Docusign eSignature Features Official for SignNow
Award-winning eSignature solution
What SignNow does
SignNow is an eSignature platform that lets U.S. businesses send, sign, and store documents electronically instead of printing and scanning paper forms. A sender uploads a file, adds signature fields, and routes it to one or more recipients. Each signer completes the document online or on mobile, and SignNow preserves the signed file, timestamps, and audit trail so the transaction can be reviewed later for compliance, storage, or disputes.
Legal value in U.S. transactions
SignNow helps U.S. businesses execute records electronically while keeping the evidence needed for enforceability under ESIGN and UETA. The practical value is faster turnaround, cleaner document handling, and a preserved record of intent, identity, and completion. For exclusions such as wills or certain court orders, electronic signing should not replace the required form.
Security and compliance snapshot
Encryption:
Data storage:
Control reporting:
Security management:
Privacy alignment:
Healthcare compliance:
Key features and benefits
These features matter because they reduce manual handling, keep records organized, and support electronic signing in both routine and regulated workflows.
Mobile signing
Signers complete documents on desktop or mobile without printing, scanning, or mailing paper. That shortens turnaround, supports remote work, and keeps the signed file and audit trail tied to the same record.
Reusable templates
Templates store reusable fields, signer order, and document structure so teams can send recurring forms with fewer setup errors. This is useful for contracts, HR documents, and approval requests that repeat across departments.
Audit trail
Audit trails record signature events, timestamps, and document activity so teams can review who acted, when they acted, and what changed. That helps with disputes, internal reviews, and retention workflows.
Signer verification
Signer authentication options support higher assurance for sensitive workflows, including SMS OTP and ID verification. That helps teams match the verification method to the transaction’s risk level and compliance needs.
Workflow routing
Shared links and routed workflows can move documents through multiple approvers in sequence, which keeps approval steps orderly for legal, finance, and operations teams working across locations.
Unlimited users
All paid plans include unlimited users at no extra cost, which makes it easier for teams to scale document sending without changing the user count for every new participant.
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.
Vendor comparison snapshot
A brief comparison helps place SignNow against other major eSignature vendors on pricing, support, and core workflow features.
| SignNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | Dropbox Sign |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal compliance baseline | Recommended | Yes | Yes | |
| Starting price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | |
| Free trial | 7-day trial | Not verified | Not verified | |
| Bulk send | Yes | Yes | Not verified | |
| Audit trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| HIPAA support | Yes, BAA required | Yes, BAA available | Not verified |
Best-fit business types
Different business sizes use SignNow in different ways, but all of them benefit from faster document handling and clearer approval records.
A solo law practice or independent consultant can use SignNow for client engagements, NDAs, and retainers that need fast turnaround without managing a large admin team. Templates, unlimited users on paid plans, and audit trails help keep the process organized while staying practical for small-volume workflows. A mid-size healthcare or real estate business can use SignNow for intake forms, leases, consent packets, and follow-up approvals that move through multiple staff members. HIPAA-aligned handling, mobile signing, and document retention controls matter when teams need speed without losing record integrity. An enterprise operations group can use SignNow for high-volume approvals, integrations, and delegated sending across many departments. The Business Premium, Enterprise, and Site License tiers support more complex routing, system connections, and policy controls for larger organizations with structured approval chains.
These tasks are executed by both individual contributors and centralized administrators depending on organizational policy and required controls.
User roles and permissions
Legal operations managers use SignNow to centralize contract templates, control delegated sending, and limit access to approved staff. Shared templates keep standard language consistent, while admin controls help route agreements through the right signing sequence without creating duplicate documents across teams. Sales and revenue operations teams rely on SignNow to manage approvals, customer-facing agreements, and delegated sending at scale. Admins can standardize templates, control permissions, and let designated users send on behalf of others while keeping auditability intact for review and reporting.
Browser and device support
SignNow works across major desktop and mobile environments, with secure browser sessions protected by TLS 1.2/1.3 and mobile access available on iOS and Android.
Browsers Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge Operating systems Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Security layer TLS 1.2/1.3 required
Enterprises and regulated teams often pair browser access with managed devices, SSO provisioning, API access, and retention controls. That setup helps administrators keep permissions aligned with business rules while preserving the evidence needed for audits, disputes, or compliance reviews.
Signing workflow timeline
This timeline shows the main signing stages from preparation through archival, using clear steps that match a standard electronic workflow.
Document preparation
Delivery to signers
Signer turnaround
Completion and archival
Document retention schedule
Retention periods depend on the governing rule, the industry, and the document class. Keep the signed record and its audit trail together whenever possible.
6 years for HIPAA records
As required for tax records
6 years for FINRA records
As required under SEC rules
As required for FERPA records
What sits inside the audit trail
An audit trail adds technical evidence around each signature event, which helps show the document’s history, integrity, and signer attribution.
Signer authentication:
Timestamp capture:
Document hashing:
Tamper-evident sealing:
Event logging:
Audit export:
Recommended workflow settings
A clear setup helps keep signing fast, defensible, and easier to manage across routine business records and regulated document sets.
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Authentication method | SMS OTP for sensitive records |
| Signature type | SES for routine forms |
| Audit trail | Enable full event logging |
| Document retention | 6 years for HIPAA records |
| Encryption | TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256 |
Practical setup habits
Good setup keeps workflows consistent, reduces avoidable errors, and preserves evidence that can support legal, compliance, and internal review needs.
Standardize recurring templates
Match authentication to risk
Set record-specific retention
Keep linked evidence packages
Common workflow pain points
Users sometimes send documents with unnecessary edits or incomplete fields, which creates resend cycles and delays final signature collection. Teams can lose track of signer order when templates are reused without checking routing, causing approvals to stall mid-process. Mobile signers may struggle if the document is not formatted for small screens, making review and completion slower than expected. Administrators can overuse broad permissions, which exposes documents to people who do not need access for their role.
Risks when eSignatures are handled poorly
Weak attribution
Audit gap
Consent defect
Access mistake
Documents and audiences
Real estate
Real estate teams use SignNow for leases, rental applications, and closing packets, often with mobile signing and quick turnaround for tenants, agents, and property managers. The workflow works well when multiple parties need a simple, trackable way to finish standard documents online.
Healthcare
Healthcare staff use SignNow for patient forms, release authorizations, and consent documents that need clear identity checks and stored audit evidence. The platform helps clinics collect signatures on desktop or mobile while keeping records organized for compliance and internal review.
Quick setup steps
Use these basic steps to move a document from draft to signed record without introducing unnecessary complexity.
Prepare the file:
Upload the document and add required fields. Route the document:
Choose recipients and set the signing order. Deliver for signature:
Send the request by email or link. Store the result:
Review completion and save the final record.
How the signing flow works
The workflow follows a simple sequence from document prep through completion, with each step leaving an auditable record of activity.
Prepare: Upload the file and define the signing order. Deliver: Send it by email or link. Sign: Signer reviews and completes required fields. Complete: The system stores the completed record and audit trail.
Pricing and feature snapshot
The pricing view below uses verified annual entry-tier data and notes when a competitor value is not confirmed in the source material.
| Features | SignNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | Dropbox Sign |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Audit trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA support | Yes, BAA required | Yes, BAA available | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
Industry examples and outcomes
These industry cards highlight how SignNow supports regulated and operational workflows in real estate, healthcare, and other document-heavy sectors.
Real estate
A property founder needed to execute documents online while keeping compliance and security intact for mobile and offline work.
- Mobile and offline signing
- Martin Properties
Martin Properties reports 100% compliance and built-in security while processing and executing documents online, which makes mobile and offline signing practical for real estate workflows that often need fast turnaround and clear recordkeeping.
Healthcare
A fertility center needed responsive support, reliable API access, and a simpler way to manage patient-facing documents.
- API-enabled workflows
- Fertility Centers of Illinois
Fertility Centers of Illinois says the SignNow team was exceptional and the API worked well, helping staff manage patient documents with a cleaner workflow and reliable integration support.
FAQ and troubleshooting
These answers cover setup, compliance, and workflow issues that often affect electronic signing, retention, and signer verification.
Check whether the sender used a supported signNow plan. Business includes core eSignatures and audit trails, while higher tiers add bulk sending, kiosk mode, or advanced authentication. If the signing request fails, confirm the recipient received the link and that the document was not left incomplete before routing.
For HIPAA workflows, use a plan and configuration that support a BAA, unique user identification, audit controls, and retention of signed records. signNow’s compliance features align with HIPAA Security Rule expectations, but the covered entity still needs proper account setup and document handling procedures.
If a recipient says the signature is not valid, verify that the document preserved the audit trail, timestamps, and signer attribution. A weak consent record or altered file can undermine evidentiary value under ESIGN and UETA, even when the signature itself was completed online.
Missing audit trail data usually points to a workflow issue rather than a legal one. Review delivery, viewing, signing, and completion events, then export the final PDF and log together. For regulated records, keep the trail with the signed file for future review.
If you need stronger identity checks, use SMS OTP, ID verification, or other authentication options available in higher-tier workflows. Knowledge-based checks are weaker, so sensitive transactions often benefit from a stronger method that better supports attribution and non-repudiation.
If mobile signing is not working, confirm browser support, app version, and device permissions on iOS or Android. SignNow supports mobile workflows, but offline signing and camera capture depend on the device, file format, and the permissions granted by the user.
Key performance indicators that demonstrate SignNow's proven track record.