Best Free PDF Signers in 2026 (Honest Comparison)

We Tested Every Major PDF Signing Tool

There are dozens of tools claiming to let you sign PDFs for free. But "free" often comes with catches — watermarks, account requirements, file size limits, or aggressive upselling.

We tested the most popular options to give you an honest comparison.

The Quick Verdict

| Tool | Truly Free? | Account Required? | Watermark? | Privacy | Best For | |------|------------|-------------------|------------|---------|----------| | SigPDF | Free to use | No | No | Files stay in browser | Quick, private signing | | Smallpdf | 2 free tasks/day | Yes | No | Files uploaded to server | Occasional use | | iLovePDF | Limited free | No | No (paid removes ads) | Files uploaded to server | Basic signing | | Adobe Acrobat | Free reader | Yes (Adobe ID) | No | Files may hit Adobe servers | Adobe ecosystem users | | DocuSign | Free trial only | Yes | No | Cloud-based | Business/team signing | | Sejda | 3 tasks/day | No | No | Files uploaded, deleted after 2h | Light use |

Detailed Reviews

1. SigPDF

Website: sigpdf.com

SigPDF is a browser-based PDF signing tool that processes files entirely on your device. Your PDFs are never uploaded to any server.

What's free:

• Upload any PDF
• Draw or type your signature
• Add text, dates, and photos
• Place items on any page

What's paid:

• Downloading signed PDFs requires a subscription (€0.99 first month, then €9.99/month)

Standout feature: Complete privacy. Your files literally never leave your browser. For anyone handling sensitive documents (contracts, financial forms, legal agreements), this is a significant advantage over tools that upload your files to their servers.

Verdict: Best for privacy-conscious users who want a fast, no-account experience. The subscription is required for downloads, but the signing tool itself is free to use.

2. Smallpdf

Website: smallpdf.com

Smallpdf is a popular PDF toolkit with 20+ tools including signing. The free tier allows 2 tasks per day.

What's free:

• 2 PDF operations per day
• Basic e-signature

What's paid:

• Unlimited operations (€9/month)
• Team features

Limitations: The 2-task daily limit is restrictive if you need to sign multiple documents. Files are uploaded to Smallpdf's servers for processing.

Verdict: Good for occasional use (1-2 documents per day). If you need more, the free tier runs out quickly.

3. iLovePDF

Website: ilovepdf.com

iLovePDF offers a generous suite of PDF tools with a signing feature. The free tier has some limitations but is fairly usable.

What's free:

• Basic PDF signing
• Limited batch processing

What's paid:

• Premium at €4/month removes limits and ads

Limitations: The interface is cluttered with ads on the free tier. Files are processed on iLovePDF's servers.

Verdict: Decent free option with a wide range of PDF tools. The ad experience can be distracting.

4. Adobe Acrobat Reader

Website: adobe.com

Adobe's free PDF reader includes basic Fill & Sign functionality. It's the most established name in PDF software.

What's free:

• Basic signature (draw/type)
• Fill form fields

What's paid:

• Acrobat Pro ($12.99/month) for advanced features

Limitations: Requires downloading and installing software (200+ MB). Requires creating an Adobe account. Adobe aggressively pushes Pro upgrades within the app.

Verdict: Good if you already have it installed. Not worth downloading just to sign one PDF when browser-based alternatives exist.

5. DocuSign

Website: docusign.com

DocuSign is the industry standard for business e-signatures, but it's designed for multi-party signing workflows rather than quick self-signing.

What's free:

• Free trial (limited)

What's paid:

• Personal: $10/month
• Standard: $25/month
• Business Pro: $65/month

Limitations: Not really free. The free trial is limited and expires. Designed for sending documents to others to sign, not for quickly signing your own PDFs.

Verdict: Overkill for personal PDF signing. Best for businesses that need to send documents to multiple signers with tracking and audit trails.

6. Sejda

Website: sejda.com

Sejda offers a clean PDF editor with signing capabilities. The free tier allows 3 tasks per day with files up to 50MB.

What's free:

• 3 tasks per day
• Files up to 50 MB
• Up to 200 pages

What's paid:

• Web Week Pass: $5/week
• Desktop + Web: $7.50/month

Limitations: Files are uploaded to Sejda's servers (deleted after 2 hours). The 3-task limit resets daily.

Verdict: Solid free option for occasional use. The 3-task limit is more generous than Smallpdf's 2-task limit.

What to Look For in a PDF Signer

When choosing a PDF signing tool, consider these factors:

1. Privacy — Does the tool upload your files to a server, or process them locally? For sensitive documents, local processing is safer.

2. Account requirements — Do you need to create an account? For a one-time task, account-free tools save time.

3. Watermarks — Some "free" tools add watermarks to your signed documents, making them unprofessional.

4. File size limits — Can you sign large PDFs? Some free tiers restrict file sizes.

5. Device compatibility — Does it work on your phone/tablet, or only on desktop?

6. Speed — How many clicks from opening the tool to having a signed PDF?

The Bottom Line

For quick, private PDF signing without creating an account, SigPDF is the fastest option. For occasional use with a generous free tier, Sejda and Smallpdf work well. For business workflows with multiple signers, DocuSign is the industry standard.

The best tool depends on your specific needs — but for most people who just need to sign a PDF and move on with their day, a browser-based tool that doesn't require an account is the clear winner.