Getting Electronic Signature With signNow
Award-winning eSignature solution
What getting electronic signature means
Getting electronic signature means using a digital method to sign a record instead of printing and signing on paper. In the U.S., the signer reviews the document, confirms intent, and applies a signature through a browser, mobile device, or app. signNow records the signing event, captures timestamps, and preserves an audit trail. The result is a signed file that can be stored, shared, and verified without manual handling or physical delivery delays.
Why electronic signatures matter
Electronic signatures reduce turnaround time, lower paper handling, and support remote signing. Under ESIGN and UETA, they can be legally enforceable when intent, consent, and attribution are documented, which makes them suitable for many U.S. business workflows.
Common signing challenges
Signer confusion over consent screens can delay completion when the document does not clearly explain what is being signed. Weak identity checks can make attribution harder to defend if a signer later disputes the transaction. Missing audit details can leave gaps in the record when a team needs to show who signed and when. Poor document preparation can cause field errors, routing mistakes, or repeated resend cycles before final signature.
Who uses electronic signatures
Real estate
Real estate teams use electronic signatures for lease agreements, disclosures, and rental applications that need fast turnaround.
Healthcare
Healthcare organizations use them for patient forms, consent records, and HIPAA workflows that require secure handling.
People who benefit most
Coordinates lease packets, disclosures, and renewal forms across brokers, tenants, and property managers. signNow customer stories from real estate teams often point to faster turnaround, simpler mobile signing, and fewer in-person handoffs when documents move between office and field staff. Manages patient intake, consent, and release forms while keeping workflows aligned with HIPAA requirements. signNow customer feedback from healthcare users often emphasizes mobile access, audit trails, and easier collection of signatures from patients, caregivers, and administrative staff.
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.
Core features and benefits
signNow supports signing, routing, and recordkeeping in one workflow, which helps teams manage signatures with less manual coordination.
Browser signing
Capture signatures from a browser or mobile device, then store the signed record with timestamps and an audit trail for later review.
Routing
Route documents to one signer or many signers in sequence, which helps teams manage approvals without manual follow-up.
Templates
Use reusable templates to prepare recurring forms faster, especially when the same document goes to many recipients.
Status tracking
Track document status from sent to completed, so teams can see where a signature request is waiting.
Mobile access
Collect signatures on phones and tablets, which helps field teams and remote recipients finish documents without a desktop.
Record storage
Keep signed files organized with searchable records, making it easier to retrieve completed documents for audits or internal review.
How the signing flow works
The signing process follows a short sequence from document delivery to completed record, with signNow capturing the evidence along the way.
Open document: The signer opens the document and reviews the request. Confirm intent: The signer confirms intent and applies the signature. Log activity: signNow records timestamps and activity details. Finish record: The completed file is stored and shared.
Quick setup steps
Use a simple setup sequence to prepare a document, assign recipients, and send it for signature.
Upload file:
Upload the document you want signed. Place fields:
Add signature fields and required inputs. Set recipients:
Enter signer email addresses and order. Send request:
Send the request and monitor progress.
Recommended workflow settings
A practical setup balances signer convenience, record integrity, and the level of assurance needed for the document type.
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Authentication method | SMS OTP for higher-risk forms |
| Signature type | SES for routine U.S. contracts |
| Audit trail | Enable full time-stamped logging |
| Document retention | 6 years for HIPAA records |
| Encryption | TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256 |
Platform and device support
signNow works across modern browsers and mobile operating systems, so users can sign from office desktops, laptops, phones, and tablets.
Desktop browsers Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge Desktop systems Windows, macOS Mobile systems iOS, Android
For regulated workflows, managed devices, current browser versions, and stable network access help preserve access controls and signing reliability. Mobile signing is available on iOS and Android, while desktop use is supported on Windows and macOS through Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
Security and compliance
Data encryption:
Transport security:
Security controls:
Information management:
Healthcare compliance:
Regulated workflows:
Real-world use cases
Customer stories show how signNow fits document-heavy workflows where speed, compliance, and integration matter at the same time.
NetSuite operations
A NetSuite operations leader needed tighter control over document routing across teams and formats.
- Right document, right format, right signature
- NetSuite integration improved routing control
The workflow became easier to manage across internal and external approvals, with the right signatures attached to the right documents. That kind of control matters when teams need consistent records, fewer manual corrections, and a clearer path from document creation to completion.
Real estate founder
A real estate founder needed to execute documents online while keeping security and compliance visible.
- Mobile and offline signing helped field work
- 100% compliance and built-in security
The result was a faster online process for leases and related forms, with mobile access supporting work away from the office. For property workflows, that combination of speed, security, and recordkeeping helps reduce delays without changing the underlying document requirements.
Best practices for signing
A few process choices can make electronic signing easier to defend, easier to review, and easier to repeat across teams.
Define signer order
Match authentication to risk
Standardize templates
Review and retain records
FAQs and troubleshooting
These answers focus on plan limits, compliance needs, and recordkeeping questions that often come up during implementation.
signNow Business starts at $8/user/mo with annual billing. It includes legally binding eSignatures, audit trails, templates, mobile apps, ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR support.
The 7-day free trial requires no credit card. It lets you test document sending, signing, and core workflow features before choosing a paid plan.
For HIPAA workflows, signNow supports BAA-backed use when PHI is involved. HIPAA retention rules require signed documents containing PHI to be kept for 6 years under 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2).
signNow supports audit trails that record signer activity, timestamps, and document history. That evidence helps support ESIGN and UETA enforceability when a signature is challenged.
Bulk send is included in Business Premium, while Enterprise adds advanced signer authentication and formula fields. If you need higher-volume distribution, compare those plan features before sending.
For EU transactions, signNow supports SES on all plans, while QES is available on Site License. eIDAS distinguishes SES, AES, and QES, and QES has handwritten-signature equivalence.
Vendor comparison
A short comparison helps place signNow alongside other leading eSignature tools on price, compliance, and core workflow features.
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESIGN and UETA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo |
| Free trial | 7-day trial | Trial available | Trial available |
| Audit trail | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA support | BAA available | BAA available | BAA available |
Rollout and retention timeline
This timeline combines early rollout milestones with retention and policy facts that matter after the first signature is sent.
Day 0:
Day 1:
Week 1:
7-day trial:
HIPAA retention:
ESIGN consent:
UETA states:
Record review:
Risks of poor implementation
Document dispute
Weak evidence
Retention gap
Compliance failure
What the audit trail records
The audit trail shows how the signed record was created, verified, and preserved from start to finish.
Signer authentication:
Timestamp capture:
Document hashing:
Tamper-evident sealing:
Audit history:
Trail export:
Pricing and plan features
Pricing varies by vendor, but the main differences usually appear in plan limits, compliance options, and workflow features.
| 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-day free trial | 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 |
| HIPAA compliance | BAA available | BAA available | BAA available | Not verified | Not verified |
Key performance indicators that demonstrate SignNow's proven track record.