Sign Documents With An Electronic Signature

Award-winning eSignature solution

What electronic signing means

To sign documents with an electronic signature means to apply a digital symbol, click, typed name, or other electronic action to show intent to sign a record. In the U.S., the process usually starts when a sender uploads a document, adds signer fields, and sends it for review. The signer then authenticates, opens the document, completes required fields, and confirms the signature. The platform records timestamps, identity details, and document history to support integrity and later verification.

Why electronic signing matters

It reduces paper handling, speeds approvals, and creates a record that can support enforceability under ESIGN and UETA when consent, intent, and attribution are captured properly.

Why teams look for DocuSign alternatives

Common signing challenges

Signer consent can be missed when the workflow does not clearly capture agreement to electronic delivery.
Weak authentication can make it harder to attribute the signature to the correct person.
Incomplete audit details can leave gaps in timestamps, IP data, or signing events.
Retention mistakes can create problems when records must be preserved for compliance or dispute review.

Who uses it

Teams use eSignature workflows for leases, offer letters, patient forms, tax documents, and approvals that need a clear signing record.

Where it fits

It fits U.S. transactions where speed, attribution, and document history matter more than paper handling.

Real users and roles

A director of NetSuite operations at Xerox uses signNow to route the right documents to the right approvers in the right format. The workflow matters when enterprise systems need controlled signing, integration with business records, and fewer manual handoffs across departments and vendors.
A founder at Martin Properties uses signNow to execute documents online with built-in security and mobile access. Real estate teams benefit when leases, rental applications, and closing-related forms need fast turnaround, clear audit history, and a process that works outside the office.

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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.

Signing flow

Create a signing flow that captures intent, timestamps, and document history without adding manual paper steps or separate tracking tools.

Templates

Use templates to standardize repeat documents, reduce setup time, and keep fields consistent across recurring agreements and forms.

Mobile access

Collect signatures on phones, tablets, and desktops so remote teams can finish documents without waiting for office access.

Audit trail

Track each action in a secure audit trail that records who signed, when they signed, and what changed.

Routing control

Route documents in order or in parallel to match approval rules for legal, HR, finance, or operations teams.

Record storage

Store signed records in a format that supports later review, retention, and compliance checks across departments.

Connected workflows and systems

Connected systems move documents into signing workflows, keep records aligned, and reduce duplicate data entry across business tools.

How the signing flow works

The signing process follows a simple sequence from document preparation through final record storage.

Prepare: Upload the document and prepare fields.
Assign: Add signers and set the order.
Sign: Send the request and collect signatures.
Finish: Store the completed record with history.

Quick steps to send

Use a short setup sequence to prepare, send, and store a signed document.

Upload:
Upload the file you want signed.
Add fields:
Place signature and form fields.
Add signers:
Enter signer names and emails.
Send:
Send the document for signature.
Save:
Download or store the completed file.

Setting	Recommendation
Authentication method	SMS OTP
Signature type	SES
Audit trail	Full event log
Document retention	6 years
Encryption	TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256

Browser and device support

Use a modern browser or the signNow mobile app to sign documents with an electronic signature on desktop or mobile devices. TLS 1.2 or TLS 1.3 protects data in transit during upload, signing, and download.

Desktop browsers Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
Operating systems Windows 11, macOS, iOS, Android.
Mobile access SignNow mobile apps on iOS and Android.

Managed deployments often add SSO, API access, and device controls for regulated teams. Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android are supported in standard signing workflows, while enterprise setups may also require certificate handling, retention rules, and admin provisioning.

Security and compliance

Encryption:

TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

Storage protection:

AES-256 at rest

SOC 2:

SOC 2 Type II available

ISO 27001:

ISO 27001 certified

HIPAA:

HIPAA support with BAA

Legal framework:

ESIGN and UETA aligned

Enterprise operations

A Xerox operations leader needed flexible document routing across NetSuite-connected workflows.

Right signatures on the right documents
NetSuite integration kept formats aligned

The team used signNow to match document format, routing, and approval needs across systems, which reduced manual handling and supported faster internal and external processing.

Real estate

A Martin Properties founder needed online execution for real estate documents with mobile access and security.

Online execution with built-in security
Mobile signing supported field work

signNow helped the team process leases and related forms online with a clear record of execution, which suited mobile work and reduced paper-based delays.

Best practices for signing

A clear setup improves attribution, record quality, and long-term review of signed documents.

Set role-based routing

Use role-based routing so each signer receives the document in the correct order, with only the fields they need to complete. This reduces confusion, limits unnecessary edits, and keeps approval paths aligned with internal policy.

Record electronic consent

Capture signer consent before the first signature request, and keep the consent record with the completed document. This helps support ESIGN and UETA enforceability by showing the signer agreed to electronic delivery and execution.

Match authentication to risk

Require stronger authentication for sensitive records, such as SMS OTP or ID verification, when the document value or compliance risk is higher. Match the method to the transaction instead of using one approach for every workflow.

Align retention and access

Keep retention and access rules consistent across departments so signed records remain available for audits, disputes, and internal review. Align storage periods with the governing rule set, such as HIPAA retention for covered records.

FAQ and troubleshooting

These answers cover plan limits, compliance questions, and recordkeeping issues that affect electronic signing workflows.

signNow Business includes legally binding eSignatures, audit trails, templates, and mobile apps. If a signer cannot complete the process, check browser support, consent capture, and whether the document was sent to the correct email address.

The Business plan supports core signing workflows, while Business Premium adds bulk send and Enterprise adds advanced signer authentication. If you need HIPAA workflows, confirm a BAA and verify that the record handling matches HIPAA Security Rule requirements.

A missing audit trail usually means the document was not fully completed or exported correctly. signNow records signer activity, timestamps, and document history, which helps support ESIGN, UETA, and evidentiary review in disputes.

HIPAA use requires a BAA and controls for access, integrity, and audit logging. signNow supports HIPAA compliance, but the covered entity still needs correct configuration, retention, and internal procedures for PHI handling.

If a document is challenged, ESIGN and UETA focus on intent, attribution, and record integrity. Use the completed file, audit trail, and signer authentication details to show who signed and when the signature was applied.

The Business plan starts at $8/user/month billed annually, with a 7-day free trial. If pricing looks different, check whether the account is on monthly billing, Business Premium, or Enterprise.

signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Acrobat Sign	PandaDoc
ESIGN and UETA	Yes	Yes	Yes
Audit trail	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Envelope cap	Unlimited	100 envelopes/year	Not verified

Setup day:

Create the account, define signer roles, and prepare the first document.

First send:

Send the first request after fields and recipients are verified.

Team onboarding:

Train users on routing, consent, and record storage within one week.

Free trial:

7 days, no credit card required.

HIPAA retention:

6 years from creation or last effective date, per 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2).

Business plan:

$8/user/month billed annually.

Enterprise rollout:

Add advanced authentication and integrations after workflow validation.

Record review:

Keep completed files available for audit and dispute review.

Risks of poor setup

Weak attribution

Document may be harder to enforce.

Missing audit trail

Audit evidence may be incomplete.

Retention gap

HIPAA records may fail review.

Missing consent

ESIGN consent may be disputed.

Tamper risk

Signature integrity may be challenged.

Signer authentication:

Verify the signer before access is granted.

Timestamp capture:

Record each action with UTC timestamps.

Document hashing:

Hash the document before and after signing.

Tamper seal:

Apply a tamper-evident seal to the record.

Audit storage:

Store the event log with the signed file.

Trail export:

Export the trail for review or evidence.

	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 trial	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified
Bulk send	Yes, Business Premium	Yes	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified
Audit trail	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Envelope cap	No cap	100/year	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified

28M+Documents signed

13+Years in business

4.6/5Average G2 rating