5 best digital signature software to choose in 2025: the ultimate comparison analysis

Are the documents waiting to be signed piling up? No matter if you’re working in HR of a remote-based company or manage a ton of lease agreements with dozens of clients, using digital signatures can truly save you a lot of trouble.

And if you already know this and plan to find the best e-signature software for 2025, you’re in the right place. To make the choice non-overwhelming, we selected top electronic signature software providers and compared them all in this article.

After analyzing what’s available on the market, we decided to share an ultimate comparison guide for: Autenti, Docusign, Adobe Sign, Dropbox Sign, and SignNow as the 5 best digital signature software platforms.

We’re taking into account:

• pricing vs available features and/or limitations for each electronic
• signature software platform,
• software reviews left on G2 and Capterra,
• security measures offered,
• free trial availability,
• feature highlights,
• and more.
  

Please note that all five digital signature software platforms mentioned in this article are top-tier choices for different users and various use cases. The differences between them lie mainly in whom they’re tailored the best for—and this is exactly what we’re going to uncover.

Let’s get right into the comparison analysis, starting with Autenti.

Table of contents

1. Autenti
2. Docusign
3. Adobe Sign
4. Dropbox Sign (formerly HelloSign)
5. airSlate SignNow
6. Frequently asked questions

1. Autenti

Autenti is an electronic signature software platform that supports three types of electronic signatures: Simple Electronic Signatures (SES), Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES), and Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES)—with over 170 suppliers for the last digital signature mentioned.

Apart from electronic and digital signatures to help you sign documents online, Autenti covers different signature needs, including:

• validating existing signatures with their eSignature Validator,
• confirming the counterparty's identity online with the BROKER ID tool,
• and even a mobile app to sign and send documents directly from your phone.

All of this is available on one, user-friendly platform that will make transitioning from traditional paper-based methods to digital solutions as easy as ever.

Start your 14-day free trial with Autenti, credit card is not required to register.

Unique value: over 170 QES suppliers

Signing documents with Autenti’s QES service, you can choose whichever QES provider you find most fitting, from 170+ available across the EU. Even if your contractor or customer already has a QES solution (a physical one especially), Autenti will support signing documents online with that provider—making the collaboration as smooth as possible.

To learn more about e-signing across Europe with Autenti, read this article.

Reviews

Autenti boasts a clean 5.0 rating on G2, as well as 5.0 on Capterra.

Example review left on Capterra by an implementation specialist, reads:

“One of the main advantages of Autenti is its user-friendly interface and the convenience it offers in signing and managing documents digitally. 

Additionally, its focus on security and compliance with legal regulations is commendable, providing peace of mind when handling sensitive documents. The efficiency gains and cost savings associated with digital document workflows are also notable pros.”

Besides a user-friendly interface or the heavy focus on security and compliance with legal regulations, Autenti is also praised for:

• the efficiency it offers and the way it speeds up tedious signing processes,
• how it makes it actually possible to stop relying on traditional paper signing methods,
• its team collaboration features,
• being a budget-friendly alternative to pricier solutions,
• and more.

The small possible inconveniences mentioned by users in their reviews cover natural difficulties lying in switching from the well-known, traditional paper-based methods to digital solutions or the fact that some digital signature features may come across as too technical.

Best for: businesses based in Europe, signing many documents

Businesses of all sizes, particularly those based in Europe, who need a secure, legally compliant digital signature solution for contracts, agreements, and other document workflows will enjoy Autenti’s digital signing capabilities the most.

Autenti makes sure that both smaller businesses, as well as large corporations find suitable solutions in their offer, from affordable and sufficient plans to complete tailor-made options with advanced security.

But Autenti is also heavily attractive thanks to not imposing limits on the number of documents you can sign, no matter the plan you’re on—making it a very budget friendly solution for digital document signing.

So if you’re in need of an e-signature platform that offers SES, AES, and QES signatures from the very start, with no document signing limitations, all on an intuitive interface and additional features—choose Autenti.

Security

Autenti puts extreme focus on proper security measures, with various encryptions and authentication methods set in place.

Autenti has established and maintains an information management system certified under ISO/IEC 27001:2017 for the "Design and supervision of the development of Trust Services and Electronic Identification Services, as well as their maintenance."

What’s more, Autenti’s compliance was independently audited and certified by TÜV NORD Poland, an accredited body.

Further regulations and standards include:

• Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 of the European Parliament and Council (eIDAS Regulation) on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions, replacing Directive 1999/93/EC.
• Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR) on the protection of personal data and the free movement of such data, repealing Directive 95/46/EC.
• ETSI 319 401: General Policy Requirements for Trust Service Providers under Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (ESI).
• ETSI 319 521: Policy and security requirements for Electronic Registered Delivery Service Providers under Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (ESI).

Choosing Autenti’s Premium plan gives you additional security layers, like the SMS code as additional signatory authentication.

Pricing

Autenti’s pricing is divided into two groups: individual entrepreneurs along with small businesses and medium and large companies as a separate category.

Entrepreneurs and small businesses can choose between two plans: PRO and PREMIUM, for 30 and 55 EUR net respectively, when choosing monthly billing. What’s important to note is that both plans do not limit the number of documents you can sign with them, offering an unlimited solution instead.

As an add-on for both plans, entrepreneurs and small businesses can also choose mass signing with Autenti e-signature to fast-track their operations further.

In turn, medium and large companies can choose between two options, this time a bit more flexible: Corporate and Enterprise solutions.

The Corporate solutions start from 499 EUR net per company, per month, and here are some of the features it offers:

• Fast sending, signing and monitoring documents online from any device,
• Access to all types of electronic signatures—Autenti e-signature, advanced electronic signatures, qualified electronic signature,
• BROKER ID tool to confirm the counterparty's identity online,
• Sending documents on behalf of an organization with the option of adding company branding,
• Verifying the validity of documents using the validator of electronic signatures and seals,
• Pending document reminders,
• Document management during the user's absence.

Besides that, the Corporate solutions offer advanced security features, priority technical support, a reporting module, and a dedicated Onboarding Specialist with an individual implementation process.

Going further, Enterprise solutions are more of a custom-made offer dedicated to corporations with a need for individual processes and custom integrations. The price in this case depends on the unique needs of each corporation, and can be estimated after getting in touch with Autenti’s team.

But besides the tailor-made approach, you’ll be sure to get:

• Business security for your corporations,
• API Enterprise integration,
• Individual solutions for regulated sectors,
• Finance qualified and advanced electronic signatures for the recipient's of your documents,
• Priority technical support/SLA,
• Enterprise grade technical support,
• Integrated qualified trust services,
• All data stored on durable medium,
• The ability to use Autenti via MS Teams,
• Business Process Automation (BPA),
• Advanced client branding,
• Corporate electronic seals.

Free trial

Autenti gives you the possibility to test out the possibilities of the platform for a full 14 days, with no credit card required to register.

Feature highlight: validate any document & signature

An important feature to highlight that’s available on the Autenti platform is its e-signature validator.

The Autenti Validator makes it easy to verify the authenticity of electronic signatures and seals in just a few steps. It basically ensures your document hasn’t been tampered with or altered without authorization.

What’s more, after the validation is complete, you can download a detailed Validation Attestation report, which serves as legal evidence if needed.

2. Docusign

Docusign is a platform for sending, signing, and managing your documents online.

Beside e-signature features, Docusign delivers additional products that help across the document journey, from contract lifecycle management to AI features for summarizing contracts’ contents.

Reviews

Docusign’s ratings remain high with a score of 4.5 on G2 and 4.7 on Capterra, calculated based on thousands of user reviews.

Example review left for Docusign on Capterra by Tilly T. working in Computer Software, reads:

“My overall experience with DocuSign has been very positive. The platform is incredibly user-friendly, making it easy to navigate and manage documents. 

One of the standout features for me has been the ability to set up templates, which has truly been a game changer. This feature saves me a significant amount of time when sending documents, as I can quickly customise and reuse templates without starting from scratch each time.

Overall, DocuSign has streamlined my workflow and made the signing process much more efficient.”

Other advantages of Docusign we can spot in G2 reviews of this software include its user-friendly interface, access to many integrations, and seamless electronic signing.

In turn, what’s mentioned as a possible disadvantage is the fact that Docusign may come as a bit expensive, especially for smaller businesses.

Best for: those needing many integrations

Choose Docusign if you want to combine basic e-signature needs with dozens of integrations to streamline your workflows. This platform integrates with over 900 tools, from Google to Salesforce.

Docusign is also best to choose if you’re either a small business that signs a lower number of documents on a monthly basis or are a bigger enterprise that’s willing to pay a bit more for custom limits or cover the price of Docusign on an annual basis.

That’s because the number of documents you can sign when on monthly billing with Docusign is limited to 5 or 10 documents—at least when speaking of the regular eSignature plans.

Moreover, choose Docusign if SES signatures are sufficient for your needs. More advanced digital signatures, including AES and QES are again available from the Enhanced Plans, which are custom made for each customer.

Security

Docusign adheres to global standards, like ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, and eIDAS, ensuring secure and legally recognized transactions.

Features like certificate of completion, electronic record disclosures, and email access codes provide additional layers of protection.

Advanced security needs, such as ID verification or HIPAA support, is available on the tailor-made solution, therefore, contacting sales is needed in this case.

Pricing

Docusign’s pricing is pretty complex, with four different categories, each of which contains four-level tiers.

We’ll compare the most basic eSignature plans’ core features to give you an idea of Docusign’s prices.

*the number of documents you can sign on each plan can be extended if you choose annual pricing instead of monthly. The smaller numbers of 5 or 10 documents to sign then become 100 per user.

Free trial

DocuSign offers a free 30-day trial so you can explore its features before committing to a paid plan.

During the trial, you can send documents to up to five recipients and access features available on Docusign’s free plan. Once the trial ends, your account automatically switches to the free version.

Feature highlight: IAM (Intelligent Agreement Management)

As we mentioned at the beginning of Docusign’s paragraph, they also put their focus on adding AI features to their platform. 

Docusign’s IAM—Intelligent Agreement Management breaks down complicated agreements into simple summaries and key highlights so that everyone on your team can understand or simply find crucial information quicker. Whether that’s key dates, terms, or contract’s value.

What’s worth noting is that the IAM features are available either in Docusign on separate plans that start from $35 per user, per month, or on the custom Enhanced Plans.

3. Adobe Sign

Adobe Sign is a product of Adobe—a solution most commonly known for being one of the best PDF documents readers and allowing proper PDF editing.

Adobe Sign specifically, part of Adobe's suite of digital solutions, is an electronic signature and digital document management tool, designed to help individuals and organizations streamline workflows and approvals.

It enables you to send, sign, track, and manage documents securely online, eliminating the need for paper-based processes.

Reviews

Adobe Acrobat Sign with almost a thousand reviews left on G2 gains an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars, keeping up with the high scores of all tools listed in this article.

Example review left on G2 by Heather B., a Senior Executive Assistant, reads:

“What do you like best about Adobe Acrobat Sign?

Honestly, the ease of use. I love that it's integrated right into Adobe Acrobat Pro, that recipients can sign in minutes with printing or scanning, that it's fast and secure, and that signers don't even need Acrobat to sign as they receive an email link to do so online for free. Additionally, the fact you email the signer the document directly through Acrobat instead of copying the link and pasting it in a new email is a serious time saver.

What do you dislike about Adobe Acrobat Sign?

Occasionally, I feel like it's almost too complicated in regards to the amount of options you have when setting up a document for signature.”

Apart from that, the commonly mentioned pros of Adobe Acrobat Sign include its ease of use and the fact that it allows you to seamlessly open, view, and share PDFs on any device.

In turn, some of the cons mentioned in G2 reviews are the fact that the subscription-based pricing in case of Adobe may come as expensive, especially to smaller businesses, and the fact that some users find the many options available in Adobe confusing.

Best for: existing Adobe users and PDF enthusiasts

Enterprises and users who need robust PDF handling and integration with other Adobe tools should consider going with Adobe Sign to match their e-signature needs on top of the mentioned PDF-related features.
The fact that you can open, view, and send PDF documents in this tool, while also electronically signing them, may make you prone to choose this software platform.

Security

Adobe Sign adheres to industry standards being compliant with SOC 2-Type 2, ISO 27001:2013, or FedRAMP.
Additional security layers are available on the custom-based plan: Acrobat Sign Solutions, with SSO and KBA/phone authentications.

Other industry‑specific security measures Adobe takes is, for example, ensuring compliance with HIPAA, FERPA, GLBA, and FDA 21 CFR part 11.

Pricing

Adobe differentiates their pricing for the e-sign plans to Individual and Business plans.

Individual plans include one license, while Business plans allow you to purchase more licences, paying per each one, but with these plans—you can’t opt out of annual billing.

To give you an idea of how Adobe pricing works, we’ll show you a comparison between two individual Adobe plans: Acrobat Standard and Acrobat Pro.

The number of documents you can sign with Adobe may seem a bit complicated to establish, as even stated by Adobe on their pricing page—it’s best to get in touch with their sales team to set the details.

However, Adobe Acrobat Standard and Pro plans, available for individuals or teams, include unlimited transactions per user annually. For Acrobat Sign Solutions, pricing depends on the number of users or the expected transaction volume, with specific limits outlined by Adobe.

Speaking of which, a table prepared by Adobe on transaction limits shows a limit of 150 transactions per year for Adobe Sign users.

Free trial

You can take Adobe Sign for a test drive on two plans: Acrobat Pro (for 7 days) and Acrobat Sign Solutions (for 30 days) before making your decision on committing to a paid plan.

Feature highlight: PDF tools and signing

A feature that’s worth highlighting for Adobe Acrobat Sign is naturally connected with its PDF capabilities.

With Adobe PDF tools, you can create, edit, electronically sign, and collaborate on PDFs, all in one place.

Meaning managing signatures, organizing electronic records, and working on PDFs directly within apps like Microsoft Word, Teams, Salesforce, and Workday.

4. Dropbox Sign (formerly HelloSign)

Dropbox Sign, formerly HelloSign, is a product of a wider Dropbox toolkit that includes various products—from Dropbox Forms, through Dropbox Fax, to Dropbox Sign API.

In turn, the main solution offered by Dropbox is a cloud storage service for safe file sharing and document workflows.

Reviews

With more than two thousand reviews left on G2 and over a thousand reviews placed on Capterra, Dropbox Sign has a total rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on both platforms.

Dropbox is particularly praised for the ease of use it offers, including simple signing and for the templates users can go for in their workflows.

On the other hand, what’s most commonly noted as a con based on G2 reviews are difficulties with editing or limited customization options.

Example review left on Capterra by Richelle Marting J., an attorney, reads:

“For my minimal e-signature needs - only a few documents a month - this is the perfect solution. It's extremely easy to use for both me and even the unexperienced recipient.”

Best for: those familiar with Dropbox toolkit looking for SES signatures

Because Dropbox Sign locks more advanced e-signature types, like QES, behind higher-tier plans—Premium—with custom-based pricing, choosing this platform may be best for those looking for simpler e-sign options.

Dropbox Sign is an especially good choice to make if you’re already familiar with the Dropbox toolkit, like sharing files, ensuring proper document workflow, or creating forms with Dropbox Forms.

What’s worth highlighting is the fact that Dropbox, just like Autenti, does not limit the number of documents you can sign, no matter the subscription plan you’re on. So if your case requires signing many documents, choosing Dropbox may also be the right choice.

Security

Dropbox Sign offers proper security by being compliant with various regulations and electronic signature laws, including SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, eIDAS, GDPR, and more.

For an additional layer of protection, Dropbox Sign offers 2FA and ensures that all documents are stored and encrypted at rest using AES 256-bit encryption.

Pricing

Dropbox Sign offers three plans: Essentials, Standard, and Premium, with the prices starting at $20 per user, per month, when choosing monthly-based billing.

What’s worth highlighting when browsing through Dropbox Sign prices is the fact that more advanced electronic signature types, like QES (Qualified Electronic Signature), are available from the highest-tier plan—Premium, which comes with custom costs.

Free trial

Dropbox Sign offers a 30-day long free trial you can take to test out its features before committing to a paid plan subscription.

Feature highlight: reusable templates

A feature we want to highlight for Dropbox Sign are its reusable templates.

These are perfect for high-volume documents sent to different recipients— the templates you create retain your formatting so you don’t have to redo it every time.

You can create templates for different types of documents, including legal agreements, like NDAs, tax forms, HR paperwork, such as employee handbooks, codes of conduct, and sales contracts.

5. airSlate SignNow

airSlate SignNow is an online solution for digitally signing documents, making electronic signing simple and efficient.

With it, you can create legally binding e-signatures on any device by typing, drawing, or uploading your signature. Its API lets you integrate seamless signing experiences into websites, CRMs, or apps.

It’s worth noting that this e-signature software is more tailored to bigger corporations looking for enterprise-like solutions.

Best for: users seeking a scalable solution with unlimited team members to add

airSlate SignNow is the best platform to choose if you seek an enterprise-level solution in terms of the number of users you can add to the platform. SignNow gives you the option to add unlimited users, starting from the first-tier plan—Business.

Another feature pointing to tailoring more with enterprise-level businesses is the fact that signing more than 100 documents or choosing the highest-tier plan—Site License—requires paying for each document signed. airSlate SignNow refers to it as eSignature invites.

This means that if your business needs include signing many documents, you should expect a cost of $1.50 per each signature, which may ultimately add up. 

But enterprise-level solutions should be able to accept that.

To give you an example, let’s say you’re signing 500 documents every month, you should expect to pay at least $750 per month, excluding advanced features available as add-ons.

Reviews

airSlate SignNow has an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on G2 and exactly the same rating on Capterra.

Example review left on Capterra by Lucy T, reads:

“We switched over to signNow after having enough of our previous e-sign tool. Performance was the most important factor for us as we had a couple big deals fall through in the past due to errors with the signing process.
And so far, signNow has been very impressive. We haven't ran into any performance issues, and all the other factors like integrations, data safety, ease of use, etc., are pretty good too.”

Apart from that, airSlate SignNow is also liked for its ease of use, templates, or how it shortens the time to approve documents with the possibility to write dedicated emails for approvers.

In turn, what’s mentioned as possible cons are the confusion between personal and team areas of the software platform or the fact that smaller businesses may find it pricier.

Security

airSlate SignNow definitely puts a lot of emphasis on security, adhering to various regulations and laws.

It complies with GDPR to protect EU residents' data, SOC 2 Type II certification to ensure data privacy, and PCI DSS to secure credit card transactions.

For specialized needs, it meets FDA standards under 21 CFR Part 11 for electronic records and signatures, HIPAA for safeguarding patient health data, and CCPA to protect the privacy of California residents.

But it’s worth noting that more advanced security layers, like HIPAA or SSO are available only as an add-on on the highest-tier plan.

Pricing

airSlate SignNow gives us four plans to choose from when it comes to their digital signature platform solution: Business, Business Premium, Enterprise, and Site License.

Here is a comparison table between the four plans with selected core features.

Sign documents online with Autenti, no matter the QES provider

The best e-signature software platform for your business needs depends on what those specific needs actually are.

Maybe you need to sign an unlimited number of documents per month, are based in a European country, and want to utilize all electronic signature types, from SES, AES, and QES—in this case, choose Autenti.

You’ll also get many additional features, from Autenti Validator to validate documents and signatures or a user-friendly mobile app for signing and sending documents straight from your mobile phone. With over 170 QES providers, you can be sure that the signature will happen, no matter which QES your partner or customer uses.

If you want to digitally sign documents, but are not super keen on a big number of them, want a lot of versatile integrations, and a user-friendly platform, choose Docusign as your e-sign software solution.

In turn, if you already use tools like Adobe or Dropbox—you should definitely consider going with either of these two toolstacks that will complete your operations with digital signature options.

Last, but not least, software for businesses that lean more on the enterprise side and wish to add unlimited team members to the platform they’re using should consider going with airSlate SignNow.

No matter which platform you go for, make sure to choose the best electronic signature software for your needs to fully enjoy switching from traditional to paperless document signing.

Frequently asked questions

What is a digital signature software platform?

A digital signature software platform is basically a document signing software. It covers all your document signing needs, giving you access to different types of electronic signatures, from SES to advanced options like AES or QES. It’s safe to say that digital signature software can fully and securely replace traditional signing methods.

What is the best digital signature software?

The best digital signature software to choose depends on your e-signing needs. For example, if you need to sign a big number of documents and are based in Europe, it’s best to choose Autenti—this platform will not limit the number of documents you can sign, whether that’s using simple solutions like SES or more advanced options like QES.

Which digital signature software doesn’t limit documents to sign?

Autenti does not limit the number of documents you can sign within the platform, no matter which subscription plan you choose to commit to. It’s a perfect option for those that sign a lot of documents, whether that’s HR, an agency signing cooperation contracts, or a loan business.

Which digital signature software doesn’t limit users to add?

A digital signature software that doesn’t limit the number of users you can add to the platform is SignNow. Therefore, it may be a good solution for more enterprise-leaning businesses with many team members involved in the process of document signing.

Sources: information for this article was sourced only from the official websites of each tool mentioned.