes to security and authentication. It employs advanced encryption, secure cloud storage, and tamper-evident seals to ensure documents can‘t be altered after signing. You can also authenticate signers through a variety of methods like email, SMS, phone or by drawing a signature.
Customer reviews praise DocuSign for its robust capabilities, wide integration options, and strong security and compliance. On the flip side, some users note that the sheer depth of features can feel overwhelming compared to more lightweight tools. Enterprises will appreciate the ability to finely customize signing workflows and closely manage permissions across large teams. But smaller companies may prefer a more streamlined solution.
2. Adobe Sign
- Ratings: 4.5/5 on G2, 4.6/5 on Capterra
- Pricing: Starts at $9.99/user/month
- Free trial: 14-day free trial
Part of Adobe Document Cloud, Adobe Sign is a sleek e-signature solution with robust security, compliance, and form filling features. With its clean and modern UI, Adobe Sign is intuitive and easy for signers to use. Its standout feature is advanced form fields, which allow you to add checkboxes, drop-downs, hyperlinks and more to create fillable forms.
Adobe Sign also excels in global compliance, with adherence to rigorous e-signature laws and industry-specific regulations around the world. Its top-notch security includes 256-bit encryption and certification by ISO 27001, SSAE SOC 2 Type 2, and PCI DSS.
Reviews applaud Adobe Sign‘s rich features for building templates and forms as well as its global compliance coverage. They also praise its tight integration with the Adobe ecosystem including PDFs and Creative Cloud. However, compared to other top apps, Adobe Sign offers fewer pre-built third-party integrations.
3. HelloSign
- Ratings: 4.6/5 on G2, 4.7/5 on Capterra
- Pricing: Starts at $15/user/month
- Free trial: 30-day free trial
Acquired by Dropbox in 2019, HelloSign is loved for its simplicity, ease of use, and affordability. It sports a clean and uncluttered interface that makes e-signing a snap for senders and signers alike. You can prep documents in seconds by dragging and dropping signature fields. HelloSign is a great choice for individuals and small businesses who crave simplicity.
Where HelloSign really stands out is its unique "Sign by email" feature, which allows users to sign without creating an account. You simply send a signature request via email and the recipient can sign with a few quick clicks right from their inbox. This can help remove friction and increase completion rates, especially for one-off signatures.
HelloSign reviewers rave about its user-friendly interface, transparent pricing, and responsive customer support. They also appreciate its ample integrations, API access for developers, and team management features. However, HelloSign offers somewhat limited customization options compared to enterprise-focused competitors.
4. PandaDoc
- Ratings: 4.7/5 on G2, 4.7/5 on Capterra
- Pricing: Starts at $19/user/month
- Free trial: 14-day free trial
PandaDoc isn‘t just an e-signature tool – it‘s a full-featured document automation platform ideal for sales teams. While you can certainly use it for simple signing, PandaDoc really shines in helping reps build, track and optimize sales documents like proposals, quotes and contracts. Its drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to customize templates with rich media, interactive pricing tables, and more.
PandaDoc also offers real-time notifications and in-depth document analytics, so reps can see exactly when prospects view and sign proposals. PandaDoc‘s new AI-powered document generation can even automatically create contracts and agreements based on CRM data. It‘s a powerful tool for teams that want to streamline their entire document workflow, not just signatures.
Reviewers praise PandaDoc‘s slick UI, robust tracking capabilities, CRM integrations, and prompt customer service. It offers an impressive gallery of 750+ templates for various sales and business use cases. The main drawback is the price tag – PandaDoc is one of the more expensive options on this list, so it may not be the most cost-effective for simpler use cases.
5. SignNow
- Ratings: 4.6/5 on G2, 4.7/5 on Capterra
- Pricing: Starts at $8/user/month
- Free trial: 7-day free trial
Part of the airSlate Business Cloud, SignNow is an affordable e-signature solution known for its strong mobile capabilities. SignNow offers intuitive and fully featured iOS and Android apps that make on-the-go signing a breeze. You can easily upload documents, collect signatures in person, and even sign offline and sync later. 45% of Fortune 1000 companies use SignNow‘s mobile apps.
Beyond mobile strength, SignNow checks all the major boxes for e-signature functionality at a competitive price point. It supports templates, bulk send, a variety of field types, multiple signers, and custom branding. SignNow also offers unique collaboration features like team management and real-time document editing for multiple users.
Customer reviews laud SignNow for its ease of use, affordable pricing, and helpful customer support. They also appreciate its ample integration options with popular tools like Google Drive, Salesforce and Dropbox. Some users note that the desktop experience isn‘t quite as seamless as the mobile apps. But overall SignNow is a strong contender for budget-conscious businesses.
Comparing the Best E-Signature Apps
Here‘s a quick side-by-side look at how the top e-signature apps stack up in terms of key features and capabilities:
| Feature | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | HelloSign | PandaDoc | SignNow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop signing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reusable templates | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom branding | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple signers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bulk sending | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile apps | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced fields | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Payment collection | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Document analytics | ✓ | ||||
| Sign by email | ✓ |
Electronic Signature Trends & Predictions
The e-signature landscape continues to evolve at a rapid clip. Here are some of the key trends and innovations we anticipate in 2024 and beyond:
COVID-19 Accelerates Adoption
The global pandemic forced businesses to shift to remote operations practically overnight. Some 85% of business leaders report the pandemic greatly accelerated their digital transformation efforts, according to a survey by KPMG. With in-person signing off the table, e-signature adoption has seen a major uptick across all industries. We expect businesses to continue embracing paperless processes long after offices reopen.
Crypto and Blockchain Signatures
While all the e-signature apps featured here are legally binding, some businesses desire an even greater level of security and trust. Enter blockchain-based signatures, which leverage cryptocurrency technology to create an immutable record of consent on a distributed ledger. In the coming years, look for e-signature vendors to explore and introduce blockchain-powered "smart signatures" for industries like supply chain and real estate.
Remote Online Notarization
For certain legal documents like wills, notarization by a certified official is required to validate signatures. Historically this meant signers had to physically visit a notary to have their identity verified and signatures witnessed. But a growing number of states have passed laws allowing notaries to verify signatures remotely via webcam. As remote online notarization (RON) gains steam, e-signature platforms are likely to integrate this capability.
Choosing the Right E-Signature App
With so many strong contenders, how do you choose the best e-signature tool for your unique needs? Here are some factors to consider:
- How many users need access and what‘s your monthly document volume?
- Do you need basic signing or more advanced fields and templates?
- Are your signers tech-savvy or do you need the simplest UX possible?
- What business tools do you need to integrate with?
- Do you require adherence with specific industry regulations like HIPAA?
- Do you prefer a lightweight tool or a more full-featured document platform?
We recommend evaluating your different use cases and running a few free trials to compare the user experience before rolling out a solution company-wide. Luckily all the best e-signature apps featured here include free trials, so you can thoroughly test drive before buying.
Once you‘ve settled on an app, be sure to allocate sufficient time and resources to train your team and get the most from your investment. You‘ll also want to communicate the benefits to your customers and other stakeholders to drive adoption. Check out our companion post for X tips to ensure a smooth rollout of e-signatures.
The Bottom Line
The evidence is clear: electronic signatures are here to stay. By eliminating the bottlenecks and costs of paper-based signing, e-signature apps can help any organization work faster and smarter. E-signatures are a rare win-win – saving time and hassle for signers while also increasing completion rates and shortening time-to-revenue for businesses.
Whether you opt for an established leader like DocuSign, a niche standout like PandaDoc, or an affordable challenger like SignNow, any of the apps on this list will help you unlock the benefits of going digital with your signing workflows. Ditch the pen and paper, and join the paperless revolution today!
