Andrew Wilkinson, Co-founder of Tiny, recently sparked a conversation on X (formerly Twitter) with a simple yet revealing tweet:
“I just found out how much we pay for our eSignature solution, and my jaw dropped. What’s the best alternative? Is there something free or stupid cheap?”
What seemed like an offhand remark quickly resonated with thousands of business leaders and IT decision-makers who are questioning why they are paying premium prices for digital signature solution that has barely evolved.
For years, legacy eSignature providers have positioned themselves as indispensable, capitalizing on market dominance to impose complex pricing structures filled with hidden costs. However, as businesses begin scrutinizing their software expenses, a clear pattern of overpricing, excessive fees, and inflexible contracts has emerged.
This realization has led many companies to reassess their eSignature needs and seek feature-rich, cost-effective alternatives that offer enterprise-grade security, compliance, and automation—without the inflated pricing.
The True Cost of Legacy eSignature Solutions
eSignature technology was supposed to streamline workflows, reduce paperwork, and create seamless document transactions. Yet, for many enterprises, it has become an unexpected financial burden.
1. The Hidden Cost of Per-Envelope Pricing
Most legacy eSignature providers charge on a per-envelope basis, meaning that every document signed incurs a cost. This pricing model might seem reasonable at first, but as organizations scale, the financial impact becomes untenable.
- HR teams processing employment contracts experience exponential cost increases as hiring scales.
- Legal departments managing high-volume contract workflows find themselves paying per signature, with costs accumulating rapidly.
- Procurement teams handling supplier agreements face rising expenses simply for routine document execution.
Instead of offering predictable pricing, legacy vendors often structure contracts in a way that penalizes businesses for growth, making it difficult to forecast costs accurately.
2. The Problem with API Pricing and Workflow Restrictions
As enterprises integrate eSignature functionality into CRMs, ERP systems, and HR platforms, API usage becomes critical. However, many eSignature providers impose:
- Per-API-call pricing, limiting automation and increasing operational costs.
- Tiers that restrict API calls, forcing businesses into expensive enterprise plans.
- Mandatory upgrades to unlock essential workflow automation features.
For companies that rely on high-volume transactions and automated document workflows, these hidden costs create friction and limit scalability.
Learn about Docusign Pricing in detail
3. Compliance and Security as a Premium Add-On
Security and compliance are non-negotiable in industries such as finance, healthcare, and legal services. However, instead of embedding compliance into their core offering, many legacy eSignature providers:
- Charge additional fees for compliance with global regulations such as eIDAS, UETA, ESIGN, and GDPR.
- Offer tamper-proof audit trails and advanced authentication as premium features.
- Require businesses to pay for regional compliance certificates, even when operating in multiple jurisdictions.
Enterprises that assumed their eSignature provider was automatically meeting security and regulatory standards often discover too late that compliance comes at an extra cost.
4. The Reality of Customer Support: A Costly Afterthought
One of the biggest frustrations companies experience with legacy eSignature solutions is poor customer support despite high pricing. Businesses report:
- Long response times, even for urgent contract issues.
- Lack of dedicated account managers unless on expensive enterprise plans.
- Generic self-help documentation with limited real-time troubleshooting options.
For organizations handling mission-critical documents, waiting days for an issue to be resolved is not an option. However, upgrading to premium support often requires additional fees or a contractual commitment.
What Businesses Are Looking for in an eSignature Solution
As companies reassess their eSignature expenditures, a shift in expectations is taking place. Businesses are no longer willing to accept inflated pricing models and are now prioritizing:
- Transparent, predictable pricing—without per-envelope or API-call restrictions.
- Enterprise-grade security and compliance—included as a standard, not a premium add-on.
- AI-powered automation—to streamline workflows and reduce manual intervention.
- Scalability without unexpected fees—ensuring that growth does not translate into disproportionate cost increases.
- Reliable, always-on customer support—so that mission-critical operations are never disrupted.
This shift in priorities has led enterprises to explore modern eSignature platforms that deliver greater value at a fraction of the cost.
Why Companies Are Switching to Certinal
Certinal is rapidly becoming the go-to alternative for enterprises seeking a cost-effective, feature-rich eSignature solution. Here’s why:
1. Transparent, Flat-Rate Pricing
Certinal eliminates the uncertainty of per-envelope and per-API-call pricing by offering straightforward, flat-rate pricing. Unlike legacy vendors that structure contracts to drive up costs, Certinal:
- Provides predictable pricing without hidden fees.
- Offers unlimited envelopes to ensure businesses are not penalized for growth.
- Includes API access without overage charges, making automation cost-effective.
This approach enables companies to scale their eSignature use without worrying about budget overruns.
2. Built-In Compliance and Security at No Extra Cost
Certinal meets the highest security and compliance standards globally, without additional costs. Features include:
- Full compliance with eIDAS, UETA, ESIGN, and GDPR as a standard.
- SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications for enterprise security.
- Tamper-proof blockchain-backed audit trails for document integrity.
By integrating compliance and security into its core offering, Certinal ensures that businesses remain regulation-ready without additional fees.
3. AI-Powered Automation for Faster Workflows
Certinal leverages artificial intelligence to enhance document workflows, reduce manual effort, and improve efficiency. This includes:
- Automated document recognition to apply predefined signing workflows.
- Fraud detection algorithms to prevent unauthorized access.
- AI-driven workflow intelligence to minimize human intervention and accelerate document turnaround.
This level of automation removes bottlenecks and optimizes contract execution across departments.
4. Seamless Integrations Without Extra API Costs
Certinal offers native integrations with major enterprise platforms, including:
- CRM systems such as Salesforce and HubSpot.
- ERP solutions like SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft Dynamics.
- HR platforms such as Workday and BambooHR.
Unlike legacy providers, Certinal does not impose API call restrictions, allowing businesses to automate eSignature workflows without incurring excessive costs.
5. 24/7 Customer Support—Without Premium Pricing
Certinal prioritizes customer success by offering round-the-clock support across all plans. This includes:
- Real-time assistance via live chat, email, and phone.
- Dedicated onboarding support to ensure seamless implementation.
- Proactive account management to optimize eSignature usage.
By making high-quality support accessible to all customers, Certinal ensures that businesses never have to pay extra for the assistance they deserve.
What to Do Next: Making the Switch to a Smarter eSignature Solution
Organizations can no longer afford to overlook the true cost of legacy eSignature providers. Businesses that want to eliminate bloated pricing, streamline workflows, and enhance security must take proactive steps toward switching to a more modern, cost-effective solution.
Steps to Move Forward:
- Evaluate Current eSignature Costs: Identify hidden fees, overages, and compliance charges in your existing contract.
- Assess Feature Needs: Determine if you are overpaying for features that should be standard.
- Compare Alternatives: Look at solutions like Certinal that offer transparent pricing, automation, and enterprise-grade security.
- Start a Free Trial or Demo: Experience first-hand how Certinal can reduce costs while improving efficiency.
Conclusion: The Future of eSignatures Is Cost-Effective and Intelligent
Businesses are no longer willing to accept bloated, outdated pricing models. The shift toward cost-effective, AI-powered, and fully compliant eSignature solutions is already underway.
For companies ready to make the switch, the next step is clear:
- Compare pricing and see how much you can save.
- Experience a feature-rich eSignature solution without hidden costs.
- Make the transition to Certinal for a smarter, more scalable future.
Book a Demo today and save millions on your eSignature costs
