Online contract signing is the process of adding digital signatures to an electronic contract, usually in PDF format. For this task, you will need an online contract signing software that can add legally valid and compliant digital signatures or electronic signatures to your contract document. This article highlights 5 of the best online contract signing software, which also includes the best free online contract signing services and solutions available to business and professional users today. Let’s get right into it.
#1 - Wondershare SignX
Wondershare is a leading software development company with a lot of feature-rich and user-friendly tools for Windows, Mac, and mobile operating systems like Android and iOS. Their online contract signing service, called SignX, is one of the most comprehensive yet simple-to-use tools for digital signing of contracts, sending documents for multiple signatures, and bulk sending a single document to a large group of people separately. The digital signatures created in SignX comply with several global and local regulatory guidelines and are 100% legally valid.
Feature Highlights
● Create legal digital signatures using multiple methods.
● Send documents to multiple users for their signatures.
● Bulk send documents for several people to sign independently.
● Track and monitor the progress of your contract signing workflows.
● Set a signing order and include yourself as one of the signers.
● Get instant email notifications when a document is opened or signed.
● Have a comprehensive overview of contract signing statuses of multiple documents.
● Templates that can be saved and reused later.
Pros
● Three ways to create and add digital signatures - draw, type, upload.
● Clear process flow when preparing a document to send for signatures.
● Set the order of signing so the signers get it in a particular sequence.
● Add an access code for two-factor authentication (greater security.)
● Personalize your notification emails with branding on premium accounts.
● A convenient dashboard view of document signing status.
● Increase turnaround times for contract signing by up to 90%.
#2 - DocuSign
DocuSign is one of the market leaders in this segment and offers a plethora of tools in its online contract signing service. It is also highly feature-rich and boasts numerous integrations and support for a wide variety of file formats. It offers multi-factor authentication to make sure the signer is exactly who they say they are. Extensive reports make it easy to find whatever metric you need, whether it’s the real-time status or specific user activity.
Feature Highlights
● Create legally binding electronic signatures.
● A wide range of file formats is supported.
● Convert PDF forms with signer fields automatically.
● Customizable fields and tags.
● Integrated with all major cloud storage services.
● Attach supplemental documentation along with the contract.
● Comment in a real-time environment.
Pros
● An extensive feature set for all kinds of document signing needs.
● Multiple authentication methods to verify signers’ digital identities.
● Face-to-face mobile signing.
● DocuSign Payments is Integrated with Stripe in the United States.
● Extensive reporting capabilities with AI analytics and insights.
Cons
● Expensive for smaller businesses to use.
● Too many features for most small and medium-sized businesses.
#3 - Adobe Sign
Another professional tool for online contract signing is from the makers of Acrobat and Photoshop. Adobe Sign is an easy-to-use and well-integrated digital eSignature platform to quickly prepare and send documents for signing. It offers features such as user authentication, real-time tracking, mobile access, audit trails, templates and forms, custom branding, online payment integration, etc. The slick interface and powerful functionality make this more suitable for large enterprise companies; more so, its price.
Feature Highlights
● Create eSignatures easily.
● Quick process to send documents for signing.
● Real-time notifications to track contract signing flow.
● Option to manage the entire process from a mobile device.
● Integrated with MS Office applications.
● The Mega Sign feature allows personalization for bulk sending.
Pros
● Clean and user-friendly interface.
● Use from within MS Office tools like Word and Excel.
● Track progress with real-time emails and reminders.
● Embed forms into websites for clients or customers to fill, sign, and submit.
● Easy access from a mobile device when you’re on the go.
Cons
● The service is expensive for individual users and offers some features that may not be used by most companies.
● Limited free trial, after which an upgrade is mandatory to continue using the platform.
#4 - HelloSign
Another well-integrated and professional tool for online contract signing is HelloSign. The service allows you to send documents to up to 20 people for simultaneous or sequential signing, after which everyone gets a copy of the fully signed document via email. There are extensive branding options and the administrator has full control over team members and customization.
Feature Highlights
● Legally compliant and valid eSignature creation.
● Signer flows are flexible and customizable.
● Branding options such as logos, taglines, etc.
● Integrated with Gmail, Drive, Salesforce, and other SaaS (Software as a Service) products.
● APIs to integrate HelloSign with existing applications.
Pros
● Professional-looking interface.
● Clear menus and function descriptions.
● Option to create and share templates with team members.
● In-person signing option is available on mobile devices.
● Support for multiple file types.
Cons
● Free version limited to 3 signature requests a month.
● Need to upgrade for data validation, team overview, and other features.
#5 - PandaDoc
PandaDoc is a comprehensive contract signing software tool with flexible features and a generous unlimited free version for multiple users. It can be integrated with payment gateways to speed up financial transactions and optimize revenue generation. Paid plans offer templates, CRM integration, and analytics.
Feature Highlights
● Easy eSignature creation.
● Personalization options (through CRM integrations.)
Pros
● Unlimited electronic signatures can be created.
● Create and send for signing in one interface.
● Deeply integrated with customer management platforms.
Cons
● Creating proposals on mobile is not always easy to do.
● Hard to work with images and links.
Comparison Table for Features and Benefits
Video on How to Sign Your PDF File Free Online