SignNow

What is SignNow?

SignNow is an electronic signature and document workflow platform developed by airSlate, a company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Originally launched as an independent product, SignNow was acquired by airSlate (formerly PDFfiller) in 2017, becoming part of a broader document automation ecosystem. SignNow has grown to serve over 45 million users worldwide, positioning itself as an affordable alternative to premium e-signature solutions while maintaining enterprise-grade capabilities.

What distinguishes SignNow from competitors is its aggressive value proposition, offering comprehensive e-signature functionality at prices significantly below market leaders like DocuSign and Adobe Sign. Despite the lower cost, SignNow provides robust features including templates, team management, integrations, and API access that meet the needs of most businesses. The platform is part of airSlate’s broader document workflow ecosystem, which includes PDF editing, form creation, and workflow automation capabilities.

SignNow serves a broad range of customers from individual professionals to large enterprises, with particular strength among cost-conscious small to medium businesses and teams that need more than basic signatures but cannot justify enterprise pricing. The platform handles e-signatures across industries including real estate, healthcare, education, and professional services. With both cloud and on-premise deployment options, SignNow accommodates organizations with varying security and compliance requirements.

Key Features

• Electronic Signatures: Legally binding e-signatures compliant with ESIGN Act, UETA, GDPR, and international e-signature laws for global business validity.
• Templates: Create reusable document templates with pre-positioned fields, reducing preparation time and ensuring consistency across documents.
• Team Collaboration: Add team members, define roles, manage permissions, and share templates for organized team-based document workflows.
• In-Person Signing: Kiosk mode for collecting signatures in face-to-face situations on shared devices, useful for retail and service environments.
• Signing Links: Generate shareable links allowing multiple people to sign the same document type without individual invitations.
• Conditional Fields: Show or hide document fields based on signer selections, creating dynamic documents that adapt to responses.
• Payment Collection: Accept payments alongside signatures through integration with payment processors.
• Document Editor: Edit PDF documents, add text, checkmarks, and annotations before or after collecting signatures.
• API Access: REST API for integrating SignNow capabilities into applications, websites, and custom workflows.
• Audit Trail: Comprehensive audit logs documenting every action taken on documents for legal evidence and compliance.

Latest Updates

SignNow continues to enhance its platform with new features, improved performance, and expanded enterprise capabilities.

• Enhanced Integrations: New and improved integrations with popular business applications including Salesforce, Microsoft, and Google.
• Improved Mobile Apps: Redesigned iOS and Android applications with better signing experience and document management.
• Advanced Branding: Enhanced customization options for creating fully branded signing experiences that match your company identity.
• Workflow Automation: Improved workflow capabilities with conditional routing and automatic follow-up actions.
• Enhanced Security: Additional security features including enhanced encryption and expanded compliance certifications.
• Bulk Operations: Improved bulk send capabilities for sending documents to large groups efficiently.
• Document Linking: Connect related documents together for complex transactions requiring multiple agreements.
• airSlate Integration: Deeper integration with airSlate’s document automation platform for comprehensive workflow solutions.

System Requirements

Web Browser

• Google Chrome (latest version, recommended)
• Mozilla Firefox (latest version)
• Microsoft Edge (latest version)
• Safari (latest version for Mac)
• Internet Explorer 11 (limited support)

Mobile

• iOS: Version 12.0 or later
• Android: Version 6.0 (Marshmallow) or later
• Storage: 80 MB

Desktop

• Windows 10 or later (for desktop app)
• macOS 10.13 or later
• Chrome extension available

How to Install SignNow

Web Access

1. Visit signnow.com and click Try Free
2. Sign up with your email address
3. Verify your email
4. Complete your profile
5. Start uploading documents for signature

# SignNow is web-based
# Access at: https://app.signnow.com

# API access for developers
# Base URL: https://api.signnow.com

# Example: OAuth token request
curl -X POST https://api.signnow.com/oauth2/token \
     -d "username=EMAIL&password=PASSWORD&grant_type=password"

# Example: Upload document
curl -X POST -H "Authorization: Bearer TOKEN" \
     -F "file=@document.pdf" \
     https://api.signnow.com/document

Mobile Installation

1. Open App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android)
2. Search for “SignNow”
3. Tap Install to download
4. Open and sign in with your account
5. Enable notifications for signing requests

Browser Extension

1. Visit Chrome Web Store
2. Search for “SignNow”
3. Click Add to Chrome
4. Sign in with your account
5. Sign documents directly from Gmail or browser

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent Value: Significantly lower pricing than DocuSign and Adobe Sign while providing comparable core functionality.
• Unlimited Templates: All paid plans include unlimited templates, unlike competitors who limit this feature on lower tiers.
• Generous Free Trial: 7-day free trial provides good evaluation opportunity without requiring payment information.
• Conditional Fields: Dynamic document fields that change based on signer input create more intelligent forms.
• In-Person Signing: Kiosk mode handles face-to-face signing scenarios that some competitors lack or charge extra for.
• API Included: API access available on Business plans, not restricted to enterprise tiers like some competitors.
• airSlate Ecosystem: Integration with broader document automation tools for comprehensive workflow solutions.

Cons

• Less Brand Recognition: Lower awareness compared to DocuSign may cause hesitation among some recipients.
• Integration Library: Fewer native integrations compared to major competitors, though Zapier extends connectivity.
• Support Limitations: Premium support features like phone support require higher-tier plans.
• Interface Design: While functional, the interface feels less polished than premium competitors.
• Advanced Features: Some advanced enterprise features are less developed compared to market leaders.

SignNow vs Alternatives

Who Should Use SignNow?

SignNow is ideal for:

• Cost-Conscious Businesses: Organizations seeking full e-signature functionality without paying premium prices find SignNow offers excellent value.
• Small to Medium Businesses: SMBs with moderate signing volumes get professional capabilities at affordable per-user costs.
• Retail and Service Businesses: In-person signing mode suits businesses collecting signatures at point of sale or service delivery.
• Teams Needing Many Templates: Unlimited templates on all paid plans benefits organizations with diverse document types.
• Developers on a Budget: API access at Business tier pricing enables integrations without enterprise-level investment.
• airSlate Users: Organizations using other airSlate products benefit from ecosystem integration.

SignNow may not be ideal for:

• Enterprise Requirements: Large organizations with complex compliance or workflow needs may require more robust platforms.
• Integration-Heavy Workflows: Teams requiring extensive native integrations should verify SignNow supports their tools.
• Brand-Sensitive Industries: Industries where recipient trust matters may prefer more recognized platforms.
• Premium Support Needs: Organizations requiring dedicated support should verify plan inclusions meet their needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SignNow secure and legally binding?

Yes, SignNow provides legally binding electronic signatures that comply with major e-signature laws including the U.S. ESIGN Act, UETA, and European eIDAS regulation. The platform uses 256-bit encryption for data in transit and at rest. SignNow maintains SOC 2 Type II certification and offers HIPAA-compliant plans for healthcare organizations. Comprehensive audit trails document the signing process and provide evidence of signature authenticity for legal purposes.

How does SignNow compare to DocuSign on price?

SignNow is significantly more affordable than DocuSign. SignNow’s Business plan starts at $8/user/month compared to DocuSign’s $10-15/month starting point. For teams, the difference becomes more significant – a 10-user SignNow Business plan costs roughly $80/month versus DocuSign’s $450+ for comparable functionality. While DocuSign offers more integrations and brand recognition, SignNow provides similar core features at 50-70% lower cost.

What integrations does SignNow offer?

SignNow offers native integrations with popular business applications including Salesforce, Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace, NetSuite, and others. The platform also connects to the broader airSlate ecosystem for PDF editing and workflow automation. For applications not directly supported, Zapier integration enables connectivity with thousands of additional tools. The API allows custom integrations for specific business requirements.

Can I use SignNow for free?

SignNow offers a 7-day free trial that provides access to most features for evaluation. Unlike some competitors, there is no permanent free tier for ongoing use – all continued use requires a paid subscription after the trial. However, the trial is enough time to thoroughly evaluate whether SignNow meets your needs before committing to a paid plan.

What is the airSlate ecosystem?

SignNow is part of airSlate’s broader document automation platform. The ecosystem includes PDFfiller for PDF editing and form creation, airSlate Workflow for document automation and routing, and US Legal Forms for legal document templates. Organizations can use these tools together for comprehensive document workflows, though SignNow functions well standalone for e-signature needs. The integration provides additional capabilities for teams wanting more than basic signing.

Final Verdict

SignNow delivers substantial value by providing comprehensive e-signature capabilities at prices significantly below market leaders. For organizations where cost is a primary consideration but functionality cannot be sacrificed, SignNow offers an attractive balance. The platform includes features like unlimited templates and conditional fields that competitors often restrict to premium tiers, making it particularly appealing for SMBs with diverse document needs.

The platform’s strengths include its aggressive pricing, unlimited templates on all paid plans, and in-person signing capabilities. The integration with airSlate’s broader ecosystem provides a growth path for organizations that may need additional document automation. For businesses primarily focused on collecting electronic signatures without extensive enterprise requirements, SignNow provides professional functionality at accessible prices.

SignNow best serves cost-conscious small to medium businesses, organizations with straightforward e-signature needs, and teams that value features-per-dollar over brand prestige. While it may lack some advanced enterprise capabilities and the extensive integration library of DocuSign, most businesses don’t need those features. For the majority of e-signature use cases, SignNow provides everything necessary at prices that make electronic signatures accessible to organizations of any size.