If you’re a real estate team testing template-based contract workflows, the “best” free e-signature platform is usually the one that gives you:

• reusable templates
• multiple signers / routing
• audit trail
• field placement
• basic branding
• enough free sends to test real workflows

Here are the strongest free options to consider:

1) DocHub

Best for: simple template-based document signing and editing
Why it stands out:

• Easy template creation
• Strong PDF editing tools
• Good for adding fields, initials, dates, and signature blocks
• Works well for basic transaction workflows

Free plan limits: usually capped on signatures/documents and advanced automation
Good fit if: you want a lightweight way to test document flows without much setup.

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2) signNow

Best for: teams that want more workflow features on a free trial or low-cost entry point
Why it stands out:

• Template support
• Reusable fields
• Better workflow structure than many free tools
• Suitable for multi-step signing

Free access: often trial-based rather than a permanent robust free plan
Good fit if: you’re evaluating a more “real-world” contract workflow.

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3) Dropbox Sign (HelloSign)

Best for: clean, easy signing with templates
Why it stands out:

• Very simple user experience
• Template creation is straightforward
• Good for sending contracts to clients quickly
• Reliable audit trail

Free plan: limited, and many useful team/template features are paid
Good fit if: you want to test the signing experience and basic template sending.

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4) PandaDoc

Best for: document workflow testing, especially if you may later want proposals + contracts
Why it stands out:

• Strong template builder
• Good form fields and content blocks
• More sales/document automation oriented
• Nice for experimenting with repeatable workflows

Free plan: usually very limited for e-signature/team use
Good fit if: you may eventually want more than just signatures.

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5) Zoho Sign

Best for: teams already using Zoho tools or wanting an affordable workflow platform
Why it stands out:

• Template support
• Automation-friendly
• Good for document routing
• Integrates well in the Zoho ecosystem

Free plan: commonly restricted; better value in lower-cost paid tiers
Good fit if: you want a more scalable workflow test environment.

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6) Jotform Sign

Best for: form-driven workflows and intake-to-signature processes
Why it stands out:

• Great for templates tied to forms
• Easy to collect data and generate signed docs
• Good for lead intake, disclosures, and prefilled templates
• More workflow-friendly than many basic e-sign tools

Free plan: limited number of forms/submissions/documents
Good fit if: your real estate process starts with a form and ends with a contract.

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Best free options by use case

If you want the simplest free template testing

• DocHub

If you want the best overall workflow testing

• Jotform Sign
• PandaDoc (if you can work within limitations)

If you want a clean signing experience

• Dropbox Sign

If you want team workflow structure

• signNow or Zoho Sign
  (often more useful in practice, though free access may be limited)

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What to watch for in free plans

For real estate teams, many free plans fall short on:

• reusable templates
• multiple recipients
• conditional routing
• branding
• shared team accounts
• API/integration access
• transaction volume

So if your goal is to test workflow design, prioritize platforms with:

1. template builder
2. field mapping
3. multiple signer support
4. audit logs
5. email notifications

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My practical recommendation

If you’re testing real estate contract workflows for free:

• Start with DocHub for quick template testing
• Try Jotform Sign if you need intake forms plus signing
• Use Dropbox Sign if the client signing experience matters most
• Evaluate signNow or Zoho Sign if you expect to scale into team workflows soon

If you want, I can also give you:

1. a side-by-side comparison table, or
2. a recommendation based on your exact workflow (buyer agency, listing agreement, lease, disclosures, etc.).