Electronic Signature Service Providers for SignNow

Award-winning eSignature solution

What electronic signature service providers do

Electronic signature service providers are platforms that let people sign documents electronically and help businesses collect, track, and store those signatures. In the U.S., they support agreements by showing signer identity, intent, and document history. A sender uploads a file, adds signers and fields, and sends it for signature. The platform records each step, applies an audit trail, and returns a completed, tamper-evident document for storage or sharing.

Why electronic signatures matter

They reduce paper handling, speed turnaround, and preserve evidence of consent. Under ESIGN and UETA, properly executed electronic signatures can be enforceable in the U.S., provided the signer’s intent, attribution, and record integrity are maintained.

Why teams look for DocuSign alternatives

Common implementation challenges

Signer identity checks can be too weak for higher-risk agreements, which makes attribution harder to defend later.
Missing consent language can create disputes when a recipient never agreed to electronic delivery or signing.
Poor template control can lead to version errors, wrong fields, or signatures collected on outdated documents.
Incomplete audit records can weaken evidence if a signed file is challenged in court or during review.

Real estate

Real estate teams use leases, addenda, disclosures, and rental applications to keep transactions moving without in-person meetings.

Healthcare

Healthcare organizations collect patient forms, consent documents, and internal approvals while keeping HIPAA workflows organized.

Typical users and personas

A director of NetSuite operations at a global manufacturer uses signNow to route the right documents to the right people in the right format. The workflow matters when approvals must match ERP data, preserve order, and reduce manual rework across finance and operations teams.
A founder at a healthcare provider uses signNow to collect signatures on patient-facing forms and internal approvals with API support and compliance controls. The value is consistent document handling across desktop and mobile, plus a record trail that supports regulated workflows.

be ready to get more

Get legally-binding signatures now!

Start free trial

Request a call

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.

Workflow routing

Create signing workflows that move documents from sender to signer with clear status tracking, reminders, and completion records.

Audit evidence

Capture signer intent with fields, timestamps, and audit history that support defensible records in U.S. transactions.

Reusable templates

Use templates to standardize repeat documents and cut setup time for recurring agreements, forms, and approvals.

Mobile signing

Collect signatures on phones, tablets, and desktops so people can review and sign where they already work.

Signing order

Apply role-based signing order when documents need sequential review, approval, or multiple signers in a fixed sequence.

Secure storage

Store completed files with tamper-evident records so teams can retrieve signed documents without rebuilding the workflow.

Integration options for connected workflows

Connected systems move documents, signer data, and completed records between signNow and the tools teams already use every day.

How the signing flow works

The process follows a simple sequence from document preparation to completed record retention.

Prepare file: Upload a document and prepare signature fields.
Assign signers: Add recipients and set the signing order.
Distribute: Send the document and track each action.
Complete record: Store the completed file with its audit trail.

Quick setup steps

Use a short setup sequence to prepare, send, and finish a signing request.

Upload:
Upload the document you want signed.
Add fields:
Place signature, date, and text fields.
Add recipients:
Enter signer names and email addresses.
Send:
Review the workflow, then send it.

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

Platform and system requirements

signNow works across major desktop and mobile environments, with browser-based access and native apps for signing on the go.

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

For regulated or enterprise deployments, managed devices, SSO, API access, and retention controls matter more than the device itself. Teams should also confirm browser policy, mobile app permissions, and any certificate or validation requirements before rollout.

Security and compliance snapshot

Encryption:

TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

Data protection:

AES-256 at rest

Assurance:

SOC 2 Type II available

Security management:

ISO 27001 certified

Healthcare compliance:

HIPAA support with BAA

Regulated records:

21 CFR Part 11 controls

Technology distribution

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

Bob Dutkowsky, CEO, Tech Data
Internal and external customer service

The workflow supported faster document turnaround and better coordination across customer-facing and internal processes.

Enterprise operations

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

Kodi-Marie Evans, Director of NetSuite Operations, Xerox
NetSuite-connected document routing

The integration helped align approvals with ERP-driven workflows and reduced manual handling across document types.

Best practices for rollout

A careful rollout reduces errors, supports compliance, and makes the signing process easier for both senders and recipients.

Separate approvals from signatures

Use role-based routing for documents that need review before signature. Keep the order fixed, limit unnecessary signers, and separate approval steps from signature steps so the audit trail stays clear and the process is easier to defend later.

Standardize repeat documents

Standardize templates for repeat forms, then lock fields that should not change. This reduces errors, shortens setup time, and keeps language consistent across teams, departments, and locations.

Align authentication with risk

Match authentication strength to document risk. Use stronger verification for financial, healthcare, or high-value agreements, and keep consent records when recipients sign electronically.

Set retention and access rules

Set retention and access rules before rollout. Define who can send, edit, view, and export records, then keep completed files and audit trails according to the applicable policy or regulation.

Day 1:

Set up the account, templates, and access rules.

Day 2:

Send the first document for signature.

Week 1:

Onboard the core team and review audit exports.

7-day trial:

signNow free trial lasts 7 days, no credit card required.

HIPAA retention:

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

Part 11 records:

Retain electronic records and audit trails under 21 CFR Part 11 policies.

UETA adoption:

49 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have adopted UETA.

Annual review:

Recheck authentication, retention, and access controls each year.

Risks of poor implementation

Weak attribution

Document may be harder to enforce.

Missing audit trail

Audit evidence may be rejected.

Retention failure

Regulatory review may flag the record.

No electronic consent

Signer consent dispute may arise.

No BAA

PHI handling may violate HIPAA.

Signer authentication:

Verify the signer with the chosen authentication method before access is granted.

Timestamp capture:

Record UTC timestamps for each view, click, and signature event.

Document hashing:

Hash the document before and after signing to detect changes.

Tamper-evident sealing:

Apply a tamper-evident seal so later edits break validation.

Audit record storage:

Store the full event history with the completed file.

Audit export:

Export the audit trail for review, litigation, or compliance checks.

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

signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Acrobat Sign	PandaDoc
ESIGN and UETA	Yes	Yes	Yes
Audit trails	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Volume limits	Unlimited	Envelope cap	Not verified

FAQ and troubleshooting

These answers focus on plan limits, compliance needs, and access issues that matter when teams use signNow for electronic signatures.

signNow Business starts at $8/user/month billed annually, and paid plans include unlimited users. If you need bulk send, Business Premium adds it, while Enterprise adds advanced signer authentication. For HIPAA workflows, a BAA is required.

signNow supports ESIGN and UETA compliance, plus audit trails and tamper-evident records. For healthcare records, HIPAA retention is 6 years from the date of creation or last effective date, whichever is later, under 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2).

signNow records signer activity, timestamps, and document history in the audit trail. That evidence helps support attribution and intent under ESIGN and UETA, and it can be exported for review when a transaction needs proof of signing.

If a signer cannot complete a document on mobile, confirm browser support, app permissions, and the signing link. signNow supports Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, iOS, and Android, so most access issues come from local settings rather than the platform.

For regulated records, signNow offers controls that support HIPAA, 21 CFR Part 11, SOC 2 Type II, and ISO 27001 requirements. Use stronger authentication, access controls, and retention rules when the document set includes PHI or FDA-regulated records.

signNow’s Business, Business Premium, and Enterprise plans cover most team workflows, while Site License is designed for 1000+ documents per year with unlimited users. If you need SSO, full API access, or phone support, Site License is the relevant option.

28M+Documents signed

13+Years in business

4.6/5Average G2 rating