RFC 3161 trusted timestamps
WPsigner can request and embed cryptographic timestamps from an RFC 3161-compatible Time Stamp Authority, with long-term validation data.
Verified comparison + official ApproveMe Importer
WP E-Signature vs WPsigner — a factual comparison
Compare two self-hosted WordPress plugins using official sources—and see how WPsigner turns signed ApproveMe documents into a searchable archive without a one-by-one download and upload process.
Official WPsigner addon
Move your signed archive in three guided steps
Keep WP E-Signature and Save as PDF active on the same WordPress site. WPsigner detects eligible signed documents, shows what remains, and processes the import in the background.
- 1
Open ApproveMe Import
Install and activate the addon, then open WPsigner → ApproveMe Import. No per-document download and re-upload loop.
- 2
Review the detected archive
See signed, awaiting, draft, already imported, and remaining counts before anything starts.
- 3
Choose a batch and start
Select a batch size and start the queue. Pause, resume, or retry failures without repeating completed work.
ApproveMe Import
Background archive migration
Signed documents
Detected
Already imported
Skipped
Recommended batch
5 documents
Start background import
Safe to close this tab — WP-Cron continues the queue.
- Source documents stay untouched
- Duplicate-safe re-runs
- SHA-256 hash for each imported PDF
- Completed documents receive an import audit entry
What moves: Imports signed PDFs, valid-email signer records, signature metadata, a SHA-256 file hash, and the “Imported from ApproveMe” tag.
Scope: Archive migration only: templates, drafts, awaiting documents, workflows, settings, and cross-site data are not imported. Back up WordPress first; there is no dry-run or global rollback.
Verified comparison: WP E-Signature vs WPsigner
Each criterion is checked against current official documentation. If ApproveMe does not document a feature, the row says “Not included in official documentation” and counts as a WPsigner advantage.
50
verified criteria
31
WPsigner advantages
19
shared capabilities
| Feature | WPsigner | ApproveMe (WP E-Signature) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing & licensing | |||
| $99/year (1 site) | Plus $199.50 first year / $249.50 renewal (1 site, 1 sender) | WPsigner advantage | |
| Business $149/year (5 sites); Agency $349/year (unlimited sites) | Elite $299.50/year (5 sites); no unlimited-sites annual plan documented | WPsigner advantage | |
| $299 (1 site), $499 (5 sites), or $999 (unlimited sites) | Lifetime $699 one-time, capped at 10 sites | WPsigner advantage | |
| Unlimited documents and signers | Unlimited documents and signers | Shared / both offer it | |
| Installed plugin can continue working; support, downloads, new versions, and security updates end | Error 506 documentation: new documents cannot be created until the license is renewed | WPsigner advantage | |
| Every feature included; plans differ by site count and support | Plus and Elite publish different features, portal access, branding, templates, and premium integrations | WPsigner advantage | |
| Hosting | |||
| Self-hosted WordPress plugin; files and records stay on WordPress by default unless external services are configured | Self-hosted WordPress plugin; signed-document data stored encrypted in the WordPress database; optional integrations can send data externally | Shared / both offer it | |
| Security & encryption | |||
| SHA-256 document hashing and append-only audit event chain | Tamper-resistant Document ID, Audit Signature ID, and digital fingerprint / checksum | Shared / both offer it | |
| TLS 1.2+ / HTTPS required for production signing | SSL/HTTPS signing supported when SSL is installed on WordPress | Shared / both offer it | |
| AES-256-GCM for uploaded documents and signature images, with optional dedicated key in wp-config.php | Encrypted document/signature/field data in the WordPress database; cipher and key-management details not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| Sender, Viewer, Manager, and WPsigner Admin roles with a published permission matrix | WordPress sender/role access documented; Elite adds unlimited senders; granular four-role matrix not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| Patchstack VDP | Not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| Audit trails & timestamps | |||
| Chronological document and signer events with timestamps, IP, device/browser data, and completion certificate | Audit report with signer identity, IP, digital fingerprint, document/audit IDs, and UTC signing time | Shared / both offer it | |
| Yes — configurable RFC 3161 TSA embedded in the PDF | Not included in official documentation (UTC audit timestamps only) | WPsigner advantage | |
| LTV packs in PDF | Not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| PDF completion certificate with audit summary and hash | Bank-grade signer / audit certificate documented | Shared / both offer it | |
| Yes — import or generate .p12/.pfx certificates for PDF signing | Not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| Certificate ID / verification links (Smart Signing Forms) | Not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| Legal compliance | |||
| Controls can support ESIGN/UETA and SES-oriented eIDAS workflows; enforceability depends on the transaction and law | Vendor states UETA, ESIGN, and GDPR compliance on official pages | Shared / both offer it | |
| SES by default; AdES-oriented path with optional Didit KYC evidence | Mentions European / eIDAS-oriented wording in marketing; qualified signature issuance not included in official product documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| HIPAA-ready controls Learn more | Security controls supporting healthcare workflows (not “HIPAA certified”) | Not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage |
| Identity | |||
| Didit KYC (ID + face + liveness) | Not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| Multi-channel OTP — Email, SMS (Twilio), and WhatsApp for signer verification | Two-layer access code / password authentication; SMS OTP listed as coming soon and not included as a shipped product integration | WPsigner advantage | |
| Document & signing features | |||
| Yes | Yes — Assign Signer Order on Elite | Shared / both offer it | |
| Yes — invite all signers at once | Yes — documents can invite multiple signers without assigning order | Shared / both offer it | |
| Reusable template library documented | Document Templates listed on Elite | Shared / both offer it | |
| Draw, type, and upload | Draw / type documented; signature-image upload not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| Yes | Yes — Save as PDF | Shared / both offer it | |
| Official addon with drag-and-drop fields, conditional logic, OTP, Stripe payment, signed PDF, and completion certificate | Form-to-contract add-ons exist on Elite; an equivalent combined Smart Signing Forms product is not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| Yes — Stripe payment fields in Smart Signing Forms | Not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| Campaign public links and QR workflows documented | Stand Alone Documents for public / page-hosted signing | Shared / both offer it | |
| Integrations — forms & WordPress | |||
| Yes | Yes — Gravity Forms add-on (Elite) | Shared / both offer it | |
| Yes | Yes — Contact Form 7 add-on (Elite) | Shared / both offer it | |
| Yes | Yes — Formidable Forms add-on (Elite) | Shared / both offer it | |
| WPForms / Fluent Forms Learn more WPsigner integrations ApproveMe Fluent Forms ApproveMe integrations | Yes — WPForms and Fluent Forms | Yes — WPForms add-on and Fluent Forms add-on documented (Elite) | Shared / both offer it |
| Yes — Elementor Forms integration | Not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| Yes — auto contracts / orders | Yes — WooCommerce add-on (Elite / Lifetime) | Shared / both offer it | |
| Yes | Not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| Integrations — storage, CRM, messaging, automation | |||
| Cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, S3, Wasabi, R2) Learn more WPsigner integrations ApproveMe Dropbox ApproveMe Google Drive path | Native connectors — Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Amazon S3, Wasabi, Cloudflare R2 | Dropbox Sync add-on; Google Drive via Dropbox + Zapier; OneDrive/S3/Wasabi/R2 not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage |
| Yes — HubSpot, Pipedrive, and FluentCRM | ActiveCampaign add-on only; HubSpot, Pipedrive, and FluentCRM not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| Messaging (Twilio SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Teams) Learn more WPsigner integrations ApproveMe integrations | Yes — Twilio SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, and Microsoft Teams | Not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage |
| Yes — self-hosted REST API and signed webhooks with retries | Not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| Yes — Zapier, Make, n8n, and Pabbly | Zapier via email-parser workflow; Make, n8n, and Pabbly not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| Branding, UX, portal & analytics | |||
| Complete white-label mode can hide WPsigner text, logos, footer attribution, and external links | Logo/email/cover branding available; official pages conflict on eligible plans and a verified seal / PDF footer remain | WPsigner advantage | |
| Team and signer portals outside wp-admin | WordPress Document Portal shortcode for authenticated users (Elite) | Shared / both offer it | |
| Completion rate, time-to-sign, campaign metrics, and CSV export from WordPress data | Document activity notifications and audit tracking; an equivalent analytics/CSV dashboard is not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| Multilingual UI (10+ langs, RTL) Learn more WPsigner multilingual ApproveMe translation ApproveMe RTL | Built-in language packs, RTL, translated emails, WPML/Polylang support | Translatable via Loco Translate with an RTL add-on; built-in 10+ language packs not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage |
| Yes — signing and admin dark UI | Not included in official documentation | WPsigner advantage | |
| Official addons: Smart Signing Forms, Document Builder, ApproveMe Importer, MainWP, Uncanny Automator; Flow Builder coming soon | Mature Add-Ons and Integrations catalog documented | Shared / both offer it | |
| Migration | |||
| Official same-site addon imports signed PDFs with signers, SHA-256 hash, migration audit data, and resumable background processing | No official importer to leave ApproveMe; Import/Export is an internal backup tool, not a migration path to another eSign product | WPsigner advantage | |
Method: official WPsigner documentation and pricing were checked against official ApproveMe product, pricing, feature, integration, security, and support pages on August 11, 2026. If ApproveMe official sources include the capability, that is shown. If they do not document it, the row uses “Not included in official documentation” and counts as a WPsigner advantage. Conflicting ApproveMe claims are noted rather than silently resolved.
Compare the documented license terms
WPsigner starts at a published list price of $99/year with unlimited documents and signers. Use the calculator for your site count and verify current vendor pricing before purchasing.
Documented WPsigner capabilities
What WPsigner includes beyond the scored comparison
Extra WPsigner capabilities confirmed in official documentation. For scored yes/no criteria, see the comparison table above.
Evidence & identity
X.509 PKI digital IDs
Import or generate .p12/.pfx certificates to apply a cryptographic digital signature and certificate identity to completed PDFs.
Hashed audit trail and optional KYC
Audit events use an append-only SHA-256 chain and completion certificate. Optional Didit checks can add ID, face, and liveness evidence; KYC alone does not establish AdES or QES.
Signing workflows
Parallel and sequential signing
Send invitations to every signer at once or enforce a defined signing order for approval chains and dependent signatures.
Templates and public campaigns
Reuse document field layouts and create public signing links that generate a separate signed copy for each submission.
Smart Signing Forms addon
Build public signing forms with drag-and-drop fields, conditional logic, OTP, optional Stripe payment, signed PDF generation, and a completion certificate.
Automation & integrations
Self-hosted REST API and webhooks
Each WordPress installation exposes authenticated endpoints for documents, signers, templates, fields, sending, reminders, files, audit records, and statistics.
WordPress forms and commerce
Official documentation covers Fluent Forms, WPForms, Gravity Forms, Elementor Forms, Contact Form 7, WooCommerce, LearnDash, and Stripe workflows.
CRM, messaging, storage, and automation
Documented connectors include HubSpot, Pipedrive, FluentCRM, WhatsApp, SMS, Slack, Teams, major cloud storage providers, Zapier, Make, n8n, and Pabbly.
Brand & experience
Complete white-label mode
Replace WPsigner names, logos, colors, email branding, and footer text, or hide plugin branding and external WPsigner links.
Client portal and local analytics
Public dashboards let teams and signers work without wp-admin. Analytics cover status, completion rates, time-to-sign, campaigns, and CSV exports from WordPress data.
Multilingual signing and dark mode
The signing interface documents 10+ languages, RTL, translated emails, WPML/Polylang support, and light/dark themes without changing PDF appearance.
These entries do not change the comparison scoreboard. When ApproveMe official sources do not document a capability, the scored table marks it as “Not included in official documentation” and counts it as a WPsigner advantage.
Published price examples over 3 years
Arithmetic based on public list prices checked August 10, 2026. These are license-price examples, not quotes, and exclude taxes, hosting, promotions, and third-party service charges.
| Scenario | WPsigner | ApproveMe (WP E-Signature) | Difference over 3 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 WordPress site | Individual: $99 × 3 = $297 | Plus: $199.50 + $249.50 + $249.50 = $698.50 | Save ~$401 (about 57% less) |
| Up to 5 sites | Business: $149 × 3 = $447 | Elite: $299.50 × 3 = $898.50 | Save ~$452 (about 50% less) |
| 10+ sites, one-time payment | Agency Lifetime: $999 once — unlimited sites | Lifetime: $699 once — capped at 10 sites | Same price, no site cap with WPsigner |
Sources: wpsigner.com/pricing and approveme.com/email-limited-pricing. Vendors may change prices or plan terms; verify both pages before purchase.
Documented differences that may support a switch
Lower published entry and multi-site prices
WPsigner lists $99/year for one site, $149/year for five sites, and $349/year for unlimited sites. ApproveMe lists Plus at $199.50 for the first year and $249.50 on renewal, and Elite at $299.50/year for five sites.
Complete WPsigner white-label mode
WPsigner documentation says complete white-label mode can remove its text, logo, footer attribution, and external links. ApproveMe's official pages conflict on plan eligibility, but agree that a verified seal and PDF footer remain.
A documented ApproveMe archive importer
The official importer archives signed WP E-Signature documents from the same WordPress site as completed, hashed PDFs. It does not claim a full 1:1 migration of templates, drafts, pending workflows, fields, or settings.
ApproveMe → WPsigner migration checklist
WPsigner now includes an importer for signed ApproveMe PDFs on the same WordPress site. It is not a full 1:1 conversion: use this checklist to archive completed documents safely and recreate the templates and active workflows you still need.
Explore the WPsigner ApproveMe Importer- 1
Inventory templates and active documents
List every ApproveMe (WP E-Signature) template, standing document, and recurring send flow you still rely on — including who owns each process.
- 2
Back up signed PDFs and audit evidence
Export or download completed signed PDFs plus audit/certificate records. Preserve them according to your organization's retention and legal requirements.
- 3
Map fields, signers, and integrations
Note merge fields, signer roles, reminders, and connections (Gravity Forms, Contact Form 7, WooCommerce, etc.) so you can rebuild them deliberately in WPsigner.
- 4
Install WPsigner on staging first
Spin up a staging copy of WordPress, install WPsigner, and validate branding, email delivery, and PDF output before touching production.
- 5
Pilot your highest-volume flows
Recreate 1–3 critical templates and run real pilot signatures with internal stakeholders or friendly clients before full cutover.
- 6
Cut over and cancel the next renewal
Switch new sends to WPsigner, keep ApproveMe read-only briefly if needed, then cancel renewal once you are confident no new documents depend on it.
How to migrate from ApproveMe (WP E-Signature) to WPsigner
A practical HowTo — recreate what you need, archive what is already signed, and switch traffic when pilots pass.
1
Freeze scope and export archives
Decide which templates must live in WPsigner on day one. Back up the site and retain historical signed PDFs and audit records before starting the archive import.
2
Install WPsigner and set branding
Install on staging (then production), configure company details, white-label options, notification emails, and default PDF/certificate settings.
3
Recreate templates and form-triggered flows
Rebuild templates, signer order, and form integrations you still use. Expect to recreate workflows — not import them field-for-field automatically.
4
Run parallel pilots
For a short window, send new documents from WPsigner while ApproveMe remains available for in-flight or legacy lookups. Compare completion rates and signer feedback.
5
Cut over production and retire renewal
Point all new signature traffic to WPsigner, archive ApproveMe assets, and cancel the ApproveMe renewal once migration owners sign off.
Keep these migration truths in mind
Keep old signed PDFs as archives
The importer reads ApproveMe data and does not modify the source documents. Retain the signed PDFs and audit evidence under your own legal and retention policy.
Recreate templates and workflows
The importer handles completed signed-document archives, not templates, signer logic, or form connections. Rebuild the active workflows you still use once for a cleaner long-term setup.
Run parallel briefly if it helps
A short parallel period reduces risk: finish in-flight ApproveMe documents there, start new work in WPsigner, then turn off the old license at renewal.
Frequently asked questions
Are WPsigner signatures legally binding like ApproveMe (WP E-Signature)? +
WPsigner provides controls for intent, consent, attribution, document integrity, retention, and audit evidence that can support ESIGN-, UETA-, and eIDAS-oriented workflows. No software guarantees enforceability for every transaction; legal effect depends on the document, parties, configuration, evidence, and applicable law. WPsigner does not itself issue qualified eIDAS signatures.
Does the importer delete or change my ApproveMe documents? +
The official importer reads ApproveMe data and does not modify ApproveMe documents. Back up WordPress first and keep WP E-Signature plus Save as PDF active until the import finishes.
How does multi-site pricing compare? +
At the prices checked August 10, 2026, WPsigner lists $99/year for 1 site, $149/year for 5 sites, and $349/year for unlimited sites. ApproveMe lists Plus at $199.50 for the first year and $249.50 on renewal for 1 site/1 sender, Elite at $299.50/year for 5 sites, and Lifetime at $699 for 10 sites. Verify both official pricing pages before purchase.
Is ApproveMe Lifetime a better deal than WPsigner? +
The published licenses have different scopes. ApproveMe Lifetime is $699 for 10 sites. WPsigner lists lifetime options at $299 for 1 site, $499 for 5 sites, and $999 for unlimited sites. Compare the required site count, sender limits, included features, and current terms.
Does WPsigner work with Gravity Forms and Contact Form 7? +
WPsigner documents integrations for Gravity Forms and Contact Form 7. ApproveMe also documents integrations for both products. Existing form-to-document connections are not transferred by the ApproveMe Importer and must be configured again in WPsigner.
Is white-label included? +
WPsigner pricing states that every plan includes every feature, and its documentation describes a complete white-label mode that can remove WPsigner branding and external links. ApproveMe's pricing and product page place branding on Elite/Lifetime, while its branding feature page says Elite/Plus; its product page confirms that a verified seal and PDF footer remain.
What does the ApproveMe Importer transfer? +
It imports signed documents from ApproveMe tables on the same WordPress site as completed PDFs, including valid-email signers, signature metadata, a migration audit entry, a SHA-256 file hash, and the Imported from ApproveMe tag. It runs through a background WP-Cron queue.
Is there a 1-click importer from ApproveMe? +
WPsigner has an ApproveMe Importer, but it is an archive migration rather than a full 1:1 conversion. It requires both plugins on the same WordPress site and ApproveMe Save as PDF during import. Templates, drafts, awaiting documents, workflows, settings, cross-site data, and signers without email are not imported.
Do both products store documents on my WordPress site? +
Yes for their core self-hosted workflows, according to both vendors. WPsigner stores files and records on WordPress by default, while configured external services can receive data. ApproveMe stores signed-document data, signatures, input fields, and audit events in the site's WordPress database, while optional integrations such as Dropbox, ActiveCampaign, Google Drive, or Zapier can transfer data externally.
Do both products provide audit trails? +
Yes. WPsigner documents chronological document and signer events with timestamps, IP and device data, plus a Certificate of Completion. ApproveMe documents signer identity, IP, digital fingerprint, unique document and audit IDs, and UTC signing time.
Unlimited Usage · Self-Hosted
Stop paying per envelope
Choose an annual or lifetime license with unlimited documents and no per-envelope fees. Keep control of your data and signing workflows.