How to Move From HelloSign to AddSign Without Losing Documents

You signed up for HelloSign (now branded Dropbox Sign) because it had a clean interface and a name you trusted. But somewhere along the way, it got folded deeper into the Dropbox ecosystem, and now you are paying for a bundled plan that assumes you want Dropbox storage along with your signing tool. If you do not use Dropbox, or you just want a standalone e-signature tool without the extra layers, switching is simpler than it sounds.

Here is the step-by-step process for moving from HelloSign to AddSign, without losing anything you have already signed.

Before You Switch: What to Know

Your Signed Documents Stay in HelloSign

Moving to a new e-signature tool does not delete anything from your old one. Every document you have completed in HelloSign stays in your HelloSign (Dropbox Sign) account, tied to your Dropbox login. You can go back and download those signed PDFs at any time. Before you cancel anything, pull down local copies of the documents you want easy access to going forward.

Templates Need to Be Recreated

Templates do not transfer between e-signature platforms -- this is true whether you are moving from HelloSign, DocuSign, or any other tool. You cannot export a HelloSign template file and import it into AddSign. The upside is that rebuilding a template in AddSign is quick: upload the base PDF, place the signature and date fields, save it with a clear name. Most small businesses have a handful of templates in regular rotation, and each one takes a few minutes to set up.

Your Contacts Do Not Need to Do Anything

The people who sign your documents -- clients, contractors, vendors -- do not need to create an account, install anything, or change how they work. They will simply start receiving signature request emails from AddSign instead of HelloSign. The signing experience on their end is the same either way: open the email, click the link, review the document, sign.

Step-by-Step Migration

Step 1: Download Your Signed Documents From HelloSign (5 Minutes)

Before you cancel your HelloSign or Dropbox Sign plan:

1. Log into your HelloSign (Dropbox Sign) account.
2. Go to your completed or signed documents section.
3. Download each signed document as a PDF, including the certificate of completion if you want the full audit record attached.
4. Save these files somewhere you control -- a local folder or your own cloud storage.

You do not need to do this for every document you have ever signed, just the ones you are likely to need again. HelloSign retains your documents even after you downgrade or cancel, but keeping your own copies is good practice regardless of which tool you use.

Step 2: Sign Up for AddSign (1 Minute)

Go to addsign.io/signup and create your account. No credit card is required to start. The free plan includes 8 documents per month, which covers most solo operators and small teams. If you need unlimited sends, the Pro plan is $9.99/month with flat pricing.

Step 3: Recreate Your Templates (3-5 Minutes)

For each template you were using in HelloSign:

1. Upload the same base PDF. If you no longer have the unsigned original, you can usually recreate it from a saved copy or your source files.
2. Drag and drop signature fields, date fields, name fields, and any other fields your document needs.
3. Save it as a template with a name you will recognize later.

Tip: Start with whichever template you send most often. If one document -- a service agreement, an intake form, a standard contract -- makes up most of your volume, set that one up first and add the rest as you need them.

Step 4: Send a Test Document (1 Minute)

Before sending anything to a real client, confirm the workflow end to end:

1. Select your newly created template.
2. Add yourself as the signer.
3. Send it.
4. Open the email on your phone, sign it, and check that everything renders and behaves the way you expect.

This gives you confidence that the switch is working before a client ever sees it.

Step 5: Cancel HelloSign (If Applicable)

Once you have downloaded the signed documents you want to keep and confirmed AddSign is working:

1. Log into your HelloSign or Dropbox account.
2. Find the subscription or billing section tied to Dropbox Sign.
3. Cancel the plan.

Note: Because HelloSign billing runs through your Dropbox account, double check your renewal date before canceling so you do not pay for an extra billing cycle you did not mean to.

What You Gain by Switching

A Standalone Tool, No Dropbox Ecosystem Tie-In

HelloSign's biggest structural change since the Dropbox acquisition is that it is no longer really a standalone product -- it is a feature of a Dropbox account. If you do not use Dropbox for storage, you are still carrying that ecosystem along with your signing tool. AddSign is not attached to any other product. It is a signing tool and nothing else, with its own account, its own login, and its own billing.

Flat Pricing Instead of Dropbox-Bundled Tiers

Dropbox Sign pricing is structured around Dropbox's broader tier system, which mixes storage, sharing, and signing features together -- check their current pricing page for the specifics, since plans and bundles shift over time. AddSign's Pro plan is a flat $9.99/month with unlimited documents. No bundled storage you are not using, no tier you upgraded into just to unlock one signing feature you needed.

In-Person Signing, Which HelloSign Lacks

AddSign includes a "Sign Here" in-person signing mode built for handing your device to someone standing in front of you -- no email link required, no waiting for them to check their inbox. This matters for field service businesses, real estate agents, and anyone who closes deals face-to-face. It is not something HelloSign offers as a core feature.

Mobile-First by Design

AddSign is built for phones and tablets as the primary interface, not as a scaled-down version of a desktop tool. Sending a document, placing fields, and signing all work naturally from a phone screen.

What You Give Up

To be fair, here is what HelloSign offers that AddSign does not:

• Dropbox storage integration -- If you already store your documents in Dropbox and like having your signed files land directly in that same storage system, HelloSign's native integration is a real convenience you would lose.
• Brand recognition -- Some clients recognize the HelloSign or Dropbox name and associate it with a certain level of trust. This is a perception factor, not a functional one, but it is worth naming honestly.

If either of those matters more to your business than a standalone tool and flat pricing, HelloSign may still be the better fit.

Common Questions About Switching

Will my clients notice the change?

They will get signature request emails from AddSign instead of HelloSign. The actual signing steps look similar either way -- open the link, review the document, sign. Most clients care about finishing the task, not which company sent the email.

Can I keep both accounts active while I transition?

Yes. There is no conflict between having an active HelloSign (Dropbox Sign) account and an AddSign account at the same time. Many businesses run both for a few weeks -- sending new documents through AddSign while confirming everything works -- before canceling HelloSign.

What happens to documents already out for signature in HelloSign?

Anything you sent through HelloSign before switching will continue through HelloSign. Those signers will get their original HelloSign links and complete the process there. You do not need to resend those documents through AddSign -- just start routing new sends through AddSign going forward.

Is AddSign legally equivalent to HelloSign?

Yes. Both tools produce electronic signatures that are generally legally binding under the ESIGN Act and UETA. What establishes legal validity is the signing process itself -- intent to sign, consent, and a documented audit trail -- not which company's name is on the product. AddSign logs the same kind of audit trail elements (signer identity, timestamp, IP address, device information) that support enforceability.

For a fuller feature-by-feature breakdown, see our post on AddSign vs HelloSign for small teams. And if you are a freelancer specifically, see how freelance designers use e-signatures to get contracts signed before starting work -- HelloSign has long been popular in that crowd, and the same workflow applies once you switch.

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This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Electronic signature laws vary by state and document type. Consult a legal professional to determine whether electronic signatures are appropriate for your specific use case.

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