Making An Electronic Signature With SignNow

Award-winning eSignature solution

What making an electronic signature means

Making an electronic signature means using an electronic sound, symbol, or process to sign a record with intent. In practice, a signer reviews a document, confirms identity, and applies a signature through a web or mobile workflow. The system then records the action, time, and document state so the signed file can be stored, shared, and later verified. Under U.S. law, the key issues are consent, attribution, and evidence of intent, not a specific signature style.

Why electronic signatures matter

They reduce paper handling, speed approvals, and create a record that supports enforceability under ESIGN and UETA when the signer’s intent and attribution are clear.

Why teams look for DocuSign alternatives

Challenges in electronic signing

Signers may abandon the process if identity checks, consent screens, or document steps feel unclear or too long.
Weak authentication can make it harder to show who actually signed and whether the act was intentional.
Missing audit details can leave gaps in evidence if a signed document is later disputed.
Poor retention or export practices can make it difficult to retrieve records for legal, HR, or compliance review.

Real estate

Real estate teams use electronic signatures for leases, disclosures, and rental applications.

Healthcare

Healthcare organizations use them for intake forms, consent packets, and HIPAA workflows.

People who benefit most

A director of NetSuite operations at Xerox uses signNow to route the right signatures on the right documents in the right format. That kind of workflow matters when approvals depend on system data, role-based routing, and consistent recordkeeping across departments.
A founder at Martin Properties uses signNow to execute documents online with built-in security and mobile access. This fits property teams that need fast lease and contract turnaround without in-person meetings, while still keeping a clear record of each signed file.

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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.

Intent capture

Create a signed record with clear signer intent, time stamps, and document history that support later review and internal controls.

Simple workflow

Use guided signing flows that reduce confusion and help recipients complete documents on desktop or mobile devices.

Tamper evidence

Keep a tamper-evident record of the signed file so later changes are easier to detect and investigate.

Faster routing

Route documents in order, collect signatures faster, and reduce manual follow-up across teams and external recipients.

Record access

Store completed documents with searchable history so legal, HR, finance, and operations teams can retrieve them later.

Legal support

Support consent, attribution, and audit evidence needed for U.S. electronic signature enforceability under ESIGN and UETA.

Integrations that connect signing work

Connected systems move documents, contacts, and approvals into signing workflows so teams can keep work inside the tools they already use.

How the signing flow works

The signing process follows a short sequence from document review to final record storage.

Open document: The signer opens the document and reviews the requested fields.
Verify identity: The system confirms identity and captures consent to sign electronically.
Sign document: The signer applies the signature and submits the completed record.
Save record: The platform stores the signed file with its activity history.

Quick steps to get started

Use a short setup sequence to prepare a document for electronic signing.

Upload file:
Upload the document you want signed.
Place fields:
Add signature fields and required details.
Send request:
Send the document to recipients.
Check completion:
Review the completed signed copy.

Setting	Recommendation
Authentication method	SMS OTP
Signature type	SES
Audit trail	UTC timestamps
Document retention	6 years (HIPAA 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2))
Encryption	TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256

Platform and device requirements

Making an electronic signature works across modern browsers and mobile devices, with secure connections and current operating systems.

Desktop browsers Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
Desktop systems Windows 11, macOS, Linux
Mobile support iOS, Android, mobile apps

For enterprise use, managed devices, SSO, and API access help standardize access and record handling across teams. Regulated workflows may also require retention controls, exportable audit records, and certificate or authentication settings that match internal policy and legal review.

Security and compliance snapshot

Transport security:

TLS 1.2/1.3 protects data in transit.

Data encryption:

AES-256 protects stored data.

SOC 2 Type II:

SOC 2 Type II available on request.

ISO 27001:

ISO 27001 certified.

HIPAA:

HIPAA support with BAA.

Legal framework:

ESIGN and UETA compliant workflows.

Operations teams

A NetSuite operations leader needed flexible routing for the right documents and formats across teams.

Xerox operations workflow
NetSuite-connected routing

The workflow reduced format mismatches and helped teams route signatures through the right business system with clearer control over document handling and approvals.

Property teams

A property founder needed online execution for leases and related forms without losing security or mobility.

Martin Properties
Mobile document execution

The result was faster turnaround on lease documents, with online signing, built-in security, and a record that supported remote work and field use.

Best practices for reliable signing

A disciplined setup lowers errors, improves evidence quality, and makes signed records easier to defend later.

Match authentication to risk

Use a signer authentication method that matches the document’s risk level, and document the reason for that choice in your internal policy.

Design simple signing forms

Keep signature fields clear and place them only where the signer needs to act, so the document stays easy to complete.

Store completed records securely

Retain completed records in a controlled repository with exportable history, so legal and compliance teams can retrieve them later.

Review before sending

Train staff to review consent, signer identity, and document version before sending, which reduces avoidable errors and rework.

FAQ and troubleshooting

These answers focus on plan limits, compliance requirements, and recordkeeping questions that affect electronic signing workflows.

signNow Business starts at $8/user/mo billed annually, and all paid plans include unlimited users. The 7-day free trial requires no credit card. For HIPAA workflows, a BAA is required before handling PHI.

signNow supports ESIGN and UETA compliant workflows, with audit trails and signer authentication. If a document must meet a higher assurance standard, review whether your process needs additional identity checks or a different signature tier.

The Business Premium plan includes bulk send. If you do not see that option, confirm your plan level or move to a tier that includes it. Bulk send is useful for repeated recipient groups and high-volume document campaigns.

signNow records audit history for signed documents. If you need a stronger evidentiary package, use the completed file and its activity history together, since courts often look at attribution, intent, timestamps, and document integrity.

The Site License adds SSO, full API access, and phone support. If your organization needs centralized provisioning or system integration, that plan is the one tied to those controls in the verified pricing data.

For healthcare records, retain signed documents containing PHI for 6 years from the date of creation or the last effective date, whichever is later, under 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2).

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	Not verified	Not verified
Audit trail	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA support	BAA available	BAA available	BAA available

Day 1:

Set up the account and prepare the first document.

Day 2:

Send the first signature request to a small test group.

Week 1:

Onboard the core team and confirm routing rules.

Week 2:

Expand to department-level use and review audit records.

7-day trial:

Free trial lasts 7 days and requires no credit card.

HIPAA retention:

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

UETA adoption:

UETA has been adopted in 49 states, plus D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Annual review:

Review authentication, retention, and access controls once per year.

Risks of improper signing

Weak attribution

A disputed signature may lose evidentiary weight.

Audit gaps

Missing audit records can undermine admissibility.

Record loss

Poor retention can block later retrieval.

HIPAA failure

Noncompliant healthcare handling can trigger HIPAA exposure.

Signer authentication:

Verifies the signer through the selected authentication method.

Timestamp capture:

Captures the event time in UTC.

Document hashing:

Calculates a hash for the signed file.

Tamper-evident sealing:

Locks the record against later changes.

Audit log storage:

Stores the event history with the document.

Audit retrieval:

Exports the audit trail 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
HIPAA compliance	BAA required	BAA available	BAA available	Not verified	Not verified

28M+Documents signed

13+Years in business

4.6/5Average G2 rating