Here’s Our Review of DocuSign (+ a Better Alternative)

Quick Summary

This article explores DocuSign’s features, pricing, pros, and cons, highlighting where it excels and where it falls short for users who need a simpler, more cost-effective e-signature solution.

Seeking an Honest DocuSign Review?

If you’ve ever juggled multiple contracts, proposals, or agreements, you know how frustrating it can be to get everything signed quickly and securely. DocuSign has been a go-to for many businesses, promising to simplify electronic signatures, but is it really the best fit for your needs?

In this SignWell article, we’re going to break down everything you need to know about DocuSign, including its strengths and where it might fall short. Plus, we’ll introduce a better alternative that would save you time, money, and headaches.

But first…

Why Listen to Us

At SignWell, we’ve helped over 65,000 businesses simplify how they send, sign, and manage documents. With millions of documents signed through our platform, we’ve seen firsthand what teams actually need from tools like DocuSign and where those tools can fall short. We know what speeds up your workflow, what causes unnecessary friction, and what truly makes an e-signature solution worth sticking with.

What is DocuSign?

DocuSign is a cloud-based electronic signature platform that streamlines the document signing process for businesses and individuals. It digitizes traditional paperwork workflows, allowing users to send, sign, and manage documents electronically from anywhere on any device.

Beyond basic e-signature functionality, DocuSign provides tools for document preparation, workflow automation, and compliance management. You can integrate it with third-party platforms like Salesforce, Microsoft 365, and Google Workspace, enhancing productivity and document tracking capabilities.

Key Features of DocuSign

• Electronic signatures: Enables legally binding digital signatures with multiple authentication methods, ensuring document validity and compliance across jurisdictions.
• Document preparation: Streamlines document setup with drag-and-drop fields, templates, and automated workflows to reduce manual preparation time.
• Mobile accessibility: Provides full functionality across mobile devices, allowing users to sign and send documents from smartphones and tablets seamlessly.
• Workflow automation: Automates document routing, reminders, and notifications to ensure timely completion and reduce manual follow-up tasks.
• Advanced authentication: Offers multiple identity verification methods, including SMS, email, phone calls, and knowledge-based authentication for enhanced security.
• Template management: Creates reusable document templates with pre-configured signature fields, reducing setup time for frequently used agreements.
• Bulk sending: Enables sending the same document to multiple recipients simultaneously, streamlining mass distribution processes.
• Integration capabilities: Connects with popular business applications like Salesforce, Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and hundreds of other platforms.
• Seamless Communication: DocuSign offers various communication channels that meeting signers prefer. This includes text messages and WhatsApp.

• • API access: Offers developer tools and APIs for custom integrations and embedding e-signature functionality into existing applications.
  • Payment collection: Facilitates payment processing directly within documents, combining signature collection with transaction completion.
  • Real estate tools: Includes specialized features for real estate professionals, including property-specific templates and compliance tools.
  • AI-powered capabilities: DocuSign Iris agreement AI assists with contract review, obligation tracking, and data extraction to increase efficiency and reduce risk.

Pricing

• Personal Plan: $15/month, ideal for individuals and sole proprietors; includes sending 5 envelopes/month, reusable templates, and 900+ integrations.
• Standard Plan: $45/month per user, for small to medium teams; Includes 10 envelopes/user/month, team template sharing, and real-time comments.
• Business Pro Plan: $65/month per user, advanced features for automation; includes all conditional logic, multiple recipients, payment collection, and interactive web forms.
• Enhanced Plans: Customizable for larger teams with added benefits like 24/7 live support, identity fraud protection, single sign-on, AI-powered agreement management, and workflow customization.

What We Like

• Easy to Use: We found DocuSign’s interface incredibly intuitive; even team members with no tech background had no trouble getting started.
• Accessible Anywhere: It worked seamlessly on desktop and mobile, letting us manage and sign documents from virtually anywhere.
• Big Time-Saver: Templates and automation saved us hours on repetitive tasks, especially when sending out bulk agreements.
• Strong Security & Compliance: We felt confident sending sensitive documents thanks to DocuSign’s robust security measures and compliance standards.
• Great Integrations: It connected smoothly with tools we already use, like Google Drive and Salesforce, making our workflows more efficient.

What We Don’t Like

• Pricing Adds Up Quickly: The cost per user can get steep for small teams or occasional users, definitely something to factor in.
• Email Delivery Hiccups: A few of our test emails landed in spam folders, which delayed signing for some recipients.
• Admin Tools Are Clunky: We found the admin dashboard and account cancellation process less user-friendly than expected, especially for billing-related changes.
• Advanced Features Take Time to Learn: Basic tasks were easy, but configuring complex templates and workflows took some trial and error.
• No Post-Sign Edits: Once a document is signed, it’s locked. If you need to fix anything, you have to start over with a new version.

Meet SignWell, a Simpler and More Affordable Alternative to DocuSign

If DocuSign feels a bit too complex or too expensive for your needs, you’re not alone. While it’s packed with features, many users (ourselves included) have found the pricing structure and admin setup to be overkill, especially for smaller teams or individuals who just want to get documents signed quickly. 

That’s where SignWell comes in. It strips away the clutter and gives you a clean, straightforward experience that still checks all the legal and security boxes.

What sets SignWell apart is its ease of use, transparent pricing, and speed. Whether you’re a freelancer, startup, or scaling team, SignWell gives you everything you need to create, send, and track documents, without making you pay for tools you’ll never touch. It’s perfect for startups, SMBs, and legal teams who want a powerful e-signature tool without the usual enterprise bloat.

Key Features of SignWell

Electronic Signatures

• Legally Binding Signatures: SignWell ensures all electronic signatures are compliant with U.S. and international laws, including ESIGN, UETA, and eIDAS, providing the same legal standing as handwritten signatures
• Multiple Signature Options: Users can choose between hand-drawn, typed, or image-based signatures, catering to diverse preferences.
• In-Person Signing & Signer Delegation: Facilitates both remote and in-person signing scenarios, with options to delegate signing responsibilities when necessary.

Document Management & Templates

• Customizable Templates: Convert frequently used documents into templates for quick access and dispatch, streamlining repetitive tasks.
• Bulk Sending: Send documents to multiple recipients simultaneously, enhancing efficiency in large-scale operations.
• Document Organization: Organize documents using folders, tags, and categories, ensuring easy retrieval and management.

Workflow Automation & Tracking

• Automated Reminders & Notifications: Set up automatic reminders for pending signatures and receive instant notifications upon document views and completions. 
• Signing Order Control: Define the sequence in which multiple parties should sign a document, ensuring orderly execution.
• Audit Trails: Maintain detailed records of all document activities, including timestamps and user actions, enhancing transparency and accountability. 

Security & Compliance

• Data Encryption: Employs robust encryption protocols to safeguard sensitive information during transmission and storage.
• Compliance Standards: Adheres to major electronic signature regulations, ensuring legal validity across various jurisdictions.
• Access Controls & Permissions: Set granular permissions to control who can view, edit, or sign documents, enhancing security.

Integrations & API

• Third-Party Integrations: Seamlessly integrates with over 5,000 applications, including Google Workspace, Dropbox, Slack, HubSpot, Salesforce, and more, embedding into existing workflows.
• API Access: Offers robust API capabilities, allowing businesses to incorporate SignWell’s functionalities into their custom applications and systems.

Accessibility & Support

• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Access and sign documents from any device with internet connectivity, ensuring flexibility and convenience. 
• Responsive Customer Support: Provides dedicated support through email, phone, or Zoom, assisting users promptly with any queries or issues.

Pricing

• Free Plan: 1 sender, 3 documents/month, 1 template, limited reminders & notifications.
• Light Plan: $12/month, 1 sender, 5 templates per sender, unlimited documents, advanced features like bulk send and template links.
• Business Plan: $36/month for 3 senders, unlimited templates & documents, custom branding, data validation, in-person signing, and more.
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for large teams, includes all Business plan features plus high-volume API, dedicated support, and custom plans.

DocuSign vs. SignWell: Side-by-Side Comparison

Why Choose SignWell Over DocuSign?

Superior Customer Experience

Both senders and signers deserve a smooth experience. SignWell prioritizes user experience for both parties with a clean, responsive design that works flawlessly across all devices and browsers.

Customer feedback consistently highlights SignWell’s ease of use, with users noting it’s “easier to use and more elegant than DocuSign” and appreciating that “there’s no learning curve for them or their clients.”

SignWell’s signing experience features:

• Mobile-optimized interface that works perfectly on smartphones
• Clear signing instructions and visual guidance
• Fast loading times and responsive performance
• A professional appearance that reflects well on your business
• Minimal steps required to complete signatures

Transparent and Affordable Pricing

Budget predictability matters. SignWell’s plans start at just $10 per month (paid annually), making professional e-signature capabilities accessible to businesses of all sizes.

SignWell offers straightforward pricing that scales with your needs, not your headcount.

Key pricing advantages over PandaDoc include:

• No per-user fees for signers – unlimited recipients on all plans
• Transparent monthly rates without hidden charges or setup fees
• Scalable plans that grow with your business needs
• Free plan available for testing and light usage
• No long-term contracts are required for flexibility.

Lightning-Fast Document Processing

Time is money, especially when waiting for signatures on critical agreements. SignWell delivers 40% faster turnaround times on contracts and agreements, helping you close deals and complete processes more efficiently.

Speed advantages include:

• Instant document processing without rendering delays
• Mobile-optimized signing that works on any device
• Automated reminders that keep documents moving
• Real-time notifications for immediate status updates
• Bulk sending capabilities for multiple recipients

Reliable Support and Onboarding

Dependable customer support is crucial for business-critical processes. SignWell provides responsive, personalized support to ensure your document workflows run smoothly.

Customer testimonials consistently praise SignWell’s support quality and the platform’s reliability for closing deals. Our support includes:

• Fast response times for technical questions
• Helpful onboarding assistance for new users
• Detailed documentation and tutorials
• Personal account management for business plans
• Proactive assistance to optimize your workflows

Enterprise-Grade Security Without Enterprise Complexity

Security shouldn’t require a computer science degree to understand. SignWell provides robust protection with transparent security measures that give you confidence without complexity.

Security features include:

• End-to-end encryption for all documents and data
• Comprehensive audit trails for legal compliance
• SOC 2 Type II compliance that meets industry standards
• Secure document storage with reliable backup systems

Seamless Integration Capabilities

Your document workflow should connect naturally with the tools you already use. SignWell integrates easily with popular apps like Gmail, Slack, and Dropbox. Need something more tailored? Our flexible API lets you build custom workflows that fit your business perfectly.

Integration benefits include:

• Popular platform connections, including CRM and project management tools
• Webhook support for real-time data synchronization
• Zapier integration for no-code automation
• Developer-friendly documentation for technical teams

Conclusion

DocuSign has long been a trusted name in the e-signature space, but for many users, its high price point and interface can feel like overkill, especially if all you need is a fast, reliable way to get documents signed. 

That’s where SignWell comes in. It delivers the same legally binding signatures, audit trails, and integrations, without the clutter or cost. With an intuitive interface, flexible templates, and features like bulk sending and seamless third-party app integration, SignWell makes signing documents simple and stress-free. It’s everything most users need from DocuSign, just with less hassle and a much friendlier price tag.

Ready to experience faster, simpler document management with SignWell? Start with our free plan today.