Electronic Signature Type Guide for SignNow Users

Award-winning eSignature solution

What an electronic signature type is

An electronic signature type is the method used to sign a record in digital form, from a simple typed name to a higher-assurance signature tied to identity checks and an audit trail. In the U.S., it helps show that a person intended to sign a document and accepted its terms. The process usually involves opening the document, verifying the signer, capturing the signature event, and storing a tamper-evident record of who signed, when, and what was signed.

Why electronic signature type matters

It reduces paper handling, speeds approvals, and supports enforceability under ESIGN and UETA when intent, consent, and attribution are documented. For U.S. businesses, that means faster turnaround with a record that can stand up in routine compliance reviews and disputes.

Why teams look for DocuSign alternatives

Common electronic signature pitfalls

Signer identity can be weak when a workflow relies only on email access and no additional verification.
Missing consent records can create questions about whether the signer agreed to electronic delivery and signing.
Poor audit trails make it harder to prove who signed, when they signed, and what changed.
Retention gaps can leave signed records unavailable during audits, litigation holds, or internal reviews.

Real estate

Lease agreements, rental applications, and closing documents move faster when signatures are collected remotely.

Healthcare

Patient forms, consent records, and intake packets need secure signing and clear retention controls.

Typical users and real roles

At Xerox, the Director of NetSuite Operations uses signNow to route the right signatures to the right documents in the right format. This fits teams that depend on ERP-connected approvals and need consistent document handling across departments and regions.
At Tech Data, the CEO uses signNow to improve internal and external customer service while increasing speed to revenue. This suits organizations that manage high document volume, need faster turnaround, and want a simpler signing process for customers and staff.

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Mobile signing

Collect signatures on desktop or mobile with a process that keeps the signer experience simple and the record easy to track.

Audit trail

Store a secure history of views, clicks, signatures, and timestamps so teams can review the full signing sequence later.

Templates

Use templates for repeat documents to reduce manual setup and keep forms consistent across departments and locations.

Signing order

Route documents in a set order when approvals must happen one step at a time.

Identity checks

Support higher-assurance workflows with authentication options that help tie the signature to a specific person.

Record storage

Keep signed files organized for later review, export, or retention in line with policy needs.

Integrations for connected workflows

Connected systems move signed documents into the tools teams already use, reducing duplicate entry and keeping records aligned across departments.

How the signing flow works

The signing process follows a simple sequence from document delivery to final record storage.

Open document: The signer opens the document and reviews the terms.
Verify signer: The system verifies identity with the chosen method.
Sign document: The signature event is captured with time and record details.
Store record: The completed file is sealed and stored for review.

Quick setup steps

A short setup sequence helps teams launch a signing workflow without extra process overhead.

Prepare document:
Upload the file and prepare the fields.
Assign recipients:
Choose the signer and set the order.
Set controls:
Add authentication and signing instructions.
Send for signature:
Send the document and monitor progress.

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

Electronic signature workflows run in modern browsers and mobile apps, with secure transport and device support across major U.S. platforms.

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

For enterprise or regulated use, managed devices, SSO, API access, and retention controls matter more than the device itself. signNow supports browser-based signing across Windows and macOS, plus iOS and Android access for mobile teams.

Security and compliance safeguards

Encryption:

TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

Data protection:

AES-256 at rest

Security report:

SOC 2 Type II available

Information security:

ISO 27001 certified

Healthcare compliance:

HIPAA supported with BAA

Regulatory coverage:

eIDAS and 21 CFR Part 11 support

NetSuite operations

A NetSuite operations leader needed the right signatures on the right documents without slowing approvals.

Xerox used signNow with NetSuite integration.
Routing matched document type and format.

The workflow reduced manual handling and kept approvals aligned with system data, which helped the team move documents through the business with less rework and clearer control.

Real estate founder

A founder managing property documents needed online execution with compliance, mobile access, and offline flexibility.

Martin Properties processed documents online.
Mobile and offline signing stayed available.

The result was a more practical signing process for property work, with secure execution, better access on mobile, and fewer delays tied to paper handling or in-person meetings.

Best practices for signing workflows

A clear policy makes electronic signatures easier to defend, easier to review, and easier to manage across teams.

Match assurance to risk

Use the lightest authentication method that still matches the document’s risk, then raise assurance for regulated or high-value transactions.

Record electronic consent

Capture signer consent before sending documents electronically, and keep the consent record with the signed file.

Standardize document templates

Keep templates, fields, and routing rules consistent so every signer sees the same process and the same required information.

Define retention rules

Set retention and access rules before rollout so signed records stay available for audits, disputes, and internal reviews.

Day 0:

Set up the workflow and document rules.

Day 1:

Send the first agreement for signature.

Week 1:

Onboard the core team and review logs.

7-day trial:

Free trial lasts 7 days, no credit card required.

HIPAA retention:

Signed PHI records: 6 years per 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2).

U.S. compliance:

ESIGN and UETA support enforceability nationwide.

Part 11 records:

FDA workflows need validated systems and retained history.

Ongoing review:

Recheck access, retention, and authentication after policy changes.

Risks of poor signature handling

Weak attribution

Document may be harder to enforce.

Incomplete logs

Audit evidence may be challenged.

Retention failure

HIPAA records may fail review.

Part 11 gap

FDA records may be rejected.

Signer authentication:

Identity checks are recorded with the signer session.

Timestamp capture:

Each event gets a UTC timestamp.

Document hashing:

The document hash is calculated after signing.

Tamper-evident sealing:

A tamper-evident seal protects the record.

Session metadata:

IP and device details are retained when available.

Audit export:

Audit logs can be exported for review.

	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	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

FAQ and troubleshooting

These answers cover plan limits, compliance needs, and feature availability that affect electronic signature workflows.

Business plan pricing starts at $8/user/month billed annually. The plan includes legally binding eSignatures, audit trails, templates, mobile apps, ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR support.

signNow supports ESIGN and UETA compliance, so signed records can be enforceable when intent, consent, and attribution are captured. The audit trail helps document who signed and when.

HIPAA use requires a BAA. signNow’s compliance profile includes HIPAA support, but the covered entity still needs the agreement in place before handling PHI.

The Business Premium plan adds bulk send. If you need high-volume distribution, that plan is the relevant upgrade path.

signNow has no envelope cap on the Business plan, while DocuSign limits some tiers to 100 envelopes per user per year.

For 21 CFR Part 11 workflows, use controls such as 2FA, session timeouts, e-signature timestamps, and retained document history. Validation remains part of the regulated process.

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

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