Choose by how your documents start life. If you upload finished PDFs, a simple send-and-sign tool is enough. If contracts come from templates or your own software, pick a tool with an API. If you manage many agreements, a contract management platform keeps signed copies organised and searchable. All eight options below are unranked.
You've written the proposal, the client has said yes, and now the contract needs a signature before anyone starts work. That last step should take minutes, not a week of chasing. If it's turned into a chore, or your current tool no longer fits how you send documents, these eight e-signature tools are worth a look, in no particular order.
Eight signing tools at a glance
| Tool | Kind of tool | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| BoldSign | E-signature app and API | Sending, tracking and embedding signing in your app |
| DocuSign | Agreement management platform | Creating, signing and managing agreements in one place |
| Dropbox Sign | E-signatures inside Dropbox | Preparing, sending and tracking agreements |
| eversign | E-signature app and API | Signing plus workflow automation through an API |
| Legalesign | API-first e-signature | Embedding signing into your own product |
| Signaturely | Simple e-signature tool | Uploading a document and getting it signed quickly |
| Signeasy | E-signature and contract management | Signing plus a workspace for managing contracts |
| SignWell | E-signature software | Zero-setup signing for everyday business documents |
How a contract moves from draft to signed
eSignatures.io's own homepage describes four ways to send: manually, through automation, by sharing a contract link, or driven by AI. That flexibility is useful, and it's also a reminder that signing is only the middle of the journey. Before it, someone builds the document. After it, someone needs to find the signed copy months later.
So the thing to test in any replacement is the whole path: how a document is built, how it's sent, how the signer experiences it on a phone, and where the signed version ends up. A tool that makes signing pleasant but leaves the final copy buried in an inbox hasn't saved you much.
Three ways small firms send contracts
Upload and send
Signaturely and SignWell keep things simple. You upload a document, drop in the signature fields and send it. They suit freelancers and small agencies whose contracts are the same few templates.
Build signing into your own systems
BoldSign, Legalesign and eversign put their API front and centre, so signing can start from your CRM, your booking system or your own app. They make sense once you're sending enough documents that copying and pasting details by hand gets old.
Manage the agreement after it's signed
Signeasy, DocuSign and Dropbox Sign stretch beyond the signature into storing, tracking and managing agreements. They suit firms with renewals, many signers or a team that needs to find past contracts quickly.
Every option, A to Z
Alphabetical and in no particular order. Each line reflects what the vendor says about its own product.
BoldSign
Best for: Small firms that want to send and track contracts now and embed signing in their own software later through the vendor's API; a free plan is named.
DocuSign
Best for: Larger organisations handling many agreements; the vendor now pitches AI-powered agreement management and says you can sign electronically for free.
Dropbox Sign
Best for: Teams already keeping files in Dropbox who want to prepare, send, sign and track agreements, which is the workflow the vendor describes.
eversign
Best for: Businesses that want signing plus workflow automation through an API; the homepage now carries the Xodo Sign name alongside its original one.
Legalesign
Best for: Software teams embedding e-signatures into their own product; the vendor describes an API-first platform with documentation connected to AI tools through MCP.
Signaturely
Best for: Freelancers who just need to upload a document and get it signed; the vendor's whole pitch is that signing should be super simple.
Signeasy
Best for: Teams that want signing and contract management together, with workspaces and AI insights, which the vendor lists as part of its platform.
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SignWell
Best for: Owners who want signing working on day one; the vendor talks about zero-setup e-signatures and shorter turnaround, and names a free plan.
My advice for freelancers and agencies
Send yourself a real contract from every tool on your shortlist and sign it on your phone. Most clients sign on a mobile, often between meetings, and a clumsy signing screen is the fastest way to turn a yes into a delay. Notice how many taps it takes and whether the document is readable without zooming.
Rules on electronic signatures vary by country and by document type, and some documents still need a wet signature or a witness. Check the regulator where you and your client are based before you rely on any tool for a deed, a property document or anything similar. If you're moving away from a big-name tool, my list of HelloSign alternatives covers more ground, and law firms should read my guide to contract management software for law firms.
Keeping the signed copy safe
Decide where the final, signed version lives before you switch, and make it the same place every time: a shared folder, your CRM record or your project tool. Download your existing signed documents and their audit trails from your old tool first, because the audit trail is what shows who signed, when, and from which email address. Keep both together and you'll never have to dig for proof of a signature again.
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Frequently asked questions
Are electronic signatures legally binding?
In many countries they are for most everyday contracts, but rules vary by country and document type. Some documents need a witness or a wet signature, so check with your regulator or a legal adviser.
What's an audit trail in e-signature software?
It's a record of who opened, viewed and signed a document, with times and email addresses. Keep it with the signed copy, because it's what proves the signature was made.
Do I need an API for e-signatures?
Only if documents start in another system, such as a CRM or your own app. If you send a handful of contracts a month by hand, a simple upload-and-send tool is plenty.
Can clients sign without creating an account?
With most e-signature tools, signers open a link from an email and sign without registering. Test it yourself on a phone to see what your clients will see.
How do I move signed contracts from my old tool?
Download every signed document along with its audit trail or certificate before you cancel. Store them in one folder or your CRM so they stay easy to find.
Can I sign my own documents with these tools?
Yes. Most let you sign as the sender too, which is useful when both sides need to sign the same contract.
