What Documenso Does
Documenso handles the entire document signing workflow:
- PDF Upload & Signing Fields: Upload any PDF, place signature fields, text fields, date fields, and checkboxes
- Email Invitations: Send signing requests via email with automatic reminders
- Digital Signatures: PAdES-standard compliant signatures with certificate embedding
- Audit Trail: Complete signing history with timestamps, IP addresses, and verification
- Templates: Create reusable document templates for recurring workflows
- API Access: REST API for programmatic document creation and signing
- Self-Hosted: Full control over data with Docker or manual deployment
- Custom Branding: White-label the signing experience with your own domain and logo
Tech Stack
| Component | Technology |
|---|---|
| Frontend | Next.js 14, React, TypeScript |
| Database | PostgreSQL + Prisma ORM |
| Auth | NextAuth.js |
| Storage | S3-compatible (AWS, MinIO) |
| Signing | PAdES standard, PDF-lib |
| Deploy | Docker, Vercel, Railway |
Self-Hosting with Docker
# Clone and configure
git clone https://github.com/documenso/documenso.git
cd documenso
# Set environment variables
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env with your database URL, SMTP settings, and S3 config
# Run with Docker
docker compose up -dAPI Integration
import { DocumentApi } from "@documenso/sdk";
const api = new DocumentApi({ apiKey: "your-api-key" });
// Create and send a document
const doc = await api.createDocument({
title: "Service Agreement",
recipients: [
{ email: "client@example.com", name: "Client" }
]
});
// Upload PDF
await api.uploadDocument(doc.id, pdfBuffer);
// Add signing fields and send
await api.sendDocument(doc.id);FAQ
Q: Is Documenso legally binding? A: Yes. Documenso uses PAdES-standard digital signatures with embedded certificates, which are legally recognized in most jurisdictions under eIDAS (EU) and ESIGN Act (US).
Q: How does it compare to DocuSign? A: Documenso provides core signing features (PDF signing, templates, API) without per-signature pricing. You self-host for full data control. DocuSign has more enterprise features like bulk send and advanced workflows.
Q: Can I use my own SMTP server?
A: Yes. Configure SMTP in .env to send signing invitations from your own email domain.
Q: What storage backends are supported? A: Any S3-compatible storage — AWS S3, MinIO, Cloudflare R2, DigitalOcean Spaces.