Comparison
ihatesignature vs SignWell: which do you actually need?
SignWell is an electronic signature platform built around sending documents to other people for signature — preparation, sending, reminders, tracking and a completed-document audit trail. If your problem is coordinating signatures across several parties, that is exactly the problem it solves, and a browser tool does not replace it.
Credit where it is due
Where SignWell is the better choice
- Sending a document to one or many signers, with reminders and progress tracking
- Templates and reusable workflows for documents you send repeatedly
- An audit trail and completion certificate for each executed document
- Integrations and an API for embedding signing into another product
- A free tier that covers occasional use before you need to pay
Where this tool fits
Where ihatesignature is the better choice
- Your document is never uploaded, so there is no third-party copy to retain or lose
- No account, no trial, no per-document cap on signing your own documents
- Works after the page has loaded, including where connectivity is unreliable
- Covers the documents you sign yourself — which is most of what a small practice signs
The short answer
Choose SignWell when other people need to sign and you need evidence of the process. Choose this when you are the one signing and you would rather the document never left your device.
Side by side
ihatesignature compared with SignWell
Both options produce a legally valid electronic signature. The difference is what happens to the document — and which parts of the job each one is actually built for.
| Feature | ihatesignature | SignWell |
|---|---|---|
| Your document stays on your device | Yes — nothing is transmitted | No — documents are stored in their cloud |
| Account required | No | Yes |
| Cost to sign your own documents | Free, no caps | Free tier is capped per month |
| Works with unreliable connectivity | Yes, once the page has loaded | No — needs a round-trip to the server |
| Send a document to others to sign | No — you sign your own documents | Yes — their core purpose |
| Audit trail and completion certificate | No — you retain the executed file | Yes |
| Templates, reminders and team seats | No | Yes |
| API and third-party integrations | No | Yes |
| Typical entry cost | Free | Free tier with a monthly document cap, then paid per-user plans |
Pricing and plan limits change frequently, so treat the cost figures as indicative and check the vendor's own page before relying on them. Everything else in this table describes capabilities, which change far more slowly.
Keep going
Other comparisons
FAQ
SignWell and ihatesignature: questions
Does SignWell offer a free online signature tool?
Yes, SignWell publishes free browser tools for creating a signature, including a free online signature tool. The distinction that matters is where the document goes: creating a signature image can happen in the browser, but sending a document for signature necessarily puts that document on the vendor's servers, because that is how tracking and audit trails work.
Can I use SignWell and this tool together?
Yes, and for many people that is the sensible arrangement. Sign your own copies and internal documents here, and use SignWell when you genuinely need to send something out, collect signatures from several people, or produce an audit trail.
Is SignWell legally binding?
SignWell is an established platform and is generally used for legally binding electronic signatures under the ESIGN Act and comparable laws. So is a signature created here. Under ESIGN, legal effect does not depend on which tool produced the signature — it depends on intent to sign, attribution, and the ability to retain and reproduce the record.
What is the real difference between the two?
One is a workflow product and the other is a signing tool. SignWell coordinates signatures between people, which requires storing the document centrally. This tool signs a document you already have, and stores nothing, because there is no server in the path.
Do I need an audit trail?
Not always. Most contracts are evidenced by the executed document itself. An audit trail earns its cost when a signature is likely to be contested, when a client or regulator requires proof of the signing process, or when a compliance policy demands it. It is a real advantage of the paid platforms — just not one every document needs.