Alternatives
Best Free E-Signature Software in 2026
Most of the well-known e-signature tools — DocuSign, SignNow, Adobe Acrobat Sign — don't have a standing free plan at all, just a time-limited trial. The ones that do offer something free vary a lot in what "free" actually gets you: an ongoing monthly allowance, a one-time offer, or a plan so limited it's really just a trial with a different name.
Quick picks
| Tool | What's actually free | Recurring or one-time? |
|---|---|---|
| DocuAgree | First document, unlimited signers | One-time, no card required |
| Dropbox Sign | 3 signature requests/month | Recurring, forever |
| SignWell | 3 documents/month, 1 template, API access | Recurring, forever |
| PandaDoc | Basic eSign only, 5 templates | Recurring, forever |
| DocuSign / SignNow / Adobe Sign | Trial only | Time-limited, not a standing free plan |
Dropbox Sign — best ongoing free allowance
3 signature requests every month, permanently, with no expiration — plus unlimited self-signing that doesn't count against that cap. No templates on the free tier, and no team features, but it's a genuine recurring allowance rather than a one-time trial.
SignWell — best free plan for a developer
SignWell's free plan includes API access alongside 3 documents/month and 1 template — worth calling out specifically because most competitors gate API access behind a paid tier entirely. If you're testing whether embedded signing fits your product before committing, this is a real way to do it at zero cost.
PandaDoc — best free plan if you only need e-signature, not proposals
PandaDoc's free plan is eSign-only — it strips out the proposal-building features (content library, quote tables, CRM sync) that are the actual reason most people choose PandaDoc, leaving a fairly basic signing tool with 5 templates. Useful if you specifically want to trial the signing experience before deciding whether the paid proposal features are worth it.
DocuAgree — best if a single free document actually covers your first real use case
DocuAgree's free offer is structured differently from the others on this list: it's not a recurring monthly allowance, it's your first document, completely free, with unlimited signers and no card required to try it. That's less generous than Dropbox Sign's ongoing 3/month if you need repeat free use — but it's a real, no-strings first document rather than a feature-stripped permanent tier, and after that it's $9/month flat with no envelope caps to track, rather than a jump to per-seat pricing.
What doesn't have a real free plan
Worth saving the search time: DocuSign, SignNow, Adobe Acrobat Sign, Proposify, Qwilr, and GetAccept all require a paid plan or a time-limited trial (typically 7–14 days) — none of them offer a standing, ongoing free tier at all.
How to actually choose
Need recurring free use every month, no card ever → Dropbox Sign. Building signing into your own product and want free API access → SignWell. Want to trial signing before deciding on PandaDoc's proposal tools → PandaDoc's free eSign plan. Want 3 real documents handled free right now, then a flat bill after → DocuAgree.
Pricing and free-plan details above reflect each vendor's published plans as of September 2026 — vendor pricing changes, so confirm current numbers directly on their site before deciding.