Top 5 electronic signature apps to sign documents online in 2024

In a world where everything from your memories to your money can be digitized, it is no surprise that electronic signatures are becoming more popular than ever. E- signatures allow people to sign documents electronically no matter where they are. Not only do they save time and resources and reduce the need for physical paperwork, but they are also a very secure method of signing documents. This helps businesses to accelerate business operations and reduce delays in important decision-making processes.

The adoption of e-signatures also has a positive environmental impact, since the reduction of paper usage contributes to minimizing carbon footprint and driving sustainability.

E-signatures are also made to be compliant with stringent legal standards and regulations established by various countries and international bodies. With technologies like unique identifiers, private and public keys, and digital certificates in place, it is virtually impossible to modify the contents of a document without detection, ensuring security.

Even though the concept of e-signatures has been in existence for a long time, it became a necessity due to the pandemic when the lack of physical distance and coming in contact with infected surfaces could lead to dire situations. While the situation is not that dire anymore, the popularity of e-signatures has not diminished. According to statistics, the e-signature market will continue to boom.

In 2022, the electronic signature market was valued at $3.9 billion and is predicted to increase to $43.14 billion by the end of the decade i.e. 2030.

E-signatures have revolutionized the way businesses and individuals handle documents. An individual can sign a document from anywhere in the world, as long as there is an internet connection.

If you are a business or an individual looking for e-signature apps to use, then you have come to the right place. Here are the top 5 electronic signature apps that can be used to sign documents online.

Top 5 electronic signature apps

With electronic signatures being all the rage, there are a plethora of e-signature apps in the market. We have compiled a list of the top 5 signature apps that can be used by both individuals and businesses for their documents.

1. Adobe

Adobe is a widely recognized company that provides e-signature solutions as one of its services, namely Adobe Acrobat Reader DC and Adobe Sign. Adobe Acrobat Reader DC happens to be the free e-signature solution for Windows PC.

With Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, you can sign documents by selecting ‘Fill & Sign’ present on the right sidebar, then Sign yourself, and then Add Signature. You can create an e-signature on the app by typing in your name, taking an image of your signature and uploading it, or by drawing it. You can then proceed by dragging the signature to the required locations, saving the document, and then sending it.

Adobe Acrobat Reader is a good option for individuals who are looking to sign a few documents. However, if you are a business that needs multiple documents signed electronically, then Adobe Acrobat Reader’s paid version or Adobe Sign might be a better choice for you.

Adobe Sign not only enables you to place e-signatures on PDF documents, but it also integrates with other third-party apps like Salesforce, Dropbox, Microsoft, and more.

2. DocuSign

DocuSign is another industry leader when it comes to electronic signatures. This app is known for its user-friendly interface and extensive integrations with popular business tools such as Salesforce, Microsoft, and Google Drive. It has a presence in over 180 countries and 44 languages.

DocuSign encrypts both data at rest and in transit making it one of the most secure e-signature apps in the market. The platform’s ease of use allows for smooth creation, distribution, and management of documents, even for people with no technical expertise.  Apart from electronic signatures, the company also provides the following:

• Electronic notarization
• Contract cycle management
• Identity verification
• Clickwraps
• Web forms

ZNetLive a trusted provider of DocuSign which provides it at pocket-friendly prices. Whether you are a small team of people or a large company, the company has something for everyone. For more details contact sales@znetlive.com.

3. Dropbox

Famous for its file-sharing abilities, Dropbox also provides top-notch e-signature solution to its customers. Initially known as HelloSign, Dropbox’s e-signature solution known as Dropbox Sign is compatible with PDF, Google Drive Box, Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Word documents.

While Dropbox Sign has a free trial version that allows you to leverage its electronic signature solution, the paid version provides you with templates, advanced team management, and custom branding for multiple users.

The e-signatures provided by Dropbox Sign are legally binding and highly secure due to their multi-layered protection and strict encryption. With an advanced architecture design in place, your documents are safe for collaboration sharing and saving in the Dropbox.

4. PandaDoc

PandaDoc is a comprehensive e-signature solution that complies with ESIGN and UETA standards, ensuring the same legal validity as traditional wet ink signatures. By implementing cutting-edge measures such as 256-bit encryption and SOC 2 compliance, PandaDoc ensures that your documents and signatures are secure.

The platform’s user-friendly interface simplifies the process of creating, sending, and signing documents, while its versatile compatibility with various file types, including PDFs, Word documents, and Excel spreadsheets allows you to collect your signature from any tool, no matter where you are.

PandaDoc allows you to type, draw, or upload your signatures and even customize them in the PandaDoc accounts. While the paid version does provide access to more features, you can also opt for a free eSign plan which allows you to upload prewritten documents, sign them, and get team access for up to 5 documents.

5. SignNow

If you are a small business looking for an e-signature app that a small team can use, then your search ends with SignNow. A lot of electronic signature apps levy a hefty sum when more than one account is added, but the SignNow plans start at $20 per month and comes down to $8 /user/month when paid annually. It does not have an individual plan.

This mobile-friendly app provides multiple features that make it a great e-signature app, like adding wet-ink signature, multiple signers, setting notifications to stay in the loop about a document’s signing status, fillable fields, and more. It also has some interesting authenticating features in place to keep your documents secure like dual factor authentication, a phone call made to authenticate a signer’s identity, inactivity time out, etc.

Be it a PDF, a payment transcript, or a fax log, SignNow lets you sign and manage a wide range of documents as well as help you collaborate on them and add your branding.

Wrapping up  

Electronic signatures have become an essential tool for businesses and individuals to streamline their document workflow, reduce paper waste, and improve efficiency. The e-signature apps mentioned in this article offer a range of features, making them suitable for different needs and budgets. Whether you’re a small business owner, a freelancer, or part of a large corporation, you can find the right e-signature solution to suit your needs. Take the time to explore these top e-signature apps and choose the one that aligns best with your requirements.

Disclaimer: The names compiled in the list are in alphabetical order and are not placed in a ranking of any kind. The list is purely the author’s opinion and is for information purposes only and should be used as such.

Image credit: Freepik

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