E-signature software overview

E-signature software allows users to receive, sign, and send documents virtually, eliminating the need for physical distribution. Sending a contract or another document requiring electronic signatures becomes even more convenient when one can ensure that those documents are shared and stored securely. Aside from the paperless work environment that e-signature software helps create, the tool also alleviates the burden of waiting for the recipient to sign and send the contract without confirming if the document has been received or sent. According to the Electronic Signature & Records Association, it can be a sound, symbol, or process. E-signatures can be captured on a computer, tablet, or mobile device. They verify and validate the intentions of the signer while also providing records retention. Since signing and tracking documents on the go can be convenient or perhaps a necessity, e-signature providers continue to add greater functionality to their products through native iOS, Windows, Android apps, or mobile browsers. The highest-rated e-signature platforms for distributed teams tend to pair mobile signing with real-time status tracking and automated reminders, features that reviewers in multi-region organizations cite most often when explaining why they maintained or increased their subscription. E-signature software provides users with an efficient alternative to the traditional methods of preparing, sending, signing, and verifying documents, agreements, and contracts. It provides an enhanced customer experience, improved workflow efficiencies, and an effective method to stand up to legal muster. Buyers comparing options often look for a legal transaction software e-signature audit trail, since a tamper-evident record is a baseline requirement in regulated industries such as banking, insurance, and legal services. Based on G2 reviews, Sales teams, HR teams, Legal teams, and Property management professionals evaluate e-signature software by comparing audit trail completeness, multi-signer workflow flexibility, device compatibility, and pricing structure at scale. Nevertheless, due to the sensitivity of the documents exchanged and signed with an electronic signature solution, most products adhere to strict industry standards for authenticity, security, and encryption. Enterprise e-signature platforms evaluated for performance stability under high traffic volumes are also assessed by reviewers on uptime consistency, advanced workflow throughput, and whether enterprise tiers include bulk sending and conditional routing without degrading speed, criteria that matter most to procurement, legal, and financial services teams processing large document volumes. Some e-signature solutions come equipped (or facilitate the integration) with solutions that offer e-notary functionality. While both solutions support the data integrity of sensitive documents, electronic notarization goes beyond encrypting and securing electronic signatures. Both solutions support sharing and storing documents, but document generation further allows users to create complex document types, including text-based and graphics. Additionally, many e-signature products offer out-of-the-box integration with popular CRM or document management tools. Integrating an e-signature product with the user's CRM software or content management system can make the contract signing process more efficient and easier to manage.

Who uses e-signature software?

Given the vast applicability e-signatures offer to businesses, a wide variety of stakeholder groups use this software. Below are a few examples: Sales teams: E-signature software assists sales teams in quickly sending sales agreements, purchase orders, or contracts to vendors and increases the efficiency of the signing process. Sales professionals are tasked daily with communicating with prospective clients and sharing sensitive sales contract documents. HR teams: E-signature software allows human resource professionals to efficiently interact with potential employees by sharing, reviewing, and receiving employment offers and other HR documents directly with the prospect. HR professionals can easily send documentation to potential employees with e-signature platforms and track where potential employees are in the signing process. Legal teams: Legal professionals constantly send and receive legal documents. E-signature software allows legal teams to effectively access the plethora of documents they regularly require to take action and tailor them accordingly. Property management professionals: Real estate and property management professionals are tasked with sending, reviewing, and receiving several different types of documents daily to perform their duties. This software allows property management workers to quickly send lease agreements, among other industry-relevant documents, to current or future tenants and track the tenant’s progress in signing documents. Procurement and supply chain teams: Among their responsibilities, supply chain professionals are consistently tasked with reviewing and signing documents such as contracts, licenses, and purchase agreements. E-signature solutions enable supply chain professionals to streamline their contract management processes and consolidate all document signing activities to one location. Insurance professionals: Insurance professionals are constantly tasked with providing customers with applications, insurance claims, and renewals, among other documents, which can be inconvenient to deliver and receive in physical forms. E-signature software enables insurance workers to quickly provide their customers with digital copies to expedite the document signing process and ensure that customers are adequately protected. Financial services: In the financial services sector, workers are required to review agreements or financial documents regularly. These tools allow finance workers to easily review and sign documents in a remote setting, including on a mobile device, which helps them streamline the process for what can be complex financial deals. Financial services professionals must adhere to various industry regulations, and e-signature software ensures compliance, saving workers time and resources.

What are the types of e-signature software?

There are three main types of e-signature software. They are: Simple electronic signatures (SES): SESs are the most basic type of e-signature. They include a scanned image of a handwritten signature, a checkbox, or a typed name at the end of an electronic document. They are often considered less secure compared to the other types since they don’t provide a strong level of authentication or verification of the signer’s identity. SESs are not legally binding as they provide little to no protection against fraud. However, they may be used across various low-security signing scenarios. Advanced electronic signatures (AES): AESs are more secure than simple e-signatures and have additional features to enhance the authentication and integrity of the signed electronic document. They incorporate cryptographic techniques that help secure the signer’s identity and may use digital certificates, biometrics, or other advanced authentication methods. Many countries recognize them as legally binding. Qualified electronic signatures (QES): QESs are the highest level of e-signature in terms of security and legal standing. They meet the regulatory requirements and standards set by authorities in various jurisdictions. QESs typically involve stringent authentication procedures and may even require the use of secure signature creation devices (SSCDs) such as USB tokens or smart cards. They are widely recognized as an equivalent to handwritten signatures and are used for transactions that require a high level of trust and security.

Page 4 | Best E-Signature Software: User Reviews from September 2026

PDF Architect

PDF Architect is a versatile PDF editing and document management solution developed by pdfforge, a subsidiary of Avanquest Software. This software is specifically designed to assist business professionals and teams in their daily workflows by providing tools to create, edit, convert, secure, review, and sign PDF documents. It caters to a wide range of users, from individual professionals to larger teams, enabling them to manage their documents efficiently and effectively. The software encompasses the entire document lifecycle within a single desktop application for Windows, making it a comprehensive tool for any organization that relies heavily on PDF files. PDF Architect’s key features include the ability to edit and create PDFs by modifying text and layout directly. Users can also convert PDFs into various formats such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML, or image formats without compromising the original structure. This functionality is particularly beneficial for professionals who need to repurpose content or collaborate with colleagues who may not use PDF formats. Collaboration is made seamless with PDF Architect’s review and annotation capabilities, allowing users to comment, annotate, and compare different versions of documents. This is essential for teams that require input from multiple stakeholders, ensuring that everyone can contribute to the document's development. Additionally, the software provides tools for creating fillable forms, which can be used for invoices, surveys, and other data collection purposes, enhancing the overall functionality of the application. Security features are also a significant aspect of PDF Architect, enabling users to encrypt documents, set permission levels, and apply legally binding digital signatures. These features are crucial for businesses that handle sensitive information and need to ensure compliance with legal standards. The inclusion of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) allows users to make scanned documents searchable and editable, further enhancing the software's utility. PDF Architect is available in three distinct plans to accommodate varying user needs. The free version allows for basic PDF viewing and creation, while the Professional plan offers advanced features such as editing, conversion, security, forms, OCR, and a limited number of e-signatures per year. The Business plan expands on this by providing unlimited e-signatures, making it ideal for organizations with high-volume signing requirements. The software also integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Office applications and operates fully offline, ensuring that users can work without internet dependency. With support for multiple languages, PDF Architect is accessible to a global audience, making it a practical choice for diverse teams.

Average Rating: 4.6/5.0

Total Reviews: 40

How Do G2 Users Rate PDF Architect?

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.5/10 (Category avg: 9.2/10)
Performance and Reliability: 6.7/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10)
Signature Document Creation: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 9.1/10)

Who Is the Company Behind PDF Architect?

Seller: Avanquest Software
Company Website:
Year Founded: 1984
HQ Location: Courbevoie, FR
LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
333 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership: Claranova Group

Who Uses This Product?

Top Industries: Architecture & Planning
Company Size: 84% Small, 5% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About PDF Architect?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros

Users appreciate the easy editing capabilities of PDF Architect, finding it intuitive and efficient for managing documents.
Users value the intuitive interface of PDF Architect, which significantly enhances efficiency and simplifies document tasks.
Users appreciate the affordable PDF editing capabilities of PDF Architect, enhancing productivity and simplifying document management tasks.
Users commend the easy setup of PDF Architect, enabling quick start and efficient editing of PDF files.
Users appreciate the easy form filling capability of PDF Architect, making document management and editing seamless and efficient.

Cons

Users report difficult editing experiences due to slowness and glitches, making the software frustrating to use.
Users find PDF Architect not user-friendly, citing slow performance and complicated initial setup that frustrates their experience.
Users find the constant upgrade requests for PDF Architect to be quite irritating and disruptive to their experience.
Users face client difficulties with PDF Architect's installation and update management in business environments.
Users highlight the compatibility issues with IT, suggesting improvements for smoother integration in business environments.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of PDF Architect?

"Fast, comprehensive, and affordable: a PDF tool well integrated with Windows and OneDrive"

Rating: 4.0/5.0 stars

— Laurent G.

Best E-Signature Software - Page 4

How Many E-Signature Software Products Does G2 Track?

Category Stats (Sep 2026)

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G2 Grid® for E-Signature Software

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