Docusign vs PandaDoc: which digital document solution is best for your business?

Managing contracts manually is tedious and can slow down businesses. To counter this, many organizations today use digital document solutions, like Docusign and PandaDoc, to boost efficiency and support productivity. These are the two top options available today, and they boast an array of features that help improve workflows, save time, and ensure businesses comply with industry standards.

Docusign and PandaDoc each have unique strengths, but one may be better suited to your needs than the other. For instance, Docusign is ideal for large teams, but its cost can quickly add up. Meanwhile, PandaDoc offers a 14-day free trial that supports unlimited documents.

To help you find the perfect fit, I worked with the Cybernews research team to test both tools and compare PandaDoc vs Docsign. In this article, I’ll break down the key features, costs, and customer support options of both platforms and show you how to use them. This should give you all the information you need to decide which digital document solution is best for your business.

Overview of PandaDoc and Docusign

Docusign was launched long before PandaDoc and has a more extensive user base, but PandaDoc is quickly becoming a top option for businesses. Both digital document solutions are trusted by clients worldwide for their ability to improve contract workflows and boost productivity. Here’s a quick overview table showing key details about Docusign and PandaDoc:

	Docusign	PandaDoc
Rating:	4.7	4.6
Starting price:	$15/month	$35/month
Free version:	Yes (limited)	Yes (limited)
API access:	Yes (Docusign API)	Yes (PandaDoc API)

Features overview

Today, businesses need digital document software that can do much more than just support e-signatures. They want tools that support efficient document flow, customization, integration, automation, and mobile accessibility.

Although Docusign and PandaDoc are highly useful, they may not be suited for every use case. For example, Docusign focuses on security, compliance, and enterprise integrations, while PandaDoc shines for its built-in automation and intuitive customization options. The former is ideal for larger teams, while the latter suits smaller operations.

Below, I’ve compiled a detailed breakdown of the features of Docusign vs PandaDoc to show what each tool is best suited for:

Category	Docusign	PandaDoc
Document signing and security	✅	❌
Template and document customizations	❌	✅
Third-party integrations	✅	❌
Workflow and automation	❌	✅
Mobile and cross-platform	✅	❌

Document signing and security

Large enterprises and government agencies trust Docusign for its professional security measures, which include AES-256 encryption, TLS 1.2 secure data transmission, and multi-factor authentication (MFA). Its Docusign Monitor feature provides real-time alerts about potential unauthorized access, and it has AI-powered fraud detection capabilities.

Like Docusign, PandaDoc keeps documents secure using AES-256 encryption and is SOC 2 Type II compliant. It also supports two-factor authentication, audit logs, and document tracking.

While PandaDoc is secure enough to meet the requirements of most businesses, it lacks some of Docusign’s advanced security options, such as a FedRAMP certification and advanced fraud detection.

Also, Docusign’s security standards comply with HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001, and FedRAMP compliance rules, making it an excellent choice for businesses in highly regulated industries.

Template and document customizations

If you need to generate contracts, proposals, and branded documents frequently in your business, you’ll appreciate flexible templates and document customization options to save time and maintain consistency.

Docusign allows you to create reusable templates. This means you can generate documents faster. While you can drag and drop signature fields and modify text and images, Docusign’s built-in editing tools are limited compared to PandaDoc’s drag-and-drop document editor.

Also, with Docusign, you’ll have to rely on third-party integrations for advanced layout adjustments and interactive elements.

PandaDoc’s fully interactive drag-and-drop editor allows you to edit templates and add branded elements, dynamic pricing tables, and smart fields without any third-party software. Its library includes 750+ pre-built templates for quickly generating industry-specific documents. PandaDocs also has dynamic content blocks that allow data to populate a document automatically, eliminating repetitive manual entry and reducing errors.

Third-party integrations

It is important to be able to seamlessly integrate your digital document solution with your customer relationship management (CRM) system and productivity tools to increase efficiency and workflow automation.

Docusign supports over 900 integrations, including Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft 365, SAP, Google Drive, and Dropbox. It also provides deep API access for enterprise IT teams to build custom workflows. Docusign’s AI-powered contract analysis helps businesses quickly extract key insights from agreements and identify risks before signing.

PandaDoc has fewer integrations than Docusign — 30+. But, it focuses on tools that support sales and contract-heavy businesses. PandaDoc integrates with HubSpot, Pipedrive, QuickBooks, Zapier, and Stripe for CRM and payment automation. Its REST API allows businesses to automate contract creation, as key customer data is pulled from CRM platforms into PandaDoc-generated documents without manual entry.

Workflow and automation capabilities

Automation speeds up contract processing and eliminates manual approvals and repetitive, administrative tasks. Docusign supports signature workflows, approval routing, and PowerForms for bulk sending.

Docusign also offers Maestro — a no-code workflow builder that’s part of its Intelligent Agreement Management (IAM) engine. Maestro automates approvals, document execution, and contract management. While it integrates with third-party systems, it also has built-in automation for agreement workflows and doesn’t require external tools for most automation work.

PandaDoc provides native automation, including conditional logic for auto-approvals, automated renewal reminders, and Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) tools. All of these help you to generate contracts with real-time pricing adjustments.

While PandaDoc and Docusign support automation, PandaDoc is easier to use and is more straightforward to set up.

Mobile and cross-platform accessibility

If you have a fully remote or semi-remote team, mobile accessibility is important to enable document management from anywhere.

Docusign has dedicated iOS and Android apps, a fully responsive browser-based signing option, and offline signing capabilities. This means you can complete agreements from any device without downloading an app. Docusign supports iOS (13.0+) and Android (5.0+) for mobile web signing, but you need iOS 15+ or Android 9.0+ to install its app.

PandaDoc also has iOS and Android apps that allow you to create, send, track, and sign documents. It supports iOS (10+) and Android (6.1+), but PandaDoc users in Europe (with pandadoc.eu accounts) cannot access the app.

Both Docusign and PandaDoc are compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari browsers.

Pricing plans and value for money

I’ve put the plans, prices, and features of PandaDoc vs Docusign in the table below, to allow you to compare them side-by-side easily and decide which tool offers the best value for money based on your organization’s needs:

Plan	Docusign	PandaDoc
Monthly cost:	Personal: $15/month Standard: $45/user/month Business Pro: $65/user/month Enhanced: Contact sales	Starter: $35/user/month Business: $65/user/month Enterprise: Contact sales
Features included at each tier	Personal: 5 agreements per month, reusable templates, 900+ integrations Standard: Shared templates, team collaboration, real-time commenting Business Pro: Bulk send, attachments, auto-calculations, mobile-friendly web forms, payment collection Enhanced: 24/7 support, identity fraud protection, SSO, AI-driven agreement management, Salesforce integration, SMS/WhatsApp notifications, advanced compliance tools	Starter: Unlimited e-signatures, document uploads, drag-and-drop editor, real-time tracking Business: Custom branding, CRM integrations, deal rooms, approval workflows, bulk send Enterprise: CPQ tools, workflow automation, smart content, SSO, API access, Notary

Note: Docusign also provides specialized pricing for specific industries and advanced users. They are:

• eSignature Real Estate: Designed for real estate professionals.
• Developer API: Custom pricing based on API usage.
• Intelligent Agreement Management (IAM): AI-driven contract lifecycle management for enterprises.

Value for money

PandaDoc's lower-tier plans offer more features than Docusign's. The PandaDoc Starter plan offers unlimited documents, while its Business plan adds CRM integrations and approval workflows.

• Best for small businesses: PandaDoc Starter
• Best for enterprise compliance: Docusign Business Pro
• Best for sales teams: PandaDoc Business

PandaDoc offers more features per Dollar. However, Docusign is better for organizations that require strict compliance and security.

User interface and experience: PandaDoc vs Docusign

User experience is important when choosing a document management solution. It can make a big difference, especially if your team is not very technical. You must ensure that the software you choose is user-friendly, and you can quickly get support if you encounter issues.

I evaluated the usability of PandaDoc vs Docsign, from the signing up process to using the software and the customer support options available. Below, I’ll take you through each provider's user interface, focusing on what the dashboard includes and the accessibility of key functions.

PandaDoc is generally easier to set up than Docusign, especially if you’re signing up for a free trial. While Docusign’s isn’t very complicated, it requires more steps, some of which you can’t skip even if you need to get to the dashboard to edit a document quickly. Also, PandaDoc doesn’t require users to provide a phone number or complete a phone verification to get started.

PandaDoc’s dashboard is only a few steps away after you click the “Start free 14-day trial” button. All you need to do is enter an email address, choose a template (or upload a document), and you’re good to go.

Many user reviews say Docusign is easy to use for basic signatures, but some say its updated interface design is clunky. Similarly, many users like PandaDoc’s drag-and-drop editor and sleek design, but some reviews say organizing templates is somewhat cumbersome.

Comparing learning and customer support options

PandaDoc and Docusign offer different customer support options and educational resources. While they have different designs, both offer self-service tools, live assistance, and learning centers.

I found Docusign’s support to be practical. On its support page, you can browse help topics by role (Senders, Signers, Administrators) or product type (eSignature, CLM, Integrations). It was easy to find answers on the support page.

You can ask questions and receive responses from experts and peers on Docusign’s community forum. If you want structured training, Docusign University offers courses, webinars, and certification programs.

PandaDoc takes a more interactive approach to customer support. The PandaDoc Learning Academy provides tailored training covering everything from quick-start guides to advanced automation techniques. Plus, there are live workshops and real-time PandaDoc assistance.

Both providers offer live chat and ticket-based assistance. I found PandaDoc’s chatbot to be a little more informative.

I also found PandaDoc’s support system more intuitive than Docusign’s. The help center has a ticket support system for tracking the status of requests.

Many user reviews said Docusign is easy to use for basic e-signatures. Reviews also said PandaDoc is user-friendly, adding that its modern interface and drag-and-drop editor were easy to use. However, some said it can take a little more time to master its other features.

User interface comparison

As you can see in the picture, PandaDoc’s interface is clear and laid out nicely. There’s a navigation panel on the left for documents, templates, and automation tools. On the right, there’s a drag-and-drop document builder to insert texts, images, pricing tables, and signatures. Its modular design works especially well for sales and contract-heavy teams.

Docusign has a more traditional, form-based layout. The left panel has preset input fields for things like signatures and initials. You can drag and drop these fields onto documents. Also, the signing process is easy and focused on compliance.

Navigating both apps is quite different. PandaDoc places content into sections like My Documents and Templates, while Docusign’s workflow is more task-driven.

Both PandaDoc and Docusign have unique features that set them apart. PandaDoc has interactive elements, such as Quote Builder and smart fields, while Docusign’s structured signing tools, such as its PowerForms and Conditional Fields, are more geared towards security and legal compliance.

Our testing methodology

The Cybernews research team and I focused on real-world business use cases when testing these two digital contract and document solutions. I focused on four key areas during our tests:

• Document and contract management: I tested the contract creation, template customization, editing, version control, and collaboration features like real-time commenting and multi-user editing of both tools. I also looked at their contract lifecycle management (CLM) features, including automated renewal alerts and audit trails.
• E-signature capabilities: I checked whether Docusign and PandaDoc comply with ESIGN, UETA, and eIDAS standards and tested their multi-signature workflows (sequential and parallel signing). I also tested using these tools to sign contracts on mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and desktops, and evaluated their signature authentication methods, such as SMS verification.
• Integration and workflow automation: I analyzed third-party integrations with CRMs, cloud storage, and business applications and tested their workflow automation features, including auto-routing approvals, pre-filled contract fields, and bulk sending.
• Security, compliance, and data privacy: Finally, I reviewed each app's encryption standards, authentication methods, and role-based access controls. I checked whether they comply with GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, and FedRAMP and assessed their security and document storage options.

PandaDoc vs Docusign: which to choose?

PandaDoc and Docusign are the most popular digital contract and document management tools available today. While they offer some of the same features, they are very different.

Docusign has been around longer than PandaDoc. It offers more robust security features and enterprise-level integrations. Clients in industries like finance and healthcare, where high-level security and compliance are critical, trust Docusign.

On the other hand, PandaDoc is loved by small businesses and sales teams. If you need a document solution with a simple sign up process, PandaDoc is an excellent choice. It’s got a full drag-and-drop editor and smart fields. Plus, creating a contract on PandaDoc is just as easy to do as it is on Docusign.

If you prioritize compliance and security, I recommend Docusign. If you want customization and better value at lower tiers, get PandaDoc. Better yet, use the free trial option to test both tools. Ultimately, both allow you to sign documents, automate workflows, and eliminate paperwork headaches.

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