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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Adobe Acrobat

    Score8.8 out of 10
    N/AAdobe Acrobat DC is the current version of the well-established document / PDF management solution, part of the Adobe Document Cloud (the other part being Adobe's eSign services based on technology acquired with EchoSign in 2011).

    $29.99

    per month per seat

    DocuSign

    Score8.3 out of 10
    N/ADocuSign supports transactions with document sharing and electronic signature, as well as automated and guided data collection and entry, record updating across disparate systems and payment collection upon agreement, as well as analytics and reporting.

    $15

    per month

    Pricing
    Adobe AcrobatDocuSign
    Editions & Modules
    Acrobat Pro for Individuals
    $19.99
    per month
    Acrobat Pro for Teams
    $23.99
    per month per user
    Acrobat Studio for Individuals
    $24.99
    per month
    Personal
    $15
    per month
    Real Starter
    $15
    per month
    DocuSign for Realtors
    $35
    per month
    Standard
    $40
    per month
    Business Pro
    $60
    per month
    Advanced Solutions
    Custom Pricing
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Adobe AcrobatDocuSign
    Free Trial
    YesYes
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    YesNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeOptionalNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Adobe AcrobatDocuSign
    Considered Both Products
    Adobe
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    This isn't really a good comparison, but Adobe Acrobat is more of a program that works among all of these, and I'll keep using it as long as it's a part of Adobe CC. Otherwise, I see DocuSign as suitable for secure/private documents, and Dropbox file previews allows a pretty …
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    DocuSign has it's perks, for sure. DocuSign is easier to integrate into websites with extensions than Adobe Acrobat is but when it came down to it, we just didn't trust the brand. We felt that using a product with the Adobe name connected with it provided necessary peace of …
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    Acrobat is overall, the superior PDF creator, editor and compiler. However, DocuSign is easier and more reliable as a document signing program. This tool is Acrobat is much harder to use and has caused some errors in documents in the past. It also does not work well with a …
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    The pricing structure is not as great with DocuSign than with Adobe Acrobat. It would be nice if the entire company could use Adobe Acrobat rather than everyone having different platforms. It would also be nice to have an account that multiple users can use without paying so …
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    AA is a close competitor to DocuSign but different use cases; the latter is more for workflow situations
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    Overall, Adobe has a better reputation than Foxit PDF Editor; while many of my colleagues prefer the features of Foxit (over Adobe), Adobe remains more secure and provides our organization with a higher level of comfort. DocuSign is a great tool for requesting signatures on …
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    In the signature collection, I find DocuSign easier to use and more friendly. Also more known for this purpose.
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    In comparison to DocuSign, Adobe Acrobat has more features and functionality. DocuSign is a great resource for collecting signatures outside of the company; however, Adobe Acrobat has been great for us inhouse.
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    DocuSign has more features than Adobe Acrobat DC but it costs more and we don't need those features. HelloSign is not as robust as Adobe Acrobat DC. We have yet to use a program that we were as satisfied with the results of converting documents into PDF files as we are with …
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    I think that the ability to edit PDFs is a step above DocuSign, even though this is not really what DocuSign was made for. I've always stuck with Adobe Acrobat DC because I love the Adobe suite and the constant updates and improvements. I would not want to switch to anything …
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    ShareFile and rightsignature are HIPAA-compliant for securely sending/transferring PDF files and offer authenticated signing/reviewing trails. DocuSign can be used for signing and sending docs for signing. Adobe Acrobat DC is not as robust as any of these other platforms in …
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    Honestly, there really isn't anything equivalent. I've used Adobe's online PDF compressor in a pinch, DocuSign is great but I really don't feel we necessarily need it when Adobe Acrobat DC has all the functions it does, and sending Word documents to clients isn't a great look …
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    Adobe has many more features available than DocuSign, there is no competition there. Our company needs a platform that can "do it all" and Adobe can do just about that.
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    I think the feature between DocuSign and Adobe Sign is most comparable. I think DocuSign allowed for more customizable options but users fell short of understanding navigation. Adobe Sign helps customize but some features and processes can be glitchy or blocked.
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    Adobe Acrobat DC has been the go-to tool for our organization to handle all our PDF Documents. We use the document signing feature regularly and are very happy with its usage. we have used DocuSign in the past but the best results have been achieved by using Adobe Acrobat DC.
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    DocuSign is not as friendly or usable as Adobe Acrobat DC. It has severe limitations when it comes to displaying images or making any changes or edits (or recommending or changing any part of the PDF.) Sometimes I have been forced to use DocuSign by the vendor I am working …
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    Adobe was less expensive than DocuSign and served my needs.
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    PandaDoc is less customizable for creating/editing documents, less security but is much better when sending to a client and needing them to add text since the client would a paid subscription with Adobe Acrobat if I sent it that way
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    Being the industry standard, Adobe Acrobat exceeds other platforms as the common file format all parties can read and comment even with only the free reader version.
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    Adobe Acrobat allows licenses to stretch across one account rather than just one device, and works across both Mac and Windows, as opposed to some of the other options.
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    They have a superior product that works better and more reliably when it comes to working with PDF files. Adobes' Achilles heel is the restrictions and requirements imposed on the user and software by their administrative and legal teams that drag down what otherwise is a …
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    Adobe stands out because it is a program on your computer, so you can easily upload or save documents rather than using a website that always adds an extra step.
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    Adobe Acrobat DC is more fully self-contained and multi-functional for the tasks I use it for. Again it combines the functionality of several different programs in one place and also offers the ability to interact with documents from others that may have been created in other …
    Incentivized
    Chose Adobe Acrobat
    Adobe is a bit more expensive than these others but for me and my company, the ease of use is why Adobe is the best.
    Incentivized
    DocuSign
    Chose DocuSign
    Very similar but did not have the backing of SAP SuccessFactors in terms of Integration. The Developer Environment allowed us to test and practice on very easily compared to Adobe Acrobat Sign. Both products can be connected to via Microsoft Power Platform to aid automation …
    Incentivized
    Chose DocuSign
    Adobe Acrobat Sign is less user-friendly and more suited to small scopes, or one-off documents. It lacks the use of templates that DocuSign has, which is what ultimately streamlines and delivers the consistency and efficiencies for the business.
    Incentivized
    Chose DocuSign
    Adobe was not a good experience despite the lower cost. Constant crashing, slow to load and a simple feature like copy and pasting the same fields across pages was non existent. Our team celebrated the decision to move back to Docusign from Adobesign. We have never looked back …
    Incentivized
    Chose DocuSign
    I have not used any alternatives. DocuSign is the leader in this space from my opinion.
    Incentivized
    Chose DocuSign
    DocuSign is the one we went with because of the majority of people who use it regularly. It's the first one that comes to mind when you think of electronic signatures. We do use AdobeSign with our HR platform because that is the one that is integrated with it, but standalone …
    Incentivized
    Chose DocuSign
    DocuSign is far superior to anything on the market for my needs, and my needs varied in different roles across different industries: it is a better solution, and easier to use for client interaction.
    For statements of work, contracts, agreements of sale, commercial and …
    Incentivized
    Chose DocuSign
    • I had used Adobe before and it is not a simple experience. The last thing you want is for your customers to have trouble signing an electronic document. It defeats the purpose.
    • HelloSign is a nice product, but may have been a bit overkill for what our needs were. And they were …
    Incentivized
    Chose DocuSign
    I originally tried using just a fillable Adobe PDF document for my clients to sign...but they struggled in figuring out how to complete it and if someone didn't have Adobe installed on their computer, then it was a problem. DocuSign makes it quick and easy and anyone can …
    Incentivized
    Chose DocuSign
    DocuSign is much better at what it does with regard to securely getting signatures on paperwork. Adobe has lots of issues and it does not always translate well with other users depending if and how the end user has their Adobe setup. It is a very clunky process and does not …
    Incentivized
    Chose DocuSign
    None
    Incentivized
    Chose DocuSign
    I personally have not used any other program. The decision to use DocuSign was not my choice. I am happy with the choice that was decided upon by others.
    Incentivized
    Chose DocuSign
    I have not used any competing software
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    98%
    Would buy again
    487 Answers
    84%
    Would buy again
    75 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    95%
    Delivers good value for the price
    423 Answers
    83%
    Delivers good value for the price
    62 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    98%
    Happy with the feature set
    486 Answers
    88%
    Happy with the feature set
    78 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    98%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    341 Answers
    83%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    59 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    99%
    Implementation went as expected
    372 Answers
    86%
    Implementation went as expected
    63 Answers
    Best Alternatives
    Adobe AcrobatDocuSign
    Small Businesses
    M‑Files
    Score8.9 out of 10
    Foxit eSign
    Score9.8 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Esker
    Score10 out of 10
    MSB Docs
    Score9.4 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Tungsten Capture
    Score8 out of 10
    Conga Sign
    Score7.8 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Adobe AcrobatDocuSign
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.1
    (481 ratings)
    4.5
    (155 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    9.7
    (26 ratings)
    7.0
    (12 ratings)
    Usability
    9.3
    (237 ratings)
    3.8
    (13 ratings)
    Availability
    10.0
    (2 ratings)
    10.0
    (3 ratings)
    Performance
    8.1
    (8 ratings)
    10.0
    (2 ratings)
    Support Rating
    7.8
    (56 ratings)
    10.0
    (46 ratings)
    Online Training
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    9.6
    (9 ratings)
    10.0
    (5 ratings)
    Configurability
    8.5
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Contract Terms and Pricing Model
    6.0
    (3 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    9.0
    (8 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    10.0
    (2 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    4.0
    (3 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    5.5
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Adobe AcrobatDocuSign
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Adobe
    The 12 primary users represent our core Human Resources, Payroll, and Finance operations teams. Within this group, HR managers use the platform to oversee employee lifecycle events, handle benefits administration, and process new-hire onboarding. The payroll specialists and finance staff manage bi-weekly payroll runs, direct deposits, tax compliance, and general ledger reporting. Additionally, a couple of operational team leads use administrative access to approve timesheets, track attendance, and monitor departmental PTO accruals.
    Read full review
    DocuSign
    I am going to speak of a personal experience- on multiple occasions: I need my husband to sign documents during the day and I don't need him here- physically. He sometimes works in different parts of the state as well at his own company. There is no problem at all, as long as he has access to his cell phone, email, and cell phone service- he can sign the documents I need him to. It is AMAZING- I can't speak highly enough of Docusign.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Adobe
    • For the business account, the Adobe Acrobat rep assigned to your account will actively look for ways to save you money.
    • We have found that our rep from Adobe Acrobat Business Account reviews our usage and related apps and has offered helpful tips on better ways to complete tasks we historically undertake with their software. They have saved us a great deal of time and money. They make us efficient.
    • The apps they offer that combine with the primary program are relevant to the tasks our business performs, and they function at a high level and never fail. It's really quite remarkable.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    DocuSign
    • Ease of sending the same document out to multiple recipients, at multiple locations, for multiple signatures
    • Quick turnaround - once the recipient signs the document, we receive notification and the document back immediately
    • Can resend, alter, change, and/or add to the email and/or document that is sent out very easily
    • The recipient can save the document after signing, so they too have their own electronic copy for their records
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Adobe
    • Fonts can default (but not always) if the designer doesn't perform due diligence before generating PDFs.
    • The one area Adobe Acrobat is not good at: generating PDFs straight from a website. The results are touch-and-go.
    • The basic nav controls take a little getting used to. What I initially expected to be in one spot could only be found elsewhere.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    DocuSign
    • Tracking, particularly when collecting signatures through connected applications, such as an ATS, is not always clean or easily traceable.
    • Formatting documents to handle electronic signature types (signatures, initials, etc.) is not always easy, and highly dependent on the partner's technology.
    • It is not convenient to have to use DocuSign as a stand alone product if the signatures are required for 3rd party applications. It definitely excels on its own, but the scope of that usage, at least for us, is slim.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Adobe
    Option 1: Cross-Departmental MixThe 12 Adobe Acrobat users in our organization represent several key business functions across operations:Legal & Compliance (3 users): Redact confidential information, review terms, and handle legally binding e-signatures for contracts.Finance (3 users): Consolidate financial statements, convert spreadsheets into secure PDFs, and process vendor invoices.Human Resources (2 users): Manage fillable onboarding paperwork, store confidential employee records, and distribute company policies.Sales (2 users): Send out client proposals, track service agreements, and capture executive signatures.Marketing (2 users): Review collateral proofs, combine media packages, and optimize PDF sizes for web distribution.
    Read full review
    DocuSign
    I can't imagine doing business without DocuSign now. I would never want to go back to the way we used to do things. The "new way" is "the way" is "the right way." We can honestly be proud of a "one right way" process and not have to suffer through "5 ways for 5 days."
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Adobe
    The features on the desktop version are all toolbar based, which makes it a little more cumbersome on a smaller device (and much simpler on a large screen). The web forms adjust well to different screen size so work well on mobile, tablet and computer
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    DocuSign
    Generally user-friendly once you have command of the basics, but also has a lot of nuances that can make it difficult to train others on. DocuSign University is a helpful tool, but understandably a lot of content to get through to become a well-versed user. A lot of different functionalities but only a few I use on a weekly basis.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Reliability and Availability
    Adobe
    We have not had availability issues with Adobe Acrobat, or at least none that I am personally aware of. Some may encounter crashes of the software during outages of electricity in their city or neighborhood, which no one can plan for, but with generators in our organization, we have been lucky not to have outages
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    DocuSign
    It does not go down. I have had zero issues with DocuSign, approaching 4 years.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Performance
    Adobe
    One of the best features of Adobe Acrobat is its speed and stability. When dealing with massive multi-page files, having to reload a crashed program over and over again would slow down progress unnecessarily. And expanding on that, having the table of contents generated allows me to skip to different pages with ease, a necessary feature with exceptionally long files. word searches are even more helpful with text recognition.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    DocuSign
    Everything loads quickly. Reports are generated in a reasonable time. No noticeable difference in integrated software processing speeds.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Adobe
    For a while, Acrobat DC crashed pretty frequently. I contacted Adobe Acrobat support about the problem. At first support was unable to provide a solution. After about a month Adobe's software engineers provided a fix. I just wish it had taken less than a month to solve the problem.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    DocuSign
    I'd give them a 10, but there has been 1 or 2 small cases that seemed to fall to the wayside, but I was able to call them up and get them resolved. We were having a bad implementation night (after midnight) and we needed assistance from Docusign. They were able to get an engineer to help us in the early morning hours
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Online Training
    Adobe
    Easy to follow and understand
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    DocuSign
    Docusign is super easy to use, and apart from a few administration details, there was really nothing to train on. Post implementation, there were issues with configuration of auto-filled documents with the integrating 3rd party. That training required some time, because the DocuSign expert took the time to walk me through the 3rd party's configuration (how often does that happen?) so I could see how DocuSign should be best used to overcome weaknesses in the 3rd party platform. 10/10 expert care.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Adobe
    I was not involved with the implementation process, so I cannot answer this question. However, when it was installed on my computer system, they did so virtually. I just sat there while they took control of my computer over the network and watch them install it, lickety split
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    DocuSign
    Until you get the hang of it, I recommend doing several internal tests before sending a document to a client. As I mentioned earlier, you have to go through a bit of trial and error at first to verify that the workflow works as expected.
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Adobe
    In my opinion, both complement each other. Microsoft clearly has with Copilot the AI Edge. However, the visual dynamics of Adobe Creative are Outstanding and provide a balanced approach to creativity, utilizing both Excellent, user-friendly Tools.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    DocuSign
    I would say that DocuSign's biggest competitor and a most similar product is Adobe Sign. They both offer almost identical features with Adobe offering a slightly better interface. Adobe Sign is also less costly than DocuSign while offering templates that can be useful for various activities. If you are looking for more branding options then Adobe offers a slight advantage but for corporate control, I would say DocuSign offers more security.
    Incentivized
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    Contract Terms and Pricing Model
    Adobe
    The only thing I can think of that may be helpful would be a more flexible tiered pricing options based on usage or document volume.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    DocuSign
    No answers on this topic
    Scalability
    Adobe
    I find that many users aren't aware of many features of the software they use, nor may they be comfortable with learning multiple-step processes. For the simplest of PDF purposes (scanning, downloading, exporting), it gets a thumbs-up. For anything involving electronic signatures, meh--causes eyes to glaze over, or forgetting what all is involved.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    DocuSign
    In my years of using DocuSign, I have never had an outage. I haven't even encountered a bug.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Adobe
    • Automation of contract offer generation enabled the HR team to reduce the time to process contracts by 97%.
    • The automated workflow is more accurate and decreased document errors by up to 90 percent.
    • The signature collecting process was cut from a minimum of 30 minutes to only 2 minutes.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    DocuSign
    • DocuSign has made fax machines obsolete for receiving, signing, and returning documents to multiple parties.
    • DocuSign is a secure method of signing documents and that is a positive. Fax machines are generally not very secure.
    • DocuSign stores your documents in an encrypted form which protects your privacy and the privacy of all parties named in a document.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    Adobe Acrobat Screenshots

    Screenshot of where to create, edit, convert, and share PDF files all from within Microsoft Teams – as part of Acrobat integrations with Microsoft 365 apps.Screenshot of Liquid Mode in Adobe Acrobat Reader mobile app, where users can read PDFs on phones and tablets without having to pinch and zoom. Navigate lengthy documents with intelligent outline and search tools, while maximizing readability and comfort with font size and line spacing that are adjustable.Screenshot of where to fill and sign PDF forms from anywhere and on any device. Here, users can collect signatures, digitally track progress, and automatically archive the signed document.Screenshot of the Adobe Scan mobile app, used to capture and convert documents into high-quality, interactive PDF documents that can be filled out, signed, and shared. This eliminates the hassle of finding a printer, filling a form by hand, and scanning it again.

    DocuSign Screenshots

    Product screenshotProduct screenshotProduct screenshot