Quick Summary
This article compares PandaDoc and Adobe Acrobat Sign, two leading e-signature solutions. PandaDoc stands out for its comprehensive document automation and management, while Adobe Acrobat Sign excels in PDF-focused workflows and integration with Adobe’s ecosystem.
PandaDoc vs Adobe Acrobat Sign: Struggling to Pick the Right One for Your Business?
You’ve narrowed it down to two of the most popular e-signature tools, PandaDoc and Adobe Acrobat Sign, but now you’re stuck. One offers sleek document automation; the other brings trusted integrations and legal-grade compliance. You’re comparing features, weighing pricing tiers, thinking about ease of use, and wondering:
Which one actually fits my business needs without overcomplicating things or draining my budget?
In this SignWell article, we’ll walk you through a clear comparison of PandaDoc and Adobe Acrobat Sign, covering pricing, features, ease of use, and best-fit use cases, so you can make a confident, informed decision.
Why Listen to Us?
At SignWell, we’ve helped over 65,000 businesses streamline their document workflows with simple, secure e-signatures. With more than 10 million documents signed through our platform, we know what matters most in tools like PandaDoc and Adobe Acrobat Sign, what works, what doesn’t, and what truly impacts your workflow.
PandaDoc vs. Adobe Acrobat Sign – Quick Comparison
PandaDoc
- Ideal for businesses looking for a full-fledged document automation and management solution.
- Offers a drag-and-drop editor, reusable templates, automated workflows, and seamless integrations with CRMs and payment systems.
- Advanced features like content libraries, approval workflows, and document tracking for team collaboration.
- Pricing: Starts at $35/month for the Starter Plan. The free plan allows sending up to 5 documents per month.
Adobe Acrobat Sign
- Ideal for businesses that need robust PDF editing and e-signature capabilities.
- Part of the Adobe Acrobat ecosystem, it integrates well with Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and other tools.
- Offers secure, legally compliant e-signatures and enterprise-grade security.
- Pricing: Starts at $12.99/month for individuals. Plans for teams and enterprises are available at higher tiers.
PandaDoc is best suited for businesses needing comprehensive document management, while Adobe Acrobat Sign shines for PDF-focused workflows with solid security and compliance.
What Is PandaDoc?
PandaDoc is a robust document automation and agreement management platform designed to streamline the entire lifecycle of business documents. While it offers powerful tools for creating, managing, and analyzing proposals, quotes, and contracts, its secure, legally binding e-signature functionality stands out.
PandaDoc empowers teams to handle everything, from document creation to signature to payment, in one unified, cloud-based workspace.
Key Features
- Legally Binding E-Signatures: Compliant with ESIGN, UETA, and HIPAA, ensuring secure and authenticated signatures.
- Document Builder: Drag-and-drop editor for creating custom, branded documents ready for e-signature.
- Approval Workflows: Built-in workflows and signing orders to simplify internal approvals and client sign-offs.
- Content Library & Templates: Reusable smart content blocks and templates for fast, error-free document creation.
- Real-Time Tracking & Notifications: Stay informed on who opened, viewed, or signed a document.
- Automations & Integrations: Automate repetitive tasks and connect with CRMs, payment systems, and cloud storage.
- API Access: Add embedded e-signature capabilities directly into your apps or platforms for deeper customization.
Pricing
- Free Plan: Allows users to send up to 5 documents per month.
- Starter Plan ($35/seat/month): Best for individuals or small teams who need unlimited e-signatures, real-time tracking, and a drag-and-drop editor.
- Business Plan ($65/seat/month): Designed for sales teams, adding CRM integrations, approval workflows, custom branding, deal rooms, and bulk send.
- Enterprise Plan (Custom pricing): Offers advanced features like CPQ, workflow automation, SSO, team workspaces, notary services, and full API access.
Pros
- Offers a wide range of tools for document creation and management
- Keeps documents and templates well-organized
- Offers a wide range of templates and reusable content blocks
- Provides secure, legally binding e-signatures on any device
- Helpful and responsive customer support team
- Integrates well with tools like Salesforce and HubSpot
Cons
- May feel feature-heavy for small or simple teams
- Some emails end up in recipients’ spam folders
- Occasional glitches with third-party integrations
- Phone support is limited to higher-tier plans
What Is Adobe Acrobat Sign?
Adobe Acrobat Sign, formerly called Adobe Sign, is the e-signature solution embedded within the Adobe Acrobat ecosystem, combining powerful PDF tools with secure, legally compliant e-sign workflows. Designed for businesses of all sizes, it helps teams send, sign, track, and manage documents faster, while staying integrated with popular tools like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Workday.
Key Features
- All-in-One PDF + E-sign Platform: Create, edit, convert, share, and securely sign PDFs, all from within the Adobe Acrobat platform, streamlining your entire document workflow.
- Real-Time Document Tracking: Gain full visibility into your e-signature process with instant notifications on when documents are opened, signed, or completed.
- Multi-Recipient Signing: Easily send documents to multiple signers simultaneously, with each recipient receiving a personalized version ready to complete.
- Custom Branding Options: Add your logo, messaging, and company identity to e-signature request emails and confirmation pages for a more professional and branded experience.
- Enterprise-Grade Integrations: Seamlessly connect with essential tools like Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday, and others, without additional integration fees.
- Regulatory Compliance & Security: Acrobat Sign is built to meet strict industry regulations, including HIPAA, FERPA, GLBA, and more, ensuring your documents stay legally binding and secure.
- Mobile-Friendly Signing & Scanning: Recipients can sign documents from anywhere, on any device. Easily scan and upload documents with the free Adobe Scan mobile app.
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.
Pros
- Offers a wide range of tools for document creation, management, and signing
- Ensures data protection and compliance with industry standards
- Works well with other Adobe products and various third-party applications
- Provides an intuitive and straightforward user experience
- Allows for document management and signing on mobile devices
- Enables businesses to tailor signing processes to their specific needs
Cons
- The variety of plans and add-ons can be confusing for some users
- No free plan is available, which may deter small businesses or individual users
- Some advanced features may require time to learn and implement effectively
- While integrations are available, setting them up can be complex for non-technical users
Meet SignWell, A Simpler, Yet Powerful Alternative to PandaDoc & Adobe Acrobat Sign
PandaDoc and Adobe Acrobat Sign are great for complex workflows and enterprise-level needs, but if you’re after a more affordable yet powerful alternative, meet SignWell. Designed for individuals, small teams, and growing businesses, SignWell focuses on fast, legally binding e-signatures without unnecessary complexity.
With an intuitive interface and features built for real-world signing, SignWell streamlines your document workflows and helps you get agreements signed in minutes, not hours. Whether you’re sending contracts, waivers, or proposals, SignWell delivers the essentials without the steep learning curve or price tag.
Key Features
- Legally Binding E-Signatures: SignWell offers secure, court-recognized electronic signatures that comply with U.S. and international e-signature laws, so every document you send is enforceable and protected.
- Fast, Easy Document Sending: Upload your document, add signer fields, and send it off in just a few clicks. Recipients are guided step-by-step through what needs to be signed or filled out.
- Automated Signing Workflows: Set a signing order and let SignWell handle the rest. Each signer gets notified when it’s their turn, and you can monitor who has viewed, signed, or is still pending.
- Seamless App Integrations: Connect SignWell with over 5,000 apps using Zapier, or directly integrate with tools like Gmail, Dropbox, and Slack to keep your workflow uninterrupted.
- Secure, Reliable & Compliant Infrastructure: SignWell offers enterprise-level security, 99.99% uptime, and is HIPAA-compliant, ensuring peace of mind for industries handling sensitive data.
- Detailed Audit Trails: Every signed document comes with a downloadable audit report that captures key activity, timestamps, IP addresses, and authentication logs, for legal and compliance purposes.
- Reusable Document Templates: Create templates from your commonly used documents and reuse them to save time. Ideal for contracts, NDAs, onboarding forms, and more.
- Team & User Management: Easily manage multiple team members, assign permissions, and centralize document activity, making SignWell ideal for HR, legal, and finance teams.
- In-Person Signing Mode: Sign documents face-to-face with clients or stakeholders using the in-person signing option, perfect for on-site transactions or consultations.
- Bulk Sending Capabilities: Send a single document in bulk to multiple people with individualized fields, great for mass agreements, waivers, or policy updates.
Pricing
- Free Plan: 1 sender, 3 documents/month, 1 template, limited reminders & notifications.
- Light Plan: $12/month, 1 sender (additional senders $12/mo), 5 templates per sender, unlimited documents, advanced features like bulk send and template links.
- Business Plan: $36/month for 3 senders (additional senders $15/mo), 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 higher-volume API, dedicated support, and custom plans.
PandaDoc vs. Adobe Acrobat Sign vs. SignWell: Features Comparison
| Feature | PandaDoc | Adobe Acrobat Sign | SignWell |
| Legally Binding E-Signatures | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Mobile & Multi-Device Signing | ✅ Full-featured mobile access | ✅ Optimized for mobile + Adobe Scan app | ✅ Seamless mobile experience for both senders and signers |
| Customizable Workflows | ✅ Advanced approval flows, signing orders | ✅ Multi-recipient workflows, custom routing | ✅ Automated signing order; simple drag-and-drop workflows |
| Audit Trails | ✅ Detailed with timestamps, IP, and verification methods | ✅ Includes detailed history and document tracking | ✅ Comprehensive audit logs with every signed document |
| Templates | ✅ Smart content blocks, reusable templates | ✅ PDF-based templates with branding | ✅ Unlimited templates (Business plan), easy setup for repeated use |
| Integrations | ✅ Salesforce, HubSpot, Zapier, Stripe, more | ✅ Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday, more | ✅ Zapier (5,000+ apps), Gmail, Dropbox, Slack, and more |
| In-Person Signing | ✅ Available | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Security & Compliance | ✅ ESIGN, UETA, HIPAA, SOC 2 compliant | ✅ ESIGN, UETA, HIPAA, FERPA, GLBA compliant | ✅ ESIGN, UETA, international law compliant; HIPAA, SOC 2 compliant |
| Ease of Use | ❌ Overwhelming for smaller teams | ❌ Comes with a steeper learning curve | ✅ Intuitive, beginner-friendly, clean interface with no fluff |
| Pricing | ✅ Free plan available, Paid plans from $35/user/month | ❌ No Free Plan. Paid plans from $12.99/month | ✅ Free plan available, Paid plans from $12/month |
Why Do People Choose SignWell?
Affordable Pricing
SignWell offers clear, cost-effective pricing, ideal for teams and businesses of different sizes. Unlike PandaDoc and Adobe Acrobat Sign, it delivers high-quality e-signatures without the hefty price tag.
User-Friendly
With a simple, intuitive design, SignWell makes it easy for non-technical users to manage documents, while PandaDoc and Adobe Acrobat Sign can be overwhelming with complex interfaces.
Perfect for Teams of All Sizes
SignWell is designed to meet the needs of teams of any size, offering essential features without the complexity and extra tools found in PandaDoc or Adobe Acrobat Sign. Whether you’re a small team or a growing business, SignWell provides a streamlined solution that scales with your needs.
Effortless Automation
SignWell provides automated workflows that are easy to set up, offering simplicity over the more complex systems of its competitors.
Bulk Sending Made Easy
SignWell makes bulk sending of documents easy, available from the Light Plan ($12/month), and with no extra charges. This feature simplifies the management of mass agreements, waivers, or updates, providing a seamless process without the complexity or additional costs.
Final Verdict
Choosing between PandaDoc and Adobe Acrobat Sign depends on whether you need advanced features and enterprise-level tools or a more streamlined e-signature solution.
However, if you’re looking for a powerful yet simple alternative that focuses on essential features without the complexity or high cost, SignWell stands out as the better option. It provides legally compliant e-signatures, intuitive workflows, and key tools like templates and automated reminders, making it perfect for teams of all sizes.
Ready to simplify your document signing process? Get started with SignWell today!