Create a Digital Signature for Free With signNow

Award-winning eSignature solution

What a digital signature is

A digital signature is a cryptographic way to sign a document electronically and prove who signed it and whether the file changed afterward. In signNow, the signer opens the document, reviews it, and applies a signature that is linked to the record with encryption, timestamps, and an audit trail. For U.S. use, this supports secure signing on contracts, forms, and approvals while preserving evidence of intent, identity, and document integrity across the workflow.

Why it matters legally

It reduces paper handling, speeds approvals, and creates evidence that supports enforceability under ESIGN and UETA when the signer’s intent, identity, and record integrity are documented.

Why teams look for DocuSign alternatives

Frequent signing pain points

Signers may confuse a drawn electronic signature with a cryptographic digital signature, which affects proof of integrity.
Weak identity checks can make attribution harder if a document is later disputed.
Missing audit details can leave gaps in the signing record and weaken evidentiary value.
Poor retention practices can make it difficult to retrieve signed records during an audit or lawsuit.

Real estate

Real estate teams use it for lease agreements, rental applications, and closing documents that need fast turnaround.

Healthcare

Healthcare staff use it for intake forms, consent forms, and PHI-related records that need HIPAA-aware handling.

Real users and roles

A director of NetSuite operations at Xerox uses signNow to route signatures through NetSuite with the right document version, signer order, and format. That workflow helps large operations teams keep approvals aligned with internal controls and system records without manual rekeying or email chasing.
A founder at Martin Properties uses signNow to process lease and property documents online with mobile access and built-in security. The workflow fits real estate teams that need fast execution, clear records, and support for remote signing across office and field settings.

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Intuitive UI and API. Sign and send documents from your apps in minutes.

Reusable signing

Create and reuse signatures across documents, so repeat signers can complete forms faster without rebuilding the signing process each time.

Audit trail

Track signer actions with timestamps and history, giving teams a clear record for review, audit, and dispute support.

Mobile access

Sign on desktop or mobile, which helps remote teams complete approvals without waiting for office access.

Routing control

Route documents in sequence or parallel, so approvals follow the right order for legal, HR, or operations workflows.

Record integrity

Store signed files with integrity controls, helping preserve the final record for later retrieval and compliance review.

Templates

Use templates for repeated forms, which reduces setup time for leases, intake packets, and standard agreements.

Connected workflows and systems

Connected systems move signature requests, document data, and completed files between signNow and the tools teams already use.

How the signing flow works

The signing process follows a short sequence from document upload to completed record, with identity, timestamps, and history captured along the way.

Upload: Upload the document into signNow.
Place fields: Add signer fields and signature spots.
Send: Send the signing request.
Complete: Collect the signed file and audit trail.

Quick setup steps

Use a short setup sequence to prepare a document, send it, and retrieve the signed version.

Start:
Open signNow and upload your file.
Prepare:
Add signature, date, and text fields.
Invite:
Enter signer emails and send.
Finish:
Review the completed document and download it.

Setting	Recommendation
Authentication method	SMS OTP
Signature type	Digital signature
Audit trail	Enabled
Document retention	6 years for HIPAA records
Encryption	TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256

Platform and device support

signNow works in modern browsers and on mobile devices, with secure transport and app-based signing options for desktop and handheld use.

Desktop browsers Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge
Mobile devices iOS and Android mobile apps
Operating systems Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android

For regulated deployments, managed devices, browser policy controls, and identity governance matter more than the device itself. Teams should confirm browser support, mobile app access, and any internal requirements for SSO, API use, or retention controls before rollout.

Security and compliance

Encryption:

TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

Storage protection:

AES-256 at rest

Security report:

SOC 2 Type II available

Information security:

ISO 27001 certified

Health data:

HIPAA support with BAA

Regulated records:

21 CFR Part 11 support

Enterprise operations

Xerox needed flexible routing for document approvals tied to NetSuite.

Right signatures on the right documents
NetSuite-based workflow control

The workflow helped keep approvals aligned with system records and signer order, which supports faster processing and clearer document control across distributed teams.

Real estate operations

Martin Properties needed online execution for property documents with mobile access.

Mobile and offline signing
Built-in security and compliance

The team could process lease and property documents without paper delays, while keeping a signed record that supports remote execution and later review.

Practical usage guidance

A careful setup helps preserve identity evidence, document integrity, and record retention across routine and regulated signing workflows.

Match authentication to document risk

Use stronger identity checks for contracts, healthcare forms, and financial documents. SMS OTP may be enough for low-risk forms, but higher-risk records benefit from additional verification and a complete audit trail.

Design clear signing fields

Keep signer fields simple and visible. Place signature, date, and initials fields where people expect them, and avoid clutter that can slow completion or create confusion during review.

Define retention before rollout

Set retention rules before sending regulated records. HIPAA-related documents should be retained for 6 years under 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2), and the signed file should remain easy to retrieve.

Restrict post-signing access

Limit access to completed files. Use role-based permissions and user provisioning so only authorized staff can view, export, or manage signed records after completion.

Day 1:

Set up the account, templates, and signer roles.

Day 2:

Send the first document for signature.

Week 1:

Onboard the team and confirm permissions.

7-day trial:

Free trial ends after 7 days.

HIPAA retention:

Keep signed PHI records for 6 years per 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2).

ESIGN and UETA:

Electronic signatures remain legally valid when intent and attribution are documented.

Audit review:

Export the completed record when internal review requires it.

Policy check:

Confirm retention, access, and encryption rules before rollout.

Risks of improper use

Weak attribution

Document may be harder to defend.

Missing audit trail

Audit evidence may be incomplete.

Retention failure

HIPAA records may fail retention rules.

Enforceability dispute

Signature dispute may delay enforcement.

Signer authentication:

Records the signer’s identity checks and method.

Timestamp capture:

Captures UTC timestamps for each action.

Document hashing:

Calculates a hash of the final file.

Tamper-evident sealing:

Applies a tamper-evident seal to the record.

Audit log storage:

Stores the event history with the document.

Retrieval and export:

Exports the audit trail for review.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
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	Business Premium	Yes	Yes	Yes	Not verified
Audit trail	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Envelope cap	No cap	100/year	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified

signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc
ESIGN and UETA	Yes	Yes	Yes
Starting price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo
Free trial	7-day trial	Trial available	Trial available
Audit trail	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA support	BAA available	BAA available	BAA available

FAQ and troubleshooting

These answers focus on plan limits, compliance requirements, and evidence handling for U.S. eSignature workflows.

signNow Business starts at $8/user/mo billed annually, and the 7-day free trial has no credit card requirement. If you need bulk send, Business Premium adds it; if you need SSO or full API, Site License is the relevant tier.

signNow supports ESIGN and UETA compliance, and HIPAA use requires a BAA. For healthcare records, the HIPAA retention rule is 6 years under 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2), so retention settings should match that requirement.

A signed document should include timestamps, signer identity details, and a tamper-evident record. signNow’s audit trail helps preserve that evidence, which supports authentication under FRE Rule 901 and self-authentication analysis under Rule 902.

signNow supports TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit and AES-256 at rest. If your policy requires regulated record handling, confirm that encryption, access controls, and retention settings align with your internal security standard.

For mobile signing, signNow works on iOS and Android. Native mobile signing is valid under ESIGN and UETA when the signer intends to sign and the record is retained properly.

If a signer disputes a record, the audit trail, timestamps, and signer authentication details are the first evidence to review. signNow keeps the signing history with the completed document for later retrieval.

28M+Documents signed

13+Years in business

4.6/5Average G2 rating