We Explored DocuSign’s eSignature API Pricing and Here’s What We Found

Helpful Summary

• Overview: The DocuSign eSignature API allows for seamless integration of e-signature functionality into your workflows, but its pricing can be complex and confusing. This guide is your one-stop resource for understanding the costs and benefits of using DocuSign API.
• Trustworthy Source: At SignWell, we have extensive experience building and testing e-signature APIs. We can provide unbiased insights to help you make informed decisions.
• Why It Matters: Implementing DocuSign’s API can enhance operational efficiency, reduce manual processes, and ensure data security in document management.
• Action Points: Consider the DocuSign API for its reliability, scalability, and range of features. Evaluate the four pricing plans—Starter, Intermediate, Advanced, and Enterprise—to find the best fit for your organization’s needs and budget.
• Further Research: Investigate alternative options like SignWell API for cost-effective and comparable e-signature API solutions—especially if your organization is sensitive to pricing or requires specific functionalities not covered by DocuSign.

Want to Learn More About DocuSign’s API Pricing?

DocuSign is the world’s most popular e-signature tool. It offers a powerful and reliable API that allows businesses of all sizes to integrate electronic signatures into their existing workflows and develop custom solutions for their specific needs.

But DocuSign’s API pricing can sometimes be a barrier for organizations looking to adopt this technology. And it isn’t always the most cost-effective option.

In this SignWell guide, we’ll explore DocuSign’s API pricing and introduce you to an alternative that might be better suited for your budget and business needs.

Let’s get started.

Why Listen to Us?

At SignWell, we’ve spent years building and testing e-signature APIs for businesses like yours. We understand the importance of finding a solution that fits your budget and meets your business requirements.

We also believe in transparency, which is why we want to share our knowledge and experience with you. Our goal is to help you make an informed decision when it comes to choosing the right e-signature API for your organization.

What Is the DocuSign API?

DocuSign’s eSignature API is a set of tools and resources that enables developers to integrate e-signature functionality into their own applications. This API is available in different pricing tiers, each with its own features and limitations.

In addition to the base eSignature API, DocuSign also offers a range of other APIs—each with use cases and features tailor-made for different industries and business needs. These include the Rooms API, Notary API, Click API, Admin API, and more.

What Features Do You Get?

• eSignature API: This API allows you to solve workflow challenges with just a few lines of code. With over 400 endpoints, you can integrate electronic signature capabilities into your applications, tools, and systems.
• Click API: This is a simple REST API that enables you to capture consent to standard terms with a single click. It provides an efficient way to handle consent agreements in your workflow.
• DocuSign Admin API: With this API, you can easily manage all your DocuSign accounts and users using simple REST calls. It simplifies user management and administration tasks.
• Notary API: The Notary API allows you to expose notary-specific endpoints that complement the eSignature API. It enables you to quickly trigger remote online notarization sessions, streamlining the notarization process.
• Rooms API: The Rooms API helps streamline complex agreements through a secure, digital workspace. It allows you to optimize the workspace according to your unique workflow requirements.

How Does DocuSign’s API Pricing Work?

DocuSign offers four pricing plans for its Developer API plan—Starter, Intermediate, Advanced, and Enterprise.

Starter

This plan is priced at $50 per month or $600 billed annually. It starts with a monthly allowance of 40 envelopes and includes the following features:

• API usage center
• Software development kits
• OAuth

Intermediate

This plan is priced at $300 per month or $3,600 billed annually. It starts with a monthly allowance of 100 envelopes and includes:

• Everything in the Starter plan, plus…
• Collaborative commenting
• Customized branding
• Scheduled sending

Advanced

This plan is priced at $480 per month or $5,760 billed annually. It also starts with a monthly allowance of 100 envelopes and provides even more advanced features such as:

• Everything in Intermediate, plus…
• Bulk send
• PowerForms for API
• Connect
• Signer attachments

Enterprise

This plan is designed for customers with specific needs. It offers custom pricing that scales and includes:

• Everything in Advanced, plus…
• Higher send volumes
• Customized workflows
• Masked fields
• Offline mobile signing/sending
• Multi-factor authentication
• Signer permissions
• Multichannel delivery

Pricing Scenarios for DocuSign’s API

Scenario 1: You Want to Embed E-Signing in Your Small Business Website or App

• Plan Recommendation(s): Starter 
• Features Included: This plan benefits users by providing improved visibility and control over API usage, faster and standardized development through software development kits (SDKs), and enhanced security and convenience through OAuth.

In this scenario, Starter is your best bet. It’s the most affordable option and still offers all the necessary features for embedding e-signing into your small business website or app.

Scenario 2: You Want to Automate Complex Signing Workflows

• Plan Recommendation(s): Intermediate, Advanced, Enterprise
• Features Included: Scheduled sending, custom branding, customized workflows, PowerForms, and more.

If your goal is workflow automation, you’ll need to skip over Starter to access scheduled sending. Beyond that, the plan you choose will depend on the complexity of your desired workflows and whether you need features like custom branding or PowerForms.

Scenario 3: You Want to Integrate E-Signing into Your Existing CRM or HR Software

• Plan Recommendation(s): Advanced, Enterprise
• Features Included: Custom branding, customized workflows, PowerForms, and more. 

If your business relies heavily on a CRM or HR software, you’ll want to pick either the Advanced or Enterprise plan to ensure seamless integration with your existing systems. You may also want to add on a few of DocuSign’s supplementary APIs to fully customize your e-signing experience.

Is DocuSign’s API Worth It?

DocuSign’s eSignature API offers a good degree of flexibility for businesses that need it. However, the pricing can be steep, and the need to request access to add-on APIs adds another layer of complexity.

To help you understand the value of DocuSign’s API, here’s a quick pros and cons list:

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Wide range of pricing plans available.
• Offers a free developer test account and sandbox environment for testing.
• Provides extensive documentation and resources for integration.
• Is optimized for mobile.
• Offers access to all of DocuSign’s features.

Cons

• Can be expensive for small businesses.
• Additional fees for add-on APIs.
• Can be complex to integrate and set up.
• API plans have envelope limits.

Best Alternative to the DocuSign API: SignWell API

SignWell is a cloud-based e-signature solution that offers a simple and intuitive API for developers to integrate into their applications. We offer a user-friendly interface, extensive documentation, pay-as-you-go pricing, and resources to help with integration.

SignWell’s core platform includes a wide range of e-signing features—from bulk sending and automated reminders to data validation and audit trails. Our API allows you to access these features through your own software or use them to automate your signing processes.

What Features Do You Get?

• Workflow Automation: Set signing orders, automate reminders and notifications, and integrate with 5,000+ other apps for seamless workflows.
• Bulk Signatures: Send documents to multiple recipients at once and track their progress in real-time—perfect for businesses with high-volume signing needs. Every signer gets a copy of the document when the process is complete.
• Data Validation: Automatically validate data entered into your documents, preventing errors and streamlining the signing process.
• Audit Trail: Keep a detailed record of all actions taken on your documents, including who signed, when they signed, and any changes made to the document itself.
• Compliance by Default: SignWell is fully compliant with a range of regulations, including electronic signature laws like ESIGN and UETA, global data privacy laws like GDPR, and industry standards like HIPAA and SOC 2 Type 2.

SignWell API Pricing Structure

SignWell’s API pricing is pay-as-you-go—you only pay for the signature requests you use, with 25 free API documents each month.

There are different plans available, including a free developer account with up to 15 documents per month and unlimited API test usage, and an enterprise plan for high-volume usage. Payment options include monthly or yearly billing, with a 10% discount for yearly payments.

In terms of usage costs, SignWell’s API is much more affordable than DocuSign’s API. For 100 API documents, you’d pay $300/month with DocuSign and $56.25/month with SignWell.

Conclusion

The DocuSign eSignature API provides businesses with a robust and user-friendly solution for integrating e-signatures into their applications and websites.

But, if you are looking for an alternative that offers similar features at lower costs, SignWell is an excellent choice. With SignWell, you can enjoy the benefits of seamless integration, responsive support, and competitive pricing—all without sacrificing features.

Sign up for a free account and experience the convenience and affordability first-hand.