E-signature forms
Forms people can sign on screen
Permission slips, waivers and sign-offs, signed on a phone in seconds. The signature and the exact wording agreed to are stored with the response.
Free forever, with unlimited responses. No credit card.
Paper forms get lost, and PDFs have to be printed, signed, scanned and sent back. A signature question lets people sign where they already are, on their phone or laptop, at the end of a form that collects everything else you need.
How it works in hootform
- Add a Consent question for what's being agreed to, such as "I give permission for my child to attend the trip." The response stores the wording exactly as it was shown, so your records still say what was agreed even if you edit the form later. See consent questions.
- Add a Signature question. Respondents draw their signature with a finger or a mouse. See signature questions.
- Keep the record. The signature is stored as an image with the response, alongside when it was submitted, and can be downloaded or printed with the rest of the response as a PDF.
Private by default
Signatures are encrypted at rest with a key for that form alone, as part of hootform's encryption, which is on by default. Only people with access to the form's workspace can see them.
What it is, and what it isn't
A hootform signature records that a person confirmed something, and when. It isn't a certified e-signature service with identity checks or audit certificates. For permission slips, waivers, sign-offs and consent forms that's usually what's needed. For contracts that need a qualified electronic signature, use a dedicated signing service.
What's free, and what's Premium
| Free | Premium, $19/month | |
|---|---|---|
| Signature questions, drawn on screen | ✓ | ✓ |
| Consent checkboxes that record the wording agreed to | ✓ | ✓ |
| Encryption of signatures at rest | ✓ | ✓ |
Premium is one price for the whole organization. See plans.
Templates that use it
- HR & recruiting Job application form template Collect applications for an open role: contact details, experience, and links to work.
- Events Event registration form template Sign people up for an event, with seats, sessions and dietary needs. Pair it with a response limit to cap attendance.
- Feedback & research Product feedback survey template What people use, what they'd rank first, and what's missing — with a follow-up when an answer is thin.
- Events Webinar registration form template Sign people up for a session, with a trailer up front and the campaign that sent them recorded.
- Sales & marketing Lead qualification form template Sort serious buyers from browsers: size, need and timing, with browsers sent straight to the newsletter.
- Sales & marketing Waitlist form template Collect early sign-ups and learn what people would use it for, with the referral link recorded.
- Education & nonprofit Volunteer sign-up form template Match volunteers to shifts: where they can help, when they're free and how to reach them.
- Feedback & research User research screener template Find the right people for a research study: who they are, how often they do the thing, and a recent example.
- Education & nonprofit Scholarship application form template Applications with the documents attached: studies, a personal statement, circumstances and a transcript.
In the docs
Questions people ask
Can people sign on a phone?
Yes. The signature box works with a finger on any touch screen, as well as with a mouse.
Are signatures legally binding?
That depends on what's being signed and where. A drawn signature with a recorded consent suits most everyday permissions. Check with your own adviser for contracts.
Can I get a PDF of a signed form?
Yes. Open the response and choose Download PDF, which prints the whole response, signature included, through your browser.
Is there a template with a signature?
Yes. The school trip permission form collects consent, medical details and a signature.
More features
- Conversational forms Build conversational forms that ask one question at a time, with keyboard shortcuts, logic and answer recall. Free, with unlimited forms and responses.
- Conditional logic Add conditional logic to any form: skip questions, branch on any answer or hidden field, recall answers, and finish on different endings. Free.
- Quiz maker Make a scored quiz online: points per answer, a result screen that shows the score, and a different ending for each score band. Free, with unlimited responses.
- Multi-step forms Build multi-step forms that save every answer as it's given, so people can stop and resume, and you can see exactly where they stopped. Free.
- File upload forms Let people attach CVs, photos, screenshots and documents to any form. Files are stored with each response and encrypted at rest. Free up to 10 MB a file.
- Encrypted forms hootform encrypts identifying answers and files at rest with a key per form, on by default and free. Delete a form and its responses can never be read again.