Printing a document just to sign it, scan it back in, and email it off is the kind of friction that shouldn’t exist anymore. This guide walks you through signing a PDF online in under a minute, and explains when an electronic signature actually holds up.
How to sign a PDF in 3 steps
Our Sign my PDF tool runs entirely in your browser — no account, no upload to a server, and no software to install.
- Choose your PDF. Drag and drop the file, or click to select it from your device. It never leaves your browser during this step.
- Add your signature. Draw it with your mouse, finger or stylus, type your name in a signature-style font, or upload an image of your handwritten signature. Then place it anywhere on the page.
- Download the signed PDF. Your signature is compiled into the document locally, and you download the finished file straight away.
That’s it — no waiting for an email link, no account to create, and nothing sent anywhere in between.
Is an electronic signature legally valid?
In most cases, yes. Electronic signatures are explicitly recognised in law across a large part of the world:
- In the European Union, the eIDAS regulation gives a “simple” electronic signature — like the kind you create with this tool — the same basic legal standing as a handwritten one, as long as both parties agree to sign electronically.
- In the United States, the ESIGN Act and UETA give electronic signatures the same legal weight as ink signatures for most contracts and business documents.
- Many other countries have similar laws, generally built around the same idea: intent to sign matters more than the method.
There are exceptions. Some document types — wills, certain real estate transfers, court filings, and a handful of other categories depending on your country — often still require a wet-ink signature or a more heavily regulated “qualified” electronic signature. When in doubt for something high-stakes, check the specific rules that apply to that document type, or ask a legal professional. This article is general information, not legal advice.
Why it matters that everything happens in your browser
Most online PDF tools upload your file to a server, process it there, and send it back. That means your document — and whatever’s in it — passes through someone else’s infrastructure. Our tools work differently: the PDF, the signature you draw or upload, and the finished document are all handled locally on your own device. Nothing is stored, and nothing needs to be, because we never receive it in the first place.
Ready to try it? Sign your PDF now — it’s free, and takes less time to do than it took to read this article.