A straightforward e-signature tool with a usable free tier, now operating under the Dropbox Sign brand.
HelloSign launched as an independent e-signature platform and was acquired by Dropbox in 2019. In 2022, Dropbox rebranded it as Dropbox Sign — a change that caused some confusion among existing users who had bookmarked the old domain or referenced it in documentation. The core product remains largely the same: a clean, browser-based tool for sending documents for signature without requiring the recipient to create an account.
The free plan allows three signature requests per month. For many freelancers — particularly those who work on longer retainer arrangements or send contracts infrequently — three documents per month is genuinely sufficient. You can send a contract, receive a signed copy, and download the completed document with an audit trail, all without paying anything. The limit resets monthly, so if your workflow involves one or two contracts per month, the free tier covers you entirely.
You upload a document (PDF or Word), drag and drop signature fields onto the relevant pages, enter the recipient's email address, and send. The recipient receives an email with a link, clicks through to a browser-based signing interface, and signs without needing to register. Once signed, both parties receive a copy. The process is smooth and requires minimal explanation to clients who haven't used it before.
Template creation is available on paid plans, which lets you save a document structure and reuse it without re-uploading each time. The audit trail is included on all plans — it records timestamps, IP addresses, and email verification for each signing event. This is useful if a contract is ever disputed, as it provides a documented record of when and where the document was signed.
The Dropbox integration allows you to pull documents directly from your Dropbox storage and save completed contracts back automatically. Whether this adds value depends on whether you already use Dropbox. If you don't, it's irrelevant. If you do, it removes a manual download-and-upload step. It's a convenience feature rather than a core reason to choose the platform.
For solo freelancers, Dropbox Sign is a more practical choice than DocuSign in most cases. DocuSign carries more brand recognition with corporate clients, but for small business and individual client work, the signing experience is comparable. Dropbox Sign's free tier is more generous than DocuSign's, and the interface is less cluttered. The main reason to choose DocuSign over Dropbox Sign is if your clients specifically request it or if you're working with enterprise procurement teams that have DocuSign built into their vendor onboarding process.