What's the best software for preparing documents before sending them for signature?

The “best” software depends on what kind of documents you’re preparing and how much workflow you need before signature. If your goal is to format, review, and then send documents for e-signature, these are the strongest options:

Best overall

Adobe Acrobat + Adobe Sign

• Best if you work with PDFs a lot
• Strong editing, commenting, redaction, form creation, and signing workflow
• Good for professional/legal/enterprise use

Best for simple, fast e-signature workflows

DocuSign

• Very easy to send documents for signature
• Great templates and routing
• Less focused on document editing, more on signature collection

Best for Microsoft Office users

Microsoft Word + Adobe Sign / DocuSign / Microsoft eSignature

• Great if your documents start in Word
• Easy to draft and edit before converting to PDF or sending directly
• Best when your team already uses Microsoft 365

Best for collaboration before signing

Google Docs + e-signature integration

• Good for drafting, comments, and approvals
• Convenient for teams working in-browser
• Usually you’ll export to PDF or use a signing add-on afterward

Best budget-friendly PDF prep

Foxit PDF Editor

• Solid PDF editing and form tools
• Often cheaper than Adobe
• Good for preparing documents before signature

Best for teams that need workflow automation

PandaDoc

• Strong if you need document generation, approvals, quotes, and signatures
• Great for sales and business workflows
• More than just a signature tool

My quick recommendation:

• For most professionals: Adobe Acrobat + Adobe Sign
• For signature-only simplicity: DocuSign
• For business proposals/contracts: PandaDoc
• For low-cost PDF editing: Foxit

If you want, I can recommend the best one for your specific situation, like legal docs, HR forms, sales contracts, or personal paperwork.