The one question that decides it
Who started the document? If you wrote the contract and need a client, tenant or hire to sign it, you are the sender. That is DocuSign's job. It routes the file, reminds people, tracks who signed, and keeps a record.
If someone else emailed you a PDF — a lease, an NDA, an offer letter, a W-9 — you are the signer. You need to open it, sign it, maybe add a date and initials, and send it back. That's the job eSign PDF is built for. For the full walkthrough, see how to sign a PDF on iPhone.
One more thing worth knowing: if the sender used DocuSign, you usually don't need a paid DocuSign plan to sign their envelope. Senders pay. Recipients sign from the email link. You only need a separate tool when you got a plain PDF attachment.
eSign PDF vs DocuSign at a glance
Checked against DocuSign's official pricing page. Other plans and local prices for eSign PDF are shown in the App Store.
| Feature | eSign PDF | DocuSign |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Signing a PDF you received | Sending documents for others to sign |
| Price (US) | $59.99 one-time (US) | Personal: $11/month billed annually ($132/year); higher plans if you send more |
| Usage limit | No envelope count | 5 envelopes/month on Personal |
| Account | None | DocuSign account to send |
| Where your document goes | Stays on your iPhone | Processed in DocuSign's cloud |
| Send for signature | No | Yes |
| Templates, reminders, tracking | No | Yes |
| Works offline | Yes | Sending needs a connection |
| Flattened export | Yes, every export | Completed files come from DocuSign |
| Fill fields: date, text, checkbox, initials | Yes | Yes, fields placed by the sender |
DocuSign pricing checked 2026-09-26. Check the DocuSign page for current plans.
Cost if you only sign a few documents a year
Most people who receive PDFs sign a handful a year: a lease renewal, a freelance contract, a school form, a tax form. Paying for a sending platform to do that is paying for features you don't use. DocuSign Personal is $11/month billed annually, which is $132/year, and it's built around sending 5 envelopes/month.
eSign PDF is $59.99 one-time (US). You pay once and there's no envelope count, because nothing is being sent through a service — you sign the file and share it from your iPhone like any other attachment. Freelancers in this spot often start here: signing contracts as a freelancer.
What DocuSign reviewers complain about
We don't invent quotes. DocuSign's iPhone app is well rated overall — around 4.9 on the US App Store. The lower ratings tend to cluster around a few themes: the price feels high for someone who only signs now and then, plans and envelope limits, and filling fields on a small phone screen.
Those are sender-platform trade-offs, not flaws. If they sound like your situation because you're only ever the signer, a sender tool is simply the wrong fit.
When DocuSign is the better choice
Be honest with yourself here. eSign PDF does not replace DocuSign for any of these.
- ✓You send contracts, offer letters or leases to other people for signature.
- ✓You need reminders, signer order, or a record of who signed and when.
- ✓Your team shares templates and needs seats and admin controls.
- ✓Your company, lender or agency requires DocuSign.
- ✓You need to sign on Android or on a Windows laptop.
Verdict
Choose DocuSign if you send
You create the document and need others to sign it, with tracking. DocuSign Personal: $11/month billed annually ($132/year), 5 envelopes/month; move up a plan if you send more.
Choose eSign PDF if you received a PDF
Someone emailed you a PDF and you need to sign it on iPhone and send it back so it shows up on any device. No account, on-device, $59.99 one-time (US).
Choose neither if it's one page between Apple devices
Apple Markup is free and fine for a single signature going to someone on an iPhone or Mac. See Apple Markup vs a signing app.
FAQ
Do I need DocuSign if I only need to sign a PDF?+
No. DocuSign is for sending documents to others. If you received a PDF by email, you can sign it on your iPhone and send it back without a DocuSign account.
How much is DocuSign Personal?+
DocuSign Personal: $11/month billed annually ($132/year), 5 envelopes/month, per DocuSign's pricing page. Higher plans add more sending and team features.
Can eSign PDF send documents for other people to sign?+
No. It signs and fills PDFs you already have. It does not send envelopes, collect signatures from others, or track signers. Use DocuSign or a similar service for that.
Does eSign PDF upload my document?+
No. Signing, filling and flattening happen on your iPhone. There's no account, and it works offline.
How much does eSign PDF cost?+
$59.99 one-time (US). Other plans and local prices are shown in the App Store.