A DocuSeal alternative for people who do not want to self-host
DocuSeal is an open source document signing tool that you can host yourself or use in their cloud. SignQuick is a hosted web app with no server to run. Here is a plain comparison, with DocuSeal figures read on their pricing page and GitHub repository on 10 November 2026.
The short answer
Stay with DocuSeal if you are a developer who wants open source code (AGPLv3) on your own server, embedded signing in your app, per-document API pricing, or add-ons such as EU qualified signatures, SMS, ID checks, bulk send and payments. Its free cloud plan also allows more sends than ours (10 signature request e-mails a month against 5). SignQuick fits people who want to sign their own PDFs for free and send a few documents a month in a browser, with nothing to install or maintain, and a flat Pro price of $12 a month instead of $20 per user.
| DocuSeal | SignQuick | |
|---|---|---|
| Free cloud plan | Basic: $0, 10 signature request e-mails a month | 5 sends a month, up to 3 signers each. Signing your own PDF is free and unlimited |
| Entry paid plan | Pro: $20 per user a month or $200 per user a year | Pro: $12 a month or $120 a year. Without a plan: 2.99 per send |
| Open source and self-hosting | Yes. AGPLv3 with additional terms, Docker image. Pro on-premises: $240 per user a year | No. Hosted service only |
| API | Cloud: $0.20 per completed document, needs one Pro seat. Basic API free when self-hosted | Business plan ($29 a month): API, webhooks and an MCP server |
| Qualified signatures | EU qualified signature add-on on Pro, $2 to $4 each | No. Simple electronic signature only |
| ID verification and SMS | ID check $2 each. Pro includes 20 SMS a month, then $0.20 per SMS | Not offered |
| Signer needs an account | No, signers are not counted as users | No. Signers never need an account and never pay |
| Bulk send and payments | Bulk send on Pro (50 signatures a month, then $0.20). Payment collection, 4% fee on Basic | Not offered |
| Integrations | Zapier, Make and n8n on Pro, $0.20 per completion | No Zapier and no CRM integrations |
| Languages | 7 interface languages, signing in 14 languages | 14 languages |
| Data location | docuseal.com: AWS US East (Virginia). docuseal.eu: AWS Dublin. Or your own server | Hosted in Germany (EU), files encrypted in the browser before upload |
Competitor figures read on 2026-11-10. Prices change: check their page before deciding.
When switching makes sense
DocuSeal is a strong choice when you have the skills and the time to run it. If you self-host, you take care of the server, the SMTP service for e-mails, backups, updates and the signing certificate, which is self-signed in the free open source edition.
SignQuick makes sense when you only want to sign and send PDFs without running anything, and when a simple electronic signature is enough for your documents.
- You do not want to maintain a server or an e-mail relay
- You are a single sender and per-user pricing does not help you
- You send a few documents a month and do not need an API
What you lose
Moving to SignQuick means giving up control of the code and the hosting. You cannot run SignQuick on your own server or modify it.
Several DocuSeal Pro features have no equivalent on SignQuick.
- Self-hosting and access to the source code
- Embedded signing inside your own app
- EU qualified signatures, ID verification, SMS codes and knowledge-based checks
- Bulk send, payment collection, Zapier, Make and n8n
- SSO and white-label on-premises
- A higher free allowance: DocuSeal Basic includes 10 signature request e-mails a month, SignQuick 5 sends
What you gain
Nothing to install: you sign or send from the browser, on a computer or a phone. Signing your own PDF is free and unlimited, needs no account, and the file stays in your browser.
Documents you send are encrypted in your browser (AES-256-GCM) before upload and hosted in Germany. Each signed file gets an audit trail with a certificate and a SHA-256 seal with a QR code, verifiable by anyone at signquick.app/verify.
Pro costs $12 a month or $120 a year for unlimited sends and signers, your logo on signing pages and templates. The price is per account, not per user.
How to move your documents (PDF only)
There is no import from DocuSeal. Download your completed documents with their audit logs and keep them in your own storage.
For each template, keep the source document as a PDF, upload it to SignQuick and place the fields again. SignQuick accepts PDF files only, up to 50 MB.
If you self-host DocuSeal, keep the instance or a full backup until every pending request is completed, so you do not lose documents that are still out for signature.
Questions
Is SignQuick open source like DocuSeal?
No. SignQuick is a hosted web app and cannot be self-hosted. If you need open source code on your own server, DocuSeal is the better fit.
Which one has the larger free plan?
DocuSeal Basic includes 10 signature request e-mails a month. SignQuick includes 5 sends a month with up to 3 signers each, plus unlimited free signing of your own PDFs without an account.
Can SignQuick produce qualified signatures?
No. SignQuick produces a simple electronic signature, recognized under eIDAS, the ESIGN Act and UETA. DocuSeal sells an EU qualified signature add-on on its Pro plan.
How does API pricing compare?
DocuSeal charges $0.20 per completed document in its cloud, with at least one Pro seat. SignQuick includes its API, webhooks and an MCP server in the Business plan at $29 a month or $290 a year.
Where is my data stored?
DocuSeal cloud is on AWS in Virginia (docuseal.com) or Dublin (docuseal.eu), or on your own server if you self-host. SignQuick hosts documents in Germany, encrypted in the browser before upload.