Redlining and versions

Contract redlining software with full version history

Contract redlining software shows what changed between two drafts of an agreement, word by word, with deletions struck through and insertions underlined. Signee saves every edit as a numbered version with its author and source, compares any two versions, routes clause changes to approval and sends only the approved version for signature.

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Every version kept with author
Compare any two versions
Clause changes trigger approval
Only the approved version is sent

MSA, version 4 compared with version 3 v3 to v4

8.1 Liability cap. Each party's total liability is limited to the fees paid in the prior three months the fees paid in the prior twelve months.

8.2 Exclusions. The cap does not apply to breach of confidentiality or data protection obligations.

11.3 Notice. Notices go to the email addresses on the order form.

History

v4, counterparty edit
2 changes in section 8
v3, legal approved
Approved by Legal counsel
v1, AI draft
From one sentence

Approval needed for v4

Reviewer writing margin notes on a contract draft at his desk

Why redlines go wrong in email

Negotiating a contract by email attachment produces files called final, final v2 and final clean signed. Each side turns tracked changes on and off, someone accepts all changes to make the document readable, and by round four nobody can say with certainty which version legal approved. The risk is not the negotiation itself. It is signing a draft that quietly differs from the one that was agreed.

Signee keeps one agreement and a list of versions instead of a pile of files. Version 1 might be the AI draft, version 2 your sales edits, version 3 the one legal approved, version 4 the counterparty response. Each entry records who made it, when, where it came from and an optional note. Nothing is overwritten and nothing is lost when someone tidies up the text.

Because versions sit inside contract management software rather than a word processor, they are tied to what happens next. The approval and the signature always point at a specific version, so you can prove what was signed.

Version and approval history Signed

Oct 2, 09:12 Version 1 created from AI draft Maya Chen, hash 41ea35e8fd10
Oct 2, 11:40 Version 2, fee and term edited Maya Chen, hash 8ae91e5b0d9a
Oct 3, 15:05 Version 3 approved by legal Daniel Ortiz, hash 9cecfd261ddc
Oct 6, 10:22 Version 4, counterparty changes in section 8 Harbor Analytics, hash c4e18d6ab016
Oct 6, 10:23 Approval requested, liability clause changed Signee, hash ae0cdc502049

Each event stores the hash of the previous one. Any change after sealing breaks the chain and shows on the certificate.

What you get

Version control built for agreements

Redlining in Signee works on clauses and variables, not only on raw text, so a changed fee or notice period is visible even when the wording around it stays the same.

Full version history

Every save is a new numbered version with author, time and source, whether it came from AI, a person or CRM data.

Compare any two versions

Pick version 2 and version 5 and see deletions struck through and insertions underlined, clause by clause.

Changed terms summary

A short list of changed variables such as fee, term or notice days, so the commercial impact is clear at a glance.

Approval on clause change

On Business and Company, a change to a clause you mark as sensitive sends the agreement back to the right approver.

Send the approved version

Signing always uses a specific version. If text changes after approval, the approval has to be given again.

Signed copy with history

The sealed PDF carries the audit trail certificate, and the version list stays with the agreement in the repository.

Redlining paired with review

A redline tells you what changed. It does not tell you whether the change is acceptable. On the Company plan, contract review software runs the latest version against your playbook, so the counterparty edit to the liability cap is not only highlighted but also measured against the cap your company accepts, with your fallback wording ready to insert.

Approval rules decide who has to look at what. A discount above a set percentage goes to the head of sales, a value above a threshold goes to finance, a changed liability clause goes to legal. The rules and their order are described in contract workflow software, and they run on every new version automatically.

Once the final version is approved, signing starts from the same screen. Electronic signature software in Signee sends it to each signer in order and seals the PDF with an audit trail.

Rules on version 4

Order Form, Acme Retail 72,000 USD, 18 percent discount

Liability clause changed

Routes to Legal counsel

Waiting for approval
Fee changed by more than 10 percent

Routes to Finance lead

Approved
Term longer than 24 months

Routes to Head of Sales

Queued

Sending unlocks when every step is approved. Each decision lands in the audit trail.

How it works

A negotiation round in Signee

1
Draft

Start from AI, a template or an uploaded document. That becomes version 1.
2
Edit and note

Each round of changes is saved as a new version with a short note on what was negotiated.
3
Compare

Open any two versions side by side and check every deletion, insertion and changed term.
4
Approve and sign

Rules route sensitive changes for approval, then the approved version goes out for signature.

Where the latest draft lives

Signee: One agreement with a numbered version list
Email attachments: Whichever attachment was sent last

Who changed what

Signee: Author and time on every version
Email attachments: Tracked changes, if left on

Approval

Signee: Tied to a specific version
Email attachments: A reply saying looks good

What gets signed

Signee: Only the approved version
Email attachments: Whatever file was uploaded

Signee versions compared with email attachments
What you compare	Signee	Email attachments
Where the latest draft lives	One agreement with a numbered version list	Whichever attachment was sent last
Who changed what	Author and time on every version	Tracked changes, if left on
Approval	Tied to a specific version	A reply saying looks good
What gets signed	Only the approved version	Whatever file was uploaded

Contract redlining questions

What is contract redlining

Redlining is marking the changes between two drafts of a contract, traditionally in red ink. Deleted text is struck through and new text is underlined, so both sides see exactly what moved in each round.

Can I compare versions that are not next to each other

Yes. You can compare any two versions of an agreement, for example the version legal approved with the one the counterparty sent back three rounds later.

Are old versions ever deleted

No. Every version stays in the history of the agreement, including the AI draft it started from, and deleting an agreement does not give AI drafts or sent documents back to your allowance.

What happens if someone edits after approval

The edit creates a new version, and if an approval rule applies to the change, the agreement needs approval again before it can be sent for signature.

Which plans include version history

Version history and comparison are part of every plan. Approval rules are part of Business and Company, and playbook review of the latest version is part of Company.

Does redlining replace legal advice

No. It shows what changed. Deciding whether a change is acceptable is for your team or your lawyer. Signee is not a law firm.

Keep reading

AI contract review AI contract review software that compares incoming agreements with your playbook, flags risky clauses and lists missing terms before you sign. Read more Agreement workflow Contract workflow software that routes agreements to the right approver by value, discount or clause, then sends them for signature automatically. Read more Electronic signature Electronic signature software for business agreements. Signing order, reminders, expiry, missing field checks and a signed audit trail certificate. Read more

Keep every version of your next agreement

Describe the deal in one sentence, approve it, send it for signature and let Signee watch the renewal date. Plans start at 24 USD a month billed yearly.