How to sign a PDF online
- Drop your PDF into the box above, or press "Choose PDF" and pick it from your computer or phone. The first page appears as a large preview.
- Create your signature. On the "Draw signature" tab, sign with a mouse, trackpad, finger or stylus and adjust the pen color and thickness. On "Upload signature image", pick a photo or scan of a signature written on white paper. On "Type name", enter your name and choose a plain or italic style.
- Your signature appears on the page inside a dashed frame. Drag it to the signature line, pull the round handle in the corner to resize it, or focus the frame and use the arrow keys to nudge it and the plus and minus keys to resize it. The page menu lets you jump to any other page.
- Tick "Add today's date" if you want the date printed under the signature, or "Apply to all pages" to stamp the same signature on every page, which is handy for initials.
- Press "Apply signature", then "Download signed PDF". Your original file is never changed; the signed copy is saved as
yourfile-signed.pdf.
What kind of signature does this add?
This tool adds a visual signature: an image of your handwriting, or of your typed name, placed on the page. It is the on-screen equivalent of printing a document, signing it with a pen and scanning it again, only much faster. In legal vocabulary it comes closest to a simple or basic electronic signature.
It is not a certificate-based digital signature. Those are produced by services such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign, or by a trust service provider. They tie your identity to the document with cryptography, record who signed and when, and show a warning if anyone edits the file afterwards. Our tool does none of that: it does not verify who you are, it keeps no audit trail, and anyone with a PDF editor could cover or delete the image.
Whether a simple electronic signature is enough depends on the document and on who is asking. Laws such as the ESIGN Act and UETA in the United States, the eIDAS regulation in the European Union and the UK's electronic signature rules accept electronic signatures for a wide range of everyday agreements. Some documents, for example wills and certain property, court or family-law forms, carry extra formalities, and many institutions have rules of their own. If you are unsure, ask the person or organization who sent you the document, or speak to a lawyer. Nothing on this page is legal advice.
Everyday documents you can sign with it
Most people look for a PDF signer when a form lands in their inbox and printing it would waste an afternoon: a rental application or lease addendum, a permission slip for a school trip, a timesheet your manager needs back today, a freelance contract, a non-disclosure agreement, a quote you are accepting, or a consent form from a clinic or a gym. Signing on screen means no printer, no scanner and no trip to the post office.
It is just as useful for documents that only need a visible mark of approval inside a team: initialing every page of a draft, signing off an internal checklist, or approving a design proof. For those, a signature image and a date are usually all anybody expects.
Tips for a signature that looks natural
- Use the whole drawing area. A large, relaxed stroke turns into a smooth line when it is reduced to fit the page, while a tiny cramped one looks shaky.
- Pick dark ink and a moderate pen. Dark blue or black at a thickness of 2 to 3 works well. Very thick strokes clog up the loops of your letters once the signature is scaled down.
- Photograph signatures carefully. Sign with a dark pen on plain white paper, take the picture in even light without shadows, and keep "Make the white background transparent" ticked so a white box does not cover the printed text underneath.
- Mind the size. Around 5 to 6 cm (2 to 2.5 inches) wide is typical on a Letter or A4 page. The readout under the preview shows the current width in points, inches and centimeters.
- Keep it on the line. Place the signature on the signature line without covering any printed words, and leave a little room for the date.
- Use a phone sideways. Turning the phone gives you a wider drawing area, and the canvas does not scroll while your finger is on it.
For multi-page agreements where each page needs initials, draw a small, simple mark, place it near the bottom corner and tick "Apply to all pages". The same position is used on every page, clamped to the page edges if some pages are smaller.
Privacy: your document stays on your device
Many online signing sites ask you to upload the document, create an account and wait for an email. Here the PDF is read by your own browser. The preview is drawn with pdf.js, the signature is embedded with the open-source pdf-lib library, and the finished file is saved straight back to your downloads folder. There is no upload, no account and no tracking of what you sign. Once the page has loaded it keeps working with your connection switched off, which is an easy way to check the claim yourself.
The trade-off is the one described earlier: there is no audit trail, no identity check and no tamper seal. If the other side insists on those, use a dedicated e-signature service. For everything else, this is the quick and private option.
Why use this PDF signer?
- Nothing is uploaded. Contracts, IDs and tax forms stay on your computer or phone.
- No account, no watermark, no limits. Sign as many documents as you like.
- Three ways to sign. Draw, upload an image or type your name, then drag the result exactly where you want it.
- Keyboard and touch friendly. The signature frame can be moved and resized with arrow keys, and the drawing pad works with a finger or stylus.
Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. The document is opened and edited inside your browser, and the signed copy is created on your device. Switch off your connection after the page has loaded and you will see that the tool still works.
Is a signature added here legally binding?
It depends on the document, the country and the other party. Many everyday agreements can be signed with a simple electronic signature, but some documents need more formal methods, and a recipient may insist on a certificate-based signature. Ask the recipient or a lawyer if it matters. This is not legal advice.
Is this the same as a digital signature from Adobe or DocuSign?
No. Those services use certificates and audit trails to prove who signed and that the file was not changed afterwards. This tool places an image of your signature on the page, with no identity check and no tamper protection.
Can I sign a password-protected PDF?
Not directly, because the tool has to read the pages. If you know the password, remove it with Unlock PDF, sign the unlocked copy and, if the document is sensitive, protect it again with Protect PDF.
Can I type into form fields with this tool?
No, it only places a signature and an optional date. Fill in the form fields in your PDF viewer first, save that copy and then sign it here.
Can I sign on my phone or tablet?
Yes. Open the page in Safari or Chrome, choose the PDF, draw with your finger or a stylus and drag the signature into place. Turning the device sideways gives you a wider drawing area.
Can I move or remove the signature after downloading?
Not with this tool. The signature is drawn into the page content of the new file, so keep your original and sign again if you need to change it. Because it is only an image, someone with a PDF editor could also remove it, which is why it is not tamper-proof.
How do I sign or initial every page?
Tick "Apply to all pages" before pressing "Apply signature". The signature is stamped at the same position on every page of the document.
Is it really free?
Yes. There is no premium tier, no trial and no registration. The site is supported by unobtrusive ads that never sit next to the buttons.
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