Contract View for Secure eSignatures and Review

Award-winning eSignature solution

What Contract View does

Contract View is the part of signNow that lets users review a contract before signing, sending, or storing it. It presents the document in a readable format, shows the fields that need attention, and keeps the signing flow tied to the same record. Users can inspect terms, complete required fields, apply an electronic signature, and preserve the document history. In the U.S., this workflow supports clear consent, attribution, and recordkeeping under ESIGN and UETA when used with proper controls.

Why Contract View matters

Contract View helps teams reduce review errors, speed up approvals, and keep a consistent record of what was signed. Under ESIGN and UETA, the resulting electronic record can be enforceable when intent, consent, and attribution are captured properly.

Why teams look for DocuSign alternatives

Common contract view issues

Users may miss required fields if the contract view is not configured with clear prompts and validation.
Version confusion can occur when teams review outdated drafts instead of the final contract record.
Poor signer instructions can slow completion and create disputes about intent or missing acknowledgments.
Weak access controls can expose contract details to people who should not see them.

Who uses it

Legal, finance, healthcare, real estate, and operations teams use Contract View for contracts, forms, and approvals.

What it covers

Lease agreements, patient forms, vendor contracts, loan documents, and internal approvals are common use cases.

Typical users and personas

A director of NetSuite operations at Xerox uses Contract View to route the right documents to the right approvers, with integration-based control over formats and signature order. This fits teams that need structured review across multiple business units and systems.
A COO at Optica Ventures LLC benefits from a simple review flow that makes contracts easier for internal teams and customers to complete. The value is strongest where speed, clarity, and low-friction signing matter across sales, service, and vendor paperwork.

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Best ROI. Our customers achieve an average 7x ROI within the first six months.
Scales with your use cases. From SMBs to mid-market, airSlate SignNow delivers results for businesses of all sizes.
Intuitive UI and API. Sign and send documents from your apps in minutes.

Readable review

Contract View keeps the contract readable before signature, so reviewers can confirm terms, fields, and signer intent without leaving the document flow.

Field prompts

Field guidance highlights what still needs input, which reduces missed blanks and helps documents move through approval faster.

Signer context

Signer context stays attached to the record, making it easier to trace who reviewed, signed, or declined the document.

Version control

Version control helps teams work from the final draft, lowering the risk of signing an outdated contract.

Mobile access

Mobile access lets users review and sign from desktop or phone, which supports field work and remote approvals.

Audit record

Audit records preserve the signing history, supporting internal review, dispute handling, and compliance documentation.

Integration options for Contract View

Connected systems keep contract review tied to the records, approvals, and storage locations your team already uses.

How Contract View works

Contract View follows a simple sequence from review to signature, while keeping the document and its history together.

Open contract: The document opens in a review-ready view.
Check fields: Required fields and signer roles appear.
Sign document: The signer completes and signs the record.
Save record: The system stores the signed version and history.

Quick steps for Contract View

Use a short review process to reduce errors before the contract is signed and stored.

Review first:
Open the contract and review the terms.
Verify fields:
Check every required field before signing.
Confirm details:
Confirm signer details and consent language.
Finish signing:
Apply the signature and save the record.

Setting	Recommendation
Authentication method	SMS OTP for routine approvals
Signature type	SES for U.S. contracts
Audit trail	Enable full event logging
Document retention	6 years for HIPAA records
Encryption	TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256

Platform requirements for Contract View

Contract View works across major desktop and mobile environments, so users can review and sign from supported browsers and devices.

Desktop browsers Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge
Operating systems Windows 11, macOS, iOS, and Android
Mobile devices iPhone, iPad, and Android phones

For regulated teams, browser updates, device management, and secure access policies matter as much as the app itself. signNow’s web and mobile access fit mixed-device workflows, while enterprise deployments can add SSO, API access, and controlled user provisioning.

Security and compliance

Encryption:

TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

Data protection:

AES-256 at rest

SOC 2 Type II:

SOC 2 Type II available

ISO 27001:

ISO 27001 certified

HIPAA:

HIPAA support with BAA

Legal framework:

ESIGN and UETA aligned

Enterprise operations

A NetSuite operations leader needed signatures routed in the right order across systems.

Xerox used signNow with NetSuite integration.
The workflow matched document format and routing needs.

The result was more controlled document handling, fewer routing errors, and a signing process that fit existing business systems without adding manual rework.

Real estate

A founder managing property documents needed online execution with security and mobile access.

Martin Properties processed documents online.
Mobile and offline access supported field work.

The workflow supported faster turnaround on leases and related forms, while keeping the record organized for review, storage, and later reference.

Best practices for Contract View

A disciplined setup makes contract review easier to follow and easier to defend if a dispute or audit occurs.

Clarify every field

Use clear field labels, signer roles, and instructions so reviewers know exactly what to complete before signing. This reduces delays and lowers the chance of missing information in the final record.

Control document versions

Lock the final version before sending, and keep draft edits separate from the signing copy. That helps prevent disputes about which terms were actually reviewed and accepted.

Match verification to risk

Match authentication strength to document risk. Use stronger verification for healthcare, finance, and other sensitive records, especially when the contract includes PHI, payment terms, or regulated disclosures.

Protect the record trail

Keep retention and access rules aligned with your record policy. Store signed documents with the audit trail, and limit access to people who need the record for business or compliance reasons.

Setup day:

Create the workflow, upload the contract, and assign signer roles.

First send:

Send the first document after review and field checks.

Team onboarding:

Add users and permissions after the first live signing.

Free trial:

7-day free trial, no credit card required.

HIPAA retention:

6 years from creation or last effective date, per 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2).

UETA adoption:

49 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have adopted UETA.

Business plan:

$8/user/month billed annually.

Enterprise review:

Use advanced authentication and integrations when needed.

Risks of poor contract handling

Weak attribution

Document may be challenged as unauthenticated.

Missing audit trail

Signed record may lose evidentiary weight.

No BAA

HIPAA handling may fail compliance review.

Version mismatch

Outdated draft may create contract disputes.

Signer authentication:

Verifies the signer through the chosen authentication method.

Timestamp capture:

Records the exact time of each action.

Document hashing:

Calculates a hash for the signed document.

Tamper sealing:

Applies a tamper-evident seal after signing.

Audit storage:

Stores the event history with the record.

Trail export:

Exports the trail for review or evidence.

	Plan / Feature	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc
Starting price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free trial	7-day trial	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified
Bulk send	Yes	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified
Audit trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA compliance	BAA required	BAA available	BAA available	Not verified	Not verified

Recommended	DocuSign	Adobe Acrobat Sign	PandaDoc
ESIGN and UETA support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Audit trail	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Envelope cap	Unlimited	100/year	Varies

Contract View troubleshooting

These answers focus on signNow features, plan limits, and compliance rules that affect contract review and signing.

If a signer cannot complete the document, check whether required fields, signer order, or access permissions are blocking the flow. signNow templates, role-based routing, and audit trails help identify where the process stopped. For regulated records, keep ESIGN, UETA, and HIPAA requirements aligned with the workflow.

If the audit trail looks incomplete, confirm that the document was sent and signed inside signNow rather than exported and re-uploaded. The audit trail should preserve timestamps, signer activity, and document history for ESIGN and UETA evidence.

If HIPAA documents are involved, use a plan and agreement that support PHI handling. signNow’s HIPAA support requires a BAA, and signed records should retain access logs, integrity controls, and retention aligned with 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2).

If a team needs bulk sending or advanced routing, check the plan level. signNow Business Premium includes bulk send, while Enterprise adds advanced signer authentication and formula fields. Plan selection affects workflow depth, not basic legal validity.

If a document must be defensible in court, make sure the signer identity, timestamps, and document history are preserved. signNow audit trails support attribution and non-repudiation, which helps under FRE 901 and 902.

If mobile users report issues, verify browser support or use the signNow iOS or Android app. Mobile signing is valid under ESIGN and UETA when intent, attribution, and consent are captured correctly.

28M+Documents signed

13+Years in business

4.6/5Average G2 rating