The best free e signature software in 2026

Free e signature plans differ a lot in how many documents you can send and what is locked behind a paywall. Here is how the main options compare.

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Updated November 8, 2026 by the PDFbat team

The short answer

The best free e signature software for most people is PDFbat: the free plan includes 3 signature envelopes a month, signing order, reminders, templates, identity checks and a sealed audit trail, and signers need no account. SignWell and Dropbox Sign are good simple alternatives, and Zoho Sign suits people already in the Zoho suite.

Free plans are built for light use. If you send more than a few documents a month, compare paid prices. PDFbat Pro is $4 a month with unlimited envelopes, which is among the lowest we found.

DocuSign is the best known name, but it only offers a trial, so it is not a free tool in the same sense.

At a glance

Feature	PDFbat	SignWell	Dropbox Sign	Zoho Sign	DocuSign
Free plan	3 envelopes a month	Limited free tier	Limited free tier	Limited free tier	Free trial
Paid price	Pro $4/mo	from about $8 to $25/mo	from about $15/mo	from about $10 to $15/mo	from about $10 to $45/mo
Signers need an account	No	No	No	No	No
Signing order	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Reminders	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Templates	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Audit trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Identity checks	Yes	Check their current plans	Higher plans	Check their current plans	Higher plans
Bulk send	Yes	Higher plans	Higher plans	Higher plans	Higher plans
Edit the PDF before sending	Yes	No	No	No	No
API	250 free calls a month	Paid API plans	Paid API plans	Yes	Paid API plans

Competitor details reflect their public pricing pages in November 2026. Check their site for current terms.

Our picks

PDFbat

Best for free signing plus a full PDF editor and toolkit

Free, Pro $4/mo

PDFbat lets you place fields, set a signing order, send reminders and collect signatures, then download a sealed PDF with an audit trail. It also includes templates, bulk send and identity checks, and the same account edits and prepares the PDF first.

Pros

3 envelopes a month free, unlimited on Pro for $4
Signers need no account
Edit, merge and redact before sending in the same app

Cons

Newer product with fewer prebuilt integrations
Browser only, no native apps
Free plan caps envelopes at 3 a month

SignWell

Best for small businesses wanting simple signing

Free tier, paid from about $8/mo

SignWell is a clear, focused e signature tool with a free tier for a few documents a month and affordable paid plans. It handles templates, reminders and an audit trail.

Pros

Simple to learn
Free tier for light use
Fair paid pricing

Cons

Not a PDF editor
Fewer enterprise features
Check their current plans for current limits

Dropbox Sign

Best for people who already use Dropbox

from about $15/mo

Dropbox Sign, formerly HelloSign, is a polished and widely used e signature service with Dropbox integration. It has a limited free tier and paid plans for templates and teams.

Pros

Easy interface
Dropbox and business app integrations
Well known and reputable

Cons

Free tier is very limited
Pricier than several rivals
Not a PDF editing suite

Zoho Sign

Best for teams already using Zoho apps

Free tier, paid from about $10/mo

Zoho Sign is the e signature product in the Zoho suite, with integrations across Zoho CRM and other apps. It offers a limited free plan and low cost paid tiers.

Pros

Good value for Zoho users
Many business integrations
Mobile apps available

Cons

Interface is less simple for outsiders
Free tier is small
Check their current plans for features by tier

DocuSign

Best for enterprises and regulated industries

from about $10 to $45/mo per user

DocuSign is the market leader, with deep integrations, advanced identity verification and extensive compliance options. It offers a free trial rather than a permanent free plan for sending.

Pros

Broadest integrations
Strong compliance and enterprise features
Widely accepted by counterparties

Cons

More expensive per user
Free use is a trial only
More than most small senders need

Adobe Acrobat Sign

Best for organisations standardised on Adobe

Check their current plans

Adobe Acrobat Sign is Adobe's e signature service, connected to Acrobat and Microsoft tools. It is positioned for business and enterprise teams.

Pros

Tight Acrobat integration
Strong compliance posture
Trusted brand

Cons

Business pricing
No meaningful permanent free plan
Heavier than casual users need

How we picked

We looked for products you can actually use for free, or at least try, and judged them on what a small sender cares about.

What the free plan allows each month.
Whether signers must create an account.
Signing order, reminders and templates.
Audit trail and identity checks.
Price of the first paid plan.
Whether you can edit or prepare the PDF in the same tool.

Are free e signatures legally valid?

In most countries a standard electronic signature is legally recognised, for example under the US ESIGN Act and UETA and the EU eIDAS regulation. What matters is intent to sign, consent to do business electronically and a reliable record.

A good audit trail records who signed, when, and from where, and the final document should be tamper evident. Some documents, such as certain family law or property documents, may need wet ink or a qualified signature, so check local rules. Learn more on the e signatures page.

When to pay

Free plans work for a few contracts a month. Move to a paid plan when you send more than your monthly limit, need branding, need bulk send or want an API.

Compare the cost of the first paid plan, not only the free tier. At $4 a month, PDFbat Pro is cheaper than most, but a team that needs deep CRM integrations may still choose a larger vendor.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free e signature software?

PDFbat is our top pick for small senders because the free plan includes 3 envelopes a month with an audit trail and no account needed for signers. SignWell and Dropbox Sign are close alternatives.

Can I sign a PDF for free?

Yes. PDFbat lets you sign a PDF yourself for free with fill and sign, and send documents to others on the free plan within the monthly envelope limit.

Is DocuSign free?

DocuSign offers a free trial, and signing a document sent to you is free. Sending documents requires a paid plan. Check their current plans.

Do signers need to create an account?

Not with PDFbat, SignWell or Dropbox Sign. Signers open a link and sign.

Are e signatures legally binding?

Standard e signatures are valid in most countries, with exceptions for some document types. Keep the audit trail with the signed file.

How many documents can I send free with PDFbat?

3 signature envelopes a month on the free plan. Pro is $4 a month with unlimited envelopes.

Keep comparing

PDFbat vs DocuSignPDFbat vs DocuSign compared on price, signing features, audit trail, API and integrations. See when a free e signature tool is enough and when to pay.PDFbat vs Dropbox SignPDFbat vs Dropbox Sign (formerly HelloSign) compared on free envelopes, price, API, templates and PDF editing. Find the better e signature tool for you.DocuSign alternativesCompare the best DocuSign alternatives: PDFbat, Dropbox Sign, Adobe Acrobat Sign, SignNow, SignWell and PandaDoc on price, limits and features.E-SignaturesSend PDFs for legally binding e signatures with signing order, identity checks, reminders and a sealed final PDF.Fill and SignFill PDF forms, sign, add initials, dates and checkmarks, then flatten and download.Templates and Bulk SendSave any envelope as a reusable template, send it to hundreds of people from a CSV, or publish a public signing link.

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Edit, sign and store PDFs in one account. Free plan with no credit card, Pro for $4 a month.

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