Signing a PDF on Android should take thirty seconds: open, tap where you sign, submit. In practice, half the popular apps ask you to sign up for a paid tier before letting you draw a signature, and the other half hide the sign button behind three menus. Fresh news from the enterprise side (Slackbot now embeds DocuSign envelope actions on paid tiers) is not going to change that experience for anyone reaching for a signing app on their phone. The best apps for signing PDFs on Android in 2026 are the ones that keep the signing flow one tap deep and stay free for the case that matters.
What actually matters for signing on mobile
- The signing flow should be one tap deep from opening the PDF. Anything else is friction.
- Signature should be a drawn or typed image, not a full paperwork wizard. Most personal use cases are not legally-witnessed workflows.
- Save the signed copy locally by default, then optionally to Drive, Dropbox, or email.
- No forced account creation just to sign a document once.
- Offline mode for the case where you are on a plane or in a customer’s basement without a signal.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price/mo | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Acrobat Reader | Free unlimited signing | Yes | $9.99 | Fill and Sign always free |
| DocuSign | Received signature requests | Yes | $15.00 | Full DocuSign workflow |
| Dropbox Sign | Dropbox users | Yes | $15.00 | 3 sends/month free |
| Xodo PDF Reader | Free full PDF editing | Yes | $9.99 | Free annotations and signing |
| SignEasy | Best mobile-first UI | Trial | $10.00 | Fastest tap-to-sign experience |
| Foxit PDF Editor | Foxit users | Trial | $9.99 | Bundle with Foxit PDF |
| iLovePDF | Quick occasional signing | Yes | $6.66 | Free web + app integration |
The apps
1. Adobe Acrobat Reader, best for free unlimited signing
Adobe Acrobat Reader on Android is the pragmatic default because its Fill and Sign feature is genuinely free forever, no signup wall, no send-count limit. Tap the pencil icon on any PDF, pick “Fill and Sign”, and draw or type your signature. The signed copy saves to your device, Adobe Document Cloud, or any Storage Access Framework destination on Android.
Where it falls short: Requesting signatures from others (the DocuSign flow) requires an Acrobat Sign subscription. Ads sit inside the app on the free tier, which some users find intrusive.
Pricing:
- Free: Unlimited signing of PDFs you receive.
- Acrobat Premium: $9.99/month for editing, OCR, and Acrobat Sign.
- Acrobat Pro: $19.99/month.
Platforms: Android, iOS, web, Windows, macOS.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: The default for anyone who just needs to sign what someone else sent.
2. DocuSign, best for received signature requests
DocuSign on Android is where you go when someone else sent you a DocuSign envelope. The free tier covers signing everything sent to you; the paid tier lets you send envelopes to others. The signing flow is polished and handles complex templates (initials on every page, date fields, dropdowns) that trip simpler apps.
Where it falls short: Sending is paywalled on the free tier. The interface pushes upgrades harder than it needs to.
Pricing:
- Free: Sign received documents unlimited.
- Personal: $15.00/month for 3 sends/month.
- Standard: $25.00/user/month.
Platforms: Android, iOS, web.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: Default when someone in your workflow already sends DocuSign envelopes.
3. Dropbox Sign, best for Dropbox users
Dropbox Sign (formerly HelloSign) integrates cleanly with Dropbox, so a contract that lands in your Dropbox folder can be signed and saved back in three taps. The Android app supports signing on request, generating your own templates, and requesting signatures from others.
Where it falls short: Value is highest inside Dropbox. Free tier is limited to 3 sends per month.
Pricing:
- Free: 3 signature requests per month, unlimited signing.
- Essentials: $15.00/month for unlimited sends.
- Standard: $25.00/user/month.
Platforms: Android, iOS, web.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: Default pick if your files live in Dropbox.
4. Xodo PDF Reader, best for free full PDF editing
Xodo ships free PDF reading, annotation, signing, and form-filling on Android without a login wall or a paid tier gating basic features. The signing flow is genuinely one tap deep: pencil icon, draw signature, place, save. The same signature auto-saves for future documents.
Where it falls short: Sending signature requests requires Xodo Sign (formerly eversign) as a separate paid product. Some advanced editing features (page reordering on large PDFs) can be slow.
Pricing:
- Free: Unlimited reading, signing, annotation.
- Xodo Pro: $9.99/month for OCR, encryption, batch operations.
Platforms: Android, iOS, web.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: The free choice for anyone who wants signing plus real PDF editing.
5. SignEasy, best for the fastest tap-to-sign UX
SignEasy is built for mobile-first signing. The Android editor is the most polished on this list: tap-and-drag placement, field auto-detection, and offline signing when you are without a connection. The signature capture feels native rather than webview-shim.
Where it falls short: Free trial is 14 days. Team features are basic. Sending signature requests requires the paid tier.
Pricing:
- Free trial: 14 days.
- Pro: $10.00/month for unlimited.
- Business: $20.00/user/month.
Platforms: Android, iOS, web.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: Pick SignEasy if the phone is your primary signing surface.
6. Foxit PDF Editor, best for Foxit users
Foxit PDF Editor covers the same PDF signing feature list as Adobe at a lower price. The Android app handles free reading and signing, and paid tiers add editing, form creation, and eSign send.
Where it falls short: Free tier covers less than Xodo. Signing is polished but not first-class the way Adobe’s is.
Pricing:
- Free: Basic reading and signing.
- PDF Editor Pro: $9.99/month.
- eSign Pro: $10.00/user/month adds send workflow.
Platforms: Android, iOS, web, Windows, macOS.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: Default pick for Foxit users looking to unify signing and editing.
7. iLovePDF, best for quick occasional signing
iLovePDF on Android is the simplest signing option for occasional users. Open a PDF, tap sign, draw. The app also integrates with the iLovePDF web tools, so a document you started on desktop can be finished on your phone.
Where it falls short: UI is basic. No template support. The web-first design shows in some Android UI quirks.
Pricing:
- Free: Unlimited signing, some tools rate-limited.
- Premium: $6.66/month (annual) removes limits.
Platforms: Android, iOS, web.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: The right pick if you only sign a document once every few weeks.
How to pick the right one
- If you just need to sign what someone sent: Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- If someone sent you a DocuSign envelope: DocuSign.
- If your files live in Dropbox: Dropbox Sign.
- If you want full free PDF editing plus signing: Xodo.
- If mobile signing UX matters: SignEasy.
- If Foxit is your PDF layer: Foxit PDF Editor.
- If you sign a PDF once a quarter: iLovePDF.
FAQ
What is the best free app for signing PDFs on Android?
Adobe Acrobat Reader’s Fill and Sign is unlimited and free. Xodo is fully free for signing and full PDF editing. iLovePDF covers occasional users.
Can I sign a PDF without an internet connection?
Yes. Adobe Acrobat Reader, Xodo, and SignEasy all support offline signing. The signed copy saves to the device and syncs later.
Is a drawn signature on a phone legally valid?
In most jurisdictions yes, for standard electronic signatures under E-SIGN (US) or eIDAS (EU). Qualified electronic signatures (QES) for regulated documents require certified providers like Adobe Acrobat Sign, DocuSign, or Foxit eSign.
Which app has the fastest signing flow?
SignEasy for the mobile-native experience. Adobe Acrobat Reader Fill and Sign is one tap from the pencil icon.
Do these apps store my signature?
Most save your drawn or typed signature locally for reuse. Adobe, DocuSign, Dropbox Sign, and SignEasy also offer optional cloud storage of the signature image.
