Question 1

Are electronic signatures legally binding?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in most jurisdictions. The EU's eIDAS regulation, the US ESIGN Act, UETA, and equivalent laws in most countries recognise electronic signatures as legally binding for the majority of contracts and agreements. Exceptions include wills, real-estate transactions in some jurisdictions, and certain regulated financial instruments. Always verify jurisdiction-specific requirements for your specific document type before deploying.

Question 2

How much does e-signature software cost?

Accepted Answer

Freelancer plans start at $10–25 per month for a small envelope allowance. Business plans with unlimited envelopes for small teams run $30–80 per user per month. High-volume teams with API access and advanced workflows land between $100–300 per user per month. Enterprise plans with custom SLAs and identity verification add-ons start at $500 per month.

Question 3

What is an audit trail in e-signature platforms?

Accepted Answer

An audit trail is a tamper-evident log of every action taken during the signing process — the email invitation sent, the time the document was opened, which fields were filled, when and from which IP address the signature was applied, and any declined or voided events. It is what makes the signature legally defensible in a dispute and should be exportable independently of the platform.

Question 4

What is the difference between a simple electronic signature and an advanced or qualified signature?

Accepted Answer

A simple electronic signature is a typed name or drawn mark with a basic audit trail. An advanced electronic signature adds identity verification linked to the signer — typically email or SMS OTP. A qualified electronic signature uses a hardware-backed certificate issued by a trust-service provider and is required for the highest-stakes legal contexts in the EU. Most business contracts need simple or advanced only.

Question 5

Can I use e-signature for employment contracts?

Accepted Answer

Yes — employment contracts are one of the most common use cases. The platform must capture the signed version and retain the audit trail for the duration of the employment relationship and beyond, consistent with your local data-retention requirements. Confirm the platform's data residency and retention policies before deploying for HR at scale.

Question 6

How do I pick an e-signature tool if I send contracts in multiple countries?

Accepted Answer

Verify that the platform's legal compliance covers each jurisdiction you operate in, not just the headline markets. Check whether identity-verification add-ons are available for markets requiring stronger signer authentication. Confirm audit-trail format meets the evidentiary standards in your highest-risk jurisdiction. When in doubt, verify with local legal counsel before deployment.

E-Signature marketplace

Sign.Plus by Alohi

Contractbook

Sign.com

Foxit

PandaDoc

Dropbox Sign

airSlate SignNow

Proposify

pdfFiller

Docupilot

Adobe Acrobat Pro