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By Jenefey Aaron

Updated on 2025-09-11

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DocuSign Free Trial : Setup, Features & Best Practices

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By Jenefey Aaron

2025-09-11 / Knowledge

"Is DocuSign free?" This is one of the most common questions asked by people. The short answer is yes, but only for a limited time. With the DocuSign free trial, new users can try all the essential eSignature features for 30 days without adding a credit card. This gives you a chance to test its tools before choosing from DocuSign pricing plans.

In this article, we’ll walk you step by step through setting up your free trial, explain what’s included in the DocuSign free plan, highlight its limits, compare it with other services, and introduce a smarter alternative if you want more than just signing.

Part 1. How to Get Your DocuSign Free Trial (Step-by-Step)

If you are wondering how to start with the DocuSign free trial, the process is quick and simple. You don’t need a credit card, and you can access the DocuSign 30-day trial immediately. Below, we will walk you through step-by-step instructions to sign up for the free account and then send your first envelope for signature.

  • Visit the official DocuSign Free Trial page in your browser. Type in your email address in the text box, then click Get Started.
  • enter email address to try docusign for free
  • DocuSign will ask for your name, company name (optional), and a password. Fill in these fields carefully. After entering your details, click Create Account.
  • complete your ducusign account details
  • Check your email inbox for a confirmation mail from DocuSign. Open it and click on Activate Account. This step is required to use your free account.
  • After activating your account, log back into DocuSign to access your trial dashboard showing remaining trial days.
  • Upon first login, a Get Started guide will appear on the right. Click Adopt Your Signature to set up your signature — choose a pre-designed style, draw one, or upload an image.
  • set up signature in docusign for free

How to Send an Envelope for Signature

After setting up your trial account, you can now send your first document (called an envelope) for eSignature. Here’s how:

  • From your dashboard, click on Send Documents for Signature. A new window will open where you can upload your document.
  • click on send documents for signature on docusign
  • Upload your file (PDF, Word, or image) by dragging it into the box or selecting it from your computer, then enter the email address(es) of the recipient(s) who need to sign.
  •  add recipients for your docusign account
  • After uploading the file, simply drag the required fields onto the document where you want the signer to complete.
  • Templates let you quickly send standard agreements like NDAs or SOWs. Go to TemplatesCreate Template, upload your file (JSON, XML, or .zip), and fill in the details.
  • : click create a template
  • Once everything is ready, click Send. Your recipient will get an email with a secure link to review and sign the document.
  •  send the docusign envelope for free
  • After sending, go to the Agreements tab on the top navigation bar. Here, you can check the status of your document whether it is waiting for a signature, completed, or needs attention.

Part 2. What’s Included in DocuSign Free Trial (Key Features & Important Limitations)

The DocuSign free plan is designed to help users explore how eSignatures work without paying upfront.

Key Features of DocuSign Free Trial

  • No Credit Card Required: Sign up without worrying about auto-charges.
  • 30 Days Full Access: Use all core features of DocuSign.
  • Send Envelopes: Send documents to others for signing.
  • Use Templates: Save time with pre-built templates for common agreements.
  • Mobile App Access: Sign and send from iOS or Android devices.
  • Audit Trail: Track who signed, when, and from where.

The DocuSign 30 day trial is great if you want to test before committing to one of the DocuSign pricing plans.

How to Maximize Your 30-Day DocuSign Trial

  • Enjoy complete use of all core eSignature and sending features at no cost.
  • Speed up workflows with ready-to-use templates for contracts, forms, and approvals.
  • Sign or send documents on any device, with a full history of actions and signer details.
  • Connect directly with Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive for seamless document access.

DocuSign Free Trial Limitations

  • The free trial is only available to new users.
  • You can only send a limited number of envelopes.
  • Some advanced features like bulk send, payments, and integrations are not included.
  • After 30 days, your account will be downgraded unless you buy a plan.

How to Cancel DocuSign Free Trial

If the DocuSign free trial limitations don’t work for you, you can end it easily:

  • Log in to your account.
  • Go to My Account → Plan & Billing.
  • Select Cancel Free Trial.
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Note:

Once you cancel your DocuSign free trial and are looking for a better alternative, Tenorshare PDNob is worth considering. It offers a variety of e-signing features and is an ideal solution for managing your document signing needs.

Part 3. DocuSign vs. Competitors: Which Has the Best Free Trial?

While DocuSign is popular, there are free DocuSign alternatives worth looking at. Let’s compare:

swiper icon Please swipe to view
Primary Strength
Free Plan
Pricing Plans
Key Features
Best For
DocuSign
Trusted & secure eSign
30-day trial
From $10/month
Templates, audit trail, mobile app
Businesses needing reliable signing
Dropbox Sign
Simple & fast setup
Yes, limited
From $15/month
Integrates with Dropbox, easy UI
Small teams
Signaturely
Budget-friendly
Yes, limited
From $10/month
Unlimited signers, simple workflow
Freelancers
Adobe Acrobat Sign
Part of Adobe suite
7-day trial
From $13/month
Works with PDFs, Office 365
Adobe users

Summary:

  • Choose DocuSign if you need security, compliance, and reliable tools.
  • Choose Dropbox Sign for quick integration with Dropbox.
  • Choose Signaturely or Tenorshare PDNob if you want cheaper free DocuSign alternatives.
  • Choose Adobe Acrobat Sign if you’re already an Adobe user.

Part 4. More Than eSignatures: A Smarter Alternative to DocuSign

While the DocuSign free trial is helpful for sending and receiving eSignatures, it comes with limits in document management. Many users need more than just signing—they want to edit, convert, organize, and secure their files in one place.

Tenorshare PDNob is a smarter choice because it provides all these functions in addition to eSignatures. You can easily convert PDFs to multiple formats, add text or images, and even protect sensitive files with passwords. This makes it not only a signing tool but also a complete solution for anyone who works with digital documents regularly.

Key Features of Tenorshare PDNob PDF Editor:

  • eSignature support: Easily add secure electronic signatures to contracts, forms, and agreements without extra steps.
  • OCR technology: Convert scanned PDFs into editable text for quick updates and corrections.
  • PDF conversion: Change PDF files into Word, Excel, PPT, images, and more formats effortlessly.
  • Advanced editing: Edit text, images, watermarks, and backgrounds with over 100 customization options.
  • File management tools: Merge, split, compress, and protect PDFs with password encryption when needed.

How to eSign with Tenorshare PDNob

  • Download and install Tenorshare PDNob PDF Editor.
  • Click on “Open PDF” and import the PDF file you want to sign.
  • open pdf file via pdnob pdf editor
  • Go to the “Comment” option in the toolbar and select the “Signature” icon.
  • select the signature icon on pdnob
  • Click on “Create” and choose one of the three ways to add your signature:
    • Type your name and pick a font style
    • Draw your signature using your mouse or trackpad
    • Upload an image of your handwritten signature
  •  add your esignature on pdnob
  • Drag and drop the created signature into the right place on your PDF, then save the document.

Whether you’re signing work contracts or personal forms, PDNob PDF Editor makes it simple. It works on both Windows and Mac, so you can easily create electronic signatures across devices.

Part 5. FAQs of DocuSign Free Trial

1. How long is DocuSign free trial?

The DocuSign free trial lasts for 30 days. During this time, you can test its main features without paying.

2. Is DocuSign free with Office 365?

No. DocuSign is not free with Office 365. However, it integrates with Microsoft apps, and you can still use the DocuSign free plan to test it.

3. Can I extend or reuse the free trial?

No. Each user gets one 30-day trial. After expiration, you must upgrade to a paid plan.

4. How many envelopes can I send with DocuSign free trial?

The trial allows a limited number of envelopes (usually a few) to avoid abuse. For unlimited sending, you’ll need a paid plan.

Conclusion

The DocuSign free trial is a smart way to test eSignature tools without paying upfront. Still, the DocuSign free trial limitations mean it might not be enough for long-term use. If you want a tool that goes beyond signing, Tenorshare PDNob is one of the best free DocuSign alternatives. It combines editing, conversion, OCR, and eSignature features in one program, making it a complete solution for document management.

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