These days, people are more and more aware of the importance of digital signatures. Yet, signing contracts digitally is not always as convenient as it should be.
Online signature tools have made the whole process so much easier. They are available to use in any device and they don’t require any installation on your side. All you need to do is sign up for an account with these services and start signing documents digitally right away.
The best e-contract tools are the ones that combine features such as flexibility, usability, security, and scalability.
What is an electronic signature?
Digital signatures are a type of electronic signature that is becoming increasingly popular in business transactions and contracts. The main purpose of digital signatures is to provide a safe, secure way for people to sign contracts without the risk of the contract being tampered with by a third party.
Are electronic signatures legally binding?
The law pertaining to electronic signatures has been revised many times over the past few years. The most recent amendment in the Electronic Signatures Act (ESA) of 2001 states that an “electronic signature” means “an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a contract or other record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.”
In short, yes, electronic signatures are legally binding.
Best Signature Apps
There are many e-signature tools available in the market and choosing the best one can be a daunting task. But we’re going to introduce you to our favorites. Chosen for their ease of use, functionality, and pricing.
PandaDoc
PandaDoc is an online service that’s integrated with Microsoft Office and Google Docs, which means that you can easily create a document with your signature on it. It’s perfect for when you’re sending documents to clients or just need a digital signature on something.
Pricing
PandaDoc offers a free plan which is perfect for personal use or small businesses and freelancers. They also offer paid plans if you need more than the free plan offers.
Dropbox Sign
Dropbox Sign (formerly HelloSign) is an online solution for eSignature and contract signing. It offers a variety of ways to sign documents including scanning via the app, taking a picture with your phone, typing on your computer and printing.
Dropbox Sign has a wide variety of features that make it stand out from the competition. The company offers templates, which makes it easier for users to take care of their document signing needs without having to spend time creating them themselves.
Dropbox Sign also provides tools that help small business owners save time by streamlining their customer onboarding process and increasing visibility into all customer-related communications.
Pricing
Dropbox Sign offers plans for as low as $15/month with unlimited signature requests. They also offer a free trial so you can test it out before paying.
DocuSign
DocuSign is a business-focused electronic signature service. It provides users with an easy way to securely sign and send documents, contracts, and other important documents. They can also track when those signed documents are opened which enables them to see when a customer has received that document.
With DocuSign, you can sign any document using your mobile device or computer without worrying about losing your paper copies. You also have the option of sending out notices when you need signatures on a contract or agreement from someone else which will automatically trigger their email containing the requested document.
Pricing
DocuSign’s lowest price plan starts at $10/month but is much more restrictive than HelloSign’s lowest plan of $15/month.
eSignatures
eSignatures.io is perfect for anyone that only has to have documents signed occasionally. Instead of a monthly subscription they charge a flat $0.49 per sent contract. While still offering many of the features that subscription-based models offer such as an audit trail.
Bottom Line
Small businesses are on the rise. This trend is amplified with today’s digital boom. It has become important to have an online presence for small businesses, in order to stay competitive. One of the things that increase a website’s credibility is signing documents electronically.
To step up your contract game check out any of the tools we’ve talked about – they’re sure to make your business life easier.
