Choose a replacement by how your documents are built and where the signed copies need to end up. Simple signing apps suit occasional contracts, open source tools suit teams that want control, and API-led services suit businesses that send agreements from their own systems. Match the tool to your volume and your workflow, not the logo.
Every contract you send goes through four stages: it's built, it's sent, it's signed and it's stored. Most e-signature apps handle the signing part well, so the real differences sit in the other three. Here are eight alternatives for freelancers, agencies and small firms leaving BoldSign, in no particular order.
Build, send, sign, store
BoldSign pitches secure contract signing, tracking and embedded workflows through its API. When you test a replacement, walk one real document through all four stages rather than just clicking a sign button.
- Build: can you create a template once, with fields in the right places, and reuse it?
- Send: can you send from where you already work, by email, by link or from your own app?
- Sign: is it easy for a client on a phone, with no account needed on their side?
- Store: where does the signed copy and its audit trail go, and can you export everything if you leave?
The store step is the one people forget. If your signed agreements only live inside one vendor's account, moving later becomes a chore, so check exports before you send anything that matters.
Think about your clients' side too. They'll judge your business partly on how easily they can sign, so open a test document on a phone, as a signer who's never heard of the tool, and see how many taps it takes.
Eight e-signature apps, A to Z
Alphabetical and in no particular order. Each line reflects how the vendor describes its own product.
Documenso
Best for: Teams wanting signing workflows and templates that connect to tools they already use; the vendor names a free plan and stresses customisation.
DocuSeal
Best for: Anyone turning PDFs into forms that people fill in and sign online; the vendor describes it as free and open source.
DocuSign
Best for: Larger organisations that want to create, sign and manage agreements in one platform, with AI features the vendor groups as agreement management; a free plan is named.
eSignatures.io
Best for: Businesses sending contracts in several ways: by hand, through automation, as a shareable link or driven by AI, as the vendor lists them.
eversign
Best for: Teams who want to sign, send, edit and track documents with an API for automation; the vendor's site now presents the product as Xodo Sign.
Signaturely
Best for: Freelancers who just need to upload a document and get it signed, which the vendor pitches as super simple signing.
Signeasy
Best for: Small teams that want signing, contract storage in workspaces and AI contract insights in one place, per the vendor.
SignWell
Best for: Small businesses after electronic signatures with no setup and shorter turnaround times; the vendor names a free plan.
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Quick comparison grid
| Tool | Kind of tool | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Documenso | Open source signing platform | Templates and workflows on a customisable signer |
| DocuSeal | Open source document signing | Fillable PDF forms that people complete and sign |
| DocuSign | Agreement management platform | Managing agreements well beyond the signature |
| eSignatures.io | Flexible e-signature service | Contracts sent by hand, by link or automatically |
| eversign | E-signature with an API | Signing documents and automating workflows by API |
| Signaturely | Simple e-signature app | Getting a single document signed quickly |
| Signeasy | E-signature plus contract management | Signing and organising contracts in shared workspaces |
| SignWell | Zero-setup e-signatures | Quick turnaround on everyday business documents |
Open source, API-first or ready for the office
Documenso and DocuSeal are open source, which appeals to teams that want to see the code or keep documents on their own servers. eSignatures.io and eversign put automation and an API near the centre, so they suit businesses sending agreements from their own apps or systems.
Signaturely and SignWell keep things simple for freelancers and small businesses who send the odd contract and want it signed fast. Signeasy and DocuSign go further into contract management, with workspaces, AI features and tools for handling agreements after they're signed.
The legal weight of an electronic signature
Electronic signatures are widely accepted for everyday business contracts, but the rules aren't the same everywhere, and some documents, such as certain property, family or court papers, may need a different kind of signature or a witness. Requirements vary by country and by document type, so check with your regulator or a legal adviser for anything high stakes. Don't rely on any vendor's marketing to settle that question for you.
Advice for small firms switching signing tools
Start with your volume. If you send a handful of contracts a month, a simple signer will do everything you need and you'll be set up in minutes. If contracts are the heartbeat of your business, look harder at templates, team access and how signed copies are filed. Export your existing signed documents and audit trails before you cancel anything. For related reading, see my list of HelloSign alternatives and my guide to contract management software for law firms.
Questions to put to your shortlist
- Can a signer complete everything on a phone without creating an account?
- Can I build reusable templates with fields that fill in automatically?
- Where is the signed copy stored, and does it come with an audit trail I can export?
- Can I send from the tools I already use, or from my own app through an API?
- If I leave, how do I take every signed document with me?
Do you make e-signature or contract software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
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Frequently asked questions
Are electronic signatures legally binding?
In many countries they're accepted for everyday business contracts, but rules vary by country and document type. Check with your regulator or a legal adviser for anything important.
What's an audit trail on a signed document?
It's a record of who opened, viewed and signed the document and when. It helps show the signature came from the right person if a contract is ever questioned.
Do my clients need an account to sign?
Most e-signature apps let signers sign from an emailed link without an account. Check this on any shortlist, because it makes a big difference to clients.
Is open source e-signature software safe for business?
It can be, and some teams prefer it because they can inspect the code or host it themselves. You still need to keep it updated and secure if you run it on your own servers.
Can I move my signed documents to a new tool?
You can usually export signed PDFs and audit records. Do it before you cancel your old account, and keep a backup in your own storage.
