Adobe Acrobat is a strong product, but a monthly plan is more than most people need to sign one form. This guide lists the free ways to do it. We write DocPro, so you should know where we stand: DocPro's Sign PDF is not free. It is part of DocPro Pro at A$5.99 a month, and several of the free options below are a better fit if you sign only now and then. Limits and prices are as of November 2026 and can change.
Sign it yourself
This is the common case: you have a form or contract and just need your own signature on it.
- Adobe's online sign tool. Adobe's page says basic signing is free: you can type, draw or upload a signature and download the signed file. Filling a fillable form needs you to be signed in, and files you upload are deleted after processing unless you sign in to save them. The page does not state size or usage caps.
- Preview on a Mac. Apple's guide says you can create a signature with the trackpad, the camera or a nearby iPhone or iPad, then drag it into place on the PDF. It is built into macOS and free.
- Markup on iPhone and iPad. Apple's iPhone guide lists a section on filling out forms and signing documents. We could not read the steps from that page, so check it on your device.
- Microsoft Edge. Microsoft's documentation says the Edge PDF reader supports drawing with ink, including to sign, and also highlighting, comments and basic form filling. It describes viewing and validating certificate-based signatures but not creating them. A drawn ink line is a picture of a signature, not a certificate signature.
- Dropbox Sign. Its help centre says self-signing is unlimited on the free plan and does not count toward the three monthly signature requests. A self-signed document does not get an audit trail.
Free Acrobat Reader is not in the list because the Adobe help pages we could read did not say whether its signing tools are included in the free version. Check Adobe's current Reader page before relying on it.
Get other people to sign
Sending a document to someone else for their signature needs a service that emails them, tracks the result and often keeps a record. Free plans here are limited.
- Dropbox Sign. The free plan includes three signature requests a month, renewing every 30 days. Bundling documents to signers counts as one request. Bulk send is not included, and a completed request gets an audit trail.
- DocuSign. A free plan exists, but we could not confirm its limits. Check DocuSign's pricing page for the current free-plan allowance.
- Smallpdf. Its pricing page marks signing and requesting signatures as limited on the free plan, with a daily download limit, and says a free Sign.com account is capped at two documents a month.
- iLovePDF. Its sign tool offers a simple signature and the option to invite others to sign. Its page marks a digital signature, several separate requests and email branding as Premium.
- Adobe. Adobe's own sign page is inconsistent: one section says you can request signatures free with an Adobe account, another says it may need a paid plan. Check before you rely on it. Adobe Acrobat Sign is a separate paid service for volume.
The options side by side
| Option | Cost for basic signing | Sign yourself | Others sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe online sign tool | Free (Adobe, as of Nov 2026) | Yes | Unclear, check Adobe |
| Preview (Mac) | Free, built in | Yes | No |
| iPhone/iPad Markup | Free, built in | Yes, steps not confirmed | No |
| Microsoft Edge | Free | Ink drawing | No |
| Dropbox Sign free | Free | Unlimited | 3 requests a month |
| DocuSign free | Free plan, limit not confirmed | Check DocuSign | Limited, check DocuSign |
| Smallpdf free | Free, limited | Limited, daily cap | Limited, 2 docs a month on Sign.com free |
| iLovePDF | Simple signature, free tier | Yes | Invite others, some features Premium |
| DocPro Pro | A$5.99 a month | Image of your signature | No, cannot request signatures |
Where DocPro fits
DocPro's Sign PDF places an image of your signature on the page, and the signature vault saves signatures for reuse. Both need DocPro Pro, A$5.99 a month. The work happens in your browser, so the PDF is not uploaded, which some people value for sensitive contracts. But it is not a certificate-based digital signature, and the web app cannot send a request to someone else. If you only need a signature once or twice, a free option above is cheaper. DocPro's other tools, such as annotate and fill form, are free with no account.
Is a plain signature good enough?
For many forms an image or drawn signature is accepted, but not for every purpose, and an image does not stop the file being edited afterwards. Read is an electronic signature on a PDF legally valid for the legal side and is it safe to sign a PDF online before uploading a contract anywhere. For step-by-step methods, see how to add a signature to a PDF without Adobe.
How to choose
- One signature on your own form: Preview, Markup, Edge or Adobe's free tool.
- A handful of documents a month that others must sign: Dropbox Sign's free plan, if three requests is enough.
- Regular volume, audit trails or certificate signatures: a paid service, which may be Acrobat, Dropbox Sign, DocuSign or another.
- A private file that must not be uploaded, signed often: DocPro Pro, if the price suits you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sign a PDF for free without Adobe Acrobat?
Yes. Adobe's own online tool offers free basic signing, Preview on a Mac and Edge's ink pen are free, and Dropbox Sign allows unlimited self-signing on its free plan (as of November 2026).
How do I get someone else to sign a PDF for free?
Dropbox Sign's free plan allows three signature requests a month. Smallpdf, iLovePDF and DocuSign also have limited free access, so check each current limit.
Is DocPro free for signing PDFs?
No. DocPro's Sign PDF and signature vault are DocPro Pro features at A$5.99 a month. Its other tools are free with no account.
Is a drawn signature on a PDF legally valid?
Often yes for ordinary documents, but it depends on the document and the country. Our guide on electronic signature validity explains the basics.