Conditional Fields
Dynamic form fields that appear or change based on prior responses help create concise client-facing documents and reduce manual edits after client submission.
Comparing signNow and Apptivo helps legal teams match compliance features, signing methods, and total cost of ownership to practice requirements without assuming identical use cases or billing structures.
A paralegal managing case intake and document circulation who needs reliable audit trails, quick template access, and the ability to request signatures from multiple external parties while preserving chain-of-custody for evidentiary purposes.
A partner overseeing firm operations who evaluates vendor pricing, compliance posture, and integrations with matter management and billing systems to control costs and reduce administrative bottlenecks across the firm.
Legal teams adopt eSignature and CRM tools to reduce paper handling and speed client onboarding while keeping records auditable and defensible.
Usage patterns differ: transactional practices favor high-volume templates, litigation teams prioritize secure retention and strict access controls.
Dynamic form fields that appear or change based on prior responses help create concise client-facing documents and reduce manual edits after client submission.
Granular permissioning limits who can view, edit, or administratively manage documents to protect privileged information within multi-department firms.
A mobile-optimized signing experience enables clients and external parties to sign securely from tablets or phones while preserving required audit details.
SSO support with identity providers simplifies user management and enforces enterprise credential policies across firm accounts.
Programmatic access for embedding signing and document generation into matter management systems reduces manual handoffs and speeds automation.
Configurable retention and export options support recordkeeping policies and eDiscovery readiness without long-term manual overhead.
Reusable templates reduce drafting time and limit errors when generating standardized engagement letters, retainer agreements, and NDAs for frequent use across matters.
Ability to send the same document to many recipients with unique fields saves time for distribution of mass acknowledgements or non-disclosure agreements.
A complete, timestamped audit trail documents every transaction event, signer IP, and method of authentication for evidentiary support and compliance reviews.
Native connectors to common storage and matter management systems reduce manual exports and preserve metadata required for billing and recordkeeping.
| Setting | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Reminder Frequency for Pending Signatures | 48 hours |
| Document Retention Policy for Closed Matters | 7 years |
| Default Signer Authentication Method | Email + SMS OTP |
| Template Versioning and Approval Workflow | Enabled |
| Notification Recipients for Completed Documents | Case owner and billing |
Ensure your devices, browsers, and mobile platforms meet vendor requirements to preserve security features and signing fidelity.
Confirm browser TLS settings, keep devices patched, and validate mobile app versions to ensure signature validity and secure transport for legal documents.
A mid-size transactional firm processes high volumes of NDAs and engagement letters using templates and Bulk Send
Resulting in lower administrative time and clearer per-matter accounting.
An in-house team coordinates contract approvals and signature routing across internal stakeholders and vendors
Leading to clearer contract lifecycle visibility with extra integration work.
| Feature | signNow (Recommended) | Apptivo | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIPAA-ready options | BAA processes differ | ||
| Bulk Send for many recipients | Apptivo requires custom workflow | ||
| Native audit trail detail | Apptivo logs CRM events | ||
| Prebuilt legal templates | Limited | Minimal | Many templates require customization |
| Header | signNow (Featured) | Apptivo | Price Basis | Typical Legal Fit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level plan | Per-user subscription with basic eSign | CRM-first starter plan | Monthly per-user billing | Best for small teams | Integration needs vary |
| Mid-tier plan | Adds templates and Bulk Send | Adds CRM workflows and reports | Per-user or team billing | Suited to growing firms | Support levels differ |
| Enterprise plan | Advanced security, SSO, dedicated support | Custom enterprise CRM bundle | Custom quoting | Large firms with complex needs | Implementation services likely |
| API / developer options | Available with usage tiers and licenses | API available via higher plans | Usage-based or seat-plus-API | For embedded signing | May require contracts |
| Billing flexibility | Annual and monthly terms; volume discounts | Monthly plans with add-ons | Term-based discounts | Legal teams prefer annual for predictability | Contract negotiation common |