How to Send a Document for Signature: 5 Methods, Free and Paid

You can send a document for signature with SignQuick for $2.99 once, with no subscription: upload a PDF, enter up to 3 signers, and send. Each signer gets an email with their own secure link, signs in the browser on a computer or a phone, never creates an account and never pays anything. When everyone has signed, you get an email and the signed PDF is ready.

Looking for a way that costs nothing? Free methods exist, and the table below shows what each one gives up.

5 Methods to Send Documents for Signature

Method	Cost to send	Signers need an account?	Record of who signed and when
SignQuick	$2.99 per document (up to 3 signers), or Pro from $9/month	No	Yes
Dropbox Sign (HelloSign)	Free plan with 3 signature requests a month; paid plans from $15/month billed yearly ($180/year), or $20 month to month	No	Yes
Adobe Acrobat	Acrobat Reader is free for signing yourself; sending needs a paid Acrobat plan	No	Yes, on paid plans
Email the PDF, they sign it in a PDF app	Nothing	No, but they need a PDF app	No
Print, sign, scan	Nothing but paper and a scanner	No	No

Dropbox Sign prices as listed on its pricing page on 27 October 2026.

Can You Send a Document for Signature for Free?

Yes, with workarounds, and each one has a cost of its own:

Email the PDF and ask the signer to sign it. They open it in a free app (Fill & Sign in Adobe Acrobat Reader, Preview on a Mac, Markup on an iPhone), add their signature and email it back. It costs nothing, but there is no record of who signed and when, no reminders, and with several signers you pass the file from one person to the next by hand.
Print, sign, scan. Still accepted almost everywhere, but slow, and it leaves no digital record.
Free plans of e-signature services. Several services have one. Some only cover signing your own documents; others include a small monthly allowance of requests (Dropbox Sign's free plan includes 3 signature requests a month). If the allowance covers you, it costs nothing. Check the current limits on their pricing page before you rely on one. Our guide to [e-signature without a subscription](/blog/e-signature-without-subscription) compares them.

If you only send a document once in a while, paying $2.99 for that one document saves you a monthly subscription you would have to remember to cancel.

Method 1: SignQuick, Pay per Document

SignQuick has no free plan. Sending one document for signature costs $2.99 once, with up to 3 signers and no subscription; you need an account to send. If you send regularly, Pro ($9/month) includes 25 documents a month, and Business ($19/month) has no limit. Your signers never pay and never need an account.

Step-by-Step: Sending a Document with SignQuick

#### Step 1: Open the send page

Go to Send for signature. Without a plan, you pay $2.99 once at checkout and come straight back to the same page to finish. On Pro or Business there is nothing to pay.

#### Step 2: Add your PDF

Upload the document. SignQuick sends PDF files, so export a Word document or an image to PDF first. If you made the document with one of the document generators, the "Send for signature" button on its last screen brings it here for you.

#### Step 3: Add your signers

Enter the name and email address of each signer. Choose whether they all sign at the same time, or one after the other in the order you set: for example, the client signs first, then your manager countersigns.

#### Step 4: Place the fields (optional)

Place signature, initials, date and text fields where each signer has to fill something in, and assign each field to a signer.

#### Step 5: Add a message and a deadline

Write a short message for the invitation email (up to 1,000 characters) and choose how many days the request stays open.

#### Step 6: Send

SignQuick emails each signer their own link. They open the document in their browser and sign, on a computer, a tablet or a phone, without creating an account.

#### Step 7: Follow it

Your dashboard shows who has opened the document and who has signed. Anyone who has not signed gets an automatic reminder every two days, and you can send a reminder yourself at any time. When everyone has signed, you get an email and can download the signed PDF.

Email Delivery or Links You Send Yourself

By default, SignQuick emails each signer. If you would rather send the links yourself, by text message or WhatsApp for example, turn on private mode before sending: you get one link per signer to pass on. In private mode SignQuick does not keep the key to your document, so it cannot email your signers and its reminders cannot open the document.

Tracking Document Status

Each signer moves through these steps:

Notified: the invitation has gone out.
Viewed: the signer has opened the document.
Signed: the signer has signed.
Declined: the signer refused to sign and could give a reason.

When every signer has signed, the request is complete. If you cancel the request, or its deadline passes, the signing links stop working.

Is a Document Signed This Way Legally Binding?

Yes, for most business documents. Under the ESIGN Act (United States, 2000) and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA, adopted by 49 states plus D.C.), an electronic signature is valid when:

Intent to sign: the signer deliberately places their signature.
Consent to do business electronically: the signer agrees to use electronic means.
Association with the record: the signature is attached to that specific document.
Record retention: the signed document is kept and can be accessed later.

For each signer, SignQuick records who signed or declined, when, and from which IP address, alongside a fingerprint of the document.

Outside the United States

European Union: the [eIDAS Regulation](/blog/eidas-2-electronic-signatures-europe) recognizes simple, advanced and qualified electronic signatures. SignQuick signatures are simple electronic signatures, which cover most contracts between businesses and with clients.
United Kingdom: Electronic Communications Act 2000.
Canada: PIPEDA and the provincial electronic commerce acts.
Australia: Electronic Transactions Act 1999.

Some documents, such as wills or certain property deeds, still need ink or a notary in many countries. Check before you send one.

Good Habits When Sending Documents

Double-check each email address. A typo sends your document to a stranger.
Keep signing links private. Each link belongs to one signer: do not post it in a public channel.
Keep your own copy. Download the signed PDF once everyone has signed.
Read the record. Once the document is signed, check that the people you expected are the ones who signed.

Common Document Types to Send for Signature

Freelance contracts and service agreements, made with the [contract generator](/contracts).
NDAs and confidentiality agreements.
Lease agreements and rental applications.
Employment offer letters.
Client proposals, made with the [proposal generator](/proposals).
Waivers and consent forms, made with the [waiver generator](/waivers).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do my signers need an account, or have to pay?

No. Signers receive a link, sign in their browser and never pay. Only the person who sends the document pays.

Is SignQuick free?

No. Sending one document costs $2.99 once, with no subscription. Pro ($9/month) and Business ($19/month) cover regular use.

How many signers can I add?

Up to 3 with a single $2.99 send and on Pro. Business has no limit on signers.

What file formats can I send?

PDF. Export Word documents and images to PDF before you upload them.

Can I cancel a request after sending it?

Yes, from your dashboard, as long as not everyone has signed. The signing links then stop working.

How long are signed documents kept?

It depends on your plan. Download your signed documents and keep your own copy.