18 rules in 5 groups, worth 100 points in all. They were set before any product was scored and apply the same way to all 9.
Version 1, published 8 Oct 2026
In short
Each rule is a yes-or-no fact, a list (such as the systems with an app) or a number with published thresholds, read from the vendor's own pages.
A fact the vendor does not publish earns nothing. A feature in beta or preview does not count.
The list follows the points. A tie goes to the lower price on "cheapest paid plan", then to the name.
Web-based e-signature services for individuals and small teams. Every one works in a Windows browser. Each rule says which plan it counts; where it says the cheapest paid plan, that is one person's plan and enterprise-only plans are ignored. Euro prices are converted to US dollars. Form builders, PDF editors with a signing add-on and quote-only products are left out.
Signing 20 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Reusable templates
The cheapest paid plan for one person lets you save a document with its signature fields as a template and reuse it.
6
Bulk send
The same document can be sent to many separate signers in one step, on at least one plan listed with a public price.
4
Signing order
You can set the order in which several signers receive and sign a document, on at least one plan listed with a public price.
3
Collect payment while signing
A signer can pay inside the signing flow, on at least one plan listed with a public price. Payment links sent separately do not count.
3
Audit trail on every document
The vendor says every signed document comes with a time-stamped audit trail or certificate of completion on the cheapest paid plan.
4
Legal strength 20 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Highest eIDAS signature level
The highest EU eIDAS signature level a vendor page says it offers on any plan listed with a public price, as an add-on or not: qualified (QES) 12 points, advanced (AES) 8, simple 3. A vendor that names eIDAS or says its signatures comply with it but names no level counts as simple. A vendor that never mentions eIDAS records null.
12
Signer ID check
The vendor documents a way to check a signer's identity beyond email, such as a government ID check or knowledge-based questions, included in a plan listed with a public price or sold as an add-on to one (the add-on may be priced by quote). A code sent by SMS or email does not count.
5
US ESIGN and UETA named
A vendor legal or help page states that its signatures meet the US ESIGN Act and UETA.
3
Security 19 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001
The vendor names a SOC 2 Type II report or an ISO/IEC 27001 certification for this product or the company running it.
8
Single sign-on (SSO)
Sign-in through SAML or an identity provider is documented on a vendor page, on at least one plan, enterprise plans included.
5
Two-factor sign-in
The vendor documents two-step verification for account sign-in on at least one plan listed with a public price.
3
Open source
The source code of the signing software is public under an open-source licence.
3
Connections 15 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Public API
The vendor publishes API documentation for sending documents for signature, and the API can be bought on a plan or add-on with a public price or a free tier.
7
Storage and automation links
A vendor page lists a built-in link or official app for each one. Each earns 1 point.
4
Mobile apps
An official app in the Apple App Store or Google Play for sending and signing. Each earns 2 points.
4
Price and limits 26 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Free plan
A plan that costs nothing and has no time limit, and lets you send at least one document to another person for signature. A trial or a signing-only free tier does not count.
8
Documents a month on the cheapest paid plan
How many documents or envelopes one person can send each month on the cheapest paid plan. A yearly allowance is divided by 12 without rounding (100 a year is 8.3 a month). A plan the vendor lists as unlimited or with no cap counts as 100. 100 or more earns 8 points, 25 or more 6, 10 or more 4, 5 or more 2.
8
Cheapest paid plan
The cheapest paid plan for one person that sends documents for signature, in US dollars a month, billed yearly, at its regular price (if a plan is only sold monthly, use the monthly price). A product with no paid plan counts as $0. $10 or less earns 10 points, $15 or less 8, $20 or less 6, $30 or less 4, $50 or less 2.