PandaDoc vs DocuSign: which is best?

Guides
August 21, 2022
min

Businesses are finally departing from wet ink signatures and physical documents. But what are they moving on to? Well, there are plenty of contract tools on the market that make electronic signing simple. So which tools are best? 

In this deep-dive we’ll be comparing two of the larger players, DocuSign vs PandaDoc, across nine different categories:

  • Feature set 
  • Ease of use
  • Security
  • Customization
  • Integrations
  • Device accessibility
  • Pricing
  • Customer support

To do this, we’ve compiled data from an independent review site, G2 where thousands of users of the two platforms have had their say. We’ve also reviewed each platform’s pricing plans and vendor packages to discover which tool is best for you.

While both PandaDoc and DocuSign are great solutions for eSigning, neither provide the full set of features legal and business teams need to manage contracts as they scale. Only all-in-one contract tools like Juro can streamline the entire contract process from end to end. 

Juro is the #1-rated contract platform for ease of setup and quality of support, according to independent reviews - and its all-in-one contract automation platform includes secure, native eSignature as standard. Hit the button below to find out more, or read on to learn more about the features of PandaDoc and DocuSign. 

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What is PandaDoc?

PandaDoc is a cloud-based proposal management tool that was founded in 2013. PandaDoc users can create, sign and manage sales agreements using the platform. This makes it an effective tool for sales teams that want to streamline the creation of sales proposals and other collateral. But more on that later.

What is DocuSign?

DocuSign is one of the most reputable electronic signature tools on the market. It enables users to quickly upload and send contracts out for signing using any device.

Unlike its sister tool, DocuSign CLM, DocuSign is not designed to cover the entire contract workflow, only the signing process. This is interesting since it means there are some stark differences between the two contract tools

Now that we’ve been briefly introduced to the two platforms, it’s time to dive into the details, starting with their features. 

PandaDoc vs DocuSign: which is the best option?

✍️ Features  

One of the biggest differences between PandaDoc vs DocuSign is the feature gap between the two platforms. While DocuSign’s electronic signature tool focuses on providing a great signing experience, PandaDoc offers a wider range of features.

While DocuSign and other eSignature providers (like HelloSign, SignRequest and Adobe Sign) expect users to build their contracts and sales documents in external editors like Word, PandaDoc has a native document editor. This means that, similar to how contracts are built in Juro, users can generate contracts using templates and drag and drop fields. 

PandaDoc’s content library is yet another feature that DocuSign is missing, as well as post-signature contract tracking functionality. 

However, many of the features that PandaDoc users do rave about are locked behind more expensive plans. Multiple independent reviews on G2 describe how the content library, for example, falls out of their budget range. 

This means that while PandaDoc’s feature range is expansive, many of these remain inaccessible to legal and business teams in smaller businesses.

But DocuSign isn’t necessarily better, as various independent reviews from G2 suggest that DocuSign users are missing broader contract management features. This is unsurprising since DocuSign is an electronic signature tool, not an all-in-one contract management system

PandaDoc reviews

“A step ahead from Docusign in terms of collaboration and document creation”
“I am a convert from DocuSign! (And I loved Docusign!) What I appreciate about PandaDoc is that there is a content library”
“I want to unlock some of the other features, but if I want to use some of the add-on features such as the content library, I need to upgrade my subscription”

DocuSign reviews 

“DocuSign delivers on its promises. It offers a user-friendly interface and better features”
“Would like more document/contract management features”
“It doesn't allow for collaboration or to build a contract”

PandaDoc vs DocuSign: which tool has the best features?

As far as features are concerned, both PandaDoc and DocuSign have a great set. 

However, if you’re seeking a more comprehensive contract tool that helps to manage and streamline your entire contract lifecycle, DocuSign’s features won’t be enough. Instead, you’ll want an all-in-one contract automation tool like Juro, or even PandaDoc if your main focus is managing sales proposals. 

👍 Ease of use 

Both PandaDoc and DocuSign are relatively easy to use. Both platforms have a user-friendly interface and can be used to manage simple workflows. DocuSign and PandaDoc have also both been praised for speeding up an otherwise manual and time-consuming process. 

However, some aspects of PandaDoc are slightly more confusing and less intuitive, according to G2 reviews. For example, some users have described how certain features are buried within the platform and hard to find, like formatting options. 

Independent reviews have also suggested that formatting within the platform isn’t as straightforward as they would like. This is problematic since, as the review below explains, it can be time-consuming to resolve these problems. 

This isn’t ideal for businesses that want to create beautifully formatted contracts with ease, which other tools like Juro enable them to do. 

PandaDoc reviews 

“So easy to use, it doesn't take me long to create documents I need e-signed”
“The boxes and formatting aren't user friendly. It ends up taking up extra time just to format the contract”
“The form builder is very easy to use”

DocuSign reviews 

“The system's smooth operation and intuitive user interface make it easy to use, even for those unfamiliar with technology”
“I like using DocuSign to sign documents online because it's quick and easy”
“DocuSign is easy to use - precisely what you want from this service”

PandaDoc vs DocuSign: which tool is easiest to use?

When comparing PandaDoc vs DocuSign based on ease of use, it’s important to remember that one tool does more than the other. 

DocuSign is naturally easier to use since it performs more simple functions. Meanwhile, PandaDoc’s more advanced features might be slightly harder to use, as they address more complex requirements.

But you shouldn’t have to sacrifice ease of use for functionality. Juro offers all of the features you need to create, review, negotiate, approve, sign and manage contracts, but is still renowned for its ease of use. 

When deciding between DocuSign and PandaDoc, consider which features you need and how easily you need to be able to access these. 

Juro's rich-text contract editor makes it easy to create contracts people actually want to sign. Click the image above to find out more.

🔒 Security 

Security is important, particularly when managing contracts which contain personal data or highly confidential information. Fortunately, both PandaDocu and DocuSign are secure platforms to sign contracts within.

DocuSign is renowned for its security, and it has plenty of security resources available for customers. They are fully compliant with US, EU and global security standards, as expected. The same is true for PandaDoc, too. 

Neither platform’s customers have expressed privacy or security-related concerns within independent G2 reviews. 

PandaDoc reviews 

“We chose pandadoc for its ability to collect secure signatures and payment information”
“It also allows me to send out an encrypted contract rather than a non-encrypted pdf attachment to an email and so meets our new digital security requirements”
“It is effective, fast and provides security. It gives clients peace of mind”

DocuSign reviews 

“DocuSign has great security features and an impressive integrations feature which makes the program easier to use in multiple capacities”
“From API's to security, you can be confident in DocuSign's ability to achieve whatever your business needs from a documentation perspective”
“Though a steep price is attached, the features and security it offers are worth the investment”

PandaDoc vs DocuSign: which tool is most secure? 

Deciding between DocuSign vs PandaDoc in terms of security is tough. Both platforms offer a secure way to send and sign legal documents - just like Juro. 

🎨 Customization 

According to some independent G2 reviews, PandaDoc has a lot of customization options for proposals and sales contracts. PandaDoc users can format their text, set up personal branding and create cover pages for their documents. This ability to customize documents is perfect for businesses that want to add a personal touch to their contracts. 

However, other PandaDoc users have also criticized the lack of customization that’s possible within the platform, or how clunky the customization options are. Clearly, PandaDoc offers enough customization for some customers, but not all. 

DocuSign enables its users to edit the colours, logos and buttons on documents to provide a more personalized signing experience. Like PandaDoc, you can also add custom branding to your documents and workflow. 

However, it’s important to remember that DocuSign isn’t a rich-text editor, so you will naturally have fewer opportunities to customize the contents of your contract. 

PandaDoc reviews 

“Lots of customization options for agreements”
“It does not offer the same level of advanced document editing or customization flexibility as Microsoft Word or Google Docs”
“The customization of things is a bit clunky at times”

DocuSign reviews 

“The only frustrating thing here was just the customization of appearance. I had some difficulty matching the appearance of forms with our brand appearance”
“I like that I can so easily customize the fields I am sending over to my prospects”
“The most helpful feature is the level of control, you can customize most aspects of the process and create templates to reuse for your most common documents”

PandaDoc vs DocuSign: which tool is more customizable? 

DocuSign has many of the same customization features as other eSignature tools like Adobe Sign and Adobe Sign alternatives

However, as we discussed in our comparison of DocuSign and Adobe Sign, DocuSign users will pay slightly more for the full customization features than users of most other eSignature tools. This is because they are slightly more advanced. 

However, since PandaDoc has a text editor like Juro, it’s naturally better for editing contracts and customizing contracts than DocuSign. This is because the platform seeks to deliver value at all stages of the contract lifecycle, rather than just at the signing phase.  

But what works best for you will depend on your specific needs. If you’re only looking to customize the signing workflow, DocuSign could be a great choice.

However, if you want to have greater control over contract customization in the pre-signature stages of the contract workflow, an end-to-end contract solution will be most suitable. 

For example, tools like Juro provide a friction-free and user-friendly way to customize your contracts, with drag and drop smartfields, and an editor designed specifically for contracts. 

Juro's rich-text editor makes contract creation frictionless. Click the image above to try it for yourself.

🔗 Integrations 

When it comes to integrations, PandaDoc has a large variety to choose from. PandaDoc integrates with Slack, Monday.com, Zoom, Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Word, Canva, Pipedrive, Hubspot and plenty more. This makes it a great option for businesses that want to manage contracts in the platforms they love. 

However, it seems that the PandaDoc integrations aren’t all perfect, as some independent G2 reviews of the platform say that the integrations haven’t been as smooth as they would like, or that the data can be pulled in incorrectly sometimes. 

Multiple independent reviews of PandaDoc have also mentioned that they’re put off by the price of the integrations, as it increases considerably when you add them on. 

When it comes to DocuSign, users have a good variety of integrations to choose from, including but not limited to Zoom, Salesforce, Oracle, Microsoft, Workday and Apple. However, many of these integrations are locked behind the more expensive ‘Business Pro’ plan that DocuSign offers. 

However, like PandaDoc users, DocuSign users have also expressed that there can sometimes be issues with the integrations available. This means that both platforms are fairly even when it comes to integrations. 

PandaDoc reviews 

“Pandadoc offers a lot integrations with other tools, and the Google Workspace tools”
“I dislike that you have to pay a significant amount more to have access to the automation integrations”
“Sometimes the integrations don't do so well in pulling information from certain software. This can get annoying from time to time as it takes more time to do everything manually”

DocuSign reviews 

“This platform supports integration with all customer management systems”
“The integration of DocuSign with company proprietary and other supported systems/software is best in class”
“Sometimes the integration between Salesforce and DocuSign isn't clear and can occasionally cause problems”

PandaDoc vs DocuSign: which tool has the best integrations? 

As discussed previously, when it comes to integrations, PandaDoc and DocuSign are fairly even. They have a wide range of integrations, but users do occasionally experience problems with these. 

What’s most important is to decide exactly which integrations matter most to your business. Both integrate with a large number of other software solutions, but this isn’t helpful if they don’t integrate with the ones you use. 

We recommend understanding which tools you’d benefit most from integrating with PandaDoc or DocuSign and then assessing which tool serves these best.

📱 Device accessibility

Both PandaDoc and DocuSign can be accessed using various different devices, including mobile. This is a huge advantage for both platforms since it enables customers and their counterparties to view and sign contracts using their phones. 

According to independent reviews of DocuSign on G2, users find the mobile signing experience to be a positive one. It’s described as ‘easy to use’ and is a great way to get contract signed quickly. This is great because many DocuSign alternatives don’t offer the same frictionless experience on mobile devices. 

PandaDoc’s mobile version of the tool has also been praised in independent reviews for making the process easier and more convenient.

However, a few customers have expressed that the mobile version of the tool could use a lot of improvements as it’s difficult to edit contracts on mobile and is often slow to use. 

PandaDoc reviews 

“I can close multiple deals with just a mobile device”
“Customers can receive documents on the go and respond directly from their mobile device”
“I can access the system from any device (Mac, PC, phone, or tablet) and even create proposals while sitting with the customer”

DocuSign reviews 

“Clients are easily able to view the envelope, see where they are to sign, and sign from their phone (or any mobile device)”
“The mobile app could use a lot of improvements - I can't edit everything to the extent needed when on a mobile device”
“It’s impressive that I can sign documents anywhere and on any device, including my phone”

PandaDoc vs DocuSign: which tool is more accessible on different devices? 

Based on independent reviews, it would be fair to say that DocuSign provides a better experience for users on different devices. This is because PandaDoc’s mobile version can be slow and lacks many of the features available on desktop. 

💰 Pricing 

DocuSign’s personal plans for individuals start from $10 per month and enable users to send five documents out for signing each month, with access to basic reports and workflows. 

Their standard plan starts from $25 per user per month and is designed for small to medium teams. This provides the basic functionality required to send and sign contracts. It also includes access to Dropbox and Google Drive integrations, too. 

Their business pro plan is where most of the more advanced features live. This starts from $40 per user per month and includes access to more integrations, customized branding, payment collection, and more. 

Meanwhile, PandaDoc’s cheapest plan is its free plan. Under this plan, users can upload as many documents as they’d like and send all of these out for eSigning. However, this version doesn’t offer much else. 

PandaDoc’s second most affordable plan is their essentials plan which starts from $19 per user per month. Unlike the free plan, this also includes pricing tables, templates, and document analytics. However, many of the best features are still excluded. 

PandaDoc’s most popular plan is its business plan, which starts at $49 per user per month. It offers everything in the other plans but also includes access to the content library, custom branding, approval workflows, and some integrations. 

Lastly, they have an enterprise plan which includes access to the Salesforce integration and much more. This doesn’t have a set price as companies will need to enquire about the price for this plan. 

PandaDoc reviews 

“The price point for the next level up subscription is a bit high for me”
“The price is much more feasible for our small non-profit than competitors”
“To be honest, the only thing I don't like is the price. If it were more affordable, I would have user access set up for every salesperson”

DocuSign reviews 

“I think they should bring a more fair pricing plan for those who need to sign or collect signatures occasionally”
“It is very expensive for companies. They should review their pricing because it's way too much”

PandaDoc vs DocuSign: which tool is the cheapest? 

Both PandaDoc and DocuSign have fairly similar pricing models. 

However, PandaDoc offers a free platform to send an unlimited number of contracts out for signing, which DocuSign does not. This means that PandaDoc’s free plan is the most affordable for those that just want to sign contracts and do nothing more. 

However, PandaDoc’s paid plans are slightly more expensive than those offered by DocuSign. This does make sense when you consider that PandaDoc does more than just enable users to electronically sign and send documents. 

What’s cheapest will depend on exactly what you need the tool to do, as many features are locked behind more expensive plans for both platforms.

💬 Customer support 

According to both PandaDoc and DocuSign reviews on G2, users have a mixed bag of experiences. While some users praise the quality and speed of the support they receive, others appear extremely disappointed with it. 

The best way to compare them, therefore, is based on the platforms they provide their customer support through. 

Both platforms offer a wide range of resources to help users with the platform. This includes video content and live training. Both platforms also offer customer support via email and through the online chat option. However, PandaDoc doesn’t offer the support over the phone, which DocuSign does.

PandaDoc reviews 

“No phone support, only expert advice or through chat, but it works”
“Their customer service is abysmal. Once you are a customer, forget customer support responses to anything”
“Their chat support is excellent; prompt response and thorough solutions”

DocuSign reviews 

“Customer Service is not good at all. Representatives are not knowledgeable and all they seem to care is about selling the membership or upgrading it”
“The customer support is not good at all, at least for the time I was using it”
“The customer service team has been extremely helpful in resolving any problems we have encountered”

PandaDoc vs DocuSign: which tool has the best customer support?

As we’ve just seen, both PandaDoc and DocuSign have been praised and criticized for their customer support.

Both platforms provide support to their customers over email and through online chats, but only DocuSign offers customer support over the phone. This makes DocuSign the better option for businesses that want to receive this level of support. 

Juro, by comparison, offers access to customer support managers and provides support over the phone. This means Juro consistently outperforms its competitors for quality of support on review sites like G2 and Capterra

PandaDoc vs DocuSign: What’s best for your business overall?

Both PandaDoc and DocuSign are great platforms, but they are also different platforms with different features. When deciding between PandaDoc and DocuSign, it’s important to consider a few different things. 

For example, consider whether you want to create and manage contracts, or just sign them. If you’re just looking for a basic eSignature solution, DocuSign can be great. However, if you’re seeking a more rounded solution, a tool like Juro or PandaDoc could suit you best. 

You might also want to consider which integrations will benefit you most. Both PandaDoc and DocuSign offer a variety of integrations, but are they ones you actually need? And if they are, are they locked behind more expensive plans with certain providers? 

It’s also worth considering what types of documents you’ll be managing and what you need to do with them. If you’re managing sales proposals from start to finish, PandaDoc is a fantastic choice.

If you’re a large business signing all types of documents, DocuSign works well. However, if you’re looking for a better way to manage legal agreements and business contracts, Juro will be your best bet. 

All of this is important to consider when selecting the best tool for your business. 

Want to do more than just sign PDFs?

Juro’s all-in-one contract automation tool that enables your team to streamline the creation, execution and management of legal contracts at scale. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, fill in the form below to hear back from a member of our team. 

Frequently asked questions

Is PandaDoc the same as DocuSign?

While PandaDoc and DocuSign both offer basic eSignature functionality, PandaDoc is not the same as DocuSign. PandaDoc offers a wide range of the features required to manage documents as well as signing them. DocuSign does not.

Does Pandadoc integrate with DocuSign?

It is possible to integrate PandaDoc with DocuSign through Zapier.

Are PandaDoc's signatures legally binding?

Yes, PandaDoc's electronic signatures are legally binding, just like those offered by most DocuSign alternatives.

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