The best free e-signature plans, and what each one leaves out
Free e-signature plans are real, but each one is free in a different way: a monthly cap, a template limit, a missing feature, or a server you run yourself. This page lines up six free plans side by side, with every limit read on the company's own pricing page as of November 2026. SignMaster's Free plan is one of them, and it's ours. Its monthly allowance is smaller than several here, so if volume is all you care about, look at the others first.
Updated November 5, 2026 · 4 min read
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Six free plans side by side
| Plan | Monthly limit | Templates | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| BoldSign Essential | 25 envelopes | 2 | No in-person signing; bulk send needs a paid plan |
| Jotform Starter | 10 signed documents | Up to 5 forms | 100 form submissions a month |
| DocuSeal open source | Unlimited | Unlimited | You host it on your own server and mail service |
| DocuSeal Basic (cloud) | 10 signature request emails | Unlimited | No bulk send, no logo, no API |
| PandaDoc Free | 5 documents, shared by the team | Up to 5 | In-person signing, bulk send and branding start on Business |
| SignWell Free | 3 documents | 1 | One sender; bulk send starts on Light |
| SignMaster Free | 3 envelopes | 3 | One person; bulk send needs a paid plan |
Two big names also let you try sending without paying: DocuSign's free account sends three signature requests, and a free Adobe account sends two e-signature requests every 30 days. Zoho Sign's free plan covers 5 envelopes a month for one user. They're fine for a one-off, not for a business.
Which free plan fits which person
BoldSign Essential: the most free sends
At 25 envelopes a month, BoldSign's free plan has the largest hosted allowance here, and it includes iOS and Android apps and custom branding. The limits are 2 templates and no in-person signing, which starts on Growth. Nonprofits get Growth free, per the pricing page. If you send a lot from a desk, start here.
Jotform Starter: if you need a form more than a contract
Jotform's free Starter plan includes 10 signed documents a month, 5 forms and 100 form submissions a month. It shines when the thing being signed is really a form, like a registration or a waiver, and Jotform Sign's library has more than 1,000 templates. Paid plans start with Bronze at $34 a month billed annually, for 100 signed documents.
DocuSeal: free without a cap, if you can host it
DocuSeal is open source. Run it on your own server with your own email service and there's no limit on signature requests, and in-person signing is included. Bulk send isn't. Its cloud Basic plan is free too, with 10 signature request emails a month. The right choice for a team with a developer; the wrong one for anyone who doesn't want to patch a server.
PandaDoc Free: a taste of proposals
PandaDoc Free is $0 for you and your team, with 5 documents a month shared across everyone and up to 5 templates, plus the mobile app. It's a way to try PandaDoc's proposal-style documents; in-person signing, bulk send, branding and payment collection all start on Business.
SignWell Free: small and simple
SignWell Free sends 3 documents a month with 1 template and one sender, with reminders included. Its paid Light plan, at $10 a month billed yearly, removes the document cap, so it's a short step up when you outgrow it.
SignMaster Free: fewer sends, more of the product
SignMaster Free sends 3 envelopes a month for one person with 3 templates, which is less than BoldSign or Jotform. What it keeps that other free plans hold back: in-person signing, signing pages in 6 languages, public signing links, the full certificate of completion, and 10 requests a month to Alana, the AI assistant. Bulk send and your logo need a paid plan. Solo, at $15 a month, removes the envelope cap.
How to read a free plan
- What counts as one send? An envelope with three documents and two signers may count once or several times, depending on the app.
- Does the cap reset monthly or run out for good? Most here reset each month. DocuSign's page describes three free requests on a free account, with no monthly figure.
- What happens at the limit? Some apps stop sending; others offer pay-per-send. Know before your busiest week.
- Is the signed record complete? Check that the free plan gives you the signed PDF and an audit trail, not just a picture of a signature.
Questions? Answers.
Is there a completely free e-signature app with no limits?
Self-hosted DocuSeal has no cap on signature requests, but you run the server. Every hosted free plan here has a monthly limit, from 3 documents with SignWell to 25 envelopes with BoldSign.
Are signatures from a free plan legally binding?
The plan you pay for doesn't change the law. In the US, ESIGN and state laws apply to e-signatures alike. What matters is consent and a record of who signed and when. See are electronic signatures legal.
Can I just sign a PDF myself for free?
Yes, and you don't need any of these. Use our free PDF signing tool, or your phone's or computer's built-in tools, to add your own signature.
When is it worth paying for an e-signature plan?
When you hit the cap two months running, when a second person needs to send, or when you need bulk send or your own logo on the emails. At that point a one-person plan, like SignWell Light at $10 a month billed yearly or SignMaster Solo at $15 a month, usually costs less than the time spent working around a free plan.
What does SignMaster's Free plan include?
3 envelopes a month for one person, 3 templates, in-person signing, every signer language and the certificate of completion. Paid plans add unlimited envelopes and bulk send. Compare plans.
Sources
- BoldSign pricing · boldsign.com
- Jotform pricing · jotform.com
- Jotform Sign · jotform.com
- DocuSeal pricing · docuseal.com
- PandaDoc pricing · pandadoc.com
- SignWell pricing · signwell.com
- DocuSign mobile app · docusign.com
- Adobe: request e-signatures · adobe.com
- Zoho Sign pricing · zoho.com