sign on vs sign up

sign on

verb
  • To commit oneself, as to a project, a goal, an organization, a cause. 

  • To begin broadcasting a radio or television signal, usually at the beginning of a broadcasting day and after being off the air for several hours. 

  • To join something, after signing. 

  • To apply to receive unemployment benefits. 

  • To log on; to start using a computer, radio, etc., or to start talking. 

noun
  • The time of day when a radio or television station begins broadcasting, usually after being off the air for several hours. 

sign up

verb
  • To add a name to the list of people who are participating in something. 

  • To add one's own name to the list of people who are participating in something (including amateur, but not professional, teams) 

  • To agree to purchase some good or service. 

How often have the words sign on and sign up occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )