DocuSign alternative
Refrendo vs DocuSign
DocuSign is the best-known name in e-signatures, with a huge ecosystem. Refrendo is deliberately smaller: approvals and signatures in one simple workflow, priced on the people who send.
Side by side
| Refrendo | DocuSign | |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Per named sender, with a monthly allowance shared by the team. Packs of extra requests; no overage charges. | Per user, with sending allowances on standard plans. |
| Approvers and signers | Free and unlimited. No account needed. | Recipients sign free without an account. |
| Approval steps | Approve, reject or request changes on every plan, then revise or resend. | Approval and advanced routing options vary by plan. |
| Routing | In order, all at once, any one, or a quorum ("2 of 3"). | Sequential and parallel routing; conditional routing on higher plans. |
| Evidence | Completion certificate, SHA-256 of original and final, chained audit trail. | Certificate of completion and audit trail. |
| Digital (PKI) signatures | Not offered. Electronic signatures only. | Available as a separate option. |
| Integrations | REST API and webhooks (Business plan). | Hundreds of pre-built integrations. |
| Pricing currency | Australian dollars. | Local currency in many regions. |
DocuSign details are from its public website as of September 2026 and may have changed, so check their current plans. DocuSign is a trademark of its owner; Refrendo is not affiliated with it.
Approvals included
Put Finance, Legal or a manager in front of the signature on every plan, with request-changes and revisions built in.
One pool, not per-user limits
The team shares one monthly allowance. Occasional senders don’t each need a full seat’s worth of sending.
Simple on purpose
Upload, add people, place fields, send. Most people send their first request without any help.
Questions
Is Refrendo as legally valid as DocuSign?
Both provide electronic signatures, which Australian law recognises for most business documents. Refrendo records identity, intention (exact consent wording) and integrity (document fingerprints and a chained audit trail).
Can I import my DocuSign templates?
Not automatically. Upload the same PDF, place the fields and save it as a template. It takes a few minutes each.
What happens to documents already signed in DocuSign?
Keep them in DocuSign, or download the completed documents and certificates for your records before you cancel. Refrendo does not import them.
Try Refrendo alongside DocuSign
Run your next few requests through Refrendo while your current subscription runs out. No card needed to start.