Choosing the right electronic signature provider is a critical decision. It's not just about signing documents; it's about streamlining workflows, ensuring top-tier security, and enhancing the client experience.
In a crowded market, two prominent names often come up: eSignly and SignNow. While both offer robust solutions, they are built on different philosophies and cater to distinct business needs.
Many businesses get stuck in the "messy middle" of the buyer's journey, paralyzed by too many options. This article cuts through the noise.
We'll provide a clear, expert-driven comparison to help you move from consideration to confident decision-making. Whether you're a fast-growing startup needing a flexible API or an established enterprise focused on workflow optimization, this analysis will reveal which platform is truly the best fit for your strategic goals.
Key Takeaways
- ⭐ Core Difference: eSignly is an API-first, best-of-breed eSignature specialist designed for deep, flexible integration. SignNow is part of the airSlate Business Cloud, focusing on providing an all-in-one platform with bundled workflow automation tools.
- 💲 Pricing & Value: eSignly offers a more accessible entry point with a feature-rich free plan and highly competitive pricing on its paid tiers, often providing more value for money. SignNow's pricing is competitive but can scale quickly, especially when needing features from the broader airSlate ecosystem.
- 🔌 API & Integration: eSignly's core strength is its powerful, easy-to-implement REST API, backed by a guarantee to get your first API document signed in just one hour. This makes it ideal for businesses wanting to embed eSignatures into their own apps and systems. SignNow also offers an API, but its primary focus is on integrations within its own product suite.
- 🔒 Security & Compliance: Both platforms are legally binding and compliant with the ESIGN Act. However, eSignly emphasizes its extensive list of certifications, including ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI DSS, offering a higher degree of verifiable security for compliance-critical industries.
At a Glance: eSignly vs. SignNow Feature Showdown
When you're evaluating software, a side-by-side comparison is often the quickest way to see where each platform shines.
Here's how eSignly and SignNow stack up on the features that matter most to businesses.
| Feature | eSignly | SignNow |
|---|---|---|
| Core Philosophy | API-First, Best-of-Breed Specialist | All-in-One Workflow Platform (airSlate) |
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes, robust free plan for SaaS & API | ❌ No, free trial only |
| API Strength | 🚀 Industry-Leading, Flexible REST API | ✅ Yes, available |
| Key Security Certifications | ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, 21 CFR Part 11 | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ESIGN Act Compliant |
| Bulk Signing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| In-Person Signing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Custom Branding | ✅ Yes, extensive options | ✅ Yes |
| Multi-Language Support | ✅ 18+ Languages | Limited |
| Templates | ✅ Yes, reusable templates | ✅ Yes |
| Audit Trail | ✅ Yes, real-time and comprehensive | ✅ Yes |
| Payment Gateway | Stripe (Credit Card, ACH, SEPA, Apple Pay) | Yes, collects payments |
| Ideal User | Businesses needing deep integration, developer-friendly tools, and scalable, cost-effective solutions. | Users invested in the airSlate ecosystem or needing bundled, basic document workflow automation. |
The Core Philosophy: Where eSignly and SignNow Diverge
Understanding the fundamental approach of each company is key to choosing the right partner. It's not just about features; it's about how the solution is designed to fit into your business ecosystem.
eSignly: The API-First, Best-of-Breed Specialist
eSignly is engineered with a clear focus: to be the absolute best electronic signature solution on the market. The philosophy is centered on flexibility and specialization.
Rather than trying to be an all-in-one platform for every business process, eSignly perfects the eSignature experience and provides a powerful, developer-friendly API to connect it seamlessly to any other system you use. This 'best-of-breed' approach means you aren't locked into a single vendor's ecosystem. You can integrate eSignly's superior signing technology into your existing CRM, ERP, or custom application, creating a workflow that is perfectly tailored to your needs.
This is why we can confidently offer our 'Get Your First API Document Signed in 1 Hour!' guarantee.
SignNow: The All-in-One Workflow Platform
SignNow is a key component of the airSlate Business Cloud, which aims to provide a comprehensive suite of tools for document workflow automation.
This includes document generation, e-signatures, and contract management all under one roof. The advantage of this approach is a unified user experience if you plan to use their entire suite. The potential downside is that the eSignature component, while capable, may not have the same depth, flexibility, or API-centric focus as a specialized tool like eSignly.
It's designed to work best within its own ecosystem, which can be a limitation for businesses that prioritize custom integration and flexibility.
Need a flexible eSignature solution that integrates with your tools?
Don't get locked into a rigid ecosystem. Discover the power of an API-first platform built for seamless integration.
Explore eSignly's Developer-Friendly API
See API PlansDeep Dive Comparison: 5 Critical Factors for Your Business
Let's break down the comparison across five areas that directly impact your operations, budget, and security.
1. Pricing and Value for Money 💰
For any business, from a solo entrepreneur to a large enterprise, total cost of ownership is paramount. eSignly is structured to provide maximum value at every level.
Our robust Free Plan is not just a trial; it's a perpetually free tier designed for low-volume users. As you scale, our paid plans are transparently priced and packed with features that competitors often charge extra for.
SignNow offers a free trial, but its lowest paid tier starts at a price point where eSignly already includes more advanced features. The key difference is eSignly's commitment to providing enterprise-grade features at accessible price points, ensuring a higher ROI.
2. API and Developer Experience 💻
This is where eSignly truly sets itself apart. Our REST API is not an afterthought; it's the core of our platform.
It's meticulously documented, easy to implement, and built for scalability. This is critical for businesses that want to embed eSignatures directly into their websites, customer portals, or internal applications.
As detailed in our guide on how our API makes implementation a breeze, the goal is to empower your developers, not frustrate them. While SignNow has an API, its primary focus on its integrated suite means the developer experience and flexibility may not match that of a dedicated, API-first platform like eSignly.
3. Security and Compliance 🛡️
In the world of digital transactions, security is non-negotiable. Both platforms provide legally binding signatures under the U.S.
ESIGN Act. However, eSignly goes several steps further by maintaining a comprehensive suite of the world's leading security and privacy certifications.
We are compliant with:
- ISO 27001
- SOC 2 Type II
- HIPAA
- GDPR
- 21 CFR Part 11
- PCI DSS
4. User Experience (For Senders and Signers) 🧑🤝🧑
A signing solution is only effective if people can actually use it. eSignly is designed for ultimate simplicity.
Senders can upload and prepare documents in minutes. For signers, the experience is seamless: they receive a link, open it on any device (desktop, tablet, or phone), and sign without needing to create an account or pay anything.
With support for over 18 languages, eSignly ensures a smooth experience for global clients. SignNow also offers a user-friendly interface, but the breadth of language support and the laser focus on a simple, intuitive signing flow give eSignly an edge in global and customer-facing applications.
5. Support and Partnership 🤝
When you choose a software provider, you're choosing a partner. With over 100,000 users and a 95%+ retention rate since 2014, eSignly has a proven track record of customer success.
We offer a money-back guarantee because we are confident in the value and reliability of our service. Our support goes beyond just fixing issues; we act as consultants to help you optimize your document workflows. This partnership approach is a core reason why over 1,000 marquee clients like Nokia, UPS, and eBay trust us with their critical documents.
Who is eSignly For? (And Who Might Prefer SignNow?)
The best choice depends entirely on your specific needs and long-term strategy.
✅ Choose eSignly if...
- You need to deeply integrate eSignatures into your own website, CRM, or custom software.
- You value a powerful, flexible, and well-documented API.
- You operate in a highly regulated industry and require the highest standards of security and compliance.
- You are a small or medium-sized business looking for a cost-effective solution that can scale with you.
- You conduct business globally and need robust multi-language support.
🤔 Consider SignNow if...
- You are already using or plan to use the entire airSlate Business Cloud suite.
- Your primary need is for basic e-signature functionality bundled with other document automation tools.
- You prefer an all-in-one platform and do not require deep custom integration.
2025 Update: The Future of eSignatures is Integrated and Secure
As we look ahead, the trend in digital workflows is clear: businesses are moving away from siloed applications and toward deeply integrated, automated processes.
The future isn't just about signing a document online; it's about triggering the signature process automatically from your CRM, archiving the signed document in your cloud storage, and updating your financial records all in one seamless flow. This reality makes the quality of a platform's API more critical than ever. An API-first solution like eSignly is not just ready for this future; it's built to lead it.
Furthermore, with data privacy regulations becoming stricter worldwide, the emphasis on verifiable compliance (like ISO 27001 and SOC 2) will continue to grow, making it a crucial factor in any purchasing decision.
Conclusion: The Smarter Choice for Flexible, Secure Workflows
While both eSignly and SignNow are capable e-signature platforms, they serve different strategic purposes. SignNow offers a convenient, bundled solution for those invested in the airSlate ecosystem.
However, for businesses that demand flexibility, superior security, a world-class API, and better overall value, eSignly is the definitive choice. Our API-first approach empowers you to build the exact workflows you need, while our unwavering commitment to security and compliance gives you the peace of mind to operate in any industry.
Don't just choose a tool; choose a technology partner dedicated to your growth and efficiency.
This article has been reviewed by the eSignly CIS Expert Team. Our team comprises industry analysts and full-stack software developers with deep expertise in B2B software, API development, and enterprise-grade security protocols.
We are committed to providing accurate, insightful, and actionable content to help businesses navigate the complexities of digital transformation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is eSignly as legally binding as SignNow?
Yes, absolutely. All signatures created with eSignly are fully compliant with the U.S. Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (ESIGN) Act, as well as the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA).
We provide a comprehensive, real-time audit trail for every document to ensure legal enforceability.
Can I switch from SignNow to eSignly easily?
Yes. Migrating to eSignly is a straightforward process. Our platform is designed to be intuitive, allowing you to set up your account, create templates, and start sending documents in minutes.
For businesses using the API, our clear documentation and developer support ensure a smooth transition.
Does eSignly offer a free plan?
Yes, we do. eSignly offers a comprehensive free plan for both our SaaS platform and our API. Unlike a limited-time trial, our free plan is designed for users with lower volume needs and provides a perfect way to experience the core functionalities of our platform without any cost.
How does eSignly's security compare to SignNow?
While both platforms are secure, eSignly holds a broader range of top-tier, internationally recognized security and privacy certifications.
This includes ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, GDPR, 21 CFR Part 11, and PCI DSS. This makes eSignly an exceptionally strong choice for organizations with stringent compliance requirements.
Is eSignly suitable for enterprise-level businesses?
Definitely. eSignly is built for scalability. Our Enterprise plan includes advanced features like team management, custom branding, and a powerful API that can handle high-volume, complex workflows.
With clients like Nokia and UPS, we have a proven track record of serving the needs of large, global organizations.
Ready to Experience a Smarter eSignature Solution?
Stop settling for a one-size-fits-all platform. See for yourself how eSignly's flexibility, superior security, and powerful API can transform your document workflows.
