PDFbat vs Dropbox Sign: e signature tools compared

Dropbox Sign, formerly HelloSign, is a clean e signature tool that fits well with Dropbox. PDFbat offers signing plus a PDF editor, AI and an API at a lower price.

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Updated November 8, 2026 by the PDFbat team

The short answer

PDFbat is a good free Dropbox Sign alternative if you send a few documents a month and also need to edit or prepare PDFs. Dropbox Sign is the better pick if your files already live in Dropbox and you want signing tightly connected to it.

PDFbat gives 3 envelopes a month free and unlimited envelopes on Pro for $4 a month. Dropbox Sign has a limited free tier and paid plans that start from about $15 a month, so check their site for the current terms.

Both keep signing simple for the person who receives the request. If your team is built around Dropbox, that integration is a real benefit. If not, PDFbat costs less and does more with the PDF itself.

PDFbat vs Dropbox Sign: side by side

Feature	PDFbat	Dropbox Sign
Price	Free plan, Pro $4 a month	Paid plans from about $15 a month, check their site
Free signing	3 envelopes a month	Limited free tier, check their site
Signers need no account	Yes	Yes
Signing order	Yes	Check their current plans
Reminders	Yes	Yes
Templates	Yes	Yes
Bulk send	Yes	Higher plans, check their site
Sealed PDF with audit trail	Yes	Yes
Identity checks before opening	Yes	Check their current plans
Built in PDF editor	Yes	No
30+ PDF tools	Yes	No
AI chat and contract review	Yes	No
REST API with free calls	250 a month, then pay as you go	Separate API plans, check their site
Dropbox integration	Via download and upload	Yes
Google Workspace and Microsoft integrations	Limited	Yes

Competitor details reflect their public pricing pages in November 2026. Dropbox Sign plans change, so check their site.

Choose PDFbat if

you want to edit a PDF and send it for signature in the same place.
you want unlimited envelopes for $4 a month.
you want a pay as you go API with 250 free calls a month and signed webhooks.
you want AI to review contracts before they are sent.

Choose Dropbox Sign if

your team stores files in Dropbox and wants signing tied to folders.
you need integrations with Google Workspace, Salesforce or Microsoft tools.
you value a mature, well documented product with an established brand.
your team already has a Dropbox plan that bundles it.

Price and plan shape

Dropbox Sign is sold per user, with plans that add templates, team features and API access at higher tiers. PDFbat is simpler: Free has 3 envelopes a month and Pro is $4 a month with unlimited envelopes, a 10 GB Drive and 100 MB files.

If you send signatures often, the monthly difference adds up across a team. If you send two contracts a year, either free tier may cover you.

Developers and automation

Dropbox Sign offers an API for embedded signing. The PDFbat PDF API covers envelopes, recipients, fields, reminders and signed webhooks as well as every PDF tool, so one key handles editing, conversion and signing. The first 250 calls each month are free, then $0.01 a call.

For no code reuse, templates and bulk send cover repeat documents such as offer letters and NDAs.

Where PDFbat falls short

PDFbat is newer and has a smaller set of integrations. There is no native Dropbox connector, so files move by download and upload. See the e signatures page for the full feature list.

Frequently asked questions

Is PDFbat an alternative to Dropbox Sign or HelloSign?

Yes. PDFbat sends documents for e signature with signing order, reminders, templates, bulk send and a sealed audit trail, plus a PDF editor and AI.

Is there a free plan?

PDFbat's Free plan includes 3 envelopes a month. Check Dropbox Sign's site for its current free terms.

Do signers need to create an account?

No. Signers use a secure link from their email.

Can I use PDFbat from Dropbox?

There is no native Dropbox integration. Download from Dropbox, upload to PDFbat, then save the signed PDF back.

How much does PDFbat Pro cost?

$4 a month, with unlimited envelopes and tool tasks, 10 GB of Drive storage and 100 MB files.

Does PDFbat have webhooks?

Yes. Events such as sent, viewed, signed, declined and completed are delivered with an HMAC SHA-256 signature and retried.

Keep comparing

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Edit, sign and store PDFs in one account. Free plan with no credit card, Pro for $4 a month.

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