PCI Compliant SignNow's CRM Vs Apptivo

Check out the reviews of the airSlate SignNow CRM vs. Apptivo to compare the benefits, features, tools, and pricing of each solution.

No credit card required
See how it works!Click here to sign a sample doc

Award-winning eSignature solution

Overview: PCI considerations when comparing signNow and Apptivo

pci compliant signnow's crm vs apptivo compares two approaches to electronic signatures and CRM workflows with attention to PCI responsibilities in U.S. environments. signNow is an eSignature-focused platform that integrates with CRM systems and emphasizes data segmentation and controls to limit cardholder data scope; Apptivo is a broader CRM suite that offers document and signature features within its platform. This comparison focuses on compliance alignment with ESIGN and UETA, the practical implications for PCI DSS scope, and how each vendor supports auditability, authentication, and operational controls relevant to U.S.-based organizations.

Why compare PCI-relevant eSignature options

Choosing between signNow and Apptivo affects how payment data is handled, which systems are in PCI scope, and what controls are needed; a careful comparison helps reduce compliance burden and operational risk.

Why compare PCI-relevant eSignature options

Common PCI and integration challenges

  • Determining whether eSignature storage or transmission brings the CRM into PCI scope can require technical review and vendor documentation.
  • Ensuring strong signer authentication while preserving usability often requires multi-factor options and clear identity verification policies.
  • Coordinating retention, encryption, and logging across CRM and signature services challenges teams that lack centralized policy enforcement.
  • Validating vendor controls, obtaining artifacts for audits, and mapping responsibilities in shared-service models can be time-consuming.

Representative users and responsibilities

IT Administrator

Manages integrations, enforces encryption and access controls, and coordinates vendor-supplied compliance documentation. Responsible for reducing PCI scope through segmentation and secure API configuration while maintaining uptime and logs for audits.

Sales Manager

Configures templates and signer workflows within the CRM, monitors signature completion metrics, and ensures routine processes avoid collecting cardholder data in free-text fields, reducing compliance impact on daily operations.

Who benefits from PCI-aware eSignature choices

Organizations that process payments or store cardholder data should evaluate both signature providers and CRM integration models carefully.

  • Finance and billing teams handling payment authorizations and invoices within CRM workflows.
  • IT and security teams responsible for PCI DSS scoping and vendor risk assessments.
  • Legal and compliance groups managing agreements, retention, and audit evidence.

Selecting a solution that minimizes cardholder data exposure and provides clear audit artifacts reduces workload for compliance teams and operational risk.

Core features relevant to PCI and CRM workflows

Compare features that materially affect PCI responsibilities, focusing on controls, integration behavior, and auditability for U.S.-based compliance.

PCI-focused handling

signNow provides options to avoid storing cardholder data by integrating with PCI-scoped payment processors and supporting tokenization patterns that reduce CRM scope and centralize sensitive processing.

Audit trail

Detailed, tamper-evident logs capture signer IP, timestamps, and action history to support ESIGN, UETA, and PCI evidence requirements during investigations and assessments.

Authentication options

Multiple signer authentication methods include email verification, access codes, and SSO with SAML or OAuth, enabling stronger identity control where required for high-risk transactions.

Encryption standards

Platform-level encryption in transit and at rest with industry-standard algorithms ensures that stored documents and metadata meet common regulatory expectations.

CRM integration

signNow emphasizes connector-based integrations that push only non-sensitive metadata into CRMs while keeping signed assets in secure storage, lowering PCI exposure.

Bulk and templates

Template management and Bulk Send streamline repetitive workflows while retaining per-document audit logs and access controls for compliance and operational efficiency.

be ready to get more

Choose a better solution

No credit card required

Integration points: common connectors and behaviors

Integration choices determine where data resides and how much of the environment falls into PCI scope; review connector behaviors closely.

Google Workspace

Integrates with Google Drive and Docs to import and send documents while allowing admins to limit export of sensitive fields and maintain centralized storage under provider control.

CRM connectors

Pre-built CRM integrations synchronize records and status metadata; signNow focuses on sending and storing signed documents separately to limit direct cardholder data storage within the CRM.

Cloud storage

Connectors to Dropbox and other storage providers move signed documents to secure repositories; encryption and access controls must be validated per provider.

REST API

APIs enable custom workflows and tokenization patterns; they allow servers to keep sensitive exchanges off the CRM and maintain PCI-compliant processing boundaries.

How a PCI-aware signing workflow typically operates

This sequence explains general flow where eSignature services interact with CRM systems while limiting cardholder data exposure.

  • Initiate request: Create document and remove card fields
  • Tokenize payment: Use PCI-compliant payment processor
  • Capture signature: Signer authenticates and signs
  • Store metadata: Save audit trail, not card data
Collect signatures
24x
faster
Reduce costs by
$30
per document
Save up to
40h
per employee / month

Quick setup steps for a PCI-conscious deployment

Follow these practical steps to implement an eSignature-to-CRM workflow that reduces PCI exposure and provides audit-ready evidence.

  • 01
    Assess data flow: Map where cardholder data travels
  • 02
    Select model: Choose provider-hosted tokenization or external processors
  • 03
    Configure controls: Enable encryption, RBAC, and logging
  • 04
    Validate: Obtain vendor compliance artifacts and test

Audit trail checklist and steps

Follow these steps to produce and preserve auditable evidence for signed documents and payment-related activities.

01

Prepare document:

Remove card fields
02

Initiate signing:

Send via secured session
03

Authenticate signer:

Use chosen method
04

Record events:

Log timestamps and IPs
05

Store artifacts:

Preserve signatures and metadata
06

Export reports:

Produce audit-ready output
be ready to get more

Why choose airSlate SignNow

  • Free 7-day trial. Choose the plan you need and try it risk-free.
  • Honest pricing for full-featured plans. airSlate SignNow offers subscription plans with no overages or hidden fees at renewal.
  • Enterprise-grade security. airSlate SignNow helps you comply with global security standards.
Start free trial
illustrations signature

Recommended workflow configuration for reduced PCI scope

Use these configuration settings as a baseline to separate signature capture from payment processing and to retain audit evidence without storing cardholder data in the CRM.

Setting Name Configuration
Reminder Frequency 48 hours
Signer Order Sequential
Encryption Level AES-256
Retention Period 7 years
Access Logging Enabled

Supported platforms and device considerations

signNow and Apptivo support modern browsers and mobile platforms, but behavior differs for native apps and offline workflows.

  • Web browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox
  • Mobile apps: iOS and Android
  • API access: REST endpoints

For PCI-conscious deployments, prefer provider-hosted signing flows on supported browsers or mobile apps that maintain TLS, avoid client-side card storage, and enable centralized logging to ensure consistent evidence across devices and operating systems.

Security and data-protection features to consider

Encryption at rest: AES-256 or equivalent
Encryption in transit: TLS 1.2+ required
Access controls: Role-based access
Audit logging: Detailed event logs
Data segmentation: Tenant isolation
Key management: Customer or provider keys

Industry scenarios showing practical differences

Two concise case examples illustrate how signNow and Apptivo can affect PCI scope and operational practice in typical U.S. workflows.

Case Study 1

A mid-size medical billing office needed to collect signed payment authorizations without storing card numbers in the CRM.

  • signNow was used to capture signatures while tokenizing payment references.
  • The tokenization removed cardholder data from CRM records and centralized sensitive data handling.

Resulting in reduced PCI scope and simpler audit evidence for HIPAA-aligned documentation.

Case Study 2

A professional services firm used Apptivo's native CRM features for client contracts and occasional invoice signing.

  • Documents and signature metadata remained inside the CRM by default.
  • That approach simplified workflow but required additional compensating controls for card data handling.

Leading to extra vendor attestations and increased scope during annual PCI assessments.

Practical best practices for secure, compliant eSignature workflows

Adopt these practices to reduce PCI scope, preserve auditability, and maintain consistent control across CRM and signature systems.

Limit cardholder data in CRM fields
Avoid capturing full card numbers or magnetic data in CRM records; instead, use tokenization or reference identifiers provided by a PCI-compliant payment processor to keep card data out of the CRM and reduce scope.
Use provider-hosted payment flows
Redirect payment entry to PCI-certified payment pages or processors so that cardholder data is captured and stored outside your CRM, ensuring your systems do not become part of PCI scope through direct handling of sensitive data.
Maintain complete audit artifacts
Preserve signature packets, logs, and verification metadata in a secure repository with access controls and retention policies aligned to legal and compliance requirements, enabling reproducible verification and audit responses.
Validate vendor documentation regularly
Periodically obtain updated compliance attestations, SOC reports, and implementation guides from providers to confirm configurations remain consistent with your compliance posture and to support annual PCI assessments.
Connect airSlate SignNow to your apps
Check out airSlate SignNow integrations
Data accuracy, security, and compliance
airSlate SignNow is committed to protecting your sensitive information by complying with global industry-specific
Learn more about security

FAQs and troubleshooting for PCI-aware eSignature workflows

Answers to common questions about implementing and troubleshooting signature workflows without increasing PCI scope.

Feature comparison: signNow (Recommended) vs Apptivo

A concise comparison of capabilities that most directly influence PCI scope and compliance workflows for U.S. organizations.

Feature signNow Apptivo
PCI compliance posture Yes with additional controls
HIPAA-ready options Limited
API and developer tools
Bulk Send capability
be ready to get more

Get legally-binding signatures now!

Start your free trial

Regulatory and operational risks

Fines and penalties: Monetary penalties
Breach remediation: Costly recovery expenses
Reputational damage: Loss of trust
PCI audit failure: Increased oversight
Liability exposure: Legal claims possible
Operational downtime: Service disruptions

Pricing and plan differences affecting compliance operations

Pricing and plan structure can influence whether advanced controls and API access are included; this table shows common starting points and typical features.

Plan signNow (Recommended) Apptivo DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc
Starting Price From $8/user/month From $8/user/month From $10/user/month From $14.99/user/month From $9/user/month
Free Tier Limited trial available Free tier for small teams Trial only Trial only Trial available
API Access Included on developer plans Available on paid plans Available with business plans Enterprise APIs Available on business plans
PCI-focused features Tokenization options and connectors Requires extra configuration Third-party payment integration Enterprise options Integration via third-party
Support level Email and business support Community and paid support Business and enterprise support Enterprise SLA options Business support tiers
walmart logo
exonMobil logo
apple logo
comcast logo
facebook logo
FedEx logo

Explore Advanced Features

Discover More eSignature Tools

be ready to get more

Get legally-binding signatures now!

Start free trial
Company
Forms
Pricing
Resources
Knowledge base
Products
© 2026 airSlate Inc. All rights reserved.
English