So many contracts, agreements, and other business documents going paperless hasn't meant the end of paperwork—it just means you need to sign things in a different way. You no longer need to find a pen, scrawl your name a few times on a scrap of paper, and send it off. In most cases, all you need to do is type your name, click a box, or use your laptop's trackpad. And, most importantly, it's just as legally binding. 

Whether you're the one sending documents out to be signed or the one signing them, you've probably heard of Docusign. It's one of the biggest eSignature apps out there, and it topped our list of the best electronic signature apps. But there are lots of apps that offer pretty similar features, so if Docusign isn't the right fit for you, here's a big list of Docusign alternatives you can use instead. 

The best Docusign alternatives at a glance

These are all apps that I've tested and can vouch for—they'll let you get your signature on (digital) paper easily, usually with some other bells and whistles involved.

Do Docusign alternatives work for legal signatures?

The short answer is yes, these Docusign alternatives can be used for legally-binding signatures.

But to complicate matters a little, digital signatures and electronic signatures are slightly different things—despite the terms being thrown around interchangeably.

An electronic signature is just your typed, drawn, or otherwise computer-added signature on a document—typically a PDF. You can add one using any tool you like, from Paint to Photoshop. It still counts as a real legal signature, though enforcing it in a court case might prove tricky, as anyone can forge it. You could just type my name on a contract and claim I electronically signed it (please don't).

To combat this kind of silliness, most eSignature apps actually create digital signatures. In addition to adding your signature, they use cryptography to protect the document and embed identifying details like email addresses, when and where people signed the document, and the serial number and specs of the device they used to do it. This gives the document a "fingerprint" that makes it unique and creates a paper trail that can be independently audited.

If you're looking for a dedicated digital signature app to make digital signatures, you'll want to grab an app from the first section of this article. But if all you need is to put your signature down, any of these Docusign alternatives lets you make electronic signatures.

Docusign alternatives that are dedicated digital signature apps

Docusign is probably the best known digital signature app, but there are lots of options out there that do more or less the same thing. Here are some of the best Docusign alternatives if you need to go the super official route.

SignWell

SignWell, formerly known as Docsketch, is a fully featured, easy-to-use eSign app with a great free plan. You can send up to three documents out to be signed every month without paying a penny. So, if you only need to get contracts or other legal documents signed every so often, it's a great Docusign alternative.

SignWell also integrates with Zapier, so you can do things like automatically get a notification or upload to cloud storage when a document is completed in SignWell. Zapier lets you connect to thousands of other apps, but these examples will give you some ideas.

SignWell price: Free for up to 3 eSignatures per month; from $10/month for the Personal plan with unlimited eSignatures.

SignNow

SignNow is a business-focused Docusign alternative. It's set up so even the cheapest plan allows multiple users on a team, which isn't something that can be said about every eSign app. If you're prepared to pay annually, it can also offer great value. The $20/user/month plan is only $8/user/month if you pay in advance.

You can also use Zapier to connect SignNow to your other tools, so you can automatically do things like request signatures based on activity in the other business apps you use.

SignNow price: From $20/user/month ($8/user/month, billed annually) for the Business plan with a fair use system.

Adobe Acrobat Sign

Adobe Acrobat Sign (formerly Adobe Sign) is one of the biggest Docusign competitors. As you'd expect from a powerhouse like Adobe, the app has all the features you need, whether you're a small business or a gigantic enterprise. It also allows you to edit and convert PDFs. It's not as easy to pull into your existing workflows, but really, the most annoying thing about it is that Adobe keeps changing its name.

Adobe Acrobat Sign price: From $22.99/month for Acrobat Standard with unlimited eSignatures.

eSignatures.io

eSignatures.io offers a super streamlined eSigning experience. It allows you to create contracts and send them out to be signed, either individually, in bulk, automatically through the API, or when someone follows a link in an SMS or email. Because it's pay-as-you-go, eSignatures.io is a perfect Docusign alternative if you, for example, hire seasonal staff and need to get 20 contracts signed in June but don't need any signed the rest of the year.

It also has built-in Zapier support, which means you can easily do things like have new signed contracts automatically uploaded to your cloud storage app or tracked in your CRM.

eSignatures.io price pricing: $0.99/document

PandaDoc

PandaDoc isn't just a digital signature app. It's designed to handle all kinds of important documents that your clients need to fill in or approve, like proposals, quotes, and contracts. If you need something that gives you more flexibility over your document workflow, it's worth a look. 

PandaDoc integrates with Zapier, too, so you can automate all your document workflows across apps. Here are some examples to get you started.

PandaDoc pricing: From $35/month/user for Essentials, with unlimited eSignatures.

DocHub

DocHub is a full document collaboration app for teams, but it includes eSigning even on the free plan. If your team needs to create and edit a lot of documents together as well as occasionally get things signed, it's a great Docusign alternative.

DocHub pricing: Free for up to 3 eSignatures/month; from $10/month for Pro, with unlimited eSignatures. 

Signaturely

Signaturely is another easy-to-use electronic signature app. It integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox, One Drive, and Box, so whatever cloud storage provider you use, Signaturely makes it simple to send documents out to be signed. 

Signaturely integrates with Zapier, so you can automatically create eSignature requests based on the actions you take in other apps, like Google Sheets.

Signaturely pricing: From $20/month for Personal, with 5 eSignatures per month. 

Signeasy

Signeasy is a solid Docusign alternative, with great mobile apps and support. It doesn't do anything radically different, but it offers a good service at a good price. 

Signeasy pricing: Free for up to 3 eSignatures per month; from $10/month for Essential, with 5 eSignatures per month.

Xodo Sign

Xodo Sign (formerly Eversign) is a good eSignature app with a generous free plan. While the app might not be as polished as some of the others on this list, you can send up to five documents to be signed each month for free, which is pretty generous for the category.

Xodo Sign also integrates with Zapier, so you can automatically create contracts based on actions taken in thousands of other apps. Here are a few pre-made workflows to get you started.

Xodo Sign pricing: Free for up to 5 eSignatures per month; from $10/month for Basic, with unlimited eSignatures per month.

Free Docusign alternatives already on your computer

If all you want to do is sign a document someone sent you via email, these are the Docusign alternatives you're looking for. Whether you're on a PC or a Mac, you have a solid option.

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader is Adobe's free PDF reader available for pretty much every platform. You can use it to digitally sign documents yourself, or send up to two documents off to be signed each month.

Adobe Acrobat Reader price: Free

Apple Preview

Apple's Preview app allows you to electronically sign documents—but not digitally sign them. It's not as secure as a dedicated eSign app, but it'll do for simple forms and paperwork. 

Preview pricing: Free (and already included on macOS)

Docusign alternatives in cloud storage apps

When Dropbox bought HelloSign, eSignatures came into the world of cloud storage. Now all the big names in cloud storage allow you to sign and send documents. So if you already use one of these apps, it's worth seeing if they do the trick before you add another tool to your tech stack.

Dropbox Sign

A few years ago, cloud storage company Dropbox bought HelloSign—at the time, one of the best electronic signature apps. It's now fully integrated signing documents into Dropbox. Even the 2TB $11.99/month Plus plan designed for individuals allows you to send three documents per month off to be signed. If you need more storage or signatures, one of Dropbox's plans for professionals or businesses will have you covered.

Dropbox Sign also integrates with Zapier, so you can automatically request signatures or get notified when people sign your documents. Here are some examples to get you started.

Dropbox Sign price: From $11.99/month for Dropbox Plus, with 3 eSignatures per month.

Box Sign

Like Dropbox, cloud storage company Box has moved into the electronic signature space. Box Sign is integrated with every Box account. With a free account, you can send five documents per month off to be signed—and you get 10 GB of storage. With the cheapest paid plan, the $14/month Personal Pro plan, you get 100 GB of storage and 15 signed documents a month. The business plans all have essentially unlimited storage and signing. Especially if you're already using Box, it's a great deal.

Box also connects with Zapier, so you can automate your cloud storage workflows. Here are some ideas for how to get started.

Box Sign price: Free for 5 eSignatures per month; from $14/month for 15 eSignatures per month. 

Google Drive eSignature

Google is rolling native eSigning out to its premium Workspace plans. Right now, anyone with the $9.99/month Individual Workspace plan can send documents out to be signed, but the feature is also gradually rolling out to the business Workspace plans. If you're an avid Google user, this is a nice value add.

And because Google Drive integrates with Zapier, you can connect it to all the other apps you use at work. Here are some ideas.

Google Drive eSignature price: From $9.99/month for Individual Workspace plan with unlimited eSignatures.

Docusign alternatives in PDF apps

If you don't have a Mac or don't like Preview for whatever reason, any good PDF editor can be used to electronically sign most documents. Just make sure to check they seem legit and secure enough to store your sensitive files—you don't want to upload an important contract to DodgyPDFs.com.

PDF Expert

PDF Expert (owned by Readdle) is great for Apple users since it has an iPhone and iPad app. It has all the core PDF editing features you'd ever need, but you'll need to pay to get access to the digital signatures feature.

PDF Expert pricing: Free plan includes access to basic editing tools; from $79.99 (billed annually) for digital signatures. 

Canva PDF Editor

Canva's PDF editor is probably more than you need to just sign a document—you can add graphics, audio, bespoke stickers, you name it. But it just takes a few clicks to upload a document, sign it, and download it again—and you don't even need to create an account to do so.

Canva PDF Editor pricing: Free

Smallpdf

Just like with Canva, Smallpdf lets you upload, sign, and download a document without even creating an account. It's no-frills, and you can draw, type, or upload your signature. There are also lots of other helpful fields you can add—in addition to the other PDF editing features.

Smallpdf pricing: Free; from $12/user/month for unlimited document downloads

How to choose the right Docusign alternative for you

The reality is that you can electronically sign a document with almost any app. And you don't even need an app: you could do something truly wild like print it out, sign it with a pen, then take a photo and email it off. 

This means that there are lots of Docusign alternatives out there that could work for you. With that said, the three most important things to consider are:

• Do you actually need digital signatures? (If that's the case, make sure you use a dedicated eSign app.)

• How often do you plan to be signing things or sending things off for signatures? (If it's a one-time deal, use a free app.)

• Does the app offer the features you need at the price you want to pay? (Sometimes the time you'll save is worth the cost.)

One of the Docusign alternatives above is bound to do what you need.

Related reading:

• Docusign vs. HelloSign (now Dropbox Sign)

• How to automate Docusign

• Add document automation to your business workflows