Free electronic signature software that fits how you sign
We know you need documents signed, not another subscription. So we compared five eSignature tools, each with a free plan, on what landlords, freelancers, small offices, and startups need.
- Free plan, not a trial
- iOS and Android apps included
Carter Rentals
Apartment lease agreement
Emily Carter
Completed- Your logo
- Reminder sent automatically
- Saved as a template
- Legally binding: ESIGN, UETA, eIDAS
- Secure, with a full audit trail
Trusted by 50,000+ businesses worldwide
Who needs a free eSignature plan, and what do they need from it?
Most people looking for free eSignature software have documents to get signed, not a software budget. They fall into three groups.
Landlords and freelancers
A lease, a client contract, or a quote that needs signing this week, without printing or posting.
Small offices with one person sending
Client contracts and new-hire paperwork, sent by one office manager on a tight budget.
New businesses and startups
Their first contracts and agreements, without adding another software bill in the early months.
So we judged every free plan on what these three groups need
Enough envelopes for a year of work
Measured as envelopes a year.
A fresh allowance every month
Measured as when unused envelopes refill.
Requests that look like their business
Measured as your logo on requests.
No chasing signers by hand
Measured as automatic reminders.
Room for a teammate
Measured as users on the account.
Documents they can reuse
Measured as templates you can save.
How do the free eSignature plans compare?
Measured on those six needs, BoldSign leads on four and PandaDoc leads on two.
- BoldSign leads
Envelopes a year
BoldSign: 300 a year, the most in this comparison.
- BoldSign leads
Your logo on requests
BoldSign: your logo on every request.
- BoldSign leads
Automatic reminders
BoldSign: reminders go out on a schedule you set.
- BoldSign leads
When unused envelopes refill
BoldSign: 25 fresh envelopes every month.
Dropbox Sign refills 3 every 30 days, PandaDoc 5 every month, and Docusign does not state a refill. - PandaDoc leads
Users
PandaDoc: unlimited users.
BoldSign: 1 user. - PandaDoc leads
Templates
PandaDoc: 5 templates.
BoldSign: 2 templates.
Every row, checked against each vendor’s own pages
Several “best free” lists get these figures wrong, so every figure below comes from the vendor’s own pricing page or help centre.
Swipe the table sideways to see every vendor.
| Free plan | BoldSign | Docusign | Dropbox Sign | PandaDoc | Adobe Acrobat Sign |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What you can send | |||||
| Plan name | Essential plan | Free account | Free plan | Free plan | Free Acrobat account |
| Envelopes you can send in a year | 30025 a month | Up to 3in total | 363 a month | 605 a month | About 242 every 30 days |
| People who can use the account | 1 | 1 | 1 | Unlimited | Not published |
| Templates you can save | 2 | Not published | 0 | 5 | Not published |
| Signers on one document | 5 | Not published | 3 | 2 | Not published |
| Sending and signing | |||||
| Signers need an account | No account needed | No account needed | No account needed | No account needed | No account needed |
| Automatic reminders | Yes | Not published | Not published | No | Not published |
| Automatic field detection | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Attachments from signers | Yes | Not published | Not published | Yes | Not published |
| In-person signing | No | Not published | No | No | Not published |
| Signing pages in several languages | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Your logo on signature requests | Yes | Not published | Not published | No | No |
| Audit trail | Yes | Not published | Yeson completed requests | Yes | Yes |
| Sign-in security | |||||
| Two-step authentication | Yes | Not published | Not published | Yes | Not published |
| Passwordless sign-in | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Apps, help, and developers | |||||
| Mobile app | YesiOS and Android | Yes | Not published | Yes | Not published |
| Help included | Email and chat | Not published | Email and help centre | Chat, email, and web ticket | Not published |
| API access | Yestest sandbox only | Yesdeveloper account for testing | Not published | Yes | Yesfree Developer Edition for testing |
Not published means the vendor does not state it. Spotted something outdated? Tell us at support@boldsign.com.
What the table shows
For one person sending on their own, BoldSign’s free plan gives the most: 300 envelopes a year, your logo, and automatic reminders. Before settling on it, the next step checks whether that lead holds up.
Step 3: Is there a catch?Is there a catch with a free eSignature plan?
BoldSign’s free plan has none of the usual catches: no trial clock and no end date. Its real limits are listed straight after this section.
- Is it a free trial in disguise?
- No. The Essential plan sits beside the paid plans on the BoldSign pricing page at $0. The 30-day free trial is a separate offer for the Growth, Business, and Premium plans.
- Do my clients need an account or an app to sign?
- No. They open the link in the signature request email and sign, with no BoldSign account needed.
- Will my documents carry a watermark?
- Only while a document is still being signed. By default, BoldSign shows an in-progress watermark on documents that are not yet complete.
- Is the free plan less secure?
- No. In BoldSign, encryption and compliance are the same on every plan, free included, while features such as single sign-on and SMS authentication come with higher plans. Every document is encrypted twice with AES-256, and BoldSign’s security controls are independently audited for SOC 2 Type 2.
- What happens when I run out?
- You can wait for your 25 envelopes to refill next month, or move to a paid plan.
- Why would BoldSign give this away?
- So anyone can sign without a budget; some users move to a paid plan later. BoldSign explains why it offers a free eSignature plan.
- So what is the catch?
- It suits one sender rather than a team. The limits below show exactly where it stops.
Limits to know before you send documents for free with BoldSign
Here is where BoldSign’s Essential plan stops. It is for one person sending a modest number of documents, and it does not cover teams or signing in person.
- 25 envelopes a month For a business email signup. Signups with a free email address, such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail, get 5.
- 1 user No additional users on this plan.
- 2 templates Saved documents you can send again.
- 5 signers per document Across every signer on one envelope.
Not on the free plan
- In-person signing, where the signer signs on your device, cannot be used on the Essential plan.
- The Powered by BoldSign line cannot be hidden on the Essential plan.
What do G2 users say about BoldSign’s eSignature software?
BoldSign is rated 4.7 out of 5 on the BoldSign G2 profile.
- ★★★★★ 5.0
It has significantly reduced the turnaround time for signing contracts and client agreements, turning a process that used to take days into minutes. The clear audit trail and well-organized document repository make record-keeping virtually effortless. The best part is that it’s extremely startup-friendly, and the pricing and plans are really amazing. We can start with the free version, which is more than enough for a small team, and then scale up if needed.
Verified User in Information Technology and Services, small business
Organic review, September 21, 2026. Read on G2 - ★★★★★ 5.0
BoldSign interface is really user friendly and easy to navigate. I have never had any glitch or technical issues on the platform. The system immediately memorizes all contacts that I input so I can always pull them up the next time I have a contract to send. All the custom fields are easy to drag and drop in with a plethora of options to customize each field. I have tried many different e-signature platforms but so far BoldSign has been the best
Jen T., Operations & Account Manager, small business
Organic review, September 16, 2026. Read on G2
Why choose BoldSign for free eSignatures
Back to the three groups we started with: BoldSign’s free plan fits all three, and the Growth plan is there when more people need to send.
Landlords and freelancers
BoldSign’s Essential plan. 300 envelopes a year, your logo, and automatic reminders, all free.
New businesses and startups
BoldSign’s Essential plan. It is a plan, not a trial, and it has no end date.
Small offices with one person sending
BoldSign’s Essential plan. Teammates who also send join on the Growth plan, at $5 per user a month in USD, billed yearly.
Estimate your own eSignature cost
BoldSign has two calculators: one works out what a paid BoldSign plan would cost your team, and the other estimates what switching would save.
- Calculator
BoldSign pricing calculator
Set your number of senders, monthly envelopes, and add-ons to see your monthly or yearly cost.
Estimate your cost - Calculator
eSignature ROI calculator
Compare what your current eSignature tool costs with what BoldSign would cost.
Estimate your savings
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best free electronic signature service?
BoldSign. Its Essential plan gives one sender 300 envelopes a year, the most in this comparison, with branding and reminders included.
Can small businesses get e-signatures for free?
Yes. All five tools on this page have a free plan for sending documents, including Adobe, whose free Acrobat account allows two requests every 30 days.
Are free eSignatures legally binding?
Yes. Signatures you collect with BoldSign are legally binding under the ESIGN Act, UETA, and eIDAS, on the free plan too.
Is BoldSign’s free plan really free?
Yes. The Essential plan is listed at $0 beside the paid plans and has no end date. Its limits are listed under Limits to know.
How do I send my first document for signature?
Upload the document, add your signer’s name and email, place the signature fields, and send. BoldSign’s help centre walks through sending your first document step by step.
Can I send documents for signature from my phone for free?
Yes. BoldSign’s iOS and Android apps come with every plan, including the free Essential plan. Here is how to send from the app.
Send your next document with BoldSign’s free eSignature plan
Create your account, then send your first envelope for signature.
Last updated: October 19, 2026. Disclaimer: This page contains product comparisons based on publicly available information as of October 2026 and may change.