Updated September 2026 · Prices checked September 24, 2026
A free DocuSign alternative: what you really get for $0
Yes, there is a free DocuSign alternative: eSignSimple's free plan lets you send 5 documents a month for signature, with unlimited signers, an audit trail and a certificate of completion, and no credit card. DocuSign itself has no permanent free sending plan (signing documents others send you is free). If you need more than 5 documents a month, our Personal plan is $9/month for unlimited documents.
"Free" means very different things across e-signature tools. Some tools have a free trial that ends; some let you sign your own documents for free but charge to request signatures from others; others offer a small monthly allowance forever. We compare the free plans people usually consider instead of DocuSign.
Our free plan is permanent. A document counts toward the 5 when it is sent, not while it is a draft, and signers never pay or need an account. Templates, web forms, bulk send and the API are available on the free plan too, and they count against the same 5 documents.
Other tools are more generous in some ways: BoldSign's free plan has 25 envelopes a month and Jotform's has 10 signed documents. We list them honestly below.
How does eSignSimple compare with DocuSign (free options)?
| Feature | eSignSimple | DocuSign (free options) |
|---|---|---|
| eSignSimple Free | 5 documents/month, unlimited signers, audit trail | — |
| DocuSign | — | No permanent free sending plan; Personal is $11/month billed yearly for 5 envelopes/month |
| BoldSign Essential | — | 25 envelopes/month, 2 templates |
| Jotform Starter | — | 10 signed documents/month, Jotform branding |
| Documenso Free | — | 5 documents/month, up to 10 recipients each |
| Zoho Sign Free | — | 5 envelopes/month, single user |
| PandaDoc Free | — | 5 documents/month (60 per year) |
| SignWell Free | — | 3 documents/month, 1 template |
| Yousign (now Youtrust) Free | — | 2 signature requests/month |
| Smallpdf / Sign.com free | — | 2 documents/month |
| DocuSeal Cloud Basic | — | 10 signature request emails/month; self-hosting free |
How much does DocuSign (free options) cost?
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| DocuSign Personal | $11/month billed yearly ($132/year) | 1 user, 5 envelopes per month. DocuSign's cheapest plan; no permanent free sending plan. |
| DocuSign Standard | $30/user/month billed yearly | About 100 envelopes per user per year. |
| DocuSign Business Pro | $45/user/month billed yearly | Adds bulk send, web forms and payments. |
Prices checked September 24, 2026 on DocuSign eSignature pricing, BoldSign pricing, Jotform pricing, Documenso pricing, Zoho Sign pricing, PandaDoc pricing, SignWell pricing, Youtrust (formerly Yousign) pricing, Smallpdf pricing, DocuSeal pricing. Vendors change prices and may show different prices by country and currency, so confirm before you buy.
eSignSimple pricing, for comparison
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 5 documents a month (a document counts when it is sent), unlimited signers, audit trail and certificate of completion, templates, web forms, API access. |
| Personal | $9/month, billed monthly | 1 sender, unlimited documents, templates, bulk send (up to 200 people per send), web forms, reminders, REST API and webhooks. |
| Team | $19 per sender/month | Coming soon. Team seats, shared templates and branding are not available yet, so today every sender needs their own account. |
Where is DocuSign (free options) the better choice?
- DocuSign: if you only need to sign documents others send you, that is free with DocuSign and needs no plan.
- BoldSign: its free plan allows 25 envelopes a month, five times ours.
- Jotform: 10 signed documents a month plus a full form builder, if you accept Jotform branding.
- DocuSeal: free and unlimited if you are able to self-host the open-source version.
- DocuSign paid plans: identity verification, qualified signatures and 1,000+ integrations.
Why do people switch to eSignSimple?
Free forever, not a trial
5 documents every month with no credit card and no end date.
The full workflow on the free plan
Templates, signing order, reminders, web forms, bulk send and the API all work on Free, counted against your 5 documents.
Proof included
Every completed document gets an audit trail and certificate with timestamps, IP addresses and a SHA-256 hash.
A cheap next step
When 5 is not enough, Personal is $9/month for unlimited documents, billed monthly.
Who should pick which?
| Pick eSignSimple if… | Pick DocuSign (free options) if… |
|---|---|
| You send up to 5 documents a month and want a permanent free plan. | You only sign documents others send you (DocuSign signing is free). |
| You want a low, flat price if you grow beyond that. | You need 10–25 free documents a month (Jotform, BoldSign). |
| Simple electronic signatures meet your needs. | You need ID verification or qualified signatures (DocuSign paid plans). |
How do you switch from DocuSign (free options) to eSignSimple?
- Sign up for eSignSimple with Google; no credit card is needed.
- Upload a PDF or Word document and drag signature, date and text fields onto it.
- Add your signers' names and emails, choose a signing order and send.
- Download the signed PDF and certificate of completion when everyone has signed.
- Save documents you reuse as templates to send them again in seconds.
Our take
Our free plan is not the biggest on this list, and we say so. It is permanent, includes the whole workflow and the same evidence as paid plans, and the step up is only $9.
If you routinely need more than 5 free documents, BoldSign's or Jotform's free plans may fit better. If you need DocuSign's depth, no free tool will replace it.
We compare published features and prices from each vendor's own website and list the sources above. Where we could not verify something, we say so. DocuSign (free options) is a trademark of its owner; eSignSimple is not affiliated with it. See how we protect documents on our security page and what each plan includes on pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a completely free DocuSign alternative?
eSignSimple's free plan sends 5 documents a month, permanently, with no credit card. Self-hosting an open-source tool like DocuSeal or Documenso is also free if you can run a server.
Does DocuSign have a free plan?
Signing documents others send you is free. DocuSign does not list a permanent free plan for sending; its cheapest plan, Personal, was $11/month billed yearly when we checked.
Are free e-signatures legally binding?
Yes. A simple electronic signature from a free plan is just as valid under the ESIGN Act, UETA and eIDAS as one from a paid plan, provided you keep good evidence.
What happens when I reach 5 documents?
You can still sign in and download your documents, but you need to wait for the next month or upgrade to Personal ($9/month) to send more.
Get your next document signed today.
Start with 5 free documents a month. No card needed.