UtilibyWritten by the Utiliby editorial team · Last updated October 13, 2026 · Rules and formulas reviewed October 2026
What this free PDF signer does
Printing a document, signing it by hand and scanning it again is slow and wastes paper. Many online signing services ask for an account, upload your contract to their servers, or add a watermark unless you pay. This free online tool to sign a PDF lets you create a signature, place it exactly where you need it, add your name, a date or an X mark, and download the signed file, all inside your browser.
You can draw your signature with a mouse, finger or stylus, type your name in a script style, or upload a photo of your handwriting. Move and resize each item on a live view of the page, copy initials to every page, and sign documents with rotated or landscape pages. Your PDF and signature are never uploaded.
How to sign a PDF
- Choose your PDF. Drop it on the box. The page count and size appear.
- Create your signature. Draw it, type it or upload an image. A preview shows the result.
- Click Next and add it to the page. Use the page buttons to find the signature line, then click Add signature.
- Position it. Drag it onto the line and use the handle to resize it.
- Add the date and any text. Use Add date, Add text or Add X mark and drag each item into place.
- Download. Click Sign and download PDF. Open the file and check each page before you send it.
Is an electronic signature legally valid?
Laws differ by country, but many places accept simple electronic signatures for ordinary agreements. In the United States the federal ESIGN Act of 2000 and the state-level UETA say a signature cannot be denied legal effect only because it is electronic. In the European Union the eIDAS regulation recognizes three levels: simple, advanced and qualified electronic signatures, and a simple signature cannot be rejected solely for being electronic. The United Kingdom follows a similar approach under its Electronic Communications Act 2000 and later rules. What matters in practice is evidence that the signer intended to sign, that the signer agreed to do business electronically, and that the record is kept.
Some documents are different. Wills, certain real estate and family documents, notarized papers, and some court or tax filings may require a handwritten signature, a witness, a notary or a certified digital signature. If you are unsure, ask the person or organization that asked you to sign what they will accept, and seek professional advice for important documents.
Simple electronic signature or certified digital signature?
| Type | What it is | Proves identity? | This tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple electronic signature | An image, typed name or click that shows intent | No, relies on context | Yes |
| Advanced electronic signature | Uniquely linked to the signer, detects later changes | Yes, with extra steps | No |
| Qualified electronic signature | Advanced signature with a qualified certificate and device | Yes, strongest in the EU | No |
| Certificate-based digital signature | Cryptographic signature in the PDF using a certificate | Yes | No |
If the recipient asks for a certificate-based or qualified signature, use a trust service provider or a PDF program that supports certificates.
Draw, type or upload: which is best?
Drawing looks the most personal. Use a stylus or finger on a touch screen for smoother lines than a mouse, and try the thicker pens on small screens. Typing is fast and neat, and it is easy to repeat, but the script styles depend on fonts installed on your device, so look at the preview. Uploading a clean photo of your real signature gives the most authentic result. Sign in dark ink on plain white paper, keep the phone steady, and tick Make the white background transparent so that the signature does not hide text under it. The tool trims away the empty margin around any signature.
Placing signatures, dates and text
The page view shows the real page of your PDF. Click Add signature to drop your signature in the lower middle of the current page, then drag it to the signature line. Add text places anything you type, such as your name, title or company, and Add date adds a formatted date from the date box, which starts as today. Add X mark places a bold X, which is handy for check boxes and signature flags. Select an item to show its handle and a small × button. Drag the handle to resize, press Delete to remove, and use Copy selected item to all pages to repeat initials on every page.
Tips for a professional result
- Resize the signature so it fits above the line without touching the text.
- Use the same ink color as the rest of the document, usually black or blue.
- Add the date next to the signature, in the format that the document uses.
- Keep a copy of the original unsigned file.
- Open the signed file in a different PDF viewer to check how it looks.
- Send the signed PDF, not a screenshot.
Keeping signatures safe
A signature image can be copied from a document and reused by someone else, so treat signed PDFs with care. Share them only with the people who need them, avoid posting signed files publicly, and consider adding a text note such as the date and purpose of the signature. For high-value agreements, use a signing service or certificate-based signature that records an audit trail. This tool never stores your signature. It exists only in your browser memory until you close the tab.
What this tool does not do
It does not create a certificate-based digital signature, verify identity, track who signed, request signatures from other people or fill interactive form fields. It does not detect whether a document was changed after signing. For form fields, fill them in your PDF viewer first and flatten the form with the Flatten PDF tool.
Signing common documents: a short guide
Rental or service agreement. Read the whole document first. Place your signature on the line for the tenant or customer, add the date, and add initials on each page if the agreement asks for them by using the copy-to-all-pages button. Application or consent form. Use Add text for your name and address if the form is a flat PDF without fillable fields, then add your signature and the date. Approval of an invoice or quote. A typed name in a script style with the date is often enough if the other party agrees to accept it. Returning a signed copy. Send the downloaded PDF, not a photo of the screen, and keep the original unsigned file.
Make sure that the signature does not cover printed text and that it sits close to the signature line, so that it is clear which party signed. For a document with several signers, each person should sign their own copy or the same file in turn, and everyone should keep the final version.
Good practice for signed documents
- Read before you sign. A signature shows that you accept the content.
- Confirm what the other party accepts. Some organizations insist on a handwritten, notarized or certificate-based signature.
- Use the right date. The date field should be the day you actually sign.
- Keep records. Save the signed PDF and the email in which it was sent or received.
- Protect your signature image. Do not post signed documents publicly. A signature image can be copied from a file.
- Check the final file. Open it in another viewer to confirm that every item is visible.
Accessibility also matters. If you create signed documents for others, make sure that the original document has real text, headings and form labels so that people who use screen readers can understand it, and that your signature does not hide any text. Adding the signer name and date as text next to a signature image helps screen readers and gives context that an image alone cannot provide.
Privacy and how it works
Your signature is created on a canvas in your browser. When you download, an open-source library draws the image and text onto the pages of a copy of your PDF. Nothing is uploaded, stored or logged. The libraries are loaded from a public CDN the first time you use the tool, so you must be online at that moment. Reloading or closing the tab clears the PDF, the signature and all placed items.
Related free tools
Use these free online tools together with this one:
- Flatten a finished document with the PDF flattener.
- Number the pages of a document with the PDF page number tool.
- Remove a DRAFT stamp you added yourself with the PDF watermark remover.
- Protect a file before you share it with the file encryption tool.
- Create an invoice with the invoice generator.
- Add a professional signature to your emails with the email signature generator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I sign a PDF for free?
Choose your PDF, make a signature by drawing, typing or uploading an image, then place it on the page, add a date or text if needed, and click Sign and download PDF. There is no account, watermark or page limit.
Are my PDF and signature uploaded?
No. Both stay in your browser. The PDF libraries are loaded from a public CDN on first use, but your document and signature image are not sent to any server or stored.
Is a signature image legally valid?
In many places, including the United States under the ESIGN Act and UETA, the European Union under eIDAS and the United Kingdom, a simple electronic signature can be valid for many contracts when both parties intend to sign. Some documents need more, so check the rules for your case.
What is the difference between an electronic and a digital signature?
An electronic signature is any mark or image that shows intent to sign. A digital signature uses a certificate and cryptography to prove who signed and that the file has not changed. This tool adds an electronic signature image, not a certificate-based digital signature.
Which documents should not be signed this way?
Wills, some property and family documents, notarized documents and certain court filings usually have special formality rules. Ask the requesting party or a professional what they accept.
Can I draw my signature on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The drawing box works with a finger, stylus or mouse. Turn the device to landscape for more room.
Can I type my signature?
Yes. Choose Type, enter your name and pick a style. The look depends on the fonts on your device, so check the preview.
How do I use a photo of my handwritten signature?
Sign on plain white paper, photograph or scan it, choose Upload image and tick Make the white background transparent. The tool trims the empty space around it.
Can I add the date and other text?
Yes. Use Add date and Add text, then drag the text where it belongs and drag the handle to change its size.
Can I sign on several pages or add initials?
Yes. Place the signature on any page, use the page buttons to move through the document, or select an item and use Copy selected item to all pages.
How do I resize or move the signature?
Drag it to move. Click it to select, then drag the round handle at the bottom right corner to resize. Press Delete to remove it, and use the arrow keys to nudge it.
Will the text of my PDF stay selectable?
Yes. The signature is added on top of the page and the original content is not changed.
Can I fill in a PDF form with this tool?
You can type text anywhere on the page, which works for simple forms. It does not fill the interactive fields of a form. Use the Flatten PDF tool afterwards if you want to lock a filled form.
Does it work with password-protected PDFs?
Not directly. Remove the password first in the program that created it, then sign.
Is my signature saved for next time?
No. It is kept in memory only while the page is open and disappears when you close or reload the tab.
Does it work on rotated or landscape pages?
Yes. The tool places items in the visual page and converts the position for rotated pages.
What can I print or save?
Sign and download PDF saves the signed file. Print / save summary prints the list of placed items and a preview of the current page, and Copy summary copies the list as text.
Sources and further reading
- US Congress, Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN), 15 U.S.C. ch. 96, and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA).
- Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS), on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions.
- UK Electronic Communications Act 2000 and the Law Commission report on the execution of documents (2019), on electronic signatures.
- pdf-lib documentation, PDFPage.drawImage and drawText, for how images and text are placed on pages.
Sources were consulted in October 2026. Standards and rules can change, so always check the official page for your situation.