The problem with paying for sending when you don't send
SignNow is a sending tool. You upload a document, add fields, and send it to people by email. It tracks who signed, and it also has an in-person mode. Its plans are subscriptions.
Many people only use one small part of that. A landlord at a walk-through. A contractor with a change order. A trainer with a waiver. The other person is right there, so there's nothing to send and nothing to track. They just need to sign on your phone.
For that job, the yearly plan, the login and the internet connection are all extra weight.
Comparing more tools? See eSign PDF vs DocuSign and the best app to sign a PDF on iPhone.
Hand over the phone: every spot to sign is highlighted.
Open your PDF. Add your signature. Send it back.What SignNow reviewers complain about
We read the 500 most recent US App Store reviews of SignNow (October 2024 to October 2026). 167 of them gave 1 to 3 stars. About 62 of those were about money. People mentioned a charge after a trial, trouble canceling, or finding out about limits after paying.
Smaller groups were about login and account problems, glitches when filling a form on a phone, and the app not working without internet. One reviewer said it was great for in-person signing until an update made it unusable for them.
SignNow is still well rated overall. Read the current reviews yourself before you decide. The link is in the sources below.
eSign PDF vs SignNow
SignNow changes its plans from time to time, so check its site for current prices.
| Feature | eSign PDF | SignNow |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Signing in person or signing a PDF you got | Sending documents and tracking signers |
| Price | $59.99 one-time (US) | Subscription plans |
| Account | None | Required |
| Someone signs on your phone | Yes | Yes, in-person mode |
| Works with no signal | Yes | Built around an online account |
| Where the document goes | Stays on your iPhone | Your SignNow account |
| Send a link to sign later | No | Yes |
| Track who signed | No | Yes |
| Flattened PDF | Every export | Completed file from SignNow |
The App Store shows other eSign PDF plans and local prices.
Get a signature in person on your iPhone
Open the PDF in eSign PDF
Open it from Mail or Files. No signal? That's fine if the PDF is already on your phone.
Fill in the details
Tap the highlighted spots to add your signature, the date, names and text.
Hand them your phone
Tap the signature tool and add a new signature for them. They sign with a finger. Delete it from your saved signatures afterwards.
Send them a copy
Export. The app flattens the PDF, so both signatures show in any viewer. Text it, AirDrop it or email it before they leave.
When SignNow is the better choice
eSign PDF doesn't replace SignNow for any of these.
- ✓The other person isn't with you, so you need to send them a link.
- ✓You need reminders, a signing order, or a record of who signed and when.
- ✓Your team shares templates and needs admin controls.
- ✓You work on Android or in a web browser.
Leaving SignNow?
If you subscribed in the iPhone app, cancel in Settings → your name → Subscriptions. If you paid on SignNow's website, cancel in your account there. Download the signed documents you want to keep before your plan ends. Our guide to canceling a signing app subscription on iPhone has the full steps.
Verdict
Keep SignNow if you send
People sign from their own devices, somewhere else, and you need to track them.
Choose eSign PDF if they're in the room
They sign on your iPhone, even with no signal. No account, nothing uploaded, $59.99 one-time (US). For job sites, see contractor signatures on site.
FAQ
Is there a SignNow alternative with no subscription?+
Yes, if you don't need to send documents. Apple Markup is free for a simple signature. eSign PDF is $59.99 one-time (US) and handles in-person signing, dates, initials and flattened export.
Can someone sign on my iPhone without an app or account?+
Yes. With eSign PDF, you hand them your phone and they sign with a finger. They don't need an app, an account or an email address.
Does in-person signing work with no internet?+
With eSign PDF, yes. Opening, signing and exporting happen on the iPhone. You only need a connection to email the copy, and you can AirDrop it instead.
How do I cancel SignNow on iPhone?+
If you paid through the App Store, go to Settings → your name → Subscriptions → SignNow → Cancel Subscription. If you paid on their website, cancel in your SignNow account.
Can eSign PDF send a document for someone to sign later?+
No. It's for signing in person and signing PDFs you received. Use SignNow or DocuSign for remote signing links.