Comparison
Clinch vs Zoho Sign for freelancers
Zoho Sign is a solid, inexpensive e-signature product, especially if you already use Zoho apps: a free tier, per-user plans and EU qualified signatures on its top plan. It signs documents you bring. Here's how it compares with Clinch for the freelance contract job.
Start free — no card required →| Feature | Clinch | Zoho Sign |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for 3 contracts/mo, then 15/mo or $120/yr unlimited | Free (1 user, 5 envelopes/mo); Standard $12/user/mo ($10 yearly, 25 envelopes); Professional $20/user/mo |
| Drafts the contract for you | Yes — describe the deal in plain language, AI drafts it from a vetted template | No — you upload your own document |
| Client signs without an account | Yes, from their phone, in about 30 seconds | Yes, signers need no account |
| Collects your deposit at signing | Yes — Stripe Connect or your own payment link, paid directly to you | Only on the Enterprise plan, via Zoho Checkout |
| Qualified electronic signatures (QES, EU) | No — simple electronic signatures with an audit trail | Yes, on Enterprise |
When Zoho Sign is the better call
If you're already in the Zoho ecosystem, need qualified EU signatures, or sign many kinds of documents you've drafted yourself, Zoho Sign is a good fit. Clinch fits when you want the freelance contract written for you and the deposit collected without moving to an enterprise plan.
FAQ
Which has the bigger free plan?
Zoho Sign's free plan has 5 envelopes a month for documents you bring; Clinch's has 3 contracts a month, drafted for you, with deposit collection.
Do I need QES for freelance contracts?
Rarely. Standard commercial contracts are valid with simple electronic signatures under eIDAS and ESIGN; QES matters for specific regulated documents. See /legality.
Are the contracts legally binding?
Signatures are Simple Electronic Signatures (SES) with an audit trail and a hashed certificate, valid for standard commercial contracts under ESIGN (US) and eIDAS (EU). See /legality for the limits.
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