Free electronic signature: 2026 comparison
Looking to sign documents online without paying? Several solutions offer a free plan, but their limitations vary considerably. This guide compares the options available in 2026 to find the best free electronic signature for your needs.
2026 free plan comparison
| Solution | Free plan | eIDAS compliance | Hosting | Cloud Act |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certyneo | 5 env./month, no expiry | SES + AES | EU (Germany) | Not exposed |
| DocuSign | 30-day trial only | SES + AES | Global / EU option | Exposed |
| Yousign | 14-day trial only | SES | France (OVH) | Not exposed |
| PandaDoc | Unlimited but SES only | SES only | US (AWS) | Exposed |
| Dropbox Sign | 3 signatures/month only | SES only | US (AWS) | Exposed |
Certyneo: the only permanent free eIDAS plan
Certyneo is the only solution offering a permanent free plan (no expiry), including eIDAS advanced signature (AES) with OTP and a timestamped audit trail — hosted in the EU with no Cloud Act exposure. Ideal for freelancers, associations and micro-businesses sending fewer than 5 contracts per month.
- 5 envelopes / month
- 1 sender user
- AES eIDAS advanced signature
- Timestamped audit trail
- 10-year evidence archiving
- No credit card
- No expiry
How to sign for free with Certyneo?
- 1
Create your account
Email registration in 30 seconds, no credit card.
- 2
Import your document
PDF, Word or image — drag and drop into the interface.
- 3
Add the signatory
Their email is enough. They will receive a secure link.
- 4
Send and sign
The signatory clicks the link and signs in 30 seconds, without an account.
- 5
Download the signed PDF
Timestamped PDF + signing evidence available immediately.
When the free plan is no longer enough?
The Certyneo free plan covers 5 envelopes/month. If your needs exceed this volume, the Personal plan at €9/month offers 25 envelopes/month. For teams or high volumes, the Standard plan at €19/month includes 100 envelopes/month, a REST API and webhooks.
Questions about free electronic signature
- Is there really a free, permanent electronic signature?
- Yes, Certyneo offers a permanent free plan (no expiry). DocuSign and Yousign only offer temporary trials (30 and 14 days). PandaDoc offers a free plan but without AES or EU hosting.
- Does a freely signed document have legal value?
- Yes, if the solution is eIDAS compliant. Certyneo generates timestamped signing evidence compliant with eIDAS even on the free plan. The audit trail is admissible as evidence in court throughout the EU.
- Can I sign for free without creating an account?
- Signatories never need to create an account. Only the sender needs to create a free account.
- Is data secure on a free plan?
- Yes. At Certyneo, the security level (TLS 1.3, AES-256 encryption, EU hosting) is identical regardless of the pricing plan.