SigniFlow keeps coming up when South African businesses research e-signature options. Makes sense. They've carved out a niche around Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES) and have a solid reputation locally. NomaSign? Different approach entirely. Standard electronic signatures. Simpler pricing. No AES.
This isn't a typical “us vs them” comparison. SigniFlow and NomaSign serve different needs. The question isn't which is “better” - it's which is right for your specific use case. Understanding the difference between AES and standard e-signatures is the key to making that decision.
What Are Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES)?
South Africa's Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (ECT Act) recognises different levels of electronic signatures:
Standard Electronic Signatures
A standard electronic signature is any electronic data that a person uses with the intention to sign. This includes:
- ✓Typed names at the end of an email
- ✓Clicking 'I agree' on a website
- ✓Drawing a signature on a touchscreen
- ✓Using e-signature software like NomaSign or DocuSign
Standard e-signatures are legally valid for most commercial transactions. They satisfy the requirement in Section 13(3) of the ECT Act that allows electronic signatures where the law requires a “signature”.
Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES)
AES must meet specific technical requirements defined in the ECT Act and associated regulations:
- ✓Uniquely linked to the signatory
- ✓Capable of identifying the signatory
- ✓Created using means under the signatory's sole control
- ✓Linked to the data to detect subsequent changes
- ✓Based on a face-to-face identification process
- ✓Supported by a qualified certificate from an accredited provider
The key difference: AES requires identity verification (often face-to-face or video verification) and certificates issued by accredited authentication service providers. This creates a higher burden of proof for the signer's identity.
The Accreditation Requirement
When Do You Actually Need AES?
The ECT Act specifically requires AES in limited circumstances. Section 13(1) lists documents that cannot use any form of electronic signature:
- Wills and codicils
- Bills of exchange (like cheques)
- Agreements for the sale of immovable property
- Long-term leases of land (10+ years)
For everything else, standard electronic signatures are legally sufficient unless a specific law or regulation requires AES. The cases where AES is genuinely required include:
When AES actually comes into play
- ✓Government submissions and tenders (check the specific requirements)
- ✓Banking, insurance, and other regulated sectors sometimes mandate it
- ✓Counter-parties who insist on it in the contract
- ✓Big-ticket deals where identity verification adds real protection
- ✓International transactions needing eIDAS-equivalent assurance
Where standard e-signatures do the job
- ✓Onboarding documents for employees
- ✓Employment contracts, offer letters, HR paperwork
- ✓Service agreements with clients
- ✓NDAs (confidentiality stuff)
- ✓Onboarding forms
- ✓Sales contracts and agreements
- ✓Registration and consent forms
- ✓Supplier and vendor contracts
- ✓Quotes, purchase orders, invoices
- ✓Internal approvals and company docs
- ✓Pretty much any B2B commercial agreement
SigniFlow: Built Around AES
SigniFlow's whole thing is Advanced Electronic Signatures. South African company. Partnerships with accredited authentication providers. Identity verification baked into their workflows. They know the compliance game.
Where SigniFlow shines
- ✓Proper AES with accredited certificates (not just marketing)
- ✓Identity verification that actually holds up
- ✓Solid track record with government and regulated industries
- ✓Been around the SA enterprise market for a while
- ✓Compliance is the priority, not an afterthought
Things to factor in
- AES infrastructure costs money. Accredited certificates and identity checks add up. That shows in the pricing.
- Signing takes longer. Identity verification adds steps. Your signers will notice.
- Could be more than you need. Paying for AES when standard e-signatures would work? That's money left on the table.
NomaSign: Keep It Simple
Standard electronic signatures. That's what we do. No AES, and that was on purpose. We wanted something straightforward and cheap enough that small businesses wouldn't think twice about signing up.
What we got right
- ✓R99/month for unlimited documents. No per-signature or per-envelope fees
- ✓Signing is fast, we focus on getting documents signed.
- ✓Your documents are in your cloud (OneDrive or Google Drive)
- ✓Holds up legally for standard commercial deals
- ✓Signers are king
Where we fall short
- No AES. Period. Need Advanced Electronic Signatures? Look elsewhere. SigniFlow, probably.
- Basic audit trail. IP address, timestamp, device info. No identity-verified certificates attached.
- Government tenders? If they require AES, we can't help.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | SigniFlow | NomaSign |
|---|---|---|
| Signature type | AES + Standard e-signatures | Standard e-signatures |
| Pricing model | Contact for quote | R99/month (flat rate) |
| Identity verification | Yes (for AES) | No (email verification only) |
| Document limits | Varies by plan | Unlimited |
| Document storage | SigniFlow servers | Your OneDrive/Google Drive |
| Government tenders | Yes (AES compliant) | Limited (depends on requirements) |
| Best for | Regulated industries, government | SMBs, standard contracts |
So Which One?
SigniFlow makes sense when:
Government tenders are part of your regular workflow and they explicitly require AES. Or your industry has compliance rules that spell out Advanced Electronic Signatures. Maybe your legal team won't sign off on anything less. International partners demanding eIDAS-equivalent assurance. High-value deals where identity verification isn't optional.
NomaSign fits better when:
Standard commercial contracts. Employment paperwork. NDAs. Client agreements. Supplier deals. The usual business stuff that doesn't trigger regulatory alarms. You want simple pricing you can predict. Your signers shouldn't need a tutorial. And keeping documents in your own cloud storage matters to you.
The “Just in Case” Trap
Plenty of businesses grab AES because it sounds safer. Advanced. Professional. But if your contracts don't actually need it, you're burning money.
AES subscriptions cost more because that infrastructure isn't cheap to run. Signers get annoyed jumping through identity verification. Deals take longer to close. And the setup? Admin overhead you didn't ask for.
Unless you have a specific, identified need for AES, standard e-signatures provide the same legal validity for commercial contracts at a fraction of the cost and complexity. Read more about e-signature legality in South Africa.
A Note on Hybrid Approaches
Some businesses use both: AES for high-stakes documents (like major contracts or regulated transactions) and standard e-signatures for everyday paperwork. This can be cost-effective if you have a clear policy for when each type applies.
If you go this route, you'll need both platforms - or a platform like SigniFlow that offers both tiers. Just be aware that complexity increases with multiple tools.
Making Your Decision
Here's a simple framework:
- List your common document types - employment contracts, NDAs, sales agreements, etc.
- Ask your legal advisor - do any of these specifically require AES under South African law or your industry regulations?
- Check your tender requirements - if you bid on government work, what signature type do they specify?
- Consider your signers - will identity verification create friction that slows deals?
If the answer to questions 2 and 3 is “no” or “rarely,” standard e-signatures will serve you well at a lower cost.
Interested in simple e-signatures without AES complexity? Try NomaSign free for 14 days. If you need AES, SigniFlow is a solid South African option worth exploring.