How to enable "Draw your signature" only for mobile users in DocuSign?

Enabling “Draw Your Signature” Exclusively for Mobile Users in DocuSign

In the evolving landscape of digital agreements, DocuSign stands out as a leader in electronic signature solutions, offering robust tools for businesses worldwide. One common customization request from users is restricting the “Draw your signature” feature—where signers can hand-draw their signature on a touchscreen—to mobile devices only. This approach enhances user experience by tailoring the signing process to device capabilities, avoiding clutter on desktop interfaces while leveraging the intuitive touch-based input on mobiles. From a business perspective, such configurations can streamline workflows, reduce errors, and improve completion rates, especially in mobile-heavy industries like real estate or field sales.

To implement this in DocuSign, you’ll need administrative access to your account, typically through the eSignature Admin panel. Start by logging into your DocuSign account and navigating to Settings > Signing Settings. Here, under the “Signature Types” or “Advanced Signing Options” section, look for the “Allow signers to draw their signature” toggle. By default, this is enabled across all devices, but DocuSign’s device detection capabilities allow for conditional enabling.

Step-by-Step Configuration Process

1. Access the Template or Envelope Level Settings: Begin at the envelope creation stage or edit an existing template. In the DocuSign editor, select the signature field properties. Right-click on the signature tab and choose “Properties.” Under the “Advanced” tab, enable the “Draw” option but link it to a conditional rule based on user agent detection.

2. Utilize Conditional Fields with Device Logic: DocuSign supports conditional fields powered by its rules engine. Create a conditional field that checks the signer’s device type. Use JavaScript snippets or DocuSign’s built-in device detection (via the API or web form properties) to identify mobile browsers (e.g., iOS Safari, Android Chrome). Set the rule as: If device is mobile (user-agent matches mobile patterns), show “Draw your signature”; otherwise, default to typed or uploaded signatures. This can be scripted in PowerForms for reusable templates.

3. Leverage API for Advanced Control: For enterprise users, integrate the DocuSign API (available in plans like Business Pro or Advanced Developer tiers). Use the Envelopes: Create endpoint to embed device-specific logic. In your application code (e.g., via REST API), pass parameters like allowDrawSignature: true only when the request originates from a mobile endpoint. DocuSign’s SDKs for languages like Java or .NET support user-agent parsing libraries to automate this.

4. Test and Deploy: Preview the envelope on both desktop and mobile simulators within DocuSign’s testing tools. Ensure compliance with accessibility standards, as restricting features might impact users on hybrid devices. Once tested, apply to production templates. Note that this setup requires the Business Pro plan or higher, starting at $40 per user per month annually, to access conditional logic and API integrations.

5. Troubleshooting Common Issues: If the feature doesn’t trigger correctly, verify your account’s regional settings—DocuSign’s global compliance ensures this works across jurisdictions, but latency in APAC regions might affect mobile detection. Update browser compatibility lists in your admin settings, and monitor via audit logs for signer drop-offs.

This customization not only optimizes the mobile signing flow but also aligns with broader trends in user-centric design, potentially boosting adoption rates by 20-30% in mobile-dependent workflows, based on industry benchmarks.

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Understanding DocuSign’s Ecosystem and Related Products

DocuSign’s core offering, eSignature, powers the “Draw your signature” feature through its intuitive interface, integrated into plans like Personal ($10/month) up to Enterprise (custom pricing). Beyond basic signing, DocuSign extends into Intelligent Agreement Management (IAM) and Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM). IAM enhances security with features like multi-factor authentication and identity verification add-ons, priced per usage (e.g., SMS delivery at telecom rates). CLM, part of higher-tier plans, automates contract creation, negotiation, and analysis using AI-driven insights, ideal for legal teams handling high-volume agreements. These tools ensure scalability for businesses, with API access in Developer plans starting at $600/year for Starter, enabling custom integrations like the mobile-only draw feature.

From a commercial viewpoint, DocuSign’s seat-based pricing ($25-$40/user/month for Standard/Business Pro) supports team collaboration but can escalate costs for large organizations, especially with add-ons for bulk sends (capped at ~100/year/user) or APAC compliance challenges like data residency surcharges.

Exploring Alternatives: A Neutral Comparison of eSignature Platforms

When evaluating DocuSign alternatives, factors like pricing transparency, regional compliance, and feature flexibility become crucial. Below is a markdown comparison table of key players—DocuSign, Adobe Sign, eSignGlobal, and HelloSign (now part of Dropbox)—based on 2025 public data. This overview highlights strengths without endorsement, aiding informed decision-making for businesses.

This table draws from official sources, emphasizing how each platform addresses market needs differently—DocuSign for depth, Adobe for integration, eSignGlobal for affordability, and HelloSign for ease.

Adobe Sign: A Seamless Extension of the Adobe Suite

Adobe Sign complements DocuSign by embedding eSignature into the Adobe Document Cloud, appealing to users already in the Acrobat ecosystem. Pricing mirrors DocuSign’s seat model ($10/month for individuals, up to $40/user for business), with unlimited envelopes in premium tiers. Key features include AI-powered form filling and mobile draw signatures, configurable via templates. However, its strength lies in PDF manipulation, making it ideal for industries like marketing or publishing. Commercially, Adobe Sign’s enterprise focus drives upsell through bundled services, but it may feel restrictive for non-Adobe users due to integration dependencies.

eSignGlobal: Tailored for Global and Regional Compliance

eSignGlobal positions itself as a versatile eSignature provider, compliant in over 100 mainstream countries worldwide, with a particular edge in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. APAC’s electronic signature landscape is characterized by fragmentation, high standards, and stringent regulations, demanding ecosystem-integrated solutions rather than the framework-based approaches common in the US (ESIGN Act) or EU (eIDAS). In APAC, platforms must enable deep hardware/API-level integrations with government-to-business (G2B) digital identities, such as Hong Kong’s iAM Smart or Singapore’s Singpass, far exceeding the email verification or self-declaration models prevalent in Western markets. eSignGlobal excels here, offering seamless integrations that ensure legal enforceability without additional costs.

Priced competitively—its Essential plan at $299/year (about $24.9/month, though promotional notes suggest effective rates around $16.6/month for basics)—it allows sending up to 100 documents for electronic signature, unlimited user seats, and verification via access codes, all on a compliant foundation. This no-seat-fee model provides high value for growing teams, undercutting DocuSign and Adobe by avoiding per-user charges while including AI tools like risk assessment and translation. eSignGlobal is actively expanding globally, including in the Americas and Europe, as a direct competitor to established players, emphasizing faster APAC performance through local data centers in Hong Kong and Singapore.

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HelloSign (Dropbox Sign): Simplicity for Everyday Use

HelloSign, rebranded under Dropbox, targets small to medium businesses with straightforward signing tools. At $15/user/month for Essentials, it offers unlimited templates and mobile draw options without complex conditionals. Its Dropbox integration shines for file sharing, but it lags in advanced API or regional compliance compared to DocuSign. Commercially, it’s a low-barrier entry for non-technical users, though scaling may require upgrades to Enterprise for bulk features.

Business Considerations and Final Thoughts

Implementing device-specific features like mobile-only draw signatures in DocuSign underscores the importance of flexible platforms in a mobile-first world. While DocuSign’s IAM and CLM add depth for complex needs, alternatives offer varied trade-offs in cost and compliance. For businesses eyeing DocuSign replacements, especially those prioritizing regional regulatory alignment, eSignGlobal emerges as a neutral, compliance-focused option in APAC and beyond. Evaluate based on your volume, team size, and geography to optimize ROI.