How to sign a PDF
- Add your PDF. Drop it on the box, paste it with Ctrl+V, or press Select a PDF file. The first page opens.
- Create your signature. Press Create signature and choose one way:
- Draw it with your mouse, a finger or a pen. Lines get thinner when you move fast, like real ink.
- Type your name and pick one of three handwriting styles.
- Upload a photo or scan of your signature. Tick Make the white background see-through so the paper doesn't show.
- Place it. Your signature appears on the page. Drag it into place and drag the round handle to make it bigger or smaller. You can also drag the Add signature button straight onto the spot.
- Add initials and the date if you need them. Use Copy to every page to put your initials on each page in the same spot.
- Press Sign PDF and download the file. It is saved with
-signedat the end of the name.
Use the arrows above the page to move between pages. With the keyboard, select an item with Tab, move it with the arrow keys, resize it with + and -, and remove it with Delete.
Simple electronic signature or digital signature?
These two terms are often mixed up, so here is what this tool does and does not do.
This tool adds a simple electronic signature: a picture of your signature on the page, plus your initials and the date if you want. It is the online version of signing a printout and scanning it back in. For many everyday papers, such as rental forms, permission slips and offer letters, that is all the other side asks for.
A digital signature is something else. It uses a certificate tied to your identity, often from a paid provider. The PDF reader can then check who signed and whether the file changed afterward. This tool does not add a certificate, does not record who signed or when, and does not lock the file. If a contract, court form or government office asks for a certificate-based or "qualified" signature, use a service that offers one.
Whether a simple signature is legally enough depends on the document and the country. In the US, the ESIGN Act and state laws based on UETA generally give electronic signatures the same effect as handwritten ones, with exceptions such as wills. When in doubt, ask the person who sent you the document.
Your signature stays on your device
Your PDF and your signature never leave your computer or phone. Everything is done in your browser, and nothing is uploaded to us. The signature is not saved after you close the page either, so nobody can reuse it from our site.
If the PDF already has a certificate-based digital signature, signing it here creates a new version of the file, and PDF readers will show that earlier signature as no longer valid. Sign such files in the program that made the original signature.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no limit on documents and no watermark on the result.
Can I sign on my phone?
Yes. Draw your signature with your finger in the box, then drag it into place on the page. Turning the phone sideways gives you a wider drawing area.
Can I fill in form fields too?
This tool places your signature, initials and the date. To type into fillable boxes, use PDF forms first, then sign the result here.
Can someone copy my signature from the signed PDF?
Yes, a picture in a PDF can be copied, just like a scanned signature. To limit who can open the file, add a password with Protect PDF before you send it.
This tool works in your browser: your files are processed on your device and are never uploaded. Check the result before you share it or delete the original.