Short answer: open the PDF in a signing tool, create your signature by drawing it, typing your name in a handwriting-style font, or uploading a photo of your signature, then drag it into place and download the signed file. You don't need a printer, a scanner, or an account.
Step by step: sign a PDF in your browser
- Open the Sign PDF tool and choose your PDF (up to 50 MB and 150 pages).
- Create a signature: draw it with a mouse, trackpad, or finger; type your name and pick a style; or upload an image of your handwritten signature.
- Click the page where the signature belongs, then drag and resize it until it sits on the signature line.
- Add a date or a second signature if the form asks for one.
- Download the signed PDF and check it in your usual PDF viewer before sending it.
Sign a PDF in your browser. The document is not uploaded anywhere.
Open Sign PDFWhich signature method should you use?
| Method | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Draw | Phones and tablets, where a finger feels natural | A mouse signature can look shaky; a trackpad is easier |
| Type | Quick internal forms and approvals | Looks less personal than a handwritten mark |
| Upload an image | Matching the signature you use on paper | Use a photo on plain white paper with good light; a PNG with a transparent background looks cleanest |
Electronic signature vs. digital signature
These terms are often mixed up. An electronic signature is any electronic mark that shows you agreed to a document, such as an image of your signature or your typed name. A digital signature is a specific technology: it uses a certificate and cryptography to prove who signed and to show whether the file was changed afterward.
The Sign PDF tool creates the first kind. It places a visual signature on the page. It does not add a certificate-based digital signature, so it can't prove your identity or lock the document against later edits.
Many everyday documents, such as permission slips, rental applications, and simple agreements, accept a visual signature. If the recipient asks for a “certified”, “qualified”, or “digitally signed” PDF, or the document is regulated (for example some government, banking, or court filings), ask what they accept before signing. Rules differ by country and organization, and this article isn't legal advice.
Why sign in the browser instead of uploading?
Documents that need a signature are often the sensitive ones: contracts, tax forms, ID-related paperwork. A browser-based tool reads the file on your device and builds the signed copy there, so the document isn't sent to a server. You can check this yourself by opening your browser's developer tools and watching the Network tab while you sign.
After signing
- Need to send the signed form with other documents? Merge them into one PDF.
- Email rejecting the attachment? Compress the signed PDF before sending.
- Keep an unsigned copy of the original in case you need to sign again.