Draftly vs PandaDoc
PandaDoc is a document platform covering proposals, quotes, contracts and e-signatures for businesses of all sizes. Draftly does one thing: writes and tracks proposals for freelancers. Here's how they compare.
PandaDoc's prices and features last checked on September 30, 2026 from PandaDoc plan comparison (help center, updated July 22, 2026). Prices change, so check their site before deciding.
The short answer
If you need legally binding e-signatures on many kinds of documents, or want to collect payment inside the document, PandaDoc covers far more ground. If you're a freelancer who mostly needs a proposal written and sent, Draftly writes the first draft for you and costs less per year.
Side by side
- Entry price, billed yearly
- DraftlyStarter $86/year (about $7/month) for 15 proposals a month. Pro $278/year, unlimited.
- PandaDocStarter $19 per seat per month
- Entry price, billed monthly
- DraftlyStarter $9/month, Pro $29/month
- PandaDocStarter $35 per seat per month
- Free option
- DraftlyFree plan: 3 proposals, no time limit
- PandaDocFree eSign plan: up to 60 documents a year, 2 recipients each
- How the price scales
- DraftlyA flat price per account, not per user
- PandaDocPer seat
- Writing the proposal
- DraftlyAI drafts the whole proposal (scope, timeline, pricing, terms) from a plain-English brief, then you edit it
- PandaDocYou create documents in a drag-and-drop editor from templates. Starter includes up to 5 of your own templates, plus a public library of 400+.
- Client sign-off
- DraftlyOnline acceptance that records the client's name, email, IP address and time. Not a formal e-signature.
- PandaDocUnlimited e-signatures on paid plans
- Tracking
- DraftlyOpen alerts, how far they read, time spent per section, re-reads, and client comments in the document
- PandaDocDocument analytics, status tracking, audit trail and email notifications on Starter and Business
- Payments
- DraftlyNot included
- PandaDocStripe, PayPal, Square, Authorize.net and QuickBooks Payments on Business and Enterprise
- Integrations
- DraftlyNone
- PandaDocCRM integrations, with Salesforce as a paid add-on below Enterprise
- Built for
- DraftlySolo freelancers and small studios
- PandaDocBusinesses and sales teams handling many document types
“Not listed” means it isn't on their pricing page, not that the product can't do it.
PandaDoc plans
Free eSign$0
Basic e-signatures and document creation, up to 60 documents a year with 2 recipients each.
Starter$19/seat/month yearly, $35 monthly
Unlimited e-signatures, up to 5 templates, document analytics and notifications.
Business$49/seat/month yearly, $65 monthly
Unlimited templates, payment collection and more workflow features.
EnterpriseCustom
Full analytics and reporting, Salesforce included.
What one freelancer pays in a year
- PandaDoc Starter is $19 × 12 = $228 a year for one seat. The Free eSign plan costs nothing but is capped at 60 documents a year.
- Draftly Starter is $86 a year for 15 proposals a month, and your first 3 proposals are free.
List prices on September 30, 2026, billed yearly, before tax and add-ons.
When Draftly is the better choice
- You want the proposal written for you from a brief, not built from a template.
- Proposals are the only documents you send, so a broader platform is more than you need.
- You'd rather pay one flat account price than per seat.
- You're a solo freelancer and want a lower yearly cost.
When PandaDoc is the better choice
- You need legally binding e-signatures, including on contracts, NDAs and quotes, not just proposals.
- You want clients to pay inside the document (Business plan and up).
- You only need occasional e-signatures and the Free eSign plan covers it.
- A team shares templates and needs audit trails and CRM integrations.
What Draftly doesn't do
- No formal e-signature. Draftly records an acceptance, which is not the same thing if your client or your contract requires a signature.
- No payment collection. You invoice separately.
- No CRM or other integrations.
- One account, no team seats, roles or approval workflows.
- The AI writes a first draft. You still need to check the scope and the numbers before sending.