Digital Signature Partner for Secure eSignatures

Award-winning eSignature solution

What a digital signature partner does

A digital signature partner is a platform that lets people sign documents electronically, track each signing step, and store a reliable record of the transaction. In the U.S., it supports legally valid eSignatures by connecting the signer, the document, and the evidence of consent. signNow sends the file to the right people, captures identity and timing details, and preserves an audit trail so the signed record can be reviewed later if needed.

Why digital signature partner matters

It reduces paper handling, shortens turnaround time, and creates a clearer record of consent. Under ESIGN and UETA, properly executed electronic signatures can be enforceable, and signNow helps support that outcome with audit trails, authentication options, and tamper-evident records.

Why teams look for DocuSign alternatives

Common implementation challenges

Signer identity can be hard to prove when teams rely only on email links and weak access controls.
Document versions can drift when multiple people edit files outside a controlled signing workflow.
Audit evidence can be incomplete if timestamps, IP data, or signer actions are not retained.
Compliance reviews slow down when retention rules, consent records, and access logs are scattered across systems.

Real estate

Real estate teams send leases, disclosures, and closing forms for remote signing and faster turnaround.

Regulated workflows

Healthcare and finance teams collect consent, approvals, and regulated forms with audit-ready records.

People who benefit most

Kodi-Marie Evans, Director of NetSuite Operations at Xerox, described the need for flexibility to get the right signatures on the right documents in the right formats through NetSuite-connected workflows.
Tim Martin, Founder of Martin Properties, used online execution to process documents on mobile and offline while keeping compliance and built-in security in place for property transactions.

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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.

Routing

signNow routes documents to the right signer, captures completion status, and keeps the process moving without paper handoffs or repeated manual follow-up.

Templates

Templates reduce repeat setup for leases, forms, and approvals, so teams can reuse approved document structures with less rework.

Audit trail

Audit trails record signer actions, timestamps, and document events, which helps support defensible records for internal review or disputes.

Mobile signing

Mobile signing lets recipients review and sign from phones or tablets, which helps remote teams and field workers complete documents faster.

Bulk send

Bulk send supports repeated outreach to many recipients while keeping each signing request organized and traceable.

Role control

Role-based workflows help assign signers in sequence or parallel, which is useful when approvals must follow a defined order.

Connected systems and workflows

Connected systems move documents, contacts, and approvals into signNow so signing happens inside existing business workflows.

How the signing flow works

The signing flow moves from document preparation to final recordkeeping in a clear sequence.

Prepare: Upload the document and choose the signing order.
Route: Send the request to each signer.
Sign: Signers review, sign, and return the file.
Record: signNow stores the completed record and audit trail.

Quick setup steps

Use a short setup sequence to prepare, send, and retain signed documents in signNow.

Add document:
Upload the file and add required fields.
Set recipients:
Assign recipients and set the signing order.
Send request:
Send the request and monitor progress.
Save record:
Download or store the completed document.

Setting	Recommendation
Authentication method	SMS OTP for higher assurance
Signature type	SES for routine 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 and device requirements

signNow works across major desktop browsers and mobile operating systems, with secure transport over TLS for web access.

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

For managed deployments, confirm browser policy, device controls, and access rules before rollout. Enterprise teams often pair signNow with SSO, API access, and retention policies that match internal governance or regulated recordkeeping needs.

Security and compliance snapshot

Transport security:

TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

Data protection:

AES-256 at rest

Independent controls:

SOC 2 Type II available

Security management:

ISO 27001 certified

Health data:

HIPAA support with BAA

FDA records:

21 CFR Part 11 support

Technology distribution

Tech Data used signNow to improve internal and external customer service while increasing speed to revenue.

Bob Dutkowsky, CEO, described the operational impact.
The workflow supported faster document turnaround.

The result was a faster path from document request to completed signature, with a workflow that fit both internal operations and customer-facing processes.

Enterprise operations

Xerox used signNow with NetSuite to get the right signatures on the right documents in the right formats.

Kodi-Marie Evans led NetSuite operations.
Integration helped match document format to workflow needs.

The integration-centered approach helped Xerox align signatures with business rules, which reduced manual handling and kept document routing tied to existing systems.

Best practices for reliable signing

A controlled setup improves consistency, evidence quality, and document handling across teams that rely on electronic signatures.

Set signer order first

Define signer roles before sending the document. Use sequential routing when approvals must happen in order, and parallel routing when multiple recipients can sign independently. Clear role assignment reduces errors and keeps the audit trail easier to review.

Standardize repeat documents

Use templates for repeated forms. Standardize fields, required signatures, and routing rules for leases, consent forms, or approvals so each request starts from the same approved structure and avoids manual rework.

Match verification to risk

Match authentication to document risk. Use stronger verification for sensitive records, such as SMS OTP or identity checks, when the transaction needs stronger attribution than a simple email-based request.

Align retention and access

Keep retention and access rules aligned. Store completed files in a controlled repository, limit who can edit templates, and apply retention periods that match HIPAA, finance, or internal policy requirements.

FAQ and troubleshooting

These answers focus on plan limits, compliance requirements, and recordkeeping details that affect day-to-day use.

signNow Business starts at $8/user/mo with annual billing. Business Premium adds bulk send, and Enterprise adds advanced signer authentication. If you need HIPAA support, confirm the BAA requirement before rollout.

A 7-day free trial is available with no credit card required. If the trial ends before testing is complete, move to a paid plan to keep templates, audit trails, and sending features active.

Bulk send is included in Business Premium. If you do not see it, check whether the account is on Business instead of Business Premium, because plan level controls feature availability.

signNow provides audit trails on paid plans. If a completed file lacks activity details, verify that the document was sent through signNow rather than uploaded as a static PDF outside the workflow.

HIPAA use requires a BAA and appropriate safeguards. signNow’s compliance support includes HIPAA, but the covered entity must still configure access controls, retention, and user authentication correctly.

For 21 CFR Part 11 workflows, use unique user IDs, time-stamped audit trails, and controlled access. signNow supports regulated recordkeeping, but validation and internal procedures remain the customer’s responsibility.

Criteria	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign
ESIGN and UETA	Yes	Yes	Yes
Audit trail	Yes	Yes	Yes
Starting price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo
HIPAA support	Yes	Yes	Yes

Day 1:

Set up the account and template library.

Day 2:

Send the first document for signature.

Week 1:

Onboard the core team and reviewers.

7-day trial:

Free trial ends after 7 days.

HIPAA retention:

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

21 CFR Part 11:

Maintain secure audit trails and validation records.

Business Premium:

Bulk send is included on this plan.

Enterprise rollout:

Use advanced signer authentication and integrations.

Risks of improper use

Weak attribution

Document may be disputed.

Missing logs

Audit evidence may fail.

No BAA

HIPAA records may be noncompliant.

Validation gap

Part 11 records may be rejected.

Signer authentication:

Verify the signer with the selected authentication method.

Timestamp capture:

Capture the action time in UTC.

Document hashing:

Hash the document before and after signing.

Tamper sealing:

Apply a tamper-evident seal to the record.

Event logging:

Log each event in the audit trail.

Audit export:

Export the audit trail for review or retention.

	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 days	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
Envelope cap	No cap	100/user/year	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified

28M+Documents signed

13+Years in business

4.6/5Average G2 rating