Glossary
What is an envelope in e-signatures?
Short answer
An envelope is the unit an e-signature service sends: one or more documents plus the signers, their fields and the sending settings, all completed together. The term was popularised by DocuSign, which counts envelopes against plan limits. Sign PDF counts documents instead: a document counts once it is sent, however many people sign it, and drafts are free.
Updated 25 October 2026
- Envelope
- In e-signature software, an envelope is the package sent for signature in one transaction: the document or documents, the list of signers and their fields, the signing order and the message. Many services price plans by the number of envelopes sent.
What goes into an envelope
An envelope typically holds:
- The document or documents to sign
- The signers, each with a name and email
- The fields assigned to each signer: signature, initials, date, name
- Sending settings: signing order, reminders, expiry date, a message
- The audit trail that builds up as people act on it
Why the metaphor stuck
The term borrows from posting papers in an envelope to be signed and returned. Like a paper envelope, it is sealed when complete: once every signer finishes, the documents are locked and the certificate of completion is attached.
Envelopes also have states: draft, sent, delivered, completed, declined, voided. These map to what you see in an e-signature dashboard.
Envelopes and pricing
Because so many services price by envelope, the definition matters when comparing plans. Some count one envelope however many documents it holds; some cap the number of signers per envelope; some count a resend as a new envelope. Check how a provider counts before comparing prices.
How Sign PDF counts
Sign PDF does not use the word envelope. Each sent document is one unit: it counts once against your plan when you send it, with unlimited signers. Drafts do not count. The Light plan ($5 a month) includes 2 documents a month and the Full plan ($10 a month) has unlimited documents.
Questions people ask
Is an envelope the same as a document?
Not always. One envelope can contain several documents. In Sign PDF the unit is the sent document.
Does voiding an envelope give the credit back?
That depends on the provider. In Sign PDF a document counts once it is sent, so voiding it does not return it to your monthly allowance.
What does a completed envelope contain?
The signed documents and, usually, a certificate of completion or audit trail. In Sign PDF the certificate is added to the end of the signed PDF.
Does Sign PDF have bulk send?
No. Each document is sent to its own signers. If you need to send the same form to hundreds of people at once, a tool with bulk send is a better fit.
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See every signature, initial and date box placed before you sign up. Sending starts at $5 a month, monthly, cancel any time.
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