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

Quick Summary

This article reviews Adobe Acrobat Sign, highlighting its strengths in compliance and integration but pointing out its high cost, complex interface, and slower support. It also explores a simpler, faster, and more affordable e-signature alternative better suited for growing teams.

Seeking an Honest Adobe Sign Review?

Adobe Sign is one of the most recognized e-signature solutions for enterprise industries like law, real estate, finance, and recruitment, but is it really the best option? We’ve tested it thoroughly and have some thoughts.

In this SignWell article, we’ll break down what Adobe Sign does well, where it may fall short, and introduce a better alternative that prioritizes simplicity, speed, and a smoother signing experience.

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 Adobe Sign 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 Adobe Sign (Adobe Acrobat Sign)?

Formerly known as Adobe Sign, Adobe Acrobat Sign is an electronic signature solution that allows individuals and businesses to digitally sign, send, and manage documents from anywhere. As part of Adobe’s Document Cloud suite, it integrates smoothly with other Adobe tools and widely used business apps to help streamline document workflows.

Beyond basic e-signatures, Acrobat Sign offers advanced features like document authentication, compliance tracking, and workflow automation. It also connects with enterprise platforms such as Salesforce, Microsoft Office, and various CRM systems, making it a fit for organizations with more complex document needs.

Key Features of Adobe Acrobat Sign

• Electronic and Digital Signatures: Apply legally binding electronic and digital signatures to PDFs and other documents, with support for global compliance standards.
• Document Preparation and Management: Create, edit, fill, and sign PDFs; build reusable templates and forms; drag-and-drop fields for easy prep; manage documents and audit trails via Adobe Document Cloud or integrated storage.
• Bulk Sending and Workflow Automation: Send documents to multiple recipients at once (Mega Sign), automate reminders, and use workflow templates for repetitive processes.
• Mobile Accessibility: Send, sign, and manage documents from any device, including via the Adobe Scan mobile app.
• Integration Capabilities: Connects with Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and supports custom integrations through APIs.
• Branding and Customization: Add logos, taglines, and custom messages to documents and emails; personalize confirmation pages for a branded experience.
• Tracking, Notifications, and Audit Trails: Get real-time status updates, automatic notifications, and detailed audit trails for every document.
• Security and Compliance: Enterprise-grade security with bank-level encryption, SOC 2 Type II compliance, and advanced signer authentication options.
• AI Assistant: AI tools help summarize agreements, extract key info, and answer questions directly from documents.
• Online Payments: Collect payments within documents to streamline contracts and transactions.

Pricing

Adobe Acrobat Sign is offered as part of the broader Adobe Acrobat platform, which includes additional tools like PDF editing, conversion, and protection, not just e-signatures. Here’s how pricing breaks down:

• Acrobat Standard (Individual – $12.99/mo): Basic PDF editing, conversion, protection, and e-signature tools; annual subscription billed monthly.
• Acrobat Pro (Individual – $19.99/mo): Full-featured PDF solution with advanced e-signing and protection; annual subscription billed monthly.
• Acrobat Standard for Teams – $14.99/license/mo: Includes e-signature features plus admin tools; billed monthly with an annual commitment.
• Acrobat Pro for Teams – $23.99/license/mo: Full PDF and e-signature capabilities with team features; discounted rates for 5+ licenses.

Adobe Sign does not offer a free version, but a 14-day free trial is available for new users.

What We Like

• Clean, Intuitive Interface: We found the interface easy to navigate, even for first-time users, which made setup and daily use smooth.
• Productivity Boost Through Streamlined Workflows: Tasks like onboarding, approvals, and contract management were noticeably faster, with less manual follow-up needed.
• Strong Integrations with Adobe and Business Tools: Its tight integration with tools like Acrobat, Teams, and SharePoint streamlined our document workflows.
• Real-Time Tracking and Detailed Audit Trails: We appreciated the ability to track document progress and access comprehensive audit logs for compliance.
• Bulk Send and Templates Save Time: Sending forms to large groups and reusing templates was efficient and a big time-saver.

What We Don’t Like

• Recent Interface Updates Introduced Friction: The new layout added extra steps and bugs, especially with auto form field detection, which slowed us down.
• Customer Support Fell Short: Our experience with support was inconsistent, with slow response times and limited help for technical issues.
• High Cost for Premium Features: Many of the more advanced tools are locked behind higher-tier plans, making it a pricey option for small teams.
• Field Placement Needs Manual Fixes: Auto-detected fields were often off-target, requiring manual tweaks that felt repetitive.
• Steeper Learning Curve After Updates: Some of our less tech-savvy teammates struggled to adapt, especially after the recent UI changes.

Meet SignWell, a Less Complex Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Sign

While Adobe Acrobat Sign offers powerful features, we found the platform increasingly cluttered, often requiring multiple clicks just to complete simple tasks. The interface feels bloated, and recent updates have made navigation less intuitive. 

Add to that the slow, mostly automated customer support experience, and it’s easy to see how the platform can become frustrating, especially for teams that value speed, clarity, and direct help when something goes wrong.

We built SignWell as a simpler alternative to Adobe Acrobat Sign because we know how frustrating it is to deal with clunky interfaces, extra clicks, and unhelpful automated support.

SignWell keeps things clean and efficient. You get everything you need to send documents, collect signatures, and automate workflows, without the learning curve. 

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 (or $10/month if you sign up for an annual plan), 1 sender, 5 templates per sender, unlimited documents, advanced features like bulk send and template links.
• Business Plan: $36/month (or $30/month if you sign up for the annual plan) 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.

Adobe Acrobat Sign vs. SignWell: Side-by-Side Comparison

Why Teams Choose SignWell Over Acrobat Sign

Smooth User Experience

Getting started with electronic signatures shouldn’t require rigorous training sessions or lengthy onboarding processes. SignWell is designed with simplicity in mind, allowing users to send their first document for signature within minutes of signing up.

Where Adobe Sign can feel cluttered and overwhelming with too many menu options and intricate workflows, SignWell keeps things focused on what matters most:

• Clean, intuitive interface that anyone can navigate
• Drag-and-drop document preparation
• One-click template creation
• Streamlined recipient management
• Clear document status tracking

Transparent and Affordable Pricing

Predictable pricing is a must for growing businesses. SignWell keeps it simple and budget-friendly, starting at just $12/month. Unlike Adobe Sign, there are no surprise costs or complicated tiers.

• No per-signature fees
• Unlimited document storage
• Flexible monthly billing
• Free plan for occasional users
• Clear feature breakdowns for every plan

Whether you’re a freelancer or a scaling team, SignWell offers industry-level features without the enterprise price tag.

Fast Implementation and Onboarding

Getting started with SignWell is quick and painless. You can be fully up and running in no time, with no technical setup or IT bottlenecks.

Compared to Adobe Sign’s more drawn-out implementation, SignWell delivers:

• No complex configuration required
• Pre-built templates for common use cases
• Immediate access to all features
• Self-service onboarding with optional support

Start sending documents the same day you sign up, no waiting around.

Lightning-Fast Document Processing

Time is money, especially when waiting for signatures on critical agreements. SignWell delivers an incredibly faster turnaround time 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 Customer Support When You Need It

SignWell provides support by email, phone, or live chat with a human whenever you need assistance, unlike AdobeSign, which mostly uses an automated response. Our dedicated team ensures you get personalized help, not generic responses.

Support advantages include:

• Responsive customer service with fast resolution times
• Comprehensive onboarding to get you started quickly
• Detailed documentation and learning resources
• Proactive assistance for optimization and best practices

Industry-Grade Security Without Complexity

Security shouldn’t be complicated. SignWell protects your documents with the same standards used by Adobe Acrobat Sign, without burying you in jargon.

Security features include:

• End-to-end encryption for 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

Developer-Friendly Integration

Need to embed e-signatures into your platform? SignWell makes it easy with an API that’s simple, flexible, and well-supported.

Compared to Adobe Sign’s more developer-heavy setup, SignWell’s API includes:

• Clear, comprehensive documentation
• Responsive developer support
• Flexible webhook options
• Sandbox environment for testing

Conclusion

Adobe Acrobat Sign is a powerful tool with robust features, but it often feels bloated, expensive, and overly complex, especially for teams that just want to get documents signed quickly and easily. While it may suit large enterprises with deep pockets and dedicated onboarding teams, it’s far from the most accessible or efficient choice for growing businesses.

That’s where SignWell comes in. It delivers all the essentials, legally binding signatures, strong security, and seamless workflows, without the enterprise-level hassle. Its intuitive interface, transparent pricing, and fast setup make it a smart choice for teams who want to spend less time learning software and more time closing deals.

Ready to simplify your document signing process? Try SignWell for free.