Head-to-head
DocuSign vs 電子印鑑GMOサイン (GMO Sign): which should you choose?
The structural choice is per-seat versus per-send, and for domestic-only contracts GMO Sign wins on cost at almost any headcount. Five senders: GMO Light is ¥8,800 + 50×¥100 = ¥13,800/month against DocuSign Standard's ¥16,500 — and at 50 sends a month those five seats exceed their 500-envelope annual allowance. Thirty senders: GMO Sign is unchanged at ¥13,800 while DocuSign Standard is ¥99,000, and Standard caps at 50 users. Two things still pull the other way. DocuSign is the international default, so if counterparties are overseas you are buying their familiarity, not just signatures. And GMO Sign is the only one of the two that publishes party-type (registered-seal equivalent) signing, at ¥300 per send — if your higher-stakes contracts need that, it is not a price comparison at all. Note that we have not verified either tool's Electronic Bookkeeping Act or Electronic Signature Act conformance against a primary source; confirm retention requirements with each vendor.
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| Tool | Best for | Pricing | Unlimited users | Per-send fee | Free tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DocuSign www.docusign.com | Companies that need one e-signature standard across multiple countries, or whose counterparties already expect DocuSign. | Japan storefront (JPY): Personal ¥1,333/mo (5 envelopes/mo, 1 user); Standard ¥3,300/user/mo; Business Pro ¥5,300/user/mo — both 100 envelopes per user annually, max 50 users. 51+ users and SSO require a quoted Enhanced plan. source | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
電子印鑑GMOサイン (GMO Sign) www.gmosign.com | Japanese companies that want to start free, or that specifically need party-type (registered-seal) signatures for higher-stakes contracts. | Free tier (5 sends/mo, 1 user); Light ¥8,800/mo and Standard ¥24,000/mo on annual terms (excl. tax), users and sends unlimited. Per send: ¥100 witness-type, ¥300 party-type. source | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
When to choose DocuSign
Choose DocuSign when contracts cross borders, or when a small team each sends a lot. Envelopes are included in the seat price, so a heavy month costs nothing extra, and overseas counterparties almost never need an explanation. On the Japan storefront, Standard is ¥3,300/user/month with 100 envelopes per user annually.
When to choose 電子印鑑GMOサイン (GMO Sign)
Choose GMO Sign when the contracts are domestic and you want the cheapest route, or when you need party-type (registered-seal equivalent) signatures. Paid plans are ¥8,800/month with unlimited users and sends, witness-type sends are ¥100 each, and the free tier (5 sends/month, one user) lets you test with real counterparties before paying anything.
Frequently asked questions
- We sign with both domestic and overseas counterparties — can we use both tools?
- Yes, and the economics can work: GMO Sign's unlimited users cover broad domestic sending, with a few DocuSign seats for the international team. The cost is process complexity — two archives, two audit trails, and a written rule for which contract goes through which tool. Check that your retention approach covers both before splitting.
- Is GMO Sign's free tier enough to run a small team on?
- No — treat it as a trial, not a plan. It is capped at one user, five sends a month, and witness-type signatures only. It is genuinely useful for proving the workflow with a real counterparty before committing budget, but any team sending regularly will need the ¥8,800/month Light tier.
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