SignNow has established itself as the preferred eSignature option for companies looking for reasonably priced solutions to improve document operations. SignNow has become a major player in the eSignature market thanks to features like team collaboration, sophisticated automation, and integrations with well-known platforms. Businesses frequently run into issues with SignNow pricing, though, that go beyond the stated prices.
One of the Signnow users said:
“I disliked that, when our company card clearly needed to be updated, instead of reaching out to tell us, “As a valued customer, we want you to know that your credit card has expired. Please log in and update your payment method,” or something similar. Instead of reaching out you simply cancelled our membership with no warning and only offered us to re-join at (minimum) 400+% price increase”
Although SignNow pricing plans seem simple, a closer look identifies a number of possible problems. Businesses are forced to upgrade since many essential capabilities, like bulk sending, sophisticated API access, and bespoke branding, are only available with higher-tier SignNow pricing plans. Additionally, SignNow uses a per-user payment approach, similar to many of its rivals, which can result in inefficiencies and rising expenses as companies grow.
When evaluating eSignature solutions, the SignNow pricing becomes a crucial factor for businesses, especially those operating at scale. The cumulative SignNow cost can quickly escalate as companies require additional users or features, making it less predictable over time. For instance, businesses often find themselves paying more for advanced functionality that is essential for seamless workflows. By analyzing the SignNow cost in comparison to other providers, organizations can make more informed decisions that align with their operational needs and budgets.
This blog post will give a thorough analysis of SignNow pricing plans, look into its hidden fees, and showcase a more affordable option that does away with inefficiencies and hidden costs: Certinal eSign. By the conclusion, you’ll know for sure if SignNow fits your budget and business requirements.
A Quick Comparison on User Based Pricing and Transaction-Based Pricing
| Particulars | User Based Pricing | Transaction-Based Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Total Users | 575 | 575 |
| Total Transactions | 150,000 | 150,000 |
| Cost/User | $360/year | $1/Year |
| Total Cost | $207,000 | $150,000 |
| Savings | – | $57,000 (Save over 27%) |
SignNow Pricing: A Detailed Breakdown
Source: Signnow
A variety of pricing options are available from SignNow to accommodate companies with varying operational requirements and sizes. Although SignNow cost structure appears simple at first, companies frequently discover that the features they need are only available with more expensive plans, and scalability can result in higher expenses. We go over the specifics of SignNow pricing plans below, emphasizing each tier’s main features, restrictions, and possible financial ramifications.
How Does SignNow Charge Its Users?
SignNow charges a monthly cost to businesses based on the plan they select, using a tiered pricing mechanism. When considering SignNow pricing, larger businesses can opt for the Site License model, which charges per signature invite, while individual and business users can choose from specific pricing tiers (Business, Business Premium, and Enterprise). Every plan has unique features and restrictions, making it important to evaluate how well they align with your needs.
A. Business Plan: $20/month/user
Important attributes:
- Users and document signing are unlimited.
- Access to mobile apps and simple fillable fields.
- Infinite templates for routine processes.
- Cloud storage integration to facilitate document access.
- Support for in-person signing (with one signer).
B. Business Premium Plan: $30/month/user
Important attributes:
- Contains every aspect of the business plan.
- Transmitting in bulk for workflows with a big volume.
- Sophisticated collaboration tools, such as reminders and invites to sign links.
- The capacity to organize documents for easy processing.
- Request payments directly from signers.
C. Enterprise Plan: $50/user/month
Important attributes:
- All of the Business Premium Plan’s features.
- Sophisticated conditional documents and workflow automation.
- Customized branding for documents that are seen by clients.
- Signer authentication and advanced threat protection.
- Customized documents with intelligent fillable fields.
D. Site License Plan: Each signature costs $1.50
Important attributes:
- Unlimited users with discounts for larger numbers.
- Complete access to the API for unique integrations.
- compliance with industry-specific regulations, including 21 CFR Part 11.
- Integrations between CRM and ERP for sophisticated workflows.
Disadvantages of Signnow Pricing Plans
Despite being a well-liked eSignature service, SignNow has a number of pricing-related issues that may impact companies looking for cost-effectiveness, scalability, and transparency in signing process. To assist you grasp the full extent of SignNow pricing plans, we go deeper into the restrictions and unstated fees related to its pricing below.
A. Expensive Basic Features
At $20 per user per month, SignNow’s basic pricing plan (Business Plan) only provides the most basic eSignature features, like document signing and templates. For freelancers and small enterprises who need simply the most basic functionality electronic signature solution, this cost is too high. Users frequently dispute the utility of SignNow pricing approach because rival platforms offer similar capabilities at lesser prices or incorporate more features in their base plans.
One of the valuable customers of SignNow has shown his dissatisfaction on its pricing hike:
“We have been a customer for 2 years and all of a sudden, they changed their pricing structure to ‘benefit’ their clients. 30x price increase for us with no advance warning”.
B. Overage Charges for Signature Requests
Even with the Enterprise Plan, SignNow limits each user to 100 signature invites (or envelopes) per year. Businesses are billed $1.50 for each extra signature invite once this cap is reached. For businesses that handle a lot of documents, this SignNow pricing structure can get very costly, particularly when it comes to contracts, agreements, or compliance paperwork. Budgeting is unpredictable because these expenses are frequently not foreseen during preliminary assessments.
C. No Complimentary Plan
SignNow does not provide a free plan for consumers to try its platform, in contrast to several of its rivals. Rather, customers must pay in advance or choose to test the service out during a brief free trial. The absence of a free alternative may put off freelancers and small enterprises, especially those with limited funds or those who are not experienced with eSignature platforms.
D. Hidden Costs for Advanced Features
Despite the platform’s claims of affordability, a number of sophisticated features are only available with more expensive contracts. For example:
- Only the Enterprise and Site License Plans offer API access, which is essential for automation and integrations.
- Lower plans do not feature conditional documents, advanced reporting, or workflow automation.
- An extra cost is premium support, which provides dedicated account managers or quicker response times. These characteristics are crucial for expanding operations, but businesses frequently discover that they greatly increase the total cost of ownership.
One user pointed out issues related to unexpected additional charges.
“SignNow refused to share SOC2 certification with me unless I pay a minimum of $3000 a year for their service. That is more than 5 times what I am paying now”.
Beyond Signnow Pricing: What It Takes to Leave SignNow
While evaluating Signnow Pricing for entry, assessing the exit cost is equally crucial. With SignNow, several factors can contribute to unexpected challenges when discontinuing the service.
1. Subscription Cancellation Procedures
Canceling a SignNow subscription involves navigating through the Admin Console. While the process is outlined, users must ensure they follow the correct steps to avoid unintended charges or service interruptions.
2. Limited Access Post-Cancellation
After canceling a subscription, access to stored documents and transaction history may be restricted. It’s essential to export all necessary data before termination to prevent potential data loss or operational disruptions.
3. Contractual Commitments
Some SignNow pricing plans may involve contractual obligations. It’s advisable to review the terms and conditions of your subscription to understand any potential penalties or requirements associated with early termination.
4. Rebuilding Integrations and Workflows
If your organization has established custom workflows or integrations using SignNow’s API, transitioning to a new platform may necessitate rebuilding these processes from scratch, leading to additional time and resource investments.
What to look for in a Cost-Effective Signnow Alternative?
While SignNow offers a range of features, its pricing model and feature restrictions can make it less suitable for businesses looking to optimize costs. A truly cost-effective alternative should address the following areas:
1. Affordable API Access Without Extra Charges
SignNow charges extra for full API access, which can significantly increase costs for small businesses not needing custom integrations.
- Inclusive API Access: A better alternative should include API access in all plans without hidden charges.
- Developer-Friendly Documentation: Ensure the platform offers comprehensive, easy-to-use API documentation to minimize implementation time and costs.
2. Bulk Sending at No Additional Cost
SignNow reserves bulk sending for premium plans, making it costly for businesses handling high document volumes.
- Unlimited Bulk Sending: Look for platforms that include bulk sending in their standard plans to support high-volume workflows.
- Batch Processing Features: Choose solutions that allow you to send documents to hundreds of recipients simultaneously without additional fees.
3. Premium Assistance Without High Fees
Premium customer support on SignNow is restricted to higher-tier plans, leaving basic users without timely assistance.
- 24/7 Support for All Plans: Opt for platforms that provide round-the-clock support without extra costs.
- Dedicated Account Managers: A cost-effective solution should offer account managers to help with setup and ongoing needs, included in the pricing.
4. Transparent and Predictable Pricing
SignNow’s pricing model often surprises businesses with extra charges for essential features like templates and branding.
- Flat Pricing Models: Look for alternatives with flat or transaction-based pricing, ensuring predictable costs without per-user fees.
- No Extra Costs for Upgrades: Avoid platforms that require costly upgrades for advanced features like automation or analytics.
5. Robust Security Without Premium Charges
SignNow’s higher-tier plans include advanced security features, making it expensive for businesses with stringent compliance requirements.
- Built-In Compliance: Ensure the alternative provides HIPAA, GDPR, and SOC 2 compliance as standard across all plans.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Look for platforms that include advanced authentication tools without additional costs.
6. Flexible Workflow Automation Included
SignNow often charges extra for workflow automation tools that streamline repetitive tasks.
- Integrated Workflow Automation: A cost-effective alternative should include automation tools like conditional logic and approval routing by default.
- Custom Workflow Templates: Ensure the platform allows users to create reusable workflows without additional fees.
Why Certinal is a Game Changer for Enterprises?
Large enterprises searching for e-signature solutions frequently encounter a confusing array of price structures that don’t fit with their goals. Conventional suppliers such as SignNow employ user-based pricing with a number of hidden fees, leaving companies with erratic costs that increase out of proportion to the size of their staff. With its transaction-based pricing model, which was created especially to reduce expenses and offer businesses unmatched value, Certinal defies this convention.
Learn 13 reasons why Enterprises love Certinal eSign
A. Transaction-Based Pricing
Businesses are locked into fixed fees depending on the number of users, whether or not those users are active, under traditional user-based pricing. By ensuring that you only pay for what you use, Certinal’s transaction-based pricing model offers businesses of all sizes flexibility and cost effectiveness.
How It Operates: Rather than charging a fee per user or document, Certinal charges a flat fee per transaction (for example, $1 per transaction). With this arrangement, unnecessary expenses related to unused licenses or dormant users are removed.
The Reason It’s Better
- No Wastage: Businesses are not charged for seats that are not in use or for users who do not regularly utilize the platform.
- Scalable Costing: Unlike user-based models, where expenses increase exponentially, scalable costing increases proportionately as document volume increases.
- Improved Budget Planning: Transaction-based esign pricing makes forecasting easier and enables businesses to make accurate cost predictions even when workflows change.
Check out: Certinal named a “Leader” in IDC MarketScape
B. Eliminating the Hidden Costs
Every hidden expense that businesses have when working with conventional providers like SignNow is addressed by Certinal. Here’s how:
1. No fees for bulk downloads
Bulk downloads with SignNow very expensive, particularly when doing data migrations or audits. Certinal completely removes this charge, enabling businesses to download their papers for free, regardless of volume.
Learn more about Pre-fill and Bulk Send in electronic signatures
2. Free Account Closure and Migration
Businesses are guaranteed to retain control of their data thanks to Certinal. There are no hidden fees or penalties when switching providers or terminating an account. Certinal’s standard solution includes all the instruments needed for a smooth data transmission.
3. Verified Signatures at No Additional Charge
For sectors like healthcare, banking, and law, legal-grade authenticated signatures are crucial. Certinal includes these signatures in its regular cost, whereas SignNow charges extra for them. This keeps your expenses from going up while guaranteeing that every document you process is legally binding.
4. 24×7 Premium Assistance
Certinal opposes paywalls for high-quality support. As part of its enterprise subscriptions, Certinal offers round-the-clock phone support, onboarding help, and a dedicated success manager, in contrast to SignNow which charges for 24/7 premium customer service.
Conclusion
Avoid basing your choice solely on SignNow pricing and reputation. While it’s a well-known e-signature platform, its user-based pricing, hidden fees, and lack of flexibility can significantly increase your costs over time. Many businesses find SignNow pricing challenging to scale as needs grow. In contrast, Certinal’s clear, transaction-based pricing ensures you only pay for what you use, offering a cost-effective alternative. Businesses can save up to 50% or more with Certinal without sacrificing features like worldwide compliance, mass emailing, or no-code workflows.
Switch to Certinal today and take control of your e-signature costs with a pricing model that is predictable, flexible, and built for growth. Book a Demo Now!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the pricing structure of SignNow?
SignNow has a per-seat price structure, companies pay a set amount for each user who has access to the platform. Plans have different prices; the Starter Plan costs $35 per seat, while the Enterprise Plan has customized pricing.
2.Is SignNow enterprise-scaleable?
SignNow’s Enterprise Plan provides businesses with sophisticated features, but because of its per-seat subscription structure, scalability can be expensive. Businesses frequently deal with unforeseen costs, particularly when it comes to unique features and procedures.
3.How does Certinal stack up against SignNow wrt pricing?
Certinal uses a simple transaction-based pricing model. Businesses only pay for the documents they handle, not for each user. This method is more scalable and economical since it does away with the inefficiencies of per-seat pricing and guarantees fixed expenses.
4. What other options are there to address SignNow ricing issues?
An outstanding substitute that provides clear pricing with no additional costs is Certinal eSign. Its transaction-based architecture is more suitable for companies that value scalability and cost-effectiveness because it offers enterprise-grade features like bulk sending, API connections, and worldwide compliance at no additional cost.
5. How does SignNow compete with Docusign?
SignNow competes with DocuSign by offering a more affordable pricing structure and focusing on ease of use for small to mid-sized businesses. However, DocuSign provides a broader range of advanced features and global compliance options, making it a stronger choice for enterprises.
