Affordable, simple and automation-friendly options for businesses looking beyond DocuSign

DocuSign has dominated the e-signature market for more than a decade. It is reliable, secure and widely recognised. But many SMEs are now looking for alternatives that offer better value, simpler workflows and deeper automation.

With envelope limits, rising subscription costs and the need for extra tools to create automation, DocuSign can feel restrictive as businesses grow. Fortunately, there are several strong alternatives that provide unlimited usage, integrated workflows and easier management.

This guide breaks down the best DocuSign alternatives for SMEs, including their pros, cons, pricing and real customer feedback. It also includes a full explanation of how DocuSign envelopes work so you can understand where the true limits are.

Why Businesses Explore DocuSign Alternatives

Many SMEs begin looking for alternatives because they experience:

• Envelope limits that restrict how many contracts can be sent

• Higher costs for additional users or higher volume

• Lack of native automation

• Multiple tools required for workflows, CRM and communication

• Complicated setup compared with simpler platforms

Modern businesses want predictable pricing, automated reminders and a signing system that connects with their CRM. Alternatives often deliver this more efficiently than DocuSign.

1. HighLevel Document Signing

HighLevel includes a document signing tool that gives SMEs unlimited templates, unlimited sending and automation inside the CRM. Through MarketerM8, HighLevel is available for £97 per month, with no usage caps and no envelope limits.

Pros

• Unlimited contract sending

• Unlimited templates

• Unlimited users

• Automated reminders for unsigned documents

• Pipelines and workflows triggered by signing events

• All documents stored inside the contact record

• Works directly with CRM, email, SMS and Voice AI

• No separate e-signature subscription required

Cons

• Legally binding, but depth of legal strength compared with enterprise platforms cannot be confirmed

• Not built for industries with strict compliance requirements

Pricing

Flat rate: £97 per month through MarketerM8.

Customer Feedback Summary

Users say HighLevel’s signing tool saves time because it is integrated with the CRM. Agencies praise the unlimited usage and automation triggers. Some note that regulated industries may still prefer a dedicated legal-grade platform.

2. PandaDoc

PandaDoc is a strong DocuSign alternative for SMEs that need advanced proposals, pricing tables and document analytics.

Pros

• High-quality document builder

• Strong CRM integrations

• Easy for clients to sign

• Detailed analytics

Cons

• Some features require higher-tier plans

• Can become expensive for larger teams

• More complex than basic signing tools

Pricing

Typically £23 to £49 per user per month, depending on features.

Customer Feedback Summary

Users love the proposal builder and templates. Some say the cost increases too quickly as their business grows.

3. HelloSign (Dropbox Sign)

A simple, user-friendly DocuSign alternative for light to moderate usage.

Pros

• Clean interface

• Simple for non-technical teams

• Affordable entry-level plans

• Integrated with Dropbox

Cons

• Limited automation

• Fewer CRM integrations

• Higher tiers needed for team management

Pricing

Starts at £15 per month for basic plans.

Customer Feedback Summary

Users like the simplicity. Some note it lacks workflow tools for scaling businesses.

4. SignNow

A cost-efficient alternative with reliable signature functionality.

Pros

• Good value

• Templates and bulk sending

• Flexible API

• Easy to use

Cons

• Interface feels older

• Limited automation

• Not ideal for advanced CRM setups

Pricing

Starts at around £20 per user per month.

Customer Feedback Summary

Praised for affordability and reliability. Some customers wish for deeper integrations.

5. Adobe Acrobat Sign

A strong choice for companies needing enterprise-level compliance.

Pros

• Trusted brand

• Strong security

• Works well with PDF workflows

• Good for regulated industries

Cons

• More expensive than most alternatives

• Complex for SMEs

• Requires extra tools for automation

Pricing

Around £25 to £35 per month.

Customer Feedback Summary

Users trust the compliance features. Some SMEs find it too complex for everyday use.

Understanding DocuSign Envelope Limits

DocuSign’s standard plan includes around 100 envelopes per month, but many users misunderstand what an envelope is.

What is an envelope in DocuSign?

An envelope is a container sent for signature. It can include:

• One document

• Multiple documents

• One signer

• Multiple signers

It still counts as one envelope, regardless of the number of documents or signatures inside.

What “100 envelopes per month” really means

You can send 100 separate signature transactions each month.

Examples

• A contract sent to one client = 1 envelope

• A 10 page agreement sent to two signers = 1 envelope

• Five documents sent to one signer = 1 envelope

• One document sent to twenty people = 1 envelope

If you click Send, you have used 1 envelope.

What it does NOT mean

It does not mean:

• 100 documents

• 100 signatures

• 100 signers

It is strictly based on the number of times you send something out for signature.

What happens if you exceed the limit?

Depending on your plan, DocuSign may:

• Charge overage fees per envelope

• Prevent additional sending until your next billing cycle

For growing SMEs, this becomes restrictive very quickly.

Quick Comparison Table

Which DocuSign Alternative Is Best?

Best all-in-one system for SMEs

HighLevel is the strongest option due to unlimited usage, automation and CRM integration.

Best for proposals

PandaDoc provides excellent design and presentation tools.

Best for simple contracts

HelloSign or SignNow are easy and affordable.

Best for regulated industries

Adobe Acrobat Sign or DocuSign due to compliance standards.

Final Thoughts

DocuSign is a trusted platform, but its envelope limits and rising costs can hold SMEs back. Most small businesses want a simpler system with predictable pricing, strong automation and unlimited usage.

HighLevel’s document signing tool delivers this by combining CRM, automation, communication and signing into one unified platform for £97 per month. It removes the need for multiple subscriptions and gives teams a smoother, automated workflow from end to end.

If you want to streamline your signing process and reduce software clutter, MarketerM8 can help you implement HighLevel correctly and build a signing workflow that works from day one.

Your Next Steps: Three Clear Options

You now have three ways to move forward.

Option 1: Work with MarketerM8

We can help you migrate your signing process into HighLevel, build templates and set up full automation.
👉 https://www.marketerm8.com/book-a-call

Option 2: Go directly to HighLevel

If you prefer to set up your own account, you can subscribe using this link.
👉 https://www.gohighlevel.com/?fp_ref=ghl700311

Option 3: Do nothing

You can stay with DocuSign or another platform. Just remember that envelope-based pricing increases as your contract volume grows, which can become expensive over time.

Written by Atticus Mills - Marketing Consultant at MarketerM8 and AI Implementation Specialist at AI-M8