Comparison
Clinch vs Dropbox Sign (HelloSign) for freelancers
Dropbox Sign (still widely known as HelloSign) is one of the nicest pure e-signature tools around: simple, reliable, well integrated with Dropbox and Google Workspace. It does one step of the job — signing a document you already have. Here's an honest comparison for a freelancer whose job starts before the document exists and ends when the deposit lands.
Start free — no card required →| Feature | Clinch | Dropbox Sign (HelloSign) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for 3 contracts/mo, then $15/mo or $120/yr unlimited | Very limited free use; paid plans from roughly $15–20/mo per user at the time of writing |
| Drafts the contract for you | Yes — describe the deal in plain language, AI drafts it from a vetted freelance template | No — you upload a finished document; templates are for reusing your own files |
| Client signs without an account | Yes, from their phone, in about 30 seconds | Yes — account-free signing is a Dropbox Sign strength too |
| Collects your deposit at signing | Yes — Stripe Connect or your own payment link, paid directly to you | No built-in payment at signing — invoicing happens in another tool |
| Dropbox / Google Workspace integration | Not offered — you download the signed PDF and certificate | Deep — signed files land straight in Dropbox, native Google add-ons |
When Dropbox Sign (HelloSign) is the better call
If your contracts are already written (by your lawyer, or a client sends theirs), you live in Dropbox or Google Workspace, and you only need signatures, Dropbox Sign is a great, focused choice. Clinch earns its place when you'd otherwise juggle a drafting step, a signing tool and a separate invoice for the same deal.
FAQ
Is HelloSign the same as Dropbox Sign?
Yes — Dropbox acquired HelloSign and renamed it Dropbox Sign. Same product lineage, same core signing flow.
Are Clinch signatures as valid as Dropbox Sign's?
Both produce Simple Electronic Signatures (SES) with an audit trail, valid for standard commercial contracts under ESIGN (US) and eIDAS (EU). See our /legality page for what that does and doesn't cover.
Can I bring my existing HelloSign templates?
Yes — paste the text or upload the PDF. Uploaded PDFs are signed as-is, byte for byte, so nothing about your wording changes.
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