5 Best DocuSign Alternatives for Signing PDFs Online

Some of the best DocuSign alternatives are PDF.net, Adobe Sign, PandaDoc, airSlate SignNow, and Smallpdf. These provide small businesses with more flexibility, affordability, and simplicity than DocuSign’s pricey and feature-heavy platform.

Follow along as we cover each alternative in detail, comparing their features, prices, and pros and cons. By the end, you will get a clear overview of which tools suit different business sizes and signing needs so that you can choose the right one for yourself.

Key Takeaways

• The best free DocuSign alternatives are PDF.net, PandaDoc, and Smallpdf.
• You can also consider subscription-based Adobe Sign and airSlate SignNow as alternatives; their pricing plans range from $8 to $30 per month.
• DocuSign alternatives are often better for small businesses because they cost less, offer more than DocuSign’s free plan, avoid unnecessary advanced features, and include built-in PDF editing tools.
• To select the right e-signing solution for your needs, consider the number of documents you handle each day, the size of your team, and the tools you already use in your workflows.

Why Look for a DocuSign Alternative?

You would want to look for a DocuSign alternative if the platform doesn’t fully fit your needs and you find yourself facing:

• High subscription costs. With plans of $10/month and scaling up to ~$40/month depending on features and billing, DocuSign can seem expensive if your business only e-signs documents occasionally.
• Limited free plans. DocuSign’s free plan limits you to one user, three envelopes, and five recipients per envelope. It is only suitable if you want to sign and store documents personally.
• Complex features for simple signing needs. DocuSign’s priced plans are justified by its many advanced features (like +1,000 integrations), but your business might not need them at all.
• Fragmented PDF editing and signing tools. DocuSign allows you to create documents with easy drag-and-drop editing tools, but you will have to use another tool for tasks like converting or compressing PDFs.

What to Look For in a DocuSign Alternative

You should look for the following in a DocuSign alternative:

• User-friendly interface for easy onboarding. This ensures that your team can jump right into using the e-signing tool without having to train or invest (unnecessary) resources into overcoming a learning curve. It also prevents non-technical members from feeling excluded and minimizes interruptions to your daily operations.
• Compatibility with apps and platforms your business already uses. The best solution integrates smoothly with tools already in your workflow, so you can reduce the time and effort it takes to switch back and forth and keep everything organized.
• Tools for signing, sending, tracking, and using basic templates. The right e-signing tool should cover all the essentials, giving you the best value for your money, saving time, reducing errors, and simplifying your work processes.
• Strong security and compliance. To minimize e-signatures’ security risks, your solution should have safeguards, like end-to-end encryption, authentication, certification, and audit trails. Also, they must comply with standards like GDPR, eIDAS, SOC 2, ISO 27001, etc.

5 Best DocuSign Alternatives for Small Businesses

Below are the top five DocuSign alternatives for small businesses. They each offer essential e-signing capabilities for sending, signing, and tracking documents without a premium price tag. Moreover, they are easy to use and embed into existing workflows.

#1. PDF.net

PDF.net is the best DocuSign alternative for small businesses that value simplicity. You can apply your signature or convert your PDF into a fillable form in just a few minutes.

Afterward, you can choose from one of the following options to purchase a plan and download your file:

• $1.45 for seven days of limited access
• $1.95 for seven days of full access
• $19.95 for annual access

This PDF editor is fully browser-based, so you won’t have to worry about downloading software. It works on Mac, Windows, and mobile devices, with HTTPS connections that ensure your data stays secure every step of the way.

With PDF.net, you get three ways to sign documents digitally:

1. Type your signature. You can choose from a collection of ready-made fonts and change the colors.
2. Draw your signature. There are options to adjust the opacity and colors to make your handwritten signature feel more authentic.
3. Upload your signature. The platform supports both JPG and PNG images.

Once you apply your signature, an easy drag-and-drop tool lets you resize and reposition it exactly where you need it to be and even save it to reuse and speed up signing next time.

Like any DocuSign alternative, PDF.net has its pros and cons. Here’s a brief look at both:

Additionally, if you need an e-signing solution that is fast, reliable, and easy to use, it works perfectly for contracts, invoices, NDAs, affidavits, and more. And finally, while it is known as one of the best online PDF tools for teams, it is also handy for personal use, e.g., for signing lease agreements and school applications.

#2. Adobe Sign

Adobe Sign is a PDF software like DocuSign, with plans priced at $23.99 or $29.99 per month. It is a close match in terms of features but still outshines the latter in a few key areas: secure link sharing, easy form embedding on websites, and options to build extension apps.

However, as with any other alternative, we need to consider the pros and cons:

Weighing Adobe Sign vs. DocuSign, the former is a better fit if you are already using Adobe Acrobat as part of a +10-member team. It integrates cost-effectively and lets you manage all your e-signatures and documents in one place. Additionally, it’s also worth considering if your business is seeking an enterprise-level solution to handle complex processes.

#3. PandaDoc

PandaDoc’s packages range from free to $49 per month, catering to teams of all sizes. It offers a built-in document editor with a drag-and-drop mechanism and multi-signee support that featuresoptions to assign signers and set up signing orders.

PandaDoc also ensures all e-signatures are legally binding, providing audit trails with timestamps and digital certificates. You can track who opened and signed a document and verify identities using a passcode, an SMS code, or knowledge-based authentication (KBA).

Below are its advantages and disadvantages:

This is a great choice if you just need to collect signatures and sign documents securely, without all the extra workflows and workspaces that DocuSign charges for. It is easy to use and roll out across teams, and you can also see if it is the right fit for your business by requesting a free demo before committing to a subscription.

#4. AirSlate SignNow

This is another fantastic PDF editor for small businesses. You can choose from four plans:

1. Business. $8 per month
2. Premium. $15 per month
3. Enterprise. $30 per month
4. Site license. $1.50 per signature invite

All plans include unlimited users, legally binding e-signatures, and PDF templates, making them great value for money. Standout features include 24/7 online notarization (which DocuSign offers as a separate service) and integration with Google Docs, Gmail, Chrome, and Zapier.

When you e-sign documents with this platform, you get compliance with ISO 27001, SOC 2 type II, WCAG 2.0 AA level, eIDAS, and GDPR. It also offers U.S. and EU data residency, as well as built-in document virus scanning for added security.

Like the DocuSign alternatives above, airSlate SignNow has its strengths and limitations, which are shown below:

This is a solid e-signing solution if your business regularly handles a high volume of documents and needs an organized signing process. However, since it is not a free DocuSign alternative, you will need to carefully consider which plan fits your budget.

#5. Smallpdf

Smallpdf can be used on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux and has been around since 2013. While offering many of the same features as other affordable PDF software, this e-signing solution can be used directly in your browser.

All your documents are protected with TLS encryption, and files are automatically deleted after one hour unless you choose to save them to your account. Furthermore, the tool itself is ISO/IEC 27001 certified. There are three purchasing plans available:

1. Free
2. Pro. $9 per month
3. Team. $7 per month per seat

Now, let’s look at a quick breakdown of Smallpdf’s pros and cons:

You should choose Smallpdf if you want a simple solution for quick signing. However, because the Free plan has a daily download limit, this tool is only suitable if your team only needs to sign a small number of documents occasionally. For high-volume or complex workflows, you can consider the Pro or Team plans instead.

How to Choose the Right Tool for Your Business

To choose the right DocuSign alternative for your business, keep these tips in mind:

• Consider your business size and signing needs. If your team is small and only handles a few documents at a time, a lightweight, browser-based tool will get the job done quickly. Meanwhile, larger teams or businesses with complex workflows or multiple stakeholders may need a more advanced solution.
• Focus on security features and collaboration capabilities. Because e-signed documents often contain sensitive information and multiple team members may need access, it is essential to choose a tool that keeps your data secure while making collaboration seamless.
• Compare long-term costs and software updates. Unless you go with a free DocuSign alternative, you should think about how the subscription fees add up in the long run and whether that is justified by regular improvements. The best tool stays compliant and continues to grow with your business.

In practice, many small businesses gravitate toward tools that cover the basics without adding friction. PDF.net is one such option, designed around simple signing needs, reasonable pricing, and an easy learning curve, so if your priority is getting documents signed efficiently, it is easy to get started right away.

Final Thoughts

While DocuSign is a powerful platform, many small businesses find that alternatives like PDF.net, Adobe Sign, PandaDoc, and others offer a better fit for everyday workflows without unnecessary complexity or cost.

After all, the right e-signing solution has to balance ease of use, security, and pricing, while providing just the features your team actually needs. Make sure you pick a tool that keeps your signing processes efficient, secure, and scalable as your business grows.

DocuSign Alternative FAQs

#1. What is the best free DocuSign alternative?

The best free DocuSign alternatives are PDF.net, PandaDoc, and Smallpdf. You can choose the right option for your business by considering how often you need to sign documents and your typical workflows.

#2. Are digitally signed documents legally valid?

Digitally signed documents are legally valid in the U.S. as long as the signer intends to sign, the signature is linked to the document, and the record can be stored and reproduced accurately. These are requirements set out by the ESIGN Act, which has been adopted by 49 states.

#3. Can I sign PDFs online without DocuSign?

Yes, you can sign PDFs online without DocuSign by using PDF.net. Our PDF editor is fully browser-based, so you won’t have to install software; you just need a reliable Internet connection.