Free E-Signature Tools
Which e-signature tools a startup can send documents for signature with for free today, how many documents the free plan allows, whether it includes an API, whether a card is needed and what the first paid plan costs, read from each tool's own page.
Free allowances read on each provider's own pages, all checked on or after . E-signature tools change their free allowances from time to time: confirm the terms on the tool's page before you send a contract that matters.
E-signature tools you can send documents with for free today include OpenSign (Unlimited free signatures), DocuSign (Free trial of eSignature), BoldSign (25 envelopes a month), Dropbox Sign (30-day free trial of paid features), and SignWell (3 documents a month, 1 sender). Each of the 11 free plans and trials below links to the tool's page that states it, with its main limit, whether a card is needed and what the first paid plan costs.
A startup signs more than it expects in its first year: contractor agreements, NDAs, offer letters, customer orders. An e-signature tool sends a document, collects legally binding signatures and keeps the signed copy, and several of them have a free plan that covers a small company's volume.
The headline rarely tells you how far it goes. A free plan can stop at a few documents a month, allow one sender, keep the API to a test sandbox, and the best-known names offer only a trial. Each tool below shows what is free, its main limit, its API, whether a card is needed and what the first paid plan costs, quoted from the tool's own page with the date we read it.
Which tools we picked and the order they appear in are our editorial choices; the terms are the tools'. Some of these tools pay us a referral commission when someone signs up through our link: those links are labeled, and they play no part in which tools are listed or where.
E-signature tools with a free plan
Tools you can keep using for free to send documents for signature, within a monthly allowance.
- 1
OpenSign
Unlimited free signatures, or self-host it for free
The hosted free tier comes with unlimited free signatures, and the open-source version can be used without cost. API access and advanced features need the paid version.
Start free at OpenSignTerms read on opensignlabs.com on OpenSign: the free allowance and how to start - 2
BoldSign
Individuals and micro-businesses sending 25 a month
The Essential plan gives 25 envelopes a month for free. Personal email signups are capped at 5 a month until business details are verified, and paid plans start at $5 a month.
- What's free
- 25 envelopes a month (source: boldsign.com)
- First paid plan
- Growth: from $5 a month (source: boldsign.com)
Start free at BoldSignReferral linkTerms read on boldsign.com on BoldSign: the free allowance and how to start - 3
SignWell
Sending a few documents a month and testing the API
The Free plan includes 3 documents a month for 1 sender and 1 template. API access is included, with 3 documents a month on Free, and the Light plan is $10 a month.
- First paid plan
- Light: $10 a month (source: signwell.com)
Start free at SignWellReferral linkTerms read on signwell.com on SignWell: the free allowance and how to start SignWell for Startups: what startups get - 4
PandaDoc
Startups sending up to five documents a month
The free eSign plan lets teams of any size upload, send and e-sign up to five documents a month. The paid Starter plan is $19 USD per seat a month.
- First paid plan
- Starter: $19 a seat a month (source: pandadoc.com)
- 5
Zoho Sign
One user sending a few envelopes a month
The Free plan covers one user and 5 envelopes a month at US$0. Standard is US$10 per user a month billed annually, and the sign-up needs no credit card.
- Main limit
- One user only (source: zoho.com)
- Payment card
- No credit card required (source: zoho.com)
- First paid plan
- Standard: US$10 per user a month (source: zoho.com)
- 6
Yousign
One person sending a couple of signature requests
The Free plan allows 2 signature requests a month for one user, with up to 50 documents and 5 signers per request. The One plan is 9 euros a month excluding VAT.
- First paid plan
- One: 9 euros a month, excl. VAT (source: yousign.com)
- 7
DocuSeal
Developers testing an API, or a team on Basic
The Basic plan is $0 per user a month with 10 signature request emails a month, and the API sandbox is free for development and testing. Pro is $20 per user a month.
- First paid plan
- Pro: $20 per user a month (source: docuseal.com)
E-signature tools that start with a free trial
Well-known tools with no standing free plan for sending, so you can compare what the free plans above save.
- 1
DocuSign
Trying the best-known e-signature tool first
DocuSign offers a free trial of eSignature with no credit card required. Its Personal plan is $11 a month for individuals and sole proprietors with basic e-signature needs.
- First paid plan
- Personal: $11 a month (source: docusign.com)
Start free at DocuSignTerms read on docusign.com on DocuSign: the free allowance and how to start DocuSign for Startups: what startups get - 2
Dropbox Sign
Trying the paid features for 30 days
The 30-day free trial gives access to the features that are only available in the paid plans. After it, Essentials is $15 USD a month, or $180 USD billed yearly.
- First paid plan
- Essentials: $15 a month (source: sign.dropbox.com)
Start free at Dropbox SignTerms read on sign.dropbox.com on Dropbox Sign: the free allowance and how to start - 3
SignNow
Developers wanting 250 free API signature invites
The free trial lasts 7 days and needs no credit card. Developers get 250 free signature invites through the API.
- What's free
- 7-day free trial (source: signnow.com)
- Payment card
- No credit card required (source: signnow.com)
Start free at SignNowReferral linkTerms read on signnow.com on SignNow: the free allowance and how to start - 4
Adobe Acrobat Pro
Teams already working in PDFs, for a 7-day trial
Acrobat Pro has a 7-day free trial. After the trial, Pro is US$19.99 a month on an annual plan, and teams can trial up to 10 licenses.
- First paid plan
- Acrobat Pro: US$19.99 a month (source: adobe.com)
Start free at AdobeTerms read on adobe.com on Adobe Acrobat Pro: the free allowance and how to start
E-signature startup programs
Programs from e-signature companies that give startups a discount or free time on paid plans. Most ask for an application.
Also useful for founders
Referral links, picked for fit and ordered by fit (70%) and what a signup earns us (30%), at no cost to you. They never change this page's ranking.
Compare the top options
How this comparison is built
The list covers e-signature tools a founder can send documents for signature with for free today without applying to a program, grouped into tools with a standing free plan and well-known tools that only offer a free trial. The order and the "best for" notes are our editorial reading of each tool's terms. Every term comes from the tool's own pricing or help page on the date shown, never from a third-party list; follow each link for the full conditions. A monthly cap on documents, one sender or a missing API can matter more than the headline, so the comparison quotes them wherever the tool states them. Some of these tools pay StartupPerks a referral commission, and their links are labeled as referral links; that decides neither whether nor where a tool appears, and no tool pays for a placement on this page.
Read the full methodologyCommon questions
What is the best free e-signature tool?
It depends on how many documents you send. By the terms each tool states, BoldSign's free plan includes 25 envelopes a month (5 a month on a personal email until it is verified), PandaDoc's 5 documents a month, Zoho Sign's 5 envelopes a month for one user, and SignWell's 3 documents a month for one sender. OpenSign is open source and states unlimited free signatures.
Is there a free DocuSign alternative?
Yes. DocuSign itself offers a free trial of eSignature rather than a standing free plan, and its Personal plan costs $11 a month. BoldSign, SignWell, PandaDoc, Zoho Sign, Yousign, DocuSeal and OpenSign all have a free plan for sending documents, each with the monthly limit shown in the comparison.
Is BoldSign free?
Yes. BoldSign's free plan includes 25 envelopes a month, limited to 5 a month while the account uses a personal email address that is not verified. Its Growth plan starts from $5 a month.
Which free e-signature plans include an API?
SignWell's free plan includes API access for 3 documents a month, and SignNow states 250 free API signature invites. BoldSign and DocuSeal offer a free API sandbox for testing, with watermarked or test-only documents.
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