DocuSign vs Adobe Sign: Full Comparison

The two most well-known electronic signature service providers on the market today, Adobe Sign and DocuSign, provide the majority of the capabilities required by organizations to have documents electronically signed. But because the two solutions are so similar, it might be challenging to decide which one to use. In this article, we will compare DocuSign vs Adobe Sign. We’ll compare the two platforms to answer a simple question: which is better?

Introducing DocuSign vs Adobe Sign

Here’s a breakdown of what each platform has to offer.

What is DocuSign?

One of the most well-known brands in the electronic signature sector is DocuSign. It offers a sizable user base and all of the essential features needed to conduct online contract signing.

DocuSign makes it simple and fast to sign contracts from any location in the globe by integrating with a wide range of various platforms and being accessible on practically any device.

The platform has robust safety and security mechanisms in place to manage all types of electronic documents, including but not limited to contracts and is widely regarded as a quick and trustworthy means to sign agreements online.

What is Adobe Sign?

Adobe Sign, formerly known as “EchoSign,” is one of the many pieces of software available from Adobe and is often used by both individuals and companies to sign PDFs online.

The program offers the trustworthiness and security users have come to expect from the software behemoth and smoothly connects with Adobe’s other programs.

In contrast to previous contract tools like Juro, Adobe Sign was not created exclusively for contract signing and agreement; instead, it is a component of a creative, marketing, and digital media portfolio.

Despite this, DocuSign, the pioneer in electronic signatures, is frequently compared to and contrasted with Adobe Sign and is still one of the most widely used Adobe Sign alternatives.

Adobe Sign vs DocuSign: which is the best option?

The product lines from Adobe Sign and DocuSign are extremely similar, as you would have assumed. Users who are attempting to determine which solution is the greatest fit for their needs may find it challenging as a result.

Adobe Sign has emerged as a serious rival in the fields of digital signatures and document management, even if DocuSign is still the industry standard for many signers.

Let’s examine the services provided in more detail.

Digital signatures

In terms of basic features, Adobe Sign and DocuSign are comparable:

• You can eSign documents using both programs on Mac, Windows, and mobile devices.
• Neither tool supports the generation of documents.
• With both options, the signer gets an email link to the document to be signed.

Users can automate the process of electronically signing documents and obtaining legally valid digital signatures as part of the core offerings from both Adobe Sign and DocuSign.

Both businesses stress the convenience of signing via a variety of platforms, including desktop and mobile websites.

Except in situations when network connectivity may be necessary to perform the signature, each service also allows offline document signatures (such as a mandatory payment that must be deposited at the time of signing).

Both Adobe Sign and DocuSign have taken steps to make the customer experience as easy as possible because this is the fundamental product offering for each business.

Although neither product supports the creation of documents, users can use straightforward drag-and-drop tools to add form fields to PDFs or inside documents produced by integrated software (namely Salesforce for DocuSign, and Acrobat for Adobe Sign).

Both Adobe Sign and DocuSign use a similar procedure when emailing documents to signers: The document is sent to signers through email, and they click the link to access the document.

The system keeps tabs on the document’s progress, who has already signed it, and which signatures are still required.

The audit trails inside any software allow you to review all of this data.

Winner: Equally matched

Adobe Sign vs DocuSign: what’s more customizable?

The following are some significant variations in terms of customization and branding possibilities:

• Although you can customize buttons, colors, and logos with both systems, white labeling is not one of them.
• New users will have an easier time understanding Adobe’s menus and options.
• You can get a head start by downloading the header, footer, and logo templates from Adobe Sign.

You may tailor the customer experience with branding choices offered by both Adobe Sign and DocuSign.

Throughout the signing process, you can add logos, taglines, and personalized messages (even emails).

After creating a brand profile using the admin panel inside their account, customers can modify logos, document colors, and button colors in each software.

Additionally, there are sophisticated tools for creating unique headers, footers, and URLs. Even more, customization is possible by editing the XML and HTML files, however, this function is only offered by DocuSign at the enterprise level.

Any document connected to that brand identification will reflect the changes as soon as the image uploads and modifications are finished.

Any user can then add the brand identification to any document that has been generated and transmit it using any predetermined brand content.

While both businesses provide a custom branding option, it’s important to note that neither DocuSign nor Adobe Sign provide white labeling.

Whichever service you choose, the DocuSign and Adobe Sign names will be associated with them.

Winner: Adobe Sign

Adobe Sign vs DocuSign: what integrates best with other platforms?

When selecting an eSignature solution, integrations are crucial, therefore let’s see how these two solutions compare in that regard:

• Many components of Microsoft’s Business package are compatible with Adobe Sign.
• When it comes to native integrations with Microsoft and practically all other technologies, DocuSign matches Adobe Sign.
• At higher price tiers, Adobe Sign provides some of its most beneficial connections.

When picking your integration option, you can choose between Adobe Sign and DocuSign since both digital signature solutions support integrations.

Additionally, Adobe works in conjunction with a large number of software partners to provide native signature solutions for several well-liked HR, productivity, and contract lifecycle management (CLM) technologies.

DocuSign, on the other hand, provides countless native connectors with service providers online. Microsoft goods and practically all other partners that Adobe Sign supports fall under this category.

The integrations in both instances are native, which means they don’t rely on a third-party plugin like Zapier to serve as a broker between these software programs.

Winner: DocuSign

Support

• Live chat assistance is available 24/7 via Adobe Sign, however, phone and email help require more expensive plans.
• DocuSign also provides tickets with slower response times and 24/7 chat assistance.
• Compared to AdobeSign, you may improve your support with DocuSign for faster response times at a reduced cost.

The amount of help you require depends depend on the plan you have, even though both firms provide a wide range of support alternatives.

For instance, Adobe Sign offers live chat help seven days a week, but a Pro or Enterprise Plan is necessary to receive phone and email support for more complex issues like deployment, licensing, and IT.

Although DocuSign offers more support, it is also slower. Along with the self-help tools you can access through the DocuSign support site, the business provides senders and signers with 24/7 chat support as well as the option to file tickets, with a 24-hour response time goal.

DocuSign goes a step further, though, by providing improved support options that are distinct from the regular subscription choices.

You have the choice of staying on DocuSign’s regular support plan or upgrading to one that offers quicker response times and more escalation options.

Winner: DocuSign

DocuSign triumphs because of the range of possibilities it offers.

When it comes to Adobe Sign, it’s simple to picture a situation in which SMBs with a user base that is primarily entry-level wind up paying for higher-level levels when what they truly need is advanced support rather than advanced functionality.

Even though the price difference between levels may not seem like much, it might mount up if several employees sign up for the higher-tiered plans but are unsatisfied with them, especially given that the DocuSign alternative is much more affordable each month.

There is a tipping point with DocuSign where having a lot of employees on the Standard Plan with increased support makes more sense than having them use Adobe Sign with a Business or Enterprise Plan.

Which is more secure: DocuSign vs Adobe Sign?

Both Adobe Sign and DocuSign are outstanding at implementing e-signature solutions, providing easy-to-use, secure automation technologies that will help a lot of customers.

However, which provides the greatest assurance in terms of security and compliance?

Let’s start with Adobe Sign, which provides an authentication service to guarantee that your crucial documents are clear and comply with the law’s fundamental requirements.

It complies with ISO 27001:2013, SOC Type 2, FedRAMP Tailored, and is prepared for GLBA and FERPA.

Password protection for PDF files can be used to prevent copying and editing, and redacting can be used to permanently delete sensitive data (Pro tier only).

However, if you want single sign-on (SSO), advanced authentications like knowledge-based or ID-based, or industry-specific compliance like HIPAA, you must set up a custom plan.
Along with SOC 1 and SOC 2, DocuSign also possesses ISO 27001:2013 certification. To guarantee the safe and secure handling of credit card holder information, it is a participant in the CSA STAR Program and complies with the PCI Data Security Standard (DSS).
Government, healthcare, and financial institutions have unique offerings that are only accessible through direct sales.
DocuSign offers multi-factor authentication, role-based authorization, and AES 256-bit encryption for all documents.
Along with a range of solutions for identity verification and authentication, SSO is only offered in enhanced plans.

DocuSign vs Adobe Sign: What’s best for your business overall?

You should think about the size of your team, your budget, and—most importantly—what you truly require from an eSignature technology before choosing between DocuSign and Adobe Sign. With a few minor differences, both platforms provide functionality that is extremely similar.

Adobe Sign might be the ideal choice for small to medium-sized enterprises seeking for a straightforward eSignature solution. It provides excellent customization options and is intuitive and simple to use.

DocuSign, on the other hand, is better suited to large businesses and enterprises since it offers access to extensive analytics and more potent integrations, which are frequently unnecessary for smaller businesses.

Frequently asked questions