Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Adobe Acrobat
Score 8.8 out of 10
N/A
Adobe Acrobat DC is the current version of the well-established document / PDF management solution, part of the Adobe Document Cloud (the other part being Adobe's eSign services based on technology acquired with EchoSign in 2011).
$12.99
per month
DocuSign
Score 8.4 out of 10
N/A
DocuSign supports transactions with document sharing and electronic signature, as well as automated and guided data collection and entry, record updating across disparate systems and payment collection upon agreement, as well as analytics and reporting.
$15
per month
Pricing
Adobe AcrobatDocuSign
Editions & Modules
Acrobat Standard for Individuals
$12.99
per month
Acrobat Standard for teams
$14.99
per month per user
Acrobat Pro for Individuals
$19.99
per month
Acrobat Pro for Teams
$22.19
per month per user
Acrobat for Enterprise
Contact sales team
Personal
$15
per month
Real Starter
$15
per month
DocuSign for Realtors
$35
per month
Standard
$40
per month
Business Pro
$60
per month
Advanced Solutions
Custom Pricing
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Adobe AcrobatDocuSign
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
YesNo
Entry-level Setup FeeOptionalNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Adobe AcrobatDocuSign
Considered Both Products
Adobe Acrobat
Chose Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat, in my opinion, is the gold standard - the pioneer and household name for all things PDF.

However, in the last several years competitors have emerged who offer very similar functionality, solving the same problems as Adobe. Sometimes Adobe performs better, and in …

Chose Adobe Acrobat
The closest competitor to Adobe Acrobat that we've tried is DocuSign, HelloSign, and other document signing services. Now, DocuSign and the others aren't meant to replace Acrobat in the PDF editing arena, only for electronic signatures. I'd say DocuSign is comparable in that …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
I think the feature between DocuSign and Adobe Sign is most comparable. I think DocuSign allowed for more customizable options but users fell short of understanding navigation. Adobe Sign helps customize but some features and processes can be glitchy or blocked.
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Honestly, there really isn't anything equivalent. I've used Adobe's online PDF compressor in a pinch, DocuSign is great but I really don't feel we necessarily need it when Adobe Acrobat DC has all the functions it does, and sending Word documents to clients isn't a great look …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
ShareFile and rightsignature are HIPAA-compliant for securely sending/transferring PDF files and offer authenticated signing/reviewing trails. DocuSign can be used for signing and sending docs for signing. Adobe Acrobat DC is not as robust as any of these other platforms in …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
DocuSign is not as friendly or usable as Adobe Acrobat DC. It has severe limitations when it comes to displaying images or making any changes or edits (or recommending or changing any part of the PDF.) Sometimes I have been forced to use DocuSign by the vendor I am working …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat DC has been the go-to tool for our organization to handle all our PDF Documents. We use the document signing feature regularly and are very happy with its usage. we have used DocuSign in the past but the best results have been achieved by using Adobe Acrobat DC.
Chose Adobe Acrobat
I think that the ability to edit PDFs is a step above DocuSign, even though this is not really what DocuSign was made for. I've always stuck with Adobe Acrobat DC because I love the Adobe suite and the constant updates and improvements. I would not want to switch to anything …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
DocuSign has more features than Adobe Acrobat DC but it costs more and we don't need those features. HelloSign is not as robust as Adobe Acrobat DC. We have yet to use a program that we were as satisfied with the results of converting documents into PDF files as we are with …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
In comparison to DocuSign, Adobe Acrobat has more features and functionality. DocuSign is a great resource for collecting signatures outside of the company; however, Adobe Acrobat has been great for us inhouse.
Chose Adobe Acrobat
In the signature collection, I find DocuSign easier to use and more friendly. Also more known for this purpose.
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Overall, Adobe has a better reputation than Foxit PDF Editor; while many of my colleagues prefer the features of Foxit (over Adobe), Adobe remains more secure and provides our organization with a higher level of comfort. DocuSign is a great tool for requesting signatures on …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
The pricing structure is not as great with DocuSign than with Adobe Acrobat. It would be nice if the entire company could use Adobe Acrobat rather than everyone having different platforms. It would also be nice to have an account that multiple users can use without paying so …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Acrobat is overall, the superior PDF creator, editor and compiler. However, DocuSign is easier and more reliable as a document signing program. This tool is Acrobat is much harder to use and has caused some errors in documents in the past. It also does not work well with a …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
DocuSign has it's perks, for sure. DocuSign is easier to integrate into websites with extensions than Adobe Acrobat is but when it came down to it, we just didn't trust the brand. We felt that using a product with the Adobe name connected with it provided necessary peace of …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat is the master product for multiple project document management. It is great at merging various documents easily and is perfect for creating new PDF files. Reporting and communication strategies via Adobe Acrobat are excellent, and they allow effective team …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Being the industry standard, Adobe Acrobat exceeds other platforms as the common file format all parties can read and comment even with only the free reader version.
Chose Adobe Acrobat
They have a superior product that works better and more reliably when it comes to working with PDF files. Adobes' Achilles heel is the restrictions and requirements imposed on the user and software by their administrative and legal teams that drag down what otherwise is a …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Adobe has more features than the others and they are included in my Adobe software. No other integrations needed
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Adobe stands out because it is a program on your computer, so you can easily upload or save documents rather than using a website that always adds an extra step.
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat DC is more fully self-contained and multi-functional for the tasks I use it for. Again it combines the functionality of several different programs in one place and also offers the ability to interact with documents from others that may have been created in other …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Adobe is a bit more expensive than these others but for me and my company, the ease of use is why Adobe is the best.
DocuSign
Chose DocuSign
Adobe Acrobat Sign is less user-friendly and more suited to small scopes, or one-off documents. It lacks the use of templates that DocuSign has, which is what ultimately streamlines and delivers the consistency and efficiencies for the business.
Chose DocuSign
I have not used any alternatives. DocuSign is the leader in this space from my opinion.
Chose DocuSign
DocuSign is the one we went with because of the majority of people who use it regularly. It's the first one that comes to mind when you think of electronic signatures. We do use AdobeSign with our HR platform because that is the one that is integrated with it, but standalone …
Chose DocuSign
DocuSign is far superior to anything on the market for my needs, and my needs varied in different roles across different industries: it is a better solution, and easier to use for client interaction.
For statements of work, contracts, agreements of sale, commercial and …
Chose DocuSign
  • I had used Adobe before and it is not a simple experience. The last thing you want is for your customers to have trouble signing an electronic document. It defeats the purpose.
  • HelloSign is a nice product, but may have been a bit overkill for what our needs were. And they were …
Chose DocuSign
I originally tried using just a fillable Adobe PDF document for my clients to sign...but they struggled in figuring out how to complete it and if someone didn't have Adobe installed on their computer, then it was a problem. DocuSign makes it quick and easy and anyone can …
Chose DocuSign
DocuSign is much better at what it does with regard to securely getting signatures on paperwork. Adobe has lots of issues and it does not always translate well with other users depending if and how the end user has their Adobe setup. It is a very clunky process and does not …
Chose DocuSign
I personally have not used any other program. The decision to use DocuSign was not my choice. I am happy with the choice that was decided upon by others.
Top Pros
Top Cons
Best Alternatives
Adobe AcrobatDocuSign
Small Businesses
Square 9 Softworks
Square 9 Softworks
Score 9.7 out of 10
PDFfiller
PDFfiller
Score 9.0 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
MSB Docs
MSB Docs
Score 9.7 out of 10
MSB Docs
MSB Docs
Score 9.7 out of 10
Enterprises
Kofax Capture
Kofax Capture
Score 5.9 out of 10
Box
Box
Score 8.5 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Adobe AcrobatDocuSign
Likelihood to Recommend
8.9
(475 ratings)
5.5
(153 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(11 ratings)
7.0
(12 ratings)
Usability
8.6
(232 ratings)
7.1
(11 ratings)
Availability
10.0
(2 ratings)
10.0
(3 ratings)
Performance
9.8
(7 ratings)
10.0
(2 ratings)
Support Rating
8.1
(52 ratings)
10.0
(46 ratings)
Online Training
9.0
(1 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Implementation Rating
7.6
(4 ratings)
10.0
(5 ratings)
Ease of integration
10.0
(6 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
9.7
(2 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Adobe AcrobatDocuSign
Likelihood to Recommend
Adobe
If your organization uses PDFs frequently, then Adobe Acrobat feels like must-have. I could not imagine our organization not using it. The ability to create, organize, and edit PDFs easily and intuitively are the main reasons my organization uses it. The other additional functions and features are "nice to haves", but ultimately, don't impact our day-to-day
Read full review
DocuSign
I am going to speak of a personal experience- on multiple occasions: I need my husband to sign documents during the day and I don't need him here- physically. He sometimes works in different parts of the state as well at his own company. There is no problem at all, as long as he has access to his cell phone, email, and cell phone service- he can sign the documents I need him to. It is AMAZING- I can't speak highly enough of Docusign.
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Pros
Adobe
  • Easy to understand- the program has a very intuitive layout that is great for people who doesn't use the product very much
  • Includes all features you might need. There are many features I didn't even think we would need that they have included.
  • They have a very recognizable name so my clients feel they can trust what they are being asked to open/sign since the Adobe name is next to it.
Read full review
DocuSign
  • Ease of sending the same document out to multiple recipients, at multiple locations, for multiple signatures
  • Quick turnaround - once the recipient signs the document, we receive notification and the document back immediately
  • Can resend, alter, change, and/or add to the email and/or document that is sent out very easily
  • The recipient can save the document after signing, so they too have their own electronic copy for their records
Read full review
Cons
Adobe
  • It would be good if Adobe Acrobat could utilize less system resources. I have had crashes due to memory and CPU load this week
  • Quicker load times from a cold launch
  • Easier collaborative commenting for offline documents - knowing where and who wrote what
  • Ensuring documents don't have issues where text cannot be copied before publishing
Read full review
DocuSign
  • Tracking, particularly when collecting signatures through connected applications, such as an ATS, is not always clean or easily traceable.
  • Formatting documents to handle electronic signature types (signatures, initials, etc.) is not always easy, and highly dependent on the partner's technology.
  • It is not convenient to have to use DocuSign as a stand alone product if the signatures are required for 3rd party applications. It definitely excels on its own, but the scope of that usage, at least for us, is slim.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
Adobe
I bought a perpetual license to Acrobat some time ago, but if the software ever stopped being supported in my version of windows or other solution that makes me need to buy another license I would not hesitate to do so since it saves me a lot of headaches. There are workarounds to merge files and edit pdfs with an online interface but I dont think those are a good usage of time when Acrobat exists.
Read full review
DocuSign
I can't imagine doing business without DocuSign now. I would never want to go back to the way we used to do things. The "new way" is "the way" is "the right way." We can honestly be proud of a "one right way" process and not have to suffer through "5 ways for 5 days."
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Usability
Adobe
My overall experience with Adobe is great because because the it has almost all of the tools in one place and it can be used it for most of my work without going anywhere else. Because the tools are available right there in the main interface, it makes it very easy to use.
Read full review
DocuSign
Generally user-friendly once you have command of the basics, but also has a lot of nuances that can make it difficult to train others on. DocuSign University is a helpful tool, but understandably a lot of content to get through to become a well-versed user. A lot of different functionalities but only a few I use on a weekly basis.
Read full review
Reliability and Availability
Adobe
Pretty much always there for my business and personal needs.
Read full review
DocuSign
It does not go down. I have had zero issues with DocuSign, approaching 4 years.
Read full review
Performance
Adobe
One of the best features of Adobe Acrobat is its speed and stability. When dealing with massive multi-page files, having to reload a crashed program over and over again would slow down progress unnecessarily. And expanding on that, having the table of contents generated allows me to skip to different pages with ease, a necessary feature with exceptionally long files. word searches are even more helpful with text recognition.
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DocuSign
Everything loads quickly. Reports are generated in a reasonable time. No noticeable difference in integrated software processing speeds.
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Support Rating
Adobe
Because I don't need it. Used it years ago for account management/billing issues but they have changed the user experience so more of that can be managed online. If I have a question the knowledge base or a video that Adobe has posted answers
Read full review
DocuSign
I'd give them a 10, but there has been 1 or 2 small cases that seemed to fall to the wayside, but I was able to call them up and get them resolved. We were having a bad implementation night (after midnight) and we needed assistance from Docusign. They were able to get an engineer to help us in the early morning hours
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Online Training
Adobe
Answered basic questions.
Read full review
DocuSign
Docusign is super easy to use, and apart from a few administration details, there was really nothing to train on. Post implementation, there were issues with configuration of auto-filled documents with the integrating 3rd party. That training required some time, because the DocuSign expert took the time to walk me through the 3rd party's configuration (how often does that happen?) so I could see how DocuSign should be best used to overcome weaknesses in the 3rd party platform. 10/10 expert care.
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Implementation Rating
Adobe
Works well with JamF and SmartDeploy. These are our Enterprise imaging solutions for Mac's and PC's. The Enterprise installer is required when pushing out this app.
Read full review
DocuSign
Until you get the hang of it, I recommend doing several internal tests before sending a document to a client. As I mentioned earlier, you have to go through a bit of trial and error at first to verify that the workflow works as expected.
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
Adobe
There really is no comparison. Although we use other PDF programs, we mainly utilize Adobe. Not only because we find it to be a better program but also because everyone is more familiar with it. However, the other products are implemented for various reasons, such as a feature or 2 that we find necessary to use at times.
Read full review
DocuSign
I would say that DocuSign's biggest competitor and a most similar product is Adobe Sign. They both offer almost identical features with Adobe offering a slightly better interface. Adobe Sign is also less costly than DocuSign while offering templates that can be useful for various activities. If you are looking for more branding options then Adobe offers a slight advantage but for corporate control, I would say DocuSign offers more security.
Read full review
Scalability
Adobe
I find that many users aren't aware of many features of the software they use, nor may they be comfortable with learning multiple-step processes. For the simplest of PDF purposes (scanning, downloading, exporting), it gets a thumbs-up. For anything involving electronic signatures, meh--causes eyes to glaze over, or forgetting what all is involved.
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DocuSign
In my years of using DocuSign, I have never had an outage. I haven't even encountered a bug.
Read full review
Return on Investment
Adobe
  • Adobe Acrobat has improved the security of our documents, resulting in less risk, as protecting documents is essential to ensure compliance with privacy laws.
  • It saves our company money, as the product makes it easier for our employees to complete their jobs.
  • The product assists our employees with providing quality work product.
Read full review
DocuSign
  • DocuSign has made fax machines obsolete for receiving, signing, and returning documents to multiple parties.
  • DocuSign is a secure method of signing documents and that is a positive. Fax machines are generally not very secure.
  • DocuSign stores your documents in an encrypted form which protects your privacy and the privacy of all parties named in a document.
Read full review
ScreenShots

Adobe Acrobat Screenshots

Screenshot of Create, edit, convert, and share PDF files all from within Microsoft Teams – as part of Acrobat integrations with Microsoft 365 apps.Screenshot of With Liquid Mode in Adobe Acrobat Reader mobile app, users can read PDFs on phones and tablets without having to pinch and zoom. Navigate lengthy documents with intelligent outline and search tools, while maximizing readability and comfort with font size and line spacing that are adjustable.Screenshot of Fill and sign PDF forms from anywhere and on any device.  Collect signatures, digitally track progress, and automatically archive the signed document.Screenshot of With Adobe Scan mobile app, capture and convert documents into high-quality, interactive PDF documents that can be filled out, signed, and shared.  Eliminates the hassle of finding a printer, filling a form by hand, and scanning it again.

DocuSign Screenshots

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