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For most buyers, BoldSign, SignWell and DocHub are the best places to start: their listed entry prices are low, and each covers common signing needs. DocuSign is a better fit when agreement workflows matter more than keeping costs simple. Before switching, check the plan details that affect your volume: the pricing page flag envelope, sender and invite limits, plus add-on costs. Starting prices alone don’t show what a team will pay for the workflow it actually needs.
Quick picksThe shortlist
BoldSignBoldSignBest overall · $5/mo
SignWellSignWellBest for small teams · $10/mo
DocHubDocHubBest for PDFs · $8/mo
DocuSignDocuSignBest for complex workflows · £8/mo
signNowsignNowBest for templates · $8/mo
Xodo SignXodo SignBest for PDF editing · $10/mo
Dropbox SignDropbox SignBest for routine signing · $10.05/mo
PandaDocPandaDocBest for proposals · $19/mo
Sign.comSign.comBest low entry price · $6/mo
01Compared at a glance
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BoldSignBoldSign | 7.8 | $5/mo | Yes | — |
| SignWellSignWell | 7.6 | $10/mo | Yes | — |
| DocHubDocHub | 7.5 | $8/mo | Yes | 30 days |
| DocuSignDocuSign | 7.2 | £8/mo | No | — |
| signNowsignNow | 6.8 | $8/mo | No | 7 days |
| Xodo SignXodo Sign | 7.2 | $10/mo | Yes | — |
| Dropbox SignDropbox Sign | 7.0 | $10.05/mo | Yes | 30 days |
| PandaDocPandaDoc | 6.2 | $19/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| Sign.comSign.com | 6.5 | $6/mo | Yes | 7 days |
02The picks, in detail
- Best overallBoldSignBoldSign
BoldSign has the strongest mix of listed price and team-oriented signing features in this shortlist. It starts at $5 and has a free plan; the listing also says its Business plan includes unlimited envelopes. Don’t assume the $5 entry tier includes that allowance: confirm which plan fits your volume and whether any extras change the bill.
What works
- Free Essential plan includes 25 envelopes monthly
- Growth includes 50 envelopes per user monthly
- Business includes unlimited envelopes and templates
What doesn't
- Essential allows only one user
- Personal-email signups are capped at five envelopes until verified
- Business costs $25 per user monthly without annual billing
- Best for small teamsSignWellSignWell
SignWell is a sensible fit for small teams sending routine agreements and reusing templates. It starts at $10 and has a free plan, while the listing also identifies API signing for products. Check sender limits and API costs before switching; the entry price alone won’t tell you what a team or embedded workflow will cost.
What works
- Free plan includes 3 documents monthly
- Paid plans include unlimited documents
- Recipients do not need an account
What doesn't
- Free and Light limit you to one sender
- Business includes only three senders
- Extra API document rates are not published
- Best for PDFsDocHubDocHub
DocHub combines PDF work with signature requests, reusable forms and bulk signing, making it a flexible option for freelancers and teams. It starts at $8 and has a free plan. The listing warns about three-use limits on a lower tier, so check what those limits apply to before building a regular signing workflow around it.
What works
- Free plan includes basic PDF tools and mobile apps
- Unlimited self-signing on Basic
- Pro includes unlimited editing and sign requests
What doesn't
- Free and Basic each have three shared monthly uses
- Paid monthly prices are not published
- Pro is priced per seat
- Best for complex workflowsDocuSignDocuSign
DocuSign suits businesses that need agreement integrations or more involved agreement workflows, rather than just occasional signing. Its listed starting price is $8. The trade-off is that envelope limits and total costs need a close look before renewing or switching; the entry price doesn’t settle whether it works for your expected volume.
What works
- Combines signatures, agreement analysis, and workflow automation
- Includes contract lifecycle management tools
- No-code workflow builder and web forms
What doesn't
- Personal plan allows only 5 envelopes per month
- Team plans include 100 envelopes per user yearly
- Monthly-billing prices are not published
- Best for templatessignNowsignNow
signNow is worth considering if your team reuses document templates or routes agreements by role. It starts at $8, and the listing describes it as a fit for predictable, low-volume sending. Check the invite allowance before committing: a plan that looks inexpensive may not suit a team sending documents to many recipients.
What works
- Supports typed, drawn, or uploaded signatures
- Unlimited reusable templates with fillable fields
- Routes grouped documents in role-based order
What doesn't
- Business annual plan includes 100 invites per year
- Monthly Business plan includes 10 invites per month
- No free plan listed
- Best for PDF editingXodo SignXodo Sign
Xodo Sign pairs signing with PDF editing and lists unlimited signing, plus API workflows for developers. It starts at $10 and has a free plan, which makes it a useful option to compare for recurring team use. The listing also flags pricing and service concerns, so verify those details before moving a workflow onto it.
What works
- Basic lists unlimited documents for $10 monthly, billed yearly
- Professional includes advanced PDF editing
- Professional includes unlimited templates
What doesn't
- Monthly-billing prices are not published
- Enterprise and API Business pricing is custom
- Basic is limited to three templates
- Best for routine signingDropbox SignDropbox Sign
Dropbox Sign is a straightforward candidate for individuals and small teams sending routine agreements. Its listed starting price is $10.05, and it has a free plan; the listing also points to branded e-signatures through its API. Team pricing and add-ons can make the bill less clear, so check the cost for the setup you need.
What works
- Recipients can sign without creating an account.
- Paid plans include unlimited signature requests.
- Essentials is $10.05/month with annual billing.
What doesn't
- The free plan is limited to signing documents.
- Essentials costs $15/month when billed monthly.
- Teams above five users may need sales-assisted pricing.
- Best for proposalsPandaDocPandaDoc
PandaDoc is the pick here for teams handling proposals as well as agreements, with approval workflows also listed among its strengths. It starts at $19 and has a free plan. The listing flags editor complaints and add-on costs, so compare the paid setup carefully if signing is your main need rather than a broader proposal workflow.
What works
- Free plan includes 5 documents per month
- Starter includes unlimited uploads and eSignatures
- Business includes CRM integrations and approval workflows
What doesn't
- Displayed paid prices have unclear billing cadence
- Starter API use requires Usage Credits
- Salesforce integration requires a paid add-on
- Best low entry priceSign.comSign.com
Sign.com has the lowest listed starting price in this group at $6 and offers a free plan. Its listed fit is occasional individual signing, shared signing workflows and reusable templates. The caveat is the annual commitment and plan caps: check both before choosing it on price alone, especially if your sending volume may change.
What works
- Free plan includes two documents per month
- Unlimited documents on paid plans
- Unlimited signees on paid plans
What doesn't
- Free plan is capped at two documents monthly
- Monthly billing prices are not published
- Overage costs are not published
03How we chose
We weighed published pricing, plan limits, product documentation, and Reddit sentiment, with an emphasis on what can change the cost of switching: signature or document caps, user limits, and features reserved for higher tiers. We did not treat a low entry price as the whole story. Where a provider does not publish a price or limit, buyers should confirm it directly rather than assume it is included. We also considered whether the documented workflow fits the job: creating, sending, signing, and managing documents.
04Choose for the document workflow, not the feature count
Start with the documents you send and the steps around each signature. A basic process may need only document upload, signer fields, and a completed copy. More involved workflows may require templates, multiple signers, reminders, or a way to track documents after sending. Check the product documentation for each step you need; do not assume a feature is included because a vendor offers e-signatures.
Then check who needs access. A tool for one person sending occasional agreements has different requirements from a team that creates, sends, and manages documents together. Confirm how the plan handles users, templates, and document volume, and whether those limits are published. If the documentation does not answer a question, ask the vendor before you migrate. Compare the same workflow across vendors, not just their feature lists.
05Compare the full price before switching
Compare the plan you would actually need, not just the lowest advertised price. Check the billing period, included users, signature or document limits, and whether required features sit behind a higher tier. If a vendor does not publish a price or cap, treat it as unknown and request a written quote. Avoid assuming an unlimited workflow unless the plan terms say so.
Switching also means moving the parts of the process you rely on. List your active documents, reusable templates, signer details, and records you need to keep. Ask the new vendor what can be imported and what must be recreated; do not assume documents or audit records transfer automatically. Before ending the old subscription, confirm access to completed files and identify any workflow that still depends on it. A short cost comparison should include the new plan and the work needed to change over.
Questions people ask
Are electronic signatures legally binding?
They may be legally valid, but requirements depend on the document, jurisdiction, and circumstances. Check the rules that apply to your use case and the vendor’s documentation before choosing a service. For high-stakes agreements, get qualified legal advice rather than relying on a software feature list.
How much does e-signature software cost?
There is no single category price. Compare the specific plan’s billing period, user allowance, signature or document limits, and included features. If pricing or caps are not published, ask the vendor for a quote and confirm the terms in writing before switching.
What should I check before moving to a new e-signature tool?
Make an inventory of active documents, templates, users, and records you need to retain. Ask whether each can be transferred and what requires manual setup. Confirm access to completed files in your current service before canceling; do not assume records migrate automatically.
Do I need a free plan?
A free plan may suit occasional, simple signing if its limits cover your workflow. Check the published caps and included features, then compare them with the volume and access you need. If key terms are not published, confirm them with the vendor before relying on the plan.