These days, electronic signatures (e-signatures) have become a very necessary tool for companies of any size. E-signatures generally allow documents to be signed safely and effectively, thereby eliminating the need to print, scan, or physically mail them. This results in quicker turnarounds, better customer satisfaction, and reduced costs. For developers who generally want to incorporate e-signature functionality into their applications, Electronic Signature APIs (eSignature APIs) represent a powerful and wonderful solution.
You can send documents that can be signed programmatically using these APIs, obtain signatures, and handle all aspects of the signing process. The article will typically outline 10 leading eSignature APIs in 2024 with an insightful examination of their features, benefits, and pricing plans. It will also reveal some important considerations when selecting an eSignature API suitable for you specifically.
What is an Electronic Signature API?
An Application Programming Interface (API) is a communication channel that facilitates data exchange between two software programs so that they can effortlessly interact with one another. A particular kind of API designed to add e-signature functionality to third-party apps is called an Electronic Signature API (eSignature API).
eSignature APIs primarily provide programmatic access to the capabilities and functionalities that are present in an e-signature service. These APIs are available to developers:
- Documents are uploaded for signing
- Signing order and places indicated
- Electronic signers’ documents are sent
- Signatures obtained from signatories
- Follow up on signatures.
- Download signed documents and audit trails
Users can electronically sign any document inside the current process using your application if you incorporate an e-signature API, saving them from having to utilize separate e-sign software or paper-based techniques.
Top 10 Electronic Signature APIs in 2024
Here’s a closer look at the top 10 eSignature APIs in 2024, including their features, benefits, and pricing
1. SignNow
SignNow by airSlate is a cloud-based electronic signature solution that enables businesses to conduct operations from anywhere, at any time, and on any device. It’s part of the airSlate Business Cloud software suite and allows individuals and businesses to sign, send, and manage documents. SignNow is one of the best providers of eSignature solutions with a powerful and ease-of-use API. Let’s take a closer look at SignNow’s features:
- Brandable eSignature solution: You can customize the eSignature API with your company’s branding. This helps in maintaining a consistent brand image across all your digital platforms.
- Sandbox account: Provides a developer sandbox where you can test the service for free. This allows developers to experiment and understand the service without any cost.
- Quick setup: SignNow provides detailed API documentation and clear coding examples. This ensures an excellent developer experience and allows for quick setup.
- Flexible eSignature API: The eSignature API is flexible and empowers users to quickly complete entire document lifecycles. You can easily send documents for signature, request payments, create reusable templates with fillable fields, and track the status of documents in real-time.
- API access for any website or custom app: SignNow provides API access which allows you to integrate SignNow’s features into your own website or custom app.
- Advanced fields: This feature allows you to create fields that are visible or required based on the values of other fields.
Pricing: The paid plans begin at $146 per month.
Provides a free trial as well.
2. DocuSign
The e-signature industry is one which DocuSign has emerged as a major player, with a comprehensive API that offers multiple features such as:
- e-Signature and Contract Lifecycle Management: DocuSign provides a platform where you can send, sign and manage all your contracts in one place easily.
- Workflow Automation: You can automate workflows on DocuSign to help in simplifying the process of sending documents to appropriate signers in the right order.
- Identity Verification: In the UK and across the EU, DocuSign enables you to prove the identity of signers. For signing qualified electronic signatures with ID verification for Europe-wide qualified or UK trust service providers’ Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES) or Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) are supported by DocuSign throughout the EU and UK.
- Global Security Standards: Among others, ETSI, GDPR, PCI Data Security Standard, ISO 27001, SSAE 18 (SOC 1 and 2).
- eSignature Legality: DocuSign supports all levels of signatures defined by eIDAS. Its eSignature is trusted by hundreds of millions of users worldwide and meets electronic signature regulations, including eIDAS.
Pricing: Pricing usually begins at approximately $75 per user per month.
3. Adobe Sign
Another popular eSignature solution is Adobe Sign, previously called Adobe Acrobat Sign, which has a powerful API. There are additional features such as:
- Electronic Signature and Contract Lifecycle Management: Adobe Sign allows you to transform and speed up your workflows with the only e-sign tool that includes the power of Adobe Acrobat in one package.
- Automate Workflows: Adobe Sign enables you to quickly and easily send documents for electronic signatures from Acrobat, Microsoft Word, and other apps. It provides real-time visibility for every document out for signature.
- Identity Verification: Adobe Sign allows your recipients to simply click a link, then drag and drop a free online signature onto the document. No downloads or account signups are needed.
- Custom Branding: Adobe Sign lets you customize signature requests with your own branding. You can add your logo, tagline, and welcome message to emails requesting signatures.
- Integration with Other Tools: Adobe Sign boosts HR effectiveness with integrations for Workday, ServiceNow, SAP SuccessFactors, and more. It also works with Agiloft, Icertis, Nintex, and SAP Ariba to give your CRM and supply chain more efficiency.
Pricing: Visit the official website.
4. DropBox Sign
For businesses of all sizes, DropboxSign is a user-friendly eSignature API. Here are some of the key features:
- Fast, Easy eSignature API Integration: Dropbox Sign offers a fast and easy eSignature API integration that allows you to send a sample document for signature.
- Configurability and Branding: Dropbox Sign API offers various branding options to create a seamless, fully branded experience for your signers.
- Secure eSignatures: Secure your documents with data encryption, audit trails, tamper-proofing, and industry-standard compliances.
- Embedded Requesting and Signing: Integrate Dropbox Sign into your website or application, creating a consistent and uniform experience for signers and senders.
- Customisable Templates: Create reusable templates with preloaded data from your systems to make the automatic signature process faster.
- Transparent Pricing: Dropbox Sign offers transparent pricing with different plans starting at £60 GBP/month.
Pricing: The paid plans begin at $75 per month.
5. RightSignature
The most secure and easy-to-use eSignature API is provided by RightSignature, which puts focus on enterprise-grade features that are particularly helpful for businesses with strict security and compliance requirements.
- Consolidation with ShareFile: RightSignature is consolidating into ShareFile, providing new ways to streamline signature collection, document management, and client workflows.
- User-friendly Solution: RightSignature offers a simple, frictionless client experience. Clients use one secure tool to sign pre-filled agreements, upload files, complete onboarding, and more.
- Integrated e-Signature in ShareFile: This feature has reportedly saved users at least 1,000 hours a year. It allows for the delivery of agreements and digital signatures in a quick and efficient manner.
- Automation: RightSignature allows for the automation of signature collection and the fulfillment of the entire document lifecycle. For example, it can send an e-signature within a pre-built workflow that automates client onboarding.
- Security: RightSignature provides security features including data encryption, audit trails, and tamper-proofing.
Pricing: Visit its official website
6. OneSpan Sign
OneSpan Sign comprehensively offers a digital signature application programming interface (API), which emphasizes security and compliance while offering advantages for companies that need strong digital signatures and acceptance in the world at large:
- Automation: OneSpan brings automation to your workflows with eSignatures to improve customer experience.
- Integration: OneSpan allows you to embed eSigning functionality to your website, mobile app, and core systems using their open REST API and SDKs.
- Customization: OneSpan’s signature software lets you customize the UI, pop-ups, and email notifications to create a trusted experience to sign contracts.
- Identity Assurance: OneSpan Sign provides a strong level of identity assurance in real-time, regardless of whether the signatory is known or unknown to the organization.
- Advanced Security and Compliance: OneSpan delivers document security and integrity by applying a digital signature and tamper seal after each person has signed.
Pricing: Visit the official website.
7. Zoho Sign
ZohoSign is a secure and scalable eSignature API that has several features to help those businesses in dire need of flexibility. Here are its key highlights:
- Secure Document Signing: Zoho Sign, which is an Indian e-signature software and workflow server, offers a secure digital signature platform. The digitally signed documents are legally binding according to the IT Act 2000 of India.
- Integration with Aadhaar eSign, eMudhra eKYC, and eStamping: Zoho Sign directly integrates Aadhaar eSign, eStamping, eMudhra eKYC and business documents signed through this integration are legally valid under Section 3A of Information Technology Act 2000.
- Digital Signature Application: Zoho Sign caters to various industries and departments. A digital signature application that works across all roles, functions, and departments1.
- Custom Branding: Zoho Sign allows you to customize signature requests with your own branding. You can add your logo, tagline, and welcome message to emails requesting signatures.
- Bulk Send and Reusable Templates: Zoho Sign provides features like bulk send and reusable templates to make the automatic signature process faster.
Pricing: The paid plans begin at ₹30/ $0.36 as per document signature request
8. PandaDoc
A powerful eSignature API is included in PandaDoc, an all-in-one document management solution. It allows you to monitor the signing process in real time through its real-time document tracking.
- Fast, Easy eSignature API Integration: PandaDoc has a fast and easy signing API for attaching signatures to your sample document.
- Configurability and Branding: The PandaDoc’s electronic signature API allows brands options that will provide a smooth customer experience throughout their execution.
- Secure eSignatures: Your documents can also be protected using data encryptions or industry compliance standards along with features such as tamper proofing or audit trails.
- Embedded Requesting and Signing: Integrate PandaDoc into your website or application, creating a consistent and uniform experience for signers and senders.
- Customizable Templates: Create reusable templates with preloaded data from your systems to make the automatic signature process faster.
- Integrations with Popular Business Tools: Integrates with various CRM, ERP, and marketing automation tools for a unified experience
Pricing: PandaDoc offers customized quotes depending on your needs.
9. DigiSigner
DigiSigner is an eSignature solution that is easy to use and affordable. Key aspects of it are:
- Embed Documents on Your Website: You can display documents to your website visitors embedded in your web page and let them fill out and sign without leaving your website.
- Send Links To Documents via Email: DigiSigner allows you to send links to your documents via email to let your recipients open and sign them anytime from anywhere.
- Use of Templates: You can upload your form as a template, configure it via their dashboard and send it out for signing via their eSignature API.
- Use of Text Tags: You can add text pieces in a certain format to your documents to specify where people should sign and enter text in your forms.
- Capture Submitted Data: DigiSigner allows you to capture the data that signers enter in your forms when they fill them out.
- eSignature API Pricing: The pricing for the eSignature API is $0.50 per document.
- Support and Branding: DigiSigner supports you during the integration process and allows the use of your logo on the DigiSigner signature page and in the DigiSigner emails.
Pricing: The paid plans begin at $0.50 per document.
10. Concord
Concord is a contract management platform that incorporates a strong eSignature API and has features suitable for businesses with complex workflows and secure document storage requirements.
- Unlimited, Legally Binding e-Signatures: Concord offers unlimited, legally binding e-signatures on all of its pricing plans.
- Sign Word, PDF, or Live Documents: You can work collaboratively online on Concord’s platform to avoid sending versions back and forth, or import any Word or PDF that you have.
- Notifications and Tracking: Stay up-to-date using notifications to track your document’s status and receive reminders about requested signatures and upcoming deadlines.
- Choose Signer Order: Choose the order of requested signatures and let Concord remind everyone when it’s their time to sign.
- Bulk Sign: Group documents together and use the bulk sign feature to sign several contracts in a few seconds.
- Flexible Integrations: Integrate Concord with systems like Salesforce or Google Drive to simplify your processes.
- Delegate Your Signature: Easily delegate to your teammates so they can take over if you have too many contracts to review and sign.
Pricing: Visit the website.
Conclusion
Businesses that want to make their document signing processes simple and get rid of paper documents can use electronic signature APIs. You will be able to choose the right solution for your unique needs if you evaluate eSignature API features, security, ease of use, scalability, and pricing levels properly. The implementation of an e-signature API helps improve efficiency greatly; it also enhances customer experience as well as maintains the integrity and security of your signed papers.