Frequently Asked Questions About Electronic Signatures

An electronic signature, or eSignature, is a legal way to get consent or approval on electronic documents or forms. It can be used to replace a handwritten signature in virtually any process. It is the digital equivalent of a "wet ink" signature, indicating a person's intent to agree to the content of a document.

While often used interchangeably, there's a technical distinction. "Electronic signature" is a broad, legally-defined term for any electronic process that indicates acceptance of an agreement. A "digital signature" is a specific type of eSignature that uses a certificate-based digital ID to authenticate signer identity and demonstrate proof of signing by binding each signature to the document with encryption. eSignly provides the security of digital signatures with the simplicity of electronic signatures.

Using eSignatures dramatically accelerates business processes. Key benefits include:

• Speed: Finalize agreements in minutes, not days.
• Cost Savings: Eliminate expenses related to printing, scanning, faxing, and overnight mail.
• Efficiency: Streamline workflows and reduce manual administrative tasks.
• Enhanced Security: Benefit from comprehensive audit trails, encryption, and tamper-evident technology.
• Improved Experience: Provide a convenient, modern signing experience for customers, partners, and employees.

Yes. In the United States, the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (ESIGN) Act of 2000 and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) grant electronic signatures the same legal status as handwritten signatures. Most industrialized nations have similar laws, making eSignatures legally valid and enforceable worldwide.

Absolutely. We are committed to the highest standards of security and compliance. eSignly is compliant with a wide range of regulations, including HIPAA for healthcare, GDPR for data privacy in the EU, 21 CFR Part 11 for life sciences, and PCI DSS for payment card data security. Our platform is designed to help you meet your specific industry's compliance requirements.

Security is our top priority. We protect your information with multiple layers of security:

• Encryption: All data is encrypted both in transit (with TLS) and at rest (with AES-256).
• Audit Trails: A comprehensive, court-admissible audit trail is generated for every document, tracking every action from creation to completion.
• Tamper-Sealing: Once a document is signed, it is cryptographically sealed to ensure its integrity. Any subsequent changes are immediately detectable.
• Secure Infrastructure: Our platform is hosted in SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certified data centers.

An audit trail is a detailed log that captures every event in the lifecycle of a document. This includes who viewed, signed, or declined the document, along with timestamps and IP addresses for each action. It serves as critical evidence of the signing process, providing proof of access, authentication, and the integrity of the transaction, which is essential for legal and compliance purposes.

Signing is simple. You'll receive an email notification with a link to the document. Just click the link, review the document on any device (computer, tablet, or smartphone), and follow the on-screen prompts to adopt a signature and sign. No account or download is required for signers.

From your eSignly dashboard, you can upload a document (like a PDF or Word file), add the names and email addresses of your signers, and then drag and drop signature fields and other required information fields onto the document. Once you hit "Send," we handle the rest, notifying your signers and guiding them through the process.

No, recipients do not need to create an account or pay anything to sign a document you send them. They simply click the secure link in their email to access and sign the document on our platform for free.

Yes, we offer a robust free plan that allows you to experience the core features of eSignly. It's perfect for individuals or small businesses with occasional signing needs. You can explore our paid plans for more advanced features like branding, bulk sending, and API access. Visit our Pricing Page for full details.

Our paid plans are typically billed on a per-user, per-month basis. We also offer annual subscriptions at a discounted rate. Enterprise plans can be customized to your organization's specific needs. All payments are processed securely through Stripe, and we accept all major credit cards and other convenient payment methods.

Yes, we have a powerful and flexible REST API that allows you to integrate eSignature capabilities directly into your own applications, websites, and business systems. You can automate workflows, embed the signing experience, and manage documents programmatically. Check out our API documentation and plans to get started.

eSignly integrates with thousands of popular business applications through platforms like Zapier and Make. We also offer direct integrations with leading cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, as well as CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot. This allows you to connect eSignly to your existing workflows seamlessly.