Why Small Businesses Are Ditching eSignature Subscriptions (And What They're Using Instead)

Most small businesses don't need to send 500 contracts a month. So why are they paying for tools priced like they do?

DocuSign's entry plan runs around $15–$20 per month per user. Adobe Sign starts higher. If you're a freelancer closing four deals a month, or an agency sending contracts seasonally, you're spending $180–$240 a year minimum — for a tool that sits idle most of the time. That's the subscription trap, and it catches a lot of people who just need a simple way to sign contracts without a monthly fee. GoodSign was built specifically to solve this problem: $1.50 per envelope, no subscription, no user limits.

The Real Cost of Subscription-Based eSignature Tools

Let's be honest about what you're actually buying with DocuSign or Adobe Sign.

You're paying for a seat license, whether you use it or not. Add a second team member who occasionally needs to send contracts? That's another seat. Need to onboard a seasonal contractor? Another seat. The per-user model sounds reasonable until you realise you're paying for access, not usage.

Here's what that looks like in practice:

• Freelancer sending 6 contracts/month — DocuSign Basic: ~$180/year. Actual cost per envelope if you only send 72 all year: $2.50+
• Small agency with 3 users, 10 envelopes/month — DocuSign Business Pro (3 seats): ~$540–$720/year
• Seasonal business sending 20 contracts in Q4, almost nothing otherwise — You're paying 12 months for 3 months of actual activity

The subscription model was designed for enterprises with predictable, high-volume workflows. It wasn't designed for how most small businesses actually operate.

What Pay-Per-Use Actually Looks Like

An electronic signature with no subscription works exactly the way it sounds: you pay when you send, not when you don't.

With a pay-per-use model, you buy credits and spend them only when you need them. GoodSign uses a simple credit system through Stripe, with optional auto-top-up so you never get caught short before a deadline. Send one contract this week, nothing for three weeks, then a batch of five — your cost reflects your actual usage, not a flat monthly fee regardless.

Run the same numbers under a pay-per-use model:

• Freelancer, 72 envelopes/year — $108 total. Saves ~$72 compared to the cheapest DocuSign plan
• Agency, 3 users, 120 envelopes/year — $180 total. Saves $360–$540 compared to a 3-seat subscription
• Seasonal business, 20 envelopes in Q4 — $30 total. Full stop.

And critically — there are no user limits. Your whole team can send contracts under one account without triggering extra seat charges.

Speed Matters More Than You Think

Switching to a leaner tool doesn't mean accepting slower results.

65.3% of documents sent through GoodSign are signed within 24 hours. That stat matters because one of the main reasons businesses stick with big-name tools is the assumption that brand recognition means faster compliance from signers. In practice, what drives fast signing is a clean, mobile-friendly experience — not a DocuSign logo.

Fast turnaround reduces the friction in your sales process, your onboarding, your hiring. A contract that sits unsigned for four days is a deal that might not close. A contract signed by tomorrow morning keeps your project moving.

Who This Model Actually Works For

Pay-per-use eSignature for small business isn't just about saving money — it's about matching your tools to your reality.

It works particularly well if you're:

• A freelancer or solo operator who signs contracts inconsistently throughout the year
• A small agency managing multiple client contracts without wanting per-seat pricing
• A growing business that needs flexibility without committing to an annual plan
• A seasonal business where contract volume spikes for a few months, then drops

The subscription model punishes this kind of variable usage. A credit-based model rewards it.

The Simplicity Argument

There's something else worth saying: simpler tools get used.

When eSignature software is buried inside a platform built for enterprise compliance teams, people find