Free DocuSign Alternative for Signing PDFs (2026)

Do You Actually Need DocuSign?

DocuSign is the most well-known electronic signature platform in the world. It is also one of the most expensive. Plans range from $10 to $45 per month (billed annually), and enterprise pricing goes much higher.

For businesses managing complex multi-party signing workflows with audit trails, templates, and compliance requirements, DocuSign earns its price tag. But here is the thing: most people who use DocuSign do not need most of what DocuSign offers.

If your use case is "I received a PDF, I need to sign it, and I need to send it back," you are paying for a commercial aircraft when you need a bicycle.

What DocuSign Costs in 2026

| Plan | Monthly Price (Annual Billing) | Key Features | |---|---|---| | Personal | ~$10/month | 5 documents/month, basic signing | | Standard | ~$25/month | Unlimited documents, templates, reminders | | Business Pro | ~$40/month | Signer attachments, payments, bulk send | | Enterprise | Custom pricing | Advanced workflows, API, admin controls |

Even the cheapest plan costs $120/year. If you only sign a few documents per month — a contract here, a tax form there — that adds up to a significant cost for a simple task.

SigPDF: The Free Alternative for "Sign and Return"

SigPDF is a free, browser-based PDF signing tool designed for the most common e-signature scenario: you receive a PDF, you sign it, you send it back.

Here is what SigPDF offers at no cost:

Unlimited signatures — no monthly document limits
Draw, type, or upload your signature
Add text and dates to fill in form fields
Works in any browser on any device (computer, tablet, phone)
No account required — no email, no password, no sign-up
Client-side processing — your PDF never leaves your device

For the "sign and return" use case, SigPDF does everything you need DocuSign for, without the subscription.

When You Need DocuSign (And When You Do Not)

You Need DocuSign When:

Multiple parties need to sign the same document — DocuSign manages routing, reminders, and signing order. If you are sending a contract to three people who all need to sign in sequence, DocuSign handles the logistics.
You need an audit trail — DocuSign generates a Certificate of Completion with timestamps, IP addresses, and signing order. This is required in some regulated industries.
You need templates for repeated documents — If you send the same contract to dozens of clients per week, DocuSign's template system saves significant time.
You need bulk sending — Sending the same document to hundreds of recipients at once requires DocuSign's Business Pro plan or higher.
Compliance requirements demand it — Some industries (healthcare, financial services) have specific compliance requirements that mandate certified e-signature platforms.

You Do NOT Need DocuSign When:

You are the signer, not the sender — Someone sent you a PDF to sign and return. You do not need a platform. You need a signing tool. SigPDF is exactly that.
It is a one-off or occasional document — Signing a lease, an NDA, a tax form, or an employment contract a few times a year does not justify a monthly subscription.
You just need to add your signature to a PDF — If no one else needs to sign the document, and you do not need routing or tracking, a simple signing tool is all you need.
You value privacy — DocuSign processes your documents on their servers. SigPDF processes everything in your browser. For sensitive documents like tax forms with your SSN or financial agreements, local processing is a meaningful advantage.

Feature Comparison: DocuSign vs. SigPDF

| Feature | DocuSign | SigPDF | |---|---|---| | Price | $10-$45+/month | Free | | Sign PDFs | Yes | Yes | | Draw signature | Yes | Yes | | Type signature | Yes | Yes | | Upload signature image | Yes | Yes | | Add text to PDFs | Yes | Yes | | Add dates | Yes | Yes | | Account required | Yes | No | | Multi-party signing | Yes | No | | Audit trail/certificate | Yes | No | | Templates | Yes | No | | Bulk sending | Yes (paid plans) | No | | Document processing | Server-side | Client-side (browser) | | Works offline | No | After initial page load |

The "Sign and Return" Workflow With SigPDF

Here is the typical workflow when someone sends you a document to sign:

Receive the PDF via email, Slack, or a download link
Open SigPDF in your browser
Upload the PDF — drag and drop or click to browse
Add your signature — draw it, type it, or upload an image
Add text and date if needed (name, title, date)
Download the signed PDF
Send it back via email or upload to the sender's portal

Total time: under 2 minutes. Total cost: $0.

If you want to learn more about signing specific document types, check our guides on signing NDAs, rental agreements, and tax forms.

Try SigPDF Free

No sign-up, no credit card, no trial period that expires. Open SigPDF and sign your next PDF for free.

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