The Hidden Cost of Per-User E-Signature Pricing
Most e-signature platforms advertise a low monthly price. What they don't tell you upfront is that price multiplies with every person on your team. Here's what per-seat pricing actually costs UK businesses — and why a flat-fee model changes everything.
How Per-User Pricing Works (Against You)
The pitch sounds simple: pay a small monthly fee per user and get access to the platform. DocuSign Standard costs approximately £20 per user per month. Signable — another UK e-signature provider — charges around £29 per user per month on its team plans.
For a solo founder, that's manageable. But businesses grow. You hire a new account manager — add £20–£29. Your HR manager needs access — add another seat. Your office administrator starts sending contracts — another seat. Before you know it, you've built a team of 10 and you're paying £200–£290 every single month for what is, fundamentally, a document sending tool.
Per-user pricing isn't designed to be fair. It's designed to grow revenue in line with your success. Every person you hire becomes a billing event for your software vendor.
The Real Numbers
Here's what typical per-user platforms charge compared to VedaSign's flat model:
| Team size | DocuSign (est. £20/user) | Signable (est. £29/user) | VedaSign |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 user | £20/mo | £29/mo | £15/mo |
| 3 users | £60/mo | £87/mo | £15/mo |
| 5 users | £100/mo | £145/mo | £15/mo |
| 10 users | £200/mo | £290/mo | £15/mo |
| 20 users | £400/mo | £580/mo | £15/mo |
£2,220
saved per year vs DocuSign
10-person team · £200/mo vs £15/mo
£3,300
saved per year vs Signable
10-person team · £290/mo vs £15/mo
The Envelope Trap
Some platforms — including certain Signable plans — charge per envelope (i.e. per document sent) rather than per user. At first glance, this seems fairer. But for businesses that send a high volume of documents — recruitment agencies sending offer letters, estate agents sending tenancy agreements, accountants distributing engagement letters — envelope pricing can be eye-wateringly expensive.
A recruitment agency placing 50 candidates per month might send 50+ contracts. At £1–£2 per envelope, that's an additional £50–£100 on top of the base plan. Multiply that across a year and you're looking at hundreds of pounds in envelope fees alone.
VedaSign has no envelope limits. Send one document a month or a thousand — the price doesn't change.
Why Flat-Fee Pricing Makes Sense
The marginal cost of an additional user on an e-signature platform is effectively zero. It's software. The vendor doesn't incur meaningful extra costs when you add your third or thirtieth user. Per-user pricing exists because it's an effective way to extract more revenue from growing businesses — not because it reflects actual costs.
VedaSign's flat £15/month model is based on a simple belief: you shouldn't be penalised for growing your team. Whether you're a sole trader or a 50-person firm, you pay the same price and get the same product.
What to Look for When Comparing Platforms
When evaluating e-signature tools, always calculate the total cost at your current team size, not just the advertised headline price. Factor in:
- •Number of users who will need sending access
- •Monthly document volume and any envelope caps
- •Whether signers need a paid account (they shouldn't)
- •Data hosting location and UK GDPR implications
- •Hidden costs: advanced fields, custom branding, premium support
One price. Unlimited everything.
£15/month for unlimited users, unlimited documents, and UK-only data hosting. No per-user fees, ever.
Start Your Free Trial →Compare VedaSign
Pricing estimates are based on publicly available data at the time of writing and may have changed. Always verify current pricing on the respective vendor's website.
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