guides · 2026-10-30 · 2 min read
How to sign a PDF for free, without an account
a lease, a permission slip, an offer letter: someone sends a pdf and asks you to "sign and send back". you do not need to print, sign and scan it, and you do not need to create an account with an e-signature service. you can add your signature in the browser in about a minute.
sign a pdf
- open sign pdf and drop the pdf.
- choose signature, then draw it with a mouse, trackpad or finger, or type your name and pick a handwriting style and ink color.
- click or drag on the page where it goes, adjust the size of the dashed box and press add. repeat for every place that needs a signature.
- press download signed pdf.
tick the option to save your signature on this device if you sign things often. it is stored in your browser only, and next time it is one click to reuse.
dates and initials
many forms want initials on every page and the date next to the signature. switch to initials and use add to every page to stamp them in one go, or switch to date and pick one of five date formats (or type your own text). there are step-by-step pages for adding a date and initials on every page.
on an iphone or android phone
open the site in your phone’s browser, tap the box and choose the pdf from files or your downloads. drawing with a finger works well; turn the phone sideways for more room. see sign pdf on iphone.
is it legally valid?
in the united states, the esign act and state laws (ueta) generally treat electronic signatures like handwritten ones for most everyday documents, as long as everyone agrees to sign electronically. some documents, such as wills, some court papers and certain real estate or notarized documents, have special rules. this kind of signature is an image placed on the page; it is not a certified digital signature with an audit trail. if the other side requires a specific signing service, use that. when in doubt, ask the person who sent it.
why sign locally
documents that need signatures are often the most private ones you have: contracts, medical forms, tax papers. with this tool the pdf and your signature never leave your device. if the signed file is too big to email, use compress pdf; to add pages first, use merge pdf.