PandaDoc alternative: when you only need the signature
PandaDoc is not really an e-signature tool. It is proposal software: templates, content library, quotes, and analytics on who read which page, with signing at the end.
That is worth paying for if you send proposals. It is a lot to pay if what you actually needed was a signature on a contract. This page is for people in the second group.
Three signature requests a month, forever. Self-signing is unlimited and never leaves your browser.
PandaDoc vs FairSign
| FairSign | PandaDoc Starter | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry paid plan | $12/mo, one price | $19 per seat/mo, billed annually |
| A team of three | $24/mo for 3 seats | $57/mo (3 × $19) |
| Billing terms | Monthly or yearly, cancel any time, no fee | Advertised price requires annual billing |
| Proposals, quotes, content library | No, we do not do this | Yes, and it is the reason to buy it |
| Signing your own document | Runs in your browser, never uploaded | Uploaded to their servers |
| Free tier | 3 signature requests a month, forever | Free plan for unlimited e-signatures on your own uploads |
Sources: PandaDoc pricing page, Starter plan · PandaDoc pricing page, per-seat pricing · PandaDoc pricing page · PandaDoc pricing page, Free plan
Which one should you actually buy?
Buy PandaDoc if you send proposals or quotes and want to know which page the prospect lingered on. Nothing we do replaces that, and at $19 a seat it is fairly priced for what it is.
Buy FairSign if the document is already written and you just need it signed. One price, no per-seat maths, and a team of three costs $24 instead of $57.
The test is simple: if you are building the document inside the tool, you want PandaDoc. If you are uploading a finished PDF, you are paying for software you are not using.