Digital Signature Or Wet Signature Guide

Award-winning eSignature solution

What a digital signature or wet signature means

A digital signature or wet signature is a way to show that a person agrees to a document. A wet signature is handwritten on paper, while a digital signature uses cryptographic methods to bind the signer to the record. In U.S. business use, the process usually includes identity verification, signer intent, and a record of the signing event. The result is a signed document that can be stored, shared, and reviewed with evidence of who signed, when they signed, and what they signed.

Why this distinction matters

The choice affects speed, storage, and proof. Under ESIGN and UETA, electronic signatures can be enforceable when intent, consent, and attribution are documented, which helps reduce paper handling and support defensible records.

Why teams look for DocuSign alternatives

Common signing pain points

Paper signatures slow routing when signers are remote, traveling, or working across multiple offices.
Unsigned or incomplete forms create delays when initials, dates, or required witness fields are missed.
Weak identity checks can make it harder to prove who actually signed a document.
Poor recordkeeping can leave teams without a clear audit trail during disputes or reviews.

Real estate

Real estate teams use lease packets, disclosures, and closing forms for remote signing.

Healthcare

Healthcare groups collect patient forms, consent records, and HIPAA-related acknowledgments on mobile devices.

People who rely on eSignatures

A director of NetSuite operations at Xerox uses signNow to route the right documents to the right people in the right format. The workflow matters when approvals depend on system data, role-based routing, and clean handoffs between finance and operations teams.
A founder at Martin Properties uses signNow to execute leases and related forms online with compliance and mobile access in mind. The value is practical: fewer in-person meetings, faster turnaround, and a record of signatures that supports day-to-day real estate transactions.

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

Audit trail

Create a signed record with signer identity, timestamps, and document history that supports review and internal controls.

Routing

Route documents to one signer or many signers without printing, scanning, or manual follow-up.

Mobile signing

Collect signatures from phones, tablets, and desktops so work continues outside the office.

Templates

Use templates for repeat forms, which helps standardize fields and reduce setup time.

Status tracking

Track completion status so teams can see where a document is delayed or waiting.

Digital storage

Store signed files in a searchable format that is easier to retrieve than paper records.

Connected workflows and systems

Connected systems move documents, data, and approvals between the tools teams already use, reducing duplicate entry and manual handoffs.

How the signing process works

The signing flow is straightforward: prepare the document, confirm identity, capture the signature, and store the completed record.

Send: The signer receives a document and reviews the required fields.
Verify: Identity is checked through the chosen authentication method.
Sign: The signer applies a digital signature or wet signature.
Record: The completed record is stored with timestamps and history.

Quick steps to complete signing

Use a short workflow to prepare, send, and finish documents without paper-based delays.

Prepare:
Upload the document and place the required fields.
Assign:
Add signers and set the signing order.
Secure:
Choose the authentication method for each signer.
Send:
Send the document and monitor completion status.
Save:
Download or store the signed file after completion.

Setting	Recommendation
Authentication method	SMS OTP for remote signers
Signature type	Electronic signature with intent capture
Audit trail	Enable full event logging
Document retention	6 years for HIPAA records
Encryption	TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256

Supported devices and browsers

signNow works in modern browsers and on mobile devices, with secure transport and app-based access for signing on the go.

Desktop browsers Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge
Operating systems Windows 11, macOS, iOS, and Android
Mobile access signNow mobile apps on iOS and Android

For regulated deployments, managed devices, SSO, and retention policies matter as much as browser support. Teams should also confirm TLS settings, user provisioning rules, and any required compliance controls before rollout.

Security and compliance snapshot

Transport security:

Encrypts data in transit with TLS 1.2/1.3

Data at rest:

Encrypts stored data with AES-256

HIPAA support:

Supports HIPAA workflows with BAA

SOC 2 Type II:

Maintains SOC 2 Type II controls

ISO 27001:

Supports ISO 27001 aligned practices

Legal framework:

Supports ESIGN and UETA compliance

Operations workflow

A NetSuite operations leader needed the right signatures on the right documents without manual routing delays.

Xerox used signNow with NetSuite integration.

The workflow improved document routing and fit system-driven approvals, which helped the team match signatures to the correct records and reduce back-and-forth across departments.

Real estate signing

A real estate founder needed to process lease documents online while keeping signing flexible for mobile and offline work.

Martin Properties used signNow for online execution.

The result was faster lease execution with a record of completion that supported compliance-focused real estate work and reduced dependence on in-person paper handling.

Practical ways to reduce signing errors

A few setup choices can make signing records easier to verify, easier to store, and easier to defend later.

Route by role

Use role-based routing so each signer receives only the fields and approvals that apply to them. This reduces confusion and helps preserve a clean signing sequence for audits and internal review.

Match authentication to risk

Collect identity evidence before signing when the document has legal or regulatory weight. Use stronger authentication for sensitive transactions, and keep the method consistent across similar document types.

Standardize templates

Keep templates narrow and specific so required fields, dates, and initials are placed the same way every time. Standardized templates reduce errors and make completion faster for repeat workflows.

Store records consistently

Retain signed records in a searchable system with access controls and a defined retention period. This makes it easier to respond to disputes, audits, and internal requests without rebuilding the file history.

FAQ and troubleshooting

These answers cover plan limits, compliance questions, and setup choices that often affect signing workflows.

signNow Business includes legally binding eSignatures, audit trails, templates, and mobile apps. If you need HIPAA support, confirm a BAA and use the HIPAA workflow controls required by 45 CFR 164.312.

The 7-day free trial has no credit card requirement. It is useful for testing document routing, templates, and signer experience before choosing a paid plan.

Bulk send is included in Business Premium. If you need to send the same document to many recipients, that plan is the better fit than the entry tier.

signNow supports ESIGN and UETA compliance, and its audit trail records signer activity, timestamps, and document history. That evidence helps support enforceability in U.S. transactions.

For HIPAA-covered records, retain signed documents for 6 years from the date of creation or last effective date, whichever is later, per 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2).

The Business plan starts at $8/user/month when billed annually. If you need advanced signer authentication or API-heavy workflows, review Enterprise or Site License options.

signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc
ESIGN and UETA	Yes	Yes	Yes
Audit trail	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Starting price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo
Envelope cap	No cap	100 envelopes/year	Not verified

Setup day:

Create the account, set permissions, and prepare templates.

First send:

Send the first document after signer fields are placed.

Team onboarding:

Train users during the first week of rollout.

Free trial:

7 days, no credit card required.

HIPAA retention:

6 years per 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2).

U.S. enforceability:

ESIGN and UETA support electronic signatures.

Business plan:

$8/user/month billed annually.

Enterprise review:

Confirm API, authentication, and retention controls.

Risks of poor signature handling

Weak attribution

Document may be harder to enforce.

Missing trail

Audit evidence may be incomplete.

Retention gap

HIPAA records may fail retention rules.

Signer intent unclear

Disputes may increase after signing.

Signer authentication:

Verifies the signer before the record is accepted.

Timestamp capture:

Records the event time in the audit log.

Document hashing:

Creates a hash of the signed document.

Tamper-evident sealing:

Seals the file so edits are detectable.

Audit record storage:

Stores the event history with the signed record.

Trail retrieval:

Exports the trail for review or evidence.

	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 days	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified
Bulk send	Yes, 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