The short answer: both OpenSign and DocuSeal are open-source, self-hostable eSignature tools. OpenSign offers a broader, more polished feature set — templates, multi-user teams, SSO, a rich API and a generous free hosted plan — making it the better fit for most individuals and growing teams. DocuSeal is a lightweight, form-centric option developers may prefer for simple use cases.
Feature comparison
| Capability | OpenSign™ | DocuSeal |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Free hosted cloud | Yes (unlimited self-signing) | Limited |
| Reusable templates | Yes | Yes |
| Bulk / quick send | Yes | Limited |
| Multi-user teams | Yes | Limited |
| SSO | Yes | Limited |
| REST API & webhooks | Yes | Yes |
| Audit trail & certificate | Yes | Yes |
Ease of use
OpenSign focuses on a clean, guided signing experience for both senders and signers, including in-person Kiosk Mode for events. DocuSeal's interface is minimal and form-oriented, which some developers like for embedding.
Automation & API
Both expose REST APIs. OpenSign adds webhooks, SSO and team roles that suit organizations automating document workflows at scale. See the eSignature API guide for what you can build.
Which should you choose?
- Choose OpenSign if you want the most features for free, multi-user teams, SSO and a hosted option alongside self-hosting.
- Choose DocuSeal if you want a minimal, form-first tool and you're comfortable self-hosting everything.
Ready to try it? Create a free OpenSign account and start signing documents in minutes — no credit card required. Prefer to run it yourself? OpenSign is 100% open source on GitHub.