Comparison
Sign PDF vs DocuSign
DocuSign is the name most people know, built for companies that sign thousands of agreements. If you're one person or a small business sending leases, offers and contracts, most of what you pay for there goes unused.
| Sign PDF | DocuSign | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest plan that sends | $5 a month for 2 documents, or $10 a month unlimited | Personal, $11 a month as part of a $132 yearly commitment |
| Documents on that plan | Unlimited on Full | 5 envelopes a month |
| Commitment | Monthly. Cancel whenever you like; the plan runs to the end of the month you paid for. | Yearly. DocuSign's own FAQ says cancelling after the first 30 days means paying the rest of the year. |
| Placing the boxes | Done for you on every plan, for PDF and Word files. Tell the assistant what to change in plain English. | AI field placement announced in January 2026 and still rolling out. |
| Certificate and audit trail | Certificate of completion, digital seal and a public verify page on every plan. | Certificate of completion included. |
| Signers need an account | No. | No. |
Why small businesses switch
- Pay monthly and stop when you want, instead of signing up for a year
- No envelope allowance to watch on the Full plan
- Boxes placed for you the moment you upload
- Tell it "tenant initials every page" instead of placing each one
- Every signed file sealed, with a page anyone can use to check it
When DocuSign is the right choice
DocuSign holds ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type 2 certifications, supports regulated work such as 21 CFR Part 11, and connects to more than a thousand other products. Its higher plans add bulk sending, payments, web forms, APIs, SSO and identity checks.
If your legal or IT team asks for those, DocuSign is built for it. If you just need a contract signed properly, we cost less and take fewer clicks.
Try it on the document you were about to send
Upload it and you'll see every box placed before we ask you for anything.
Upload a documentDocuSign details come from its pricing page and FAQ, its compliance page and its January 2026 release notes, checked on 24 October 2026. Prices change, so check before deciding. DocuSign is a trademark of its owner. We are not affiliated with it.