Best eSignature software of 2024

The best eSignature software let you capture, collect and securely store digital signatures for legally binding documents like sales and recruitment contracts.   

With the increasingly digital workplace, getting names on the dotted line has become more of a challenge - and that's even if you can find a printer in the first place. The shift has led to a rise in some of the best signature apps - these tools let you prepare, sign, and share documents to be signed. You'll often find them included in the best PDF editors, and even some of the best free PDF editors

Our team of expert reviewers have put  the best eSignature software to the test. As part of our review process, we've tested performance from document creation, through monitoring and reporting, to signing and completing files. We've explored setup and interface, third-party integrations, page layout features whether it’s a one-off signing or you’re managing output across internal and external teams and departments. 


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If you are a business looking for an eSignature software, then SignNow is a great solution for you. The interface is user friendly and, you can track and collaborate with multiple people at the same time.

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The best eSignature software of 2024 in full:

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the entries on our best eSignature software list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

Best eSignature software overall

(Image credit: Adobe)
It's Adobe Acrobat, but as an online signing service

Reasons to buy

+
Works excellently
+
Well- organized interface
+
Integration with MS Power Automate

Reasons to avoid

-
Finding it online isn’t easy
-
Subscriptions options may be overwhelming

Adobe Acrobat Sign is our pick for best electronic signature software overall. Built into Acrobat, the company’s stellar PDF editor, and available on subscription for personal and commercial use, it’s a highly accessible and powerful digital signature tool. 

Companies can choose between a small business or enterprise package. With the former, you’re able to sign and collect signatures, track the progress of the docs you send out, include customized branding, send docs in bulk, collect signatures from the website, and follow the usual industry-specific compliance requirements. The latter has more powerful bespoke features aimed at a more professional customer - for a custom price.

You’ll find Adobe’s Sign offers all the tools you’d expect, including some that allow for greater customization, to help you create unique, branded documents. During our testing, we were really impressed with Acrobat Sign’s full integration with Microsoft Power Automate. This lets you create custom workflows and perform automatic actions when certain events are triggered. You’ll need a Microsoft account to use this, but for power-users, it’s essential. 

There wasn’t much we didn’t like about Adobe’s digital signature software. However, we did think the subscription packages were a little clunky. And while it’s not straightforward to find, a free 30-day trial of the ‘small business’ tier is available to help you decide if this is the right service for you.

Read our full Adobe Acrobat Sign review .

Best eSignature software for businesses

(Image credit: airSlate)
Organize, track, fill in, and sign your documents online

Reasons to buy

+
Free trial
+
Easy to use
+
Works from most browsers

Reasons to avoid

-
May not fit for personal use
-
No apparent text formatting options

signNow is an online eSign service - ideal if you need to create, share, and sign documents from your browser. However, this digital signature tool is best for businesses, rather than personal use. 

That commercial focus is reflected in the pricing and plans. You’re offered a free 7-day trial option to check it out, but at the end of the day, this is a paid-for service. Plans start with a Business subscription ($96 per year) up to the Business Cloud plan ($600 per year per user, and a 5-user minimum).

The strong design around the need to track and collaborate with multiple people also leads to some very interesting features. That includes the ability to set who can fill in specific fields in a form. We found signNow very easy to use. Setting up documents is impressively intuitive, and it’s just as simple to monitor file progress, so you can see who hasn’t yet completed assigned sections of your document.

After testing out the solution, we can say it will work for an individual user, but you’ll be really missing out of signNow’s greatest strengths and likely paying more than you need to just sign a document electronically.

Read our full signNow review .

Best eSignature software for beginners

(Image credit: SignRequest)
Fill in and sign documents with simple elegance

Reasons to buy

+
Free version
+
Simple concept, well executed
+
Very elegant interface

Reasons to avoid

-
Not many changeable parameters
-
Subscriptions best for business use

While most electronic signature apps are relatively simple and straightforward for beginners, we were especially impressed with SignRequest’s approach. The focus is on ease of use and elegance, rather than cramming in as many features as possible. The result is a streamlined approach that proved incredibly easy to use, both for the document creator and those signing and filling in forms. 

You’ll find very few options are open to you. For example, you can’t alter the text’s font, alignment, or color. But if all you need to do is type in requested info, do you really need such luxuries? By cutting the service down to its essentials, SignRequest has turned a potentially complex tool into something that is accessible to all. .

Just as simple are the user plans. You’ll find three - Free, Professional ($9 per user per month), and Business ($15 per user per month). The more you pay, the more options you’ll get. A 14-day free trial is also available. 

Read our full SignRequest review .

Best eSignature software for document creation

(Image credit: PandaDoc)
Create impressive documents from scratch and sign them

Reasons to buy

+
Feature-rich
+
Versatile
+
Desktop publisher included
+
Free version available

Reasons to avoid

-
Not immediately obvious how to import existing documents
-
Vast number of features could be intimidating

PandaDoc is an impressive online digital signature service that offers so much more than just the ability to fill in forms and sign documents. 

To start using the service, choose between three subscription plans - Essentials ($29 a month), Business ($59 a month) or the custom Enterprise plan.- or opt for the free version. During our review process, we thought the free eSign software was remarkably generous, as it doesn’t limit the number of documents you can send or signatures you can collect. You can even set up a payment system. 

Although it isn’t as easy as others to set up your own signature, and upload existing documents to work on, PandaDoc excels at document creation. You effectively have page layout and desktop publishing software here. With DTP-levels of complexity, you can create impressively detailed and professional documents right in your browser. You’re then able to track file progress, who’s signed them, and who has paid (should payment be required).

Read our full PandaDoc review .

Best eSign software for simplicity

(Image credit: SignWell)
Remove the complexity and focus on the simplicity

Reasons to buy

+
Free version available
+
Very easy to use
+
Simple and clean interface
+
Good tech support

Reasons to avoid

-
No formatting options
-
Pages and Numbers files aren’t supported

SignWell is an online electronic signature service designed for simplicity. Subscription tiers start at $10 per month and go up to $30 a month. With custom plans for enterprise users. Happily, you can access a free version of the digital signing app - although we found we were restricted to sending up to three documents each month on that plan.

The tool’s interface is incredibly easy to navigate. Most of the complexity has been removed for a more intuitive experience. However, it also means you lose formatting options like changing a font’s size and color. But that can be viewed as a distraction to simply filling in a form. And with all the unnecessary options out of the way, you can set up a document very fast, send it to the recipient and monitor its progress every step of the way.

There’s a good deal of compatibility for filetypes across Microsoft Office and image files. It’s also stated that SignWell supports the Mac-only Pages and Numbers. But when we tried this, documents in these formats were grayed out and couldn't be selected. Beyond that, we found a lot to like about SignWell’s streamlined approach to digital signatures. 

Read our full SignWell review .

Best eSignature software for reports & reminders

(Image credit: DocuSign)
Best for reports and reminders

Reasons to buy

+
Long free trial
+
Very easy to use
+
Good number of features

Reasons to avoid

-
Cumbersome registration process
-
Very few formatting and customization tools

DocuSign is one of the best eSign software solutions for creating, sharing, managing, and monitoring documents all the way to completion. 

The subscription-based digital signature service offers three tiers, with plans priced at $15, $45, or $65 a month. A fourth plan offers a custom rate to enterprise users. You can also use the free service, which we found to be ideal for those who only need to sign documents themselves without worrying about a team.

The tools are very simple to use. There aren’t many customization options, so if you want more control over your document, it may not be right for you. However, if you only need to create forms and get files signed, we felt DocuSign made this process as effortless as possible. 

You’ll find many useful features such as reminders, an audit trail, reports, branding options, even specialized fields. It’s definitely worth a look, especially since it offers you a generous free 30-day trial.

Read our full DocuSign review .

Best eSign software for cloud storage

(Image credit: Dropbox)
A big hello to a top electronic signature app

Reasons to buy

+
Free version available
+
Easy to use
+
Clean interface
+
Fantastic customer service

Reasons to avoid

-
Free trial requires your credit card details
-
Editing capabilities are minor

Dropbox Sign used to be known as HelloSign - one of the best eSign software solutions on the market. Thankfully, the name change hasn’t altered the functionality, making it an excellent choice for obtaining digital signatures.

The online e-signature service is subscription-based, with prices starting at $20 a month. Business users can expect costs of around $600 a year for two users, although it can go even higher, the more colleagues you add. Notably, there’s one option that adds Dropbox cloud storage to your plan - ideal for those storing lots of documents. For casual users and those keen to try out the service, a free eSign service is available. 

You have the ability to add fields to a document. However, during our tests, we found its automatic algorithm to add them is a little hit and miss. You can then assign each to a different signer, to make sure no one fills in the wrong part of the document. You also have means of keeping track of your documents, both via your web browser, or thanks to a speedy and intuitive mobile app.

Read our full Dropbox Sign review 

Best basic eSignature software

Sign.Plus eSign software in action

(Image credit: Sign.Plus)
The basic way to digitally sign a document online

Reasons to buy

+
Free option
+
Easy to use
+
Flexible

Reasons to avoid

-
Free option more limited than competing services

Sign.Plus is another online digital signature service you can access from any browser. You’ll find subscriptions for personal and commercial use, as well as a free version. It offers the basics, but after testing out the service, we thought this option could well be more than enough to cater for most people’s needs. However, it’s notably lacking compared to other free eSign services.

How it works is very straightforward. It starts with the creation of either a text-based, image-based, or hand-drawn signature, with clear steps to follow. You also have the choice to add just your initials to documents. This is found in a separate part of the interface, even though the process is exactly the same. So, it’s not exactly intuitive in its navigation, but performance is effective. 

After set-up, you import a document and add your signature to it. You also have some basic tools to fill in forms, add ticks or similar. Although, we found our options here were extremely limited, and the process felt slow. Still, it does the job, and the exported file bears no watermark, even with the free tier, which is definitely a plus.

Read our full Sign.Plus review .

Best eSign software for Mac

Apple Preview during our eSign software tests

(Image credit: Apple)
Read, take notes, and much much more

Reasons to buy

+
Free and easy to use
+
Loads of powerful hidden features
+
More versatile than it appears

Reasons to avoid

-
Mac only
-
Solely for individual use
-
Missing control in the Form Filling toolbar

Apple Preview comes bundled with every Mac, and gets updated with the operating system. Most users probably see it an app to open images or read PDFs. But did you know you can use it to fill in forms and add digital signatures to documents?

It won’t compete with dedicated eSign software solutions. This is a much more personal tool ideal for individual users. It features a versatile tool for adding text to a page, while we found creating a signature had that Apple panache to it. The sort of slick, simple experience you’d expect from the user-centric company. Although it’s not as perfect as it could be, it does the job with aplomb.

With Apple Preview, you have access to numerous annotating tools, including being able to underline and strikethrough text, and of course add text boxes and position them in the right area to add all the info the form you’re working on asks of you.

Read our full Apple Preview review .

The best subscription-free eSign software

OK!Sign digital signature software during our test and review process

(Image credit: OK!SIgn)
We're gonna digitally sign documents like it’s 1999

Reasons to buy

+
Simple
+
Subscription-free

Reasons to avoid

-
Feels clunky and antiquated
-
Interface not as user friendly as it should be

OK!Sign is an eSign service with a difference: its clunky and antiquated interface wouldn’t look out of place in the 90s. It’s not that it’s bad - it just depends on what you’re looking for from an electronic signature tool. 

Having said that, we did feel the glaring attachment to old-school design harms the user experience. For instance, there’s no autosave. If you don’t manually click Save, your changes will be lost if something goes wrong or you’re automatically logged out after inactivity. Even filling in a form feels clunky when you’re informed you need to fill in a field which you just can’t find, and the interface won’t do anything to help you with that. Signing is at best a trackpad or touchscreen experience.

Still, there’s one very good feature for OK!Sign: there are no subscriptions here. Instead of a monthly payment, you purchase credits and pay as you go  (although credits can expire, so keep an eye on that). If you’re trying to avoid yet another subscription, it’s worth checking out, but be aware it may be an exercise in frustration. 

Read our full OK!Sign review .


The best eSign software solution: FAQs

What is an eSign software solution?

An eSign software solution is a tool to facilitate the electronic signing of documents. eSign or electronic signature is a digital alternative to the physical signing of paper documents. 

These digitally signed documents are secure and legally binding. They also make the document signing process effortless, with options to create, share, and track files. 

How to choose the best eSign software solution for you

When deciding which eSign software solution is best for you, first consider how many people will be using the tool. Many electronic signature apps are designed for businesses and those working in teams. 

Power users or those sharing and signing lots of documents should opt for an eSign software solution with advanced features for reporting and monitoring. It may also be worth investigating those with more customization and formatting options for creating bespoke, branded documents. Casual users may want to pivot to a simple online service available in the browser. 

Budget is a factor, too, with many of the best e-signature services operating subscription plans for personal and commercial use. While free eSign tools are available, these are often more restricted than paid counterparts. 

Performance and workflow is an important consideration. With online services, you'll need to ensure a constant internet connection, and that can sometimes prove slow. If you're looking at dedicated digital signature software, check whether your existing PDF editors or document management apps offer eSignature tools, or whether they can be integrated - as in the case of Adobe Acrobat and many of the best Adobe Acrobat alternatives - for more seamless workflows.

How we test the best eSign software solutions

As the workplace continues to go digital, we've tested thousands of office productivity tools, including the best online collaboration tools, best cloud document storage, and best business cloud storage.

When testing the best eSign software solutions, we looked at how easy it was to set-up and start creating documents. We then explored each of the different methods for adding signatures - the more options to better. We then moved to the form-creation and filling process, which is vital for data collection. 

We also looked at the pricing and plans for each electronic signature platform. Most offer free eSign software and subscriptions for individuals, small businesses, and enterprise. You'll also find detailed pricing information in our eSign software reviews. 

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Steve Paris

Steve has been writing about technology since 2003. Starting with Digital Creative Arts, he's since added his tech expertise at titles such as iCreate, MacFormat, MacWorld, MacLife, and TechRadar. His focus is on the creative arts, like website builders, image manipulation, and filmmaking software, but he hasn’t shied away from more business-oriented software either. He uses many of the apps he writes about in his personal and professional life. Steve loves how computers have enabled everyone to delve into creative possibilities, and is always delighted to share his knowledge, expertise, and experience with readers.

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