Which do you have to use? [2025]

When was the final time you signed one thing with a pen and paper? Digital signatures are the way in which issues are shifting, which is why it is so necessary to have an eSignature app you could depend on. Two of probably the most acknowledged options are Dropbox Signal (previously referred to as HelloSign) and Docusign.

I exploit Dropbox Signal to run my enterprise, and I’ve used Docusign many instances when signing contracts with shoppers. Whereas they each supply a quick and handy strategy to signal paperwork on-line, there are nonetheless some noteworthy variations.

I have been updating this text for a couple of years now, and this 12 months, I spent much more time in every app to see how their options and workflows evaluate. Here is what I found within the Dropbox Signal vs. Docusign showdown.

Desk of contents:

Dropbox Signal vs. Docusign at a look 

Here is the gist: 

• When you’re searching for a primary digital signing device (with out many further capabilities), Dropbox Signal shall be proper up your alley. The device provides you all of the options you have to shut offers shortly, save time, and signal legally binding paperwork. 

• Docusign, then again, packs some actually spectacular functionalities—together with AI-powered settlement administration—to automate the settlement course of and enhance enterprise operations for medium and large-sized organizations. 

Dropbox Signal vs. Docusign: What’s the identical?

Earlier than we get into the variations, let’s take a look at what’s frequent between the 2 digital signature apps. Each apps:

• Are legally binding and embrace a real-time audit path

• Provide in-person signing choices on paid plans

• Have a working cellular app

• Embody a number of languages

• Provide bulk ship on staff plans

• Embody repeatable templates for paperwork

• Hook up with third-party apps and combine with Zapier

Docusign is a devoted eSign platform; Dropbox Signal is a part of Dropbox

Let’s begin with the fundamentals. Docusign is a standalone, enterprise-grade eSignature platform constructed to deal with the whole doc lifecycle—from making ready and sending agreements to monitoring, signing, and securely storing them. It gives superior options like AI-powered contract evaluation, workflow automation, and compliance instruments, making it a robust match for authorized, gross sales, HR, and enterprise groups with advanced wants.

Dropbox Signal, then again, is a less complicated eSignature function constructed into the Dropbox ecosystem. It is designed to enrich Dropbox’s core file storage and collaboration instruments, providing a handy strategy to request signatures with out leaving your cloud workspace. When you’re already utilizing Dropbox, it provides signing performance proper into your present doc workflow—no want to modify between apps.

Each apps are user-friendly, however Dropbox Signal is a little more simplified

When you log in to Dropbox Signal and Docusign, you will discover they each supply a clean consumer expertise and almost an identical eSigning workflow: add paperwork, add signers, place fields, and ship. However despite the fact that the workflow is similar, I discover Dropbox Signal a bit simpler to make use of.

When making ready paperwork for signature requests on Dropbox Signal, you simply want so as to add the signer’s identify and e mail, then full your fields and ship. The interface is easy with only a few type fields.

With Docusign, you will get a busier interface and workflow, prompting you so as to add signers, select an envelope sort and supply possibility, add messages, and even select the frequency of reminders. 

As you put together your doc contained in the Dropbox Signal editor, you’ll be able to simply change it in case you uncover you’ve got uploaded the incorrect one. All it’s important to do is click on the horizontal ellipses (…) subsequent to the doc you need to switch, choose change, and select the alternative doc. And after the alternative, the sphere placements will keep the identical if the brand new doc is similar dimension or has the identical variety of pages because the earlier one.

Docusign’s editor additionally has this alternative possibility, nevertheless it takes a little bit of tinkering to search out.

Dropbox Signal is extra inexpensive (particularly for primary signing wants)

Dropbox Signal and Docusign have related pricing plans, however Dropbox Signal is far more inexpensive for people and small groups.

Free plans and trials

They each supply free month-to-month plans that embrace limitless self-signing and three signature requests. On this free plan, you’ll be able to add signature fields and primary data, ship to a number of recipients in a single bundle, and use the audit path to trace paperwork in real-time. They’re each very beneficiant, appropriate for customers that have to signal a couple of paperwork each few months. 

That mentioned, Dropbox Signal permits you to take a look at any of its paid plans for 30 days. Docusign does not supply free trials on paid plans, nevertheless it has a particular 30-day trial account, which you should use to be taught in regards to the device earlier than committing (the trial account nonetheless lacks some paid options, and you will have to enroll utilizing a particular hyperlink to entry it).

Paid plans

After the free introductions, Dropbox Signal is cheaper for the essential options most companies want for eSigning. 

The principle distinction between the 2 entry-level plans ($20/month for Dropbox Signal and $15/month for Docusign) is that Dropbox Signal consists of limitless digital signature requests each month, the place Docusign limits you to 5. That is a fairly stark distinction.

To unlock Docusign’s limitless signature requests, it’s important to purchase one of many staff plans, Normal or Enterprise Professional, which begin at $45 and $65/consumer/month, respectively. Dropbox Signal has a less expensive staff plan beginning at $30/consumer/month.

When you’re a Dropbox consumer, you may get limitless self-signing and three signature requests monthly on any of Dropbox’s paid plans. This implies you needn’t purchase a separate Dropbox Signal subscription in case you’re solely signing a couple of paperwork each month.

The distinction in pricing is evident. If price range is an enormous issue for your online business, then you have already got your reply. Dropbox Signal gives all the essential options you will want at a lower cost.

Docusign is best for groups

It is smart why Dropbox Signal is cheaper: its function set may be very restricted in comparison with Docusign.

Docusign provides groups entry to strong options like delegated signing, custody switch, insightful reporting, and choices for offering signers with a extra skilled signing expertise, like conditional fields, dropdowns, approval buttons, and read-only permissions.

When sending paperwork, you should use collaborative commenting to ask and reply questions inside agreements. Set signing order, specify who views a doc or receives a duplicate, and use pre-filled doc fields and automatic routing to avoid wasting time. You may even automate post-agreement actions like archiving paperwork and exporting knowledge to a CRM. 

Docusign additionally provides you extra choices to make sure the safety of your paperwork, particularly when managing a number of customers. As an example, directors can lock templates to restrict modifications to messaging, branding, and even recipients. You may even ask signers to confirm their id in a number of methods, like e mail entry codes, ID verification, and knowledge-based authentication. You will discover these superior options spectacular—and even vital—in case you’re an enterprise-level group.

On prime of all these, Docusign permits you to immediately gather funds after a doc is signed. The device connects to fee gateways like Braintree, Stripe, Authorize.internet, and extra. 

To be truthful, Dropbox Signal’s staff plans aren’t completely lagging right here. They provide necessary options like signer authentication with entry codes, signer attachments, and in-person signing. However the few superior options which can be just like Docusign’s—like doc dropdowns and signer reassignments—are locked behind their premium plan, and it’s important to converse to gross sales for a customized quote to be able to entry them. 

Each apps combine with Zapier (however Docusign has extra native integrations)

Each apps present primary integrations to platforms like Google, Dropbox, and Microsoft on all plans. However relating to extra strong integrations, they provide very totally different capabilities: Docusign has over 900 native integrations, whereas Dropbox Signal has simply over 20.

With Dropbox Signal, you’ll be able to hook up with enterprise-grade platforms like HubSpot, Salesforce, Microsoft SharePoint, and Oracle, to streamline the settlement workflow throughout your group. These integrations can be found on the Normal plan for $30/consumer/month.

Docusign, then again, locks nearly all of its strong integrations behind its enhanced plan. This implies you’ll be able to’t hook up with CRM suppliers until you converse to gross sales for a customized quote. But it surely does hook up with extra work and productiveness instruments than Dropbox Signal (assume: Zoom and Stripe).

Having mentioned that, each Dropbox Signal and Docusign combine with Zapier, so you’ll be able to join them to hundreds of different apps and orchestrate all your online business workflows. Robotically ship signature requests from wherever, add newly signed envelopes to cloud storage, and combine AI to make your work smarter. Be taught extra about the right way to automate Docusign and the right way to automate Dropbox, or strive one in every of these pre-made workflows.

Dropbox Signal vs. Docusign: Which do you have to select?

Each Dropbox Signal and Docusign are wonderful eSignature platforms with related workflows and outputs, however ultimately, they’re excellent for various use circumstances. Dropbox Signal is simpler to make use of and extra inexpensive, particularly for single customers and small companies already utilizing Dropbox. However Docusign gives superior options that make settlement processes simpler and higher for larger groups.

Associated studying:

This text was initially revealed in September 2022 by Brittney Thompson. The latest replace was in July 2025.