Are you the sender or the receiver?
Sender: you wrote the contract. You need someone else to sign it, you want reminders, and you want to know when it's done. DocuSign does this very well. An alternative for you is another sending platform, not a signing app.
Receiver: a landlord, client, HR team or school emailed you a PDF. You need to sign it and send it back. You don't need envelopes, tracking or templates. That's most people who search for a DocuSign alternative, and it's who this page is for.
If the PDF came as a DocuSign email link, just tap the link — signers usually don't need a paid plan. You only need another tool when the PDF arrived as a plain attachment.
Plain attachments are common. Landlords, small businesses, schools and county offices often just email a PDF and ask you to sign and return it. That's where Apple Markup or a signing app comes in, not a sending platform.
Why people look for an alternative
DocuSign is not a bad product. It's well rated and it's the default in many offices. People usually look elsewhere for a simpler reason: they found DocuSign because a document needed signing, and then discovered the plans are priced around sending envelopes.
If you're a freelancer who signs a client's NDA, a renter signing a lease renewal, or a parent signing a school form, you're paying for a sending plan you'll rarely use. DocuSign Personal: $11/month billed annually ($132/year), 5 envelopes/month. For freelancers who sign client contracts, a signing app is usually the better fit.
Your options if you only sign
Ranked by what the job needs, not by feature count.
| Feature | Best for | Cost | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Markup | One signature, recipient on iPhone or Mac | Free, built in | Annotation may not show on Windows or Android |
| Signing inside a DocuSign link | The sender already used DocuSign | Free for the signer | Only works for envelopes they sent you |
| Adobe Fill & Sign | Basic signing, already use Acrobat | Free for basics | Large suite; paid prompts for other features |
| eSign PDF | Multi-page forms, dates, initials, any recipient | $59.99 one-time (US) | iPhone only; cannot send for signature |
| DocuSign Personal | Sending your own documents | $11/month billed annually ($132/year) | 5 envelopes/month; more costs more |
DocuSign pricing checked 2026-09-26 on DocuSign's official page.
Sign a PDF you received, without DocuSign
Open it from Mail
Tap the PDF attachment, tap Share, choose eSign PDF. Files, Messages and Safari work the same way.
Sign and fill
Draw or type your signature, place it, then add the date, initials and checkboxes the form asks for.
Export flattened
The signature becomes part of the page, so it shows on Windows, Android and Acrobat.
Send it back
Reply to the original email with the signed PDF attached.
The math for occasional signers
DocuSign Personal is $11/month billed annually — $132/year — for sending 5 envelopes/month. eSign PDF is $59.99 one-time (US), paid once, with no envelope count because nothing goes through a service. If you sign a few PDFs a year and never send, you're paying for the wrong job. Full breakdown: eSign PDF vs DocuSign.
When DocuSign is still the better choice
- ✓You send contracts or agreements to others for signature, even occasionally.
- ✓You need proof of who signed and when, with reminders.
- ✓Your employer, broker or lender requires DocuSign.
- ✓You work on Android or Windows, not iPhone.
Verdict
Stay with DocuSign if you send
It's a well-rated, capable sending platform. DocuSign Personal: $11/month billed annually ($132/year), 5 envelopes/month.
Use Apple Markup if it's one page to an Apple user
Free and already on your iPhone. See Apple Markup vs a signing app.
Use eSign PDF if you receive PDFs and sign them on iPhone
Dates, initials, checkboxes and a flattened file anyone can see. No account, on-device, $59.99 one-time (US).
FAQ
Is there a cheaper alternative to DocuSign for signing?+
If you only sign, yes. Apple Markup is free for simple cases. eSign PDF is $59.99 one-time (US). If you send documents for others, DocuSign or another sending service is still the right tool.
Do I need a DocuSign account to sign a DocuSign document?+
Usually no. The sender pays. You can sign from the link in the email.
Can eSign PDF replace DocuSign for sending contracts?+
No. eSign PDF does not send documents, collect other people's signatures, or track status.
Is a signature made on iPhone legally valid in the US?+
Under the federal ESIGN Act, a signature can't be denied legal effect just because it's electronic. Some documents have their own rules, and a sender can require a specific platform.
Does eSign PDF need an account or internet?+
No account, and it works offline. The PDF stays on your iPhone.