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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Docusign vs Acrobat Reader

Docusign 4.9★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Docusign
Acrobat Reader 4.7★ · Free to download 60

Docusign is generally preferred for its ease of use in signing documents, especially for individual or occasional use, while Acrobat Reader, despite its widespread use, faces more criticism for bugs, slow performance, and aggressive monetization.

Full reviews: Docusign · Acrobat Reader

Docusign offers a more user-friendly experience for electronic signatures, with many users praising its speed and convenience, though some recent updates have introduced glitches and subscription issues. Acrobat Reader, while a staple for PDF viewing, is increasingly criticized for being slow, buggy, and pushing paid features, leading to a frustrating user experience.

Head to head

Ease of Use for Signing edge: DocusignR5R6R8R9
Docusign Docusign is widely praised for being user-friendly and easy to navigate for signing documents, even on mobile devices, making the process quick and efficient R5R8. However, some users find the actual signing process difficult to maneuver or struggle with placing text boxes accurately R6R9R10R15.
Acrobat Reader Acrobat Reader allows users to fill out forms professionally , but many find it difficult to use for editing or filling, with some features being frustrating or non-functional without a paid subscription .
Reliability and Performance tieR4R7R15R24
Docusign When Docusign works, it's considered great R4. However, many recent reviews highlight significant issues such as documents not being received, glitches on specific iPad screens, slow performance, checkmarks disappearing, and server errors R4R7R15. Some users also report issues with saving progress on multi-page forms R24.
Acrobat Reader Acrobat Reader is frequently criticized for being buggy, slow, and prone to crashes R64R81R82. Users report issues like freezing, inability to type, and check boxes not appearing after updates . Some updates are seen as ruining the viewing experience by adding unwanted editing features .
Price and Value tieR1R3R14R16
Docusign Docusign is appreciated by some for being free for basic signing needs R3R14R27, solving problems without an expensive subscription R14. However, many users find the paid subscription to be excessively expensive (nearly $400/year) and feel it's a rip-off R1. There are also significant complaints about the difficulty of canceling subscriptions and being charged after cancellation R1R16.
Acrobat Reader Acrobat Reader is free to download, but many essential features require a paid subscription, which users find frustrating . Users feel bombarded with upgrade prompts and that the app tries to trap them into paying . There are also complaints about being charged after canceling free trials or subscriptions R94R100.
Customer Support and Account Management tieR4R19R58R67
Docusign Docusign users report difficult customer support, with long wait times and unresolved issues R4. There are also complaints about the app forcing password changes and requiring app use even when a web browser should suffice R19. Issues with verification emails not sending also hinder account setup R58.
Acrobat Reader Acrobat Reader users struggle to get in touch with customer service for account questions, finding it maddeningly difficult to locate contact information R67. Some users cannot log into their accounts or access paid features despite having a subscription .
Features and Functionality tieR5R8R10R12
Docusign Docusign is praised for its core function of making signing documents easy and convenient R5R8. However, users desire features like the ability to fill or make fillable fields instead of creating textboxes for each block R12. Some also miss the ability to make letters smaller to fit R10 and find it clunky with no pre-set address or phone numbers . The app also forces users to share email and phone numbers, raising privacy concerns .
Acrobat Reader Acrobat Reader offers PDF viewing and filling capabilities . However, recent updates have introduced unwanted AI suggestions and features that clutter the interface and detract from the core functionality, with no option to disable them R69. The app is also criticized for taking over all files and not allowing settings changes . Some users also report issues with file management and deletion .
Pick Docusign if

You primarily need an easy and efficient way to sign documents electronically, especially for occasional or personal use where the free tier might suffice R3R14R27.

Pick Acrobat Reader if

You need a robust PDF viewer and occasional editor, and are willing to navigate its aggressive monetization and potential performance issues, or if your workflow is deeply integrated with the Adobe ecosystem .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of recent negative reviews, particularly concerning performance issues, monetization strategies, and customer support. Docusign's positive reviews often focus on its core signing functionality, while Acrobat Reader's positive reviews are more general or acknowledge its utility despite flaws.

Frequently asked

Is Docusign truly free to use?
Docusign offers a free tier that allows users to sign documents, which many find convenient and sufficient for basic needs R3R14R27. However, advanced features and higher usage limits typically require a paid subscription, which can be expensive, with some users reporting costs of nearly $400 per year R1.
Why are there so many complaints about Acrobat Reader being slow or buggy?
Acrobat Reader users frequently report that the app is slow to open documents, often freezes, crashes, and has numerous bugs that hinder its functionality, especially after recent updates R64R81R82. Many also dislike the new AI features and constant prompts for upgrades, which they feel clutter the interface and degrade the viewing experience R69.
Is it difficult to cancel subscriptions for either app?
Both Docusign and Acrobat Reader users report significant difficulties in canceling subscriptions, with complaints of being charged after cancellation or free trials, and poor customer service making the process frustrating R1R16R94R100.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R5] Docusign 5/5 · US It is user friendly and so easy to get it done: It’s so easy to go through the app upload a pdf. And get it signed and dated!
  2. [R6] Docusign 3/5 · US Seems simple: Will not let me sign using the button even after I updated my information
  3. [R8] Docusign 5/5 · US Easysign: A very fast and efficient way of getting paperwork done easy!
  4. [R9] Docusign 3/5 · US Kathryn: I found trying to maneuver the actual signing process to be extremely difficult. I tried all kinds of ways for 3 days before I was able to actually sign the document regarding
  5. [R4] Docusign 1/5 · US Customer support is difficult: Great when the app is working. Now people are not receiving my documents. Reach out to customer service, been over an hour, have got nowhere.
  6. [R7] Docusign 1/5 · US Glitchy and useless on IPad 13 inch screens: Used to be good before an update years ago. After that was slow and glitchy. Horrible at a point and useless to use on IPad 13 inch screens with Apple Pencil. If I was apple I was stop this download for 13 inch screen iPads. You place the initials in the box and send to sign, when it comes back initials are half an inch in the middle of the document rig
  7. [R15] Docusign 3/5 · US Process: When you pick an item on document sign it zooms way in and makes it hard to see what you are typing! And when you scroll around the document it grabs text blocks and moves to undesired locations.
  8. [R24] Docusign 1/5 · US Failure to Save Progress: Although it gets the job done, i dont recommend this for forms of multiple pages as im unable to save any progress and any errors in loading pages cause the loss of all progress and a waste of time.
  9. [R1] Docusign 1/5 · US Rip-off: WAY too expensive for what it actually is, nearly $400/year now. And they will not honor a refund when you try to cancel on the day of renewal. I have never seen a company do that. Greedy, unethical people.
  10. [R3] Docusign 3/5 · US Excelente: Muy práctico y lo mejor es que es gratis
  11. [R14] Docusign 5/5 · US Fast & free!: I need to sign timesheets weekly and am currently very financially stretched. This solved my problem and works flawlessly. No need for expensive Adobe subscription. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠
  12. [R16] Docusign 1/5 · US Purposefully makes it impossible to cancel subscription: Need this app/product monthly? Fantastic! It works okay and does what it advertises. Only need a few signatures one time but don’t need it again? Then you’re the customer they really want! They’ve done everything in their power to make it as hard as possible for you to cancel your subscription. You’ll just keep getting charged monthly withou
  13. [R19] Docusign 1/5 · US FORCED APP USE & FORCED PASSWORD CHANGE: There should be no reason that I can complete the whole process on a web browser. They force you to get the app to finish sending you envelope. On top of that it forced me to change my password even though I just used it to sign in to the web page. If you’re gonna force people to use the app don’t force people to change there password. There’s obviously a b
  14. [R58] Docusign 1/5 · GB Your verification emails aren’t sending.: Nothing received so can’t set up an account.
  15. [R67] Acrobat Reader 1/5 · US Customer service is lacking: Is there any way to get in touch with someone at Adobe? I have questions about my account and can’t find a way to contact them on their website. If it’s there, they did a good job of hiding it. Pretty maddening.
  16. [R10] Docusign 1/5 · US Text: Need the old version back. I Can’t make the letters small anymore to fit
  17. [R12] Docusign 3/5 · US Fill in blank feature needed: Would be great and more user friendly to be able to fill or make fillable and or check instead of having to create a textbox for each block
  18. [R27] Docusign 5/5 · US Muy buen servicio: Me encanta puedo hacer mis documentos por gratis
  19. [R64] Acrobat Reader 1/5 · US Very buggy: The app sucks
  20. [R69] Acrobat Reader 3/5 · US Too many issues: Adobe used to be my go to app for all my PDFs and all my work. Now it’s only functionable about half the time. My screen is filled with AI suggestions, when all I really want to do is create a PDF.
  21. [R81] Acrobat Reader 3/5 · GB Soooo slow!: App itself is fine and works well, but takes an age to open (like 20+ seconds to open a small sized standard PDF document). Seriously, what is the app doing to take so long to load - I can open the same documents in other PDF reader apps virtually instantly…
  22. [R82] Acrobat Reader 1/5 · US Always crashes: I hate this app
  23. [R94] Acrobat Reader 1/5 · US Charged after Canceling subscription: I canceled 2 months after that the company charged me $29.99… I didn’t find some mail to write message to them. Thank you.
  24. [R100] Acrobat Reader 2/5 · US Billing Scam: I signed up for a 7 day free trial and cancelled it the same day (I have proof) and was still charged $14.99. After speaking with Apple, they said that I may have had a subscription in the past which is definitely not the case. Presenting consumers with a trial that is not honored is a deceptive practice.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store