Adobe offers free and paid solutions for signing documents. This article provides related guidance and instructions.
Each business process has its own signature requirements in terms of auditing, security, convenience and automation/integration.
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Business Requirements
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Use Cases
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Product
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| Export Microsoft 365 documents to PDF, provide an e-signature using "Fill & Sign" (i.e. signature is an image without additional password protection). |
Sign a PDF time sheet, save a PDF copies of a business report. |
Adobe Reader DC (free) |
| Provide a "Certificate" e-signature (i.e. password protected digital ID), edit PDF files, create or edit graphics and content for a new PDF. |
Create a PDF poster for an event, prepare a document for e-signature. |
Acrobat Pro (Creative Cloud) |
| Generate and track secure & audited signature requests, use passwords, automate signature reminders, dashboard view of your signature history. |
Contract management over $500, financial & HR approvals requiring an audit log. |
Adobe Digital Sign (fee-based) |
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Step 1:
Open Adobe Acrobat (desktop or web).
- Go to E‑Sign → Request e‑signatures.
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 *click on the image to zoom in*
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Step 2:
Add your signer(s).
- Enter the recipient’s name and email.
- Add more signers using Add recipient.
- (Optional) Enable Recipients must sign in order and drag to reorder.
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Step 3:
Prepare the document for signature.
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Step 4:
Add signature fields.
- Choose a Signature field from the right‑side panel.
- Click on the document to place it.
- Assign each field to the correct recipient using the left panel.
- (Optional) Add fields like name, date, checkboxes, etc.
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Step 5:
Customize field settings (recommended).
- Mark fields as Required.
- Adjust size/position.
- Delete or duplicate fields as needed.
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Step 6:
Review and finalize.
- Go to Review and send.
- Confirm recipients, message text, and reminders.
- Click Send.
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Sending the document (clicking Send) is what triggers a billable transaction under Adobe’s transaction‑based licensing.
Please see LinkedIn Learning for detailed instructions.
Licensed Adobe Sign users can also view help videos at https://secure.na2.adobesign.com/account/resourcesHub
Signing Order
Control whether recipients are required to sign in the order they are entered, or in any order.
Recipient Groups
Add a recipient group and include multiple team members in a single step. Any of the individuals listed in the group can then participate on behalf of the entire group.
CC
Enter a list of email addresses to receive notification when the document has been completed.
Roles
In addition to designating recipients as Signers, you can mark them as Approvers.
Approver
Recipients marked as approvers review and approve the document but they are not required to sign it. They may be required to enter data into fields.
Ensure that before recipients can view or sign the document, they have to verify their identity using one of the following methods: Email, Password, Knowledge Based Authentication (KBA), Phone, Acrobat Sign Identity, Email One Time Password, or Government ID.
Authentication Factors
As a basic form of authentication, Recipients will receive an email or SMS containing a link to load the document and interact with it. The following secondary authentication options are available to elevate the authentication of the Recipient.
Password
Require recipients to enter a password you specify.
Phone
Recipients will be required to enter a verification code that is sent to their phone via SMS or voice call.
Knowledge Based Authentication (KBA)
Require recipients to provide their name, address and optionally last 4 digits of their SSN and then answer questions to help verify their identity. Available only in the US.
Acrobat Sign
Require recipients to verify their identity by signing in to Acrobat Sign.
Government ID
Government ID is a form of identity verification that requires recipients to scan their Government ID images via their mobile phone camera and get them verified. An identity report will be available through the Manage page.
Digital Identity Gateway
Allows multiple ways to authenticate recipients via third-party identity verification services. An identity report will be available through the Manage page.
For more information about the available Digital Identity Gateway services, please visit the Adobe Help Center
Email OTP
Recipients will be required to enter an OTP code that is sent to their email address
Q: How much does each Acrobat Sign (metered) signature cost?
A: Each unique signature costs $1.80 CAD.
Q: What are the minimum requirements to initiate a metered signature?
A: Anyone with Acrobat Sign 'User' permissions assigned in the Adobe Admin console.
Q: What are the minimum requirements to provide a metered signature?
A: A web browser, an Adobe account, or Acrobat Reader DC (free).
Q: What happens when we use up our initial (2000) credits?
A: We will 'true up' at next contract renewal date - meaning we will be force to purchase that higher amount in future years.