What is PandaDoc?
PandaDoc is a document automation platform that helps sales teams create proposals, quotes, and contracts quickly—then get them signed without leaving the platform. While it offers CPQ functionality, PandaDoc's core strength is making documents look great and getting them signed fast.
The platform has over 50,000 customers, with a sweet spot in the SMB and mid-market space where teams need professional documents without enterprise CPQ complexity. The free e-signature tier has made it a popular DocuSign alternative for startups and small teams.
Pricing Breakdown
Free eSign
- Unlimited e-signatures
- Unlimited documents
- Mobile app access
- Basic templates
- No payment collection
Essentials
- Everything in Free
- Templates library
- Document analytics
- Basic integrations
- Payment collection
Business
- Everything in Essentials
- CPQ & pricing tables
- CRM integrations
- Approval workflows
- Custom branding
Enterprise
- Everything in Business
- SSO & advanced security
- Custom workflows
- API access
- Dedicated support
Note: Prices shown are annual billing. Monthly billing is 20-30% higher. The Business plan at $49/user/month is where most sales teams land—it's where CPQ features unlock.
Core Features
Document Builder
Drag-and-drop editor for creating proposals, quotes, and contracts. Content library lets you save reusable blocks. Rich text, images, videos supported.
Template Library
750+ pre-built templates for proposals, contracts, NDAs, and more. Customizable to match your brand. Industry-specific options available.
E-Signatures
Legally binding signatures built into the platform. No separate DocuSign subscription needed. Audit trail and compliance included.
CPQ (Business Plan)
Pricing tables with product catalog, quantity selection, and optional items. Basic discount rules. Less powerful than dedicated CPQ tools.
Document Analytics
Track when recipients open documents, which pages they view, and how long they spend. Notifications when documents are opened.
Payment Collection
Collect payments directly from documents via Stripe, PayPal, or Square. Useful for deposit collection on proposals.
PandaDoc vs DocuSign vs DealHub
| Feature | PandaDoc | DocuSign | DealHub |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | Yes (unlimited) | 3 docs/month | No |
| E-Signatures | Built-in | Built-in | Integration needed |
| Document Creation | Excellent | Basic | Good |
| Template Library | 750+ | Limited | Limited |
| CPQ Capabilities | Basic | No | Advanced |
| Complex Pricing | Limited | No | Excellent |
| Starting Price | $0 (free tier) | $10/mo | ~$50/user/mo |
| Best For | Proposals, simple quotes | Just signatures | Complex B2B deals |
What Users Say
PandaDoc CPQ: Honest Assessment
PandaDoc markets CPQ features, but let's be realistic about what it can and can't do:
What Works
- Simple product catalogs with fixed pricing
- Pricing tables with quantity selection
- Optional line items buyers can select
- Basic discounting (percentage or fixed)
- CRM field merging for personalization
Where It Falls Short
- No complex bundle rules or dependencies
- Limited multi-tier pricing support
- No usage-based or consumption pricing
- No subscription management or billing
- Basic approval workflows (not multi-level)
Bottom line: PandaDoc CPQ works for companies with straightforward pricing. If you have per-seat SaaS pricing or simple service packages, it's sufficient. If you have enterprise pricing with ramps, tiers, and complex bundles, look at DealHub or Salesforce CPQ.
When PandaDoc Makes Sense
Our Verdict
PandaDoc is the best document automation tool for SMB and mid-market teams that prioritize beautiful proposals and fast signatures over complex quoting. The free tier is genuinely useful, and the paid plans offer excellent value compared to DocuSign + a separate proposal tool.
Ideal for:
- Teams sending 20-100 proposals per month
- Companies with simple, flat-rate pricing
- Sales teams that want built-in e-signatures
- Startups replacing DocuSign + Google Docs combo
- Service businesses sending contracts and SOWs
Look elsewhere if:
- You have complex tiered or usage-based pricing
- You need subscription billing automation
- You require advanced approval workflows
- You're an enterprise needing deal room collaboration
Getting Started
PandaDoc offers a 14-day free trial of paid features, but the free eSign tier lets you test core functionality indefinitely:
- Sign up for free eSign account
- Upload your logo and brand colors
- Create or customize a proposal template
- Send a test document to yourself
- Connect your CRM (HubSpot/Salesforce) if needed
- Upgrade to Business when you need CPQ or advanced features