No printer, no scanner, no “sign, scan, email back” dance. Here are six free ways to sign a PDF digitally — including a step-by-step for doing it right in your browser — plus the electronic-vs-digital distinction and what is actually legally valid.
People say “digital signature” for everything, but there are two different things — and the difference matters legally:
Any mark indicating agreement: a drawn signature image, a typed name, clicking “I agree.” Legally valid for most everyday contracts in the US (ESIGN Act), EU (eIDAS), UK, and many other jurisdictions.
A signature backed by a certificate that mathematically proves who signed and that the document is unaltered since. Required for some regulated filings; overkill for a freelance contract.
For offer letters, NDAs, freelance agreements, and consent forms, a drawn electronic signature on a PDF is standard practice and widely accepted. Regulated industries may demand certified digital signatures — check your specific requirement.
Fixed layout + signature + optional password = a signed document that looks identical for everyone and resists quiet tampering. That is why PDF is the signing format.
A rushed mouse scribble screams “I didn’t care.” Slow, deliberate strokes — or a stylus/touchscreen — produce a signature you would not be embarrassed by.
Match the signature’s height to the signature line. Oversized signatures pasted across the page look amateurish.
Blue reads as “original ink” tradition; black is neutral and prints cleanly. Avoid novelty colors on formal documents.
A signature without a date invites disputes about when it was signed. Type or write the date beside every signature.
In most jurisdictions, a drawn electronic signature on a PDF is legally binding for ordinary agreements — what matters is intent to sign and a reliable record, not the technology. Keep the signed PDF, keep the email thread showing agreement, and for high-value deals consider a platform with an audit trail or a cryptographic digital signature. This guide is practical information, not legal advice: for regulated documents (court filings, some government forms, certain financial instruments), check the specific rules that apply. When in doubt, ask the receiving party what signature form they accept before you sign — it saves everyone a round trip.
More signatures happen on phones than anywhere else now. A few things that make mobile signing painless:
Before you hit send on that signed PDF: confirm every required signature and initial is placed (flip through all pages once), check the file opens on a different device, keep a copy in your records with a sensible filename (2026-10-19 — Contracts — Acme Agreement signed.pdf), and if the document is sensitive, password-protect it per our password guide — sending the password through a separate channel.
For most everyday agreements — yes. Electronic signatures are legally recognized in the US (ESIGN Act), EU (eIDAS), UK, and many other jurisdictions. What matters is intent to sign and a reliable record. Regulated documents may require certified cryptographic signatures instead.
Draw your signature in a free tool — our in-browser sign tool works on any device with no account — place it on the signature line, and download. Mac Preview, Adobe Reader’s free Fill & Sign, and phone markup tools all do this too.
An electronic signature is any mark of agreement (drawn signature, typed name, ‘I agree’ click). A digital signature is cryptographic: certificate-backed proof of identity and document integrity. Most daily business needs only the former.
Yes, if you know the open password — unlock it first, sign, and re-save. Some viewers restrict annotation on permission-locked files; removing or adjusting permissions (with the owner password) solves that.
It is good practice. Flattening bakes the signature into the page so it cannot be accidentally moved or deleted later, and signals the document is final. Keep an unflattened copy too, in case corrections are needed.
Place your full signature where required and add initials to the remaining pages — most sign tools let you place multiple instances. Check the document’s instructions: ‘sign and initial each page’ is common in contracts.
Often yes — a typed name with intent to sign counts as an electronic signature in many jurisdictions. A drawn signature simply looks more deliberate and is harder to dispute casually.