Proposals · head to head
17hats vs HelloSign
17hats
Proposals
Small business client workflow with quotes, contracts, invoices and automated follow up sequences
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only HelloSign has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 17hats the interface is visibly older than newer competitors, which matters because the client facing documents are part of how a small business presents itself.; HelloSign free plan limited to only 3 documents per month, insufficient for most business use cases
- They diverge on capability: 17hats covers Workflow automation, HelloSign covers Electronic signatures.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which 17hats and HelloSign actually diverge.
Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Proposals).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in 17hats
- Workflow automation
- Quotes and contracts
- Invoicing and payments
- Lead capture forms
- Questionnaires
- Bookkeeping basics
- Calendar and time tracking
Only in HelloSign
- Electronic signatures
- Templates
- Team management
- Audit trail
- API access
- Dropbox
- Google Drive
- Salesforce
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
17hats
- A photographer or event professional running the same booking sequence dozens of times a yearnot HelloSign
- Automating deposit invoices and reminders so that chasing payment stops being a weekly tasknot HelloSign
- Capturing enquiries through a public form that starts a quote and contract workflow without manual entrynot HelloSign
- A sole trader who wants client records, contracts and basic bookkeeping in one place rather than threenot HelloSign
HelloSign
- Customer Successnot 17hats
- Esignaturesnot 17hats
- Simple Signingnot 17hats
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
17hats
- The interface is visibly older than newer competitors, which matters because the client facing documents are part of how a small business presents itself.
- The workflow builder takes real time to learn and configure, so the automation benefit arrives weeks after purchase rather than on the first day.
- A consultancy where no two engagements are alike gets little from the workflow engine, which is most of what the price pays for.
- It is built around a single operator, so a business adding staff or subcontractors runs into structural limits rather than a higher tier.
- Payments run through third party gateways, so card processing fees apply in addition to the subscription and should be included when comparing cost per booking.
HelloSign
- Free plan limited to only 3 documents per month, insufficient for most business use cases
- Lacks advanced features like conditional logic and bulk send that enterprise competitors offer
- Limited customization options for white-labeling compared to DocuSign
Pricing, plan by plan
17hats
On request- 17hats$undefined/year
- Quotes, contracts and electronic signature
- Invoicing and online payment
- Workflow automation sequences
HelloSign
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the HelloSign review.
Which should you pick?
Choose 17hats if
- You need workflow automation.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want quotes and contracts.
Choose HelloSign if
- You need electronic signatures.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want templates.
Questions people ask
- Is 17hats or HelloSign better?
- Neither clearly leads. 17hats starts at On request and HelloSign at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, 17hats or HelloSign?
- HelloSign has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for 17hats and Free for HelloSign.
- Does 17hats or HelloSign run on more platforms?
- 17hats runs on Web, iOS, Android. HelloSign runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use HelloSign for free?
- Yes. HelloSign has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 17hats starts at On request.
- What is 17hats best used for?
- 17hats is most often used for a photographer or event professional running the same booking sequence dozens of times a year, automating deposit invoices and reminders so that chasing payment stops being a weekly task, capturing enquiries through a public form that starts a quote and contract workflow without manual entry, a sole trader who wants client records, contracts and basic bookkeeping in one place rather than three. Of those, a photographer or event professional running the same booking sequence dozens of times a year and automating deposit invoices and reminders so that chasing payment stops being a weekly task are not what HelloSign is typically brought in for.
- What can 17hats do that HelloSign cannot?
- 17hats covers Workflow automation, Quotes and contracts, Invoicing and payments, Lead capture forms. HelloSign covers Electronic signatures, Templates, Team management, Audit trail.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
17hats: What is the main reason to choose it?
The workflow engine. If your bookings follow the same sequence every time, that sequence can be automated once and reused.
HelloSign: Does HelloSign (Dropbox Sign) offer a free plan?
Yes, HelloSign offers a free plan for up to 3 documents per month with basic eSignatures and Dropbox integration. Paid plans start at $10 per month for individuals.
Source17hats: Is it worth it for bespoke consulting work?
Rarely. Without repeatable engagements the automation, which is the main value, has nothing to automate.
HelloSign: How does HelloSign pricing compare to DocuSign?
HelloSign is significantly cheaper than DocuSign. For a 5-user team sending 50 documents monthly, HelloSign costs approximately $1,500 per year while DocuSign costs $2,400 annually, a 37% difference.
Source17hats: Does it handle bookkeeping?
At sole trader level. It is not a replacement for accounting software once complexity grows.
HelloSign: What are HelloSign API costs?
HelloSign API pricing is $0.80 to $1 per signature request, which is significantly lower than DocuSign's $4 to $7 per signature.
Source17hats: Can I add team members?
It is designed for a single operator, and multi person use is awkward rather than supported properly.
17hats: How long before it saves time?
Not immediately. Budget for a configuration period before the workflow automation starts paying back.
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