Sign a document online for free in 2026: the guide

Signing a document online for free has become the norm for individuals, freelancers and small businesses: no need to print, sign manually, scan and send back. But free doesn't mean without rules: there are free solutions compliant with French law and the eIDAS regulation, and others that have no legal value whatsoever. In this guide, we sort through the real free options, their actual limitations, and how to use them without any nasty surprises.

What does "free" mean in electronic signatures?

Three categories coexist on the market. Firstly, completely free and compliant tools: Certyneo (5 envelopes/month), Yousign (3/month depending on periods), Adobe Sign Free (14-day trial then limited). Secondly, free but non-compliant tools: Adobe Acrobat Reader with Fill & Sign (no strong legal value), signature images pasted into Word. Thirdly, free trials of paid solutions, limited in time.

The real free plans compliant with eIDAS

For an individual, freelancer or very small business, Certyneo's free plan covers most needs: 5 envelopes per month, SES and AES signatures (OTP email), complete audit trail, cryptographically signed PDF, unlimited storage of signed documents. No credit card required, no trial period that automatically switches to a paid subscription. It's a real freemium plan, not a commercial gimmick.

Limitations to know about

All free plans have assumed limitations: number of monthly envelopes (generally 3 to 10), number of signatories per envelope (often 1 or 2), no API, no reusable templates, no custom branding. For intensive professional use (more than 10 signatures/month), you need to upgrade to a paid plan. But for validating a lease, signing an employment contract, getting a quote signed, the free option is more than sufficient.

What you absolutely MUST NOT do

Three free practices to ban absolutely for any document at stake. One: paste a scanned signature image into Word or PDF. No proof value, risk of repudiation. Two: use Adobe Fill & Sign for serious contracts. Handwritten signature with a mouse has no certificate. Three: send a PDF by email and ask for an OK in return. Email exchanges can constitute consent, but do not constitute an electronic signature within the meaning of eIDAS.

How to sign for free in 3 minutes

With Certyneo: 1) create your free account on certyneo.com/signup (30 seconds, email + password). 2) Upload your PDF. 3) Add your email as a signatory (to self-sign) or your counterparty's email. 4) Place the signature zones. 5) Send. The document comes back signed with certificate, timestamp and audit trail. Total cost: €0.

The legal value of a free signature

A crucial point often misunderstood: a free electronic signature from an eIDAS-compliant freemium plan has EXACTLY the same legal value as a paid electronic signature at the same level. There is no legal discount on quality. The only difference comes down to features (number of envelopes, API, multi-user). In other words: an employment contract signed on Certyneo's free plan is just as binding as an employment contract signed on the €30/month Pro plan.

When to switch to paid

Switch to a paid plan as soon as: you exceed 5-10 signatures/month on a recurring basis, you need an API for CRM integration, you want reusable templates (purchase order, standard NDA), you manage multiple users or roles, you need QES level (qualified signature) for certain regulated acts. Certyneo's paid plans start at €9/month — see /pricing for details.

Get started for free

Create a free account on certyneo.com/signup and send your first signature in less than 5 minutes. No credit card, no commitment, no forced conversion. To understand the different legal levels (SES, AES, QES), consult our complete eIDAS guide on /guide/eidas.