The Hidden Limits of DocuSign’s Free Plan (And How to Avoid Them)
So, you need to sign a document online. You head to the biggest name in the business—DocuSign—sign up for a free account, and successfully send your PDF. Great!
But a few weeks later, you go to send another contract, and you hit a wall. You're asked to upgrade to a paid subscription just to send one more document.
What happened? You just discovered the hidden limit of the DocuSign free plan.
🚫 The 3-Envelopes-Per-Month Myth
Many users believe the DocuSign free edition allows for 3 documents per month. This is often incorrect.
While plans can vary by region and promotion, the standard DocuSign free account historically limits you to 3 signature requests (envelopes) LIFETIME, or in some cases, a very strict monthly cap. Once you hit that number, your "free" account effectively becomes a "read-only" viewer unless you pay.
Other Restrictions You Might Not Notice:
- No Advanced Fields: You often can't add checkboxes or specific text validation.
- Limited Branding: You can't remove their branding or add your own logo.
- Workflow Limits: Complex routing (sending to Person A, then Person B) is usually locked behind a paywall.
💸 The Cost of Upgrading
When you hit that limit, the next step is the Personal Plan, which typically costs around $10 to $15 per month.
And even that paid plan has limits (usually 5 envelopes per month). To get unlimited sending, you often need the Standard Plan, which can run upwards of $25 to $40 per month per user.
For a freelancer, a small consultant, or someone just needing to sign a lease or school release form, $300+ a year is a steep price to pay just to put a scribble on a PDF.
🔓 Inkless: The Truly Unlimited Alternative
This is exactly why we built Inkless.
We believe that basic e-signatures should be as free as email. You don't pay every time you send a Gmail message, so why should you pay every time you send a document for signature?
How Inkless Compares:
- Envelopes / Sends: DocuSign is limited (usually 3 total), whereas Inkless is Unlimited.
- Cost: DocuSign has limits on the free tier, whereas Inkless is Free Forever.
- Security: Both platforms offer AES-256 Encryption and require no signer account.
🛑 Stop Counting Envelopes
If you are tired of:
- Wondering how many "free sends" you have left.
- Creating new email addresses just to get another free trial.
- Being blocked from sending a contract at the last minute.
...then it’s time to switch.
Inkless gives you the freedom to send 1, 10, or 100 documents a month without ever seeing a credit card field.
🚀 Get Started in Seconds
You don't need a heavy mobile app or a sales demo.
- Go to useinkless.com.
- Upload your PDF.
- Drop your tags (Signature, Date, etc.).
- Send it.
No limits. No paywalls. Just signing.