How to sign a PDF online — free, in your browser

Why sign a PDF in the browser?

Most PDFs only need a single signature — a contract, a consent form, an application. Installing desktop software or creating an account on a cloud service is overkill for a one-minute task, and it means handing a private document to a third party.

A browser-based signer removes both problems. The PDF is processed locally using WebAssembly, a web standard that lets near-native code run securely inside the browser sandbox. Your document stays on your computer or phone — it is never transmitted to any server, and nothing is stored remotely. There is nothing to install, nothing to pay for, and no sign-up between you and a finished, signed file.

This is especially important when you are signing personal documents — lease agreements, medical consent forms, offer letters — where you would not normally hand the original paper to a stranger. The browser-native approach gives you the convenience of a web tool with the privacy of desktop software.

Three ways to create your signature

There is no single "correct" way to sign — pick whichever produces a signature you are happy with:

• >Draw it: best on a phone or tablet where you can sign naturally with a finger or stylus. You get a fluid, authentic-looking result with no extra hardware.
• >Type it: enter your name and choose a handwriting-style font. Fast and consistent, and ideal when you do not have a touchscreen or want the same appearance every time.
• >Upload it: photograph your real pen-on-paper signature, then drop the image in. A PNG with a transparent background gives the cleanest result, with only the ink visible over the document.

Placing and sizing the signature correctly

A signature that overlaps the printed text or sits crooked on the line looks unprofessional and can cause a document to be rejected. After placing your signature, drag it so its baseline rests on the signature line and resize it so the width roughly matches the space provided.

For multi-page documents, repeat the placement on every page that requires initials or a signature. Many agreements need initials at the bottom of each page and a full signature only on the final page — check the document carefully before downloading.

If the signature line falls very close to the bottom of a page, zoom in before finalizing placement. Small positioning errors are hard to spot at full zoom but obvious when printed.

Is an electronic signature legally valid?

In most countries, electronic signatures are legally recognized for the vast majority of everyday documents. In the United States, the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN Act, 2000) and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) give electronic signatures the same legal standing as handwritten ones, provided there is intent to sign, consent to transact electronically, and a reliable record of the signed document. The EU recognizes electronic signatures under the eIDAS Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 910/2014), which defines three tiers: Simple Electronic Signature (SES), Advanced Electronic Signature (AES), and Qualified Electronic Signature (QES). A drawn, typed, or uploaded signature placed on a document qualifies as a Simple Electronic Signature under eIDAS and is sufficient for the vast majority of commercial and personal agreements.

That covers contracts, NDAs, offer letters, rental agreements, and consent forms. A small number of documents — certain wills and codicils, some real-estate deeds requiring county recording, and specific court filings — may still require a traditional wet signature or notarization. When in doubt for a high-stakes legal document, confirm the exact requirement with the requesting party or a qualified attorney.

Common mistakes to avoid

A few simple errors account for most rejected or disputed signatures. Signing the wrong page is the most frequent — always scroll through the full document before downloading and confirm every required signature line is filled in. Placing a signature that is too small to be legible is another common problem; resize it so the signature is clearly visible at normal print size.

Forgetting the date is also a frequent oversight. Many agreements require a date alongside the signature to be enforceable. Add it in the date field directly next to your signature rather than typing it as a separate text element, so it is clearly associated with your signing.

• >Check every page — multi-page agreements often have initials required throughout.
• >Size the signature so it is legible when the document is printed at 100%.
• >Add the date next to the signature if the document has a date field.
• >Review the completed document in the preview before downloading.

Adding a date and other text to the document

Many signature lines sit next to a date field, and some forms also ask you to print your name below your signature. The text tool in the signer lets you place typed text anywhere on the page — click the area and type. Use the same approach to fill in any remaining blank fields in the document before downloading.

Placing your date using the text tool rather than signing in a rush and relying on the metadata is cleaner and unambiguous. Typed text entered this way is flattened into the PDF along with the signature, so the completed document looks exactly as intended in any reader.

Downloading and sharing the signed document

Once you click download, the signed PDF saves to your device exactly like any other file. The signature is embedded and flattened — it is not a floating annotation that can be accidentally moved or deleted. The resulting file opens correctly in Adobe Acrobat, macOS Preview, Microsoft Edge, and every other standard PDF reader.

To return the document, attach the downloaded file to an email reply or upload it to the platform that requested it. There is no special format and no proprietary wrapper — just a standard signed PDF.

Security and privacy of your document

Because the PDF never leaves your browser, the security risk of the signing step itself is limited to your own device. This is meaningfully different from cloud-based signing tools, where your document is transmitted to and stored on a third-party server — a surface that introduces upload interception risk, storage breach risk, and exposure to the provider's own data retention policies.

For especially sensitive documents — financial agreements, medical records, legal contracts — choosing a tool that keeps processing local eliminates an entire category of risk. Once you download the signed file, store it in whatever secure location you use for important personal documents.