Create and Save Electronic Signature with signNow

Award-winning eSignature solution

What create and save electronic signature means

Create and save electronic signature means making a signer’s electronic mark, attaching it to a document, and storing the signed file with its record history. In practice, signNow lets a user upload or prepare a document, place signature fields, collect the signature, and preserve the completed record with timestamps, signer details, and an audit trail. For U.S. transactions, the key purpose is to support consent, attribution, and record retention in a format that can be reviewed later if questions arise.

Why electronic signatures matter legally

A create and save electronic signature workflow reduces paper handling, speeds approvals, and preserves evidence of consent. Under ESIGN and UETA, an electronic signature can be enforceable when the signer’s intent, attribution, and record integrity are maintained, which is why audit trails and retention matter.

Why teams look for DocuSign alternatives

Frequent issues in electronic signature workflows

Signers may use inconsistent names or email addresses, which makes attribution harder during review or dispute resolution.
Missing consent language can weaken proof that the signer agreed to use electronic records and signatures.
Poor retention practices can leave completed agreements without the audit trail needed for later verification.
Weak access controls can expose signed documents, especially when teams share accounts or reuse credentials.

Real estate

Real estate teams use electronic signatures for leases, disclosures, and rental applications that need fast turnaround.

Healthcare

Healthcare organizations use them for intake forms, consent documents, and HIPAA-covered records with controlled access.

Teams that benefit most

Operations leaders in property firms use signNow to route leases, addenda, and tenant forms without printing or scanning. They often need mobile signing, reusable templates, and a clear record of who signed, when they signed, and which version they approved.
NetSuite operations managers and enterprise admins use signNow to connect signature requests with ERP workflows. Xerox’s customer story highlights the need to get the right signatures on the right documents in the right formats, which fits approval-heavy back-office processes.

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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.

Document routing

Upload a file, place signature fields, and collect signatures in a guided flow that keeps the document version consistent from start to finish.

Saved records

Store signed files with timestamps, signer details, and history so the completed record is easier to review later.

Reusable templates

Use templates for repeat agreements, which reduces setup time for leases, intake forms, and approvals that follow the same structure.

Mobile signing

Send documents from mobile devices, which helps field teams and remote signers complete approvals without returning to an office.

Audit trail

Track each action in an audit trail, which supports internal review and later evidence of consent or intent.

Access control

Control access with user permissions, which helps limit who can prepare, send, view, or manage signed documents.

Connections that fit signature workflows

Connected systems move signature requests into the tools teams already use, while keeping signed records tied to business data and storage.

How the signing flow works

The signing process follows a simple sequence from document preparation through final storage, with each step recorded for later review.

Prepare file: Upload the document and add signature fields.
Route for signing: Send it to the signer for review.
Collect signature: Capture the signature and completion details.
Store final copy: Save the signed record with its history.

Quick steps to create and save

Use a short setup sequence to prepare the document, collect the signature, and keep the completed file organized.

Upload:
Upload the document into signNow.
Place fields:
Add signature and date fields.
Send:
Enter signer emails and send.
Save:
Download or store the completed file.

Setting	Recommendation
Authentication method	SMS OTP
Signature type	SES
Audit trail	Enable full event log
Document retention	6 years for HIPAA records
Encryption	TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256

Platform support for signing

Create and save electronic signature workflows run in modern browsers and on mobile devices, with secure transport and device-friendly signing options.

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

For regulated use, managed devices, access controls, and retention policies matter as much as browser support. Organizations often pair browser access with SSO, API access, and documented storage rules so signed records stay available, protected, and reviewable across teams and systems.

Security and compliance controls

Transport security:

TLS protects data in transit

At-rest encryption:

AES-256 protects stored files

Independent controls:

SOC 2 Type II available

Security management:

ISO 27001 certified environment

Healthcare compliance:

HIPAA support with BAA

Privacy framework:

GDPR and eIDAS aligned

Real estate operations

A property operations leader needed faster lease execution across locations and mobile devices.

Tim Martin, Founder at Martin Properties, said he could process and execute documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security.
Mobile signing reduced delays for field and office teams.

The workflow supported online execution, mobile use, and a documented record of completion, which fit lease and rental document handling without paper handoffs.

ERP operations

An ERP operations team needed the right signatures on the right documents in the right formats.

Kodi-Marie Evans, Director of NetSuite Operations at Xerox, described flexibility tied to the NetSuite integration.
The team could route documents based on business rules.

The integration-centered workflow helped match signature requests to internal formats and approval paths, which is useful when document routing depends on system data and role-based review.

Best practices for stored signatures

Good setup choices make signed records easier to verify, retain, and review across business, legal, and compliance workflows.

Verify signer identity before sending

Use a named signer identity, verified email, and a clear consent step before sending the document. This helps preserve attribution and makes the completed record easier to defend if the signature is later questioned.

Limit templates to one document type

Keep templates narrow and document-specific so each agreement only includes the fields needed for that transaction. That reduces errors, limits confusion for signers, and makes stored records easier to compare later.

Preserve the full record history

Turn on audit trail retention and store the completed PDF in a controlled repository. Preserve timestamps, signer actions, and version history so the final file can support internal review or legal discovery.

Use role-based access controls

Assign permissions by role, not by shared account, and review access regularly. This helps protect signed records, reduces accidental edits, and supports regulated workflows that require clear user accountability.

FAQ and troubleshooting

These answers focus on plan limits, compliance needs, and the recordkeeping details that matter when signatures must be stored and reviewed later.

signNow Business starts at $8/user/month billed annually, and the plan includes legally binding eSignatures, audit trails, templates, mobile apps, ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR support. If you need bulk send, Business Premium adds it.

signNow supports ESIGN and UETA workflows when the signer’s intent, attribution, and record integrity are preserved. Use the audit trail, consent capture, and completed PDF storage to support enforceability in U.S. transactions.

For HIPAA workflows, signNow can be used with a BAA. HIPAA requires unique user identification, access controls, audit controls, and integrity protections under 45 CFR 164.312, plus 6-year retention under 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2).

If a signer cannot complete the document on mobile, check browser support first. signNow works in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, and it also supports iOS and Android apps for mobile signing.

Bulk send is included in Business Premium. If your team needs higher-volume routing, compare plan limits before sending, because the Business plan is designed for standard signing requests and templates.

For regulated records, keep the completed document, audit trail, and retention policy together. signNow’s audit trail supports review of signer actions, timestamps, and document history, which helps with 21 CFR Part 11, HIPAA, and ESIGN evidence needs.

signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc
Legally binding eSignatures	Yes	Yes	Yes
Audit trail	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Envelope cap	No cap	100/yr	Plan-based
Starting price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo

Setup day:

Create the account, set permissions, and prepare templates.

First send:

Route the first document after internal review.

Team onboarding:

Train users on templates, audit trails, and storage.

Free trial:

7-day 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, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have adopted UETA.

Enterprise rollout:

Add SSO, API access, and role-based provisioning as needed.

Regulated records:

Keep the signed file, audit trail, and retention policy together.

Risks of poor signature handling

Weak attribution

Document may be harder to enforce.

Missing audit trail

Audit evidence may be incomplete.

No BAA

HIPAA records may fail review.

Tamper risk

Record integrity may be challenged.

Authenticate signer:

Verify the signer through the selected method.

Capture timestamps:

Record the exact UTC time of each action.

Create document hash:

Hash the document before and after signing.

Apply tamper seal:

Seal the file so later edits are detectable.

Bind audit trail:

Store the event log with the signed PDF.

Retrieve audit trail:

Export the history for review or discovery.

	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	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified
Audit trail	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
HIPAA compliance	BAA required	BAA available	BAA available	Not verified	Not verified

28M+Documents signed

13+Years in business

4.6/5Average G2 rating