Sign a document online for free in 2026: the guide

Signing a document online for free has become the standard for individuals, freelancers and small businesses: no more need to print, sign manually, scan and then return. But free does not 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 out the real free options, their actual limitations, and how to use them without surprises.

What does "free" mean in electronic signature?

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

The real free plans compliant with eIDAS

For an individual, a freelancer or a very small business, Certyneo's free plan covers the majority of needs: 5 envelopes per month, SES and AES signature (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 true freemium plan, not a commercial trick.

Limitations to know

All free plans have acknowledged 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 (over 10 signatures/month), you need to switch to a paid plan. But to validate a lease, sign an employment contract, get a quote signed, free is more than enough.

What you must absolutely NOT do

Three free practices to ban completely for any document with stakes. One: paste a scanned signature image into Word or PDF. No evidentiary value, risk of repudiation. Two: use Adobe Fill & Sign for serious contracts. Mouse-drawn handwriting has no certificate. Three: send a PDF by email and ask for an OK in return. Email exchanges can amount to consent, but do not constitute electronic signature under 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 areas. 5) Send. The document returns signed with certificate, timestamp and audit trail. Total cost: 0 €.

The legal value of a free signature

A crucial point often misunderstood: an electronic signature issued free 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 is in features (number of envelopes, API, multi-user). In other words: an employment contract signed in Certyneo free plan is just as binding as an employment contract signed in Pro plan at 30 €/month.

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.