How to Sign a PDF Online
This guide walks through signing a PDF online for free: creating a signature, placing it correctly, and downloading a finished document — on both desktop and mobile.
Open the signing tool1. Open your PDF in the signing tool
Go to the sign PDF tool and choose your file, or drag it into the upload area. The document opens directly in your browser — there's no waiting on an upload.
2. Create a handwritten or typed signature
Click “Add signature” and choose how you want to create it:
- Draw — use your mouse, trackpad, finger, or stylus to draw a handwritten signature.
- Type — type your name and pick from a few signature-style fonts.
- Upload — upload an image of a signature you already have, ideally a PNG with a transparent background.
3. Place the signature on the correct page
Once added, your signature appears on the current page as a resizable box. Drag it to the correct spot, and drag any of the handles around its edges and corners to resize it — a corner handle keeps its proportions, while an edge handle adjusts just the width or height. Use the page controls above the document to move to a different page before adding another signature or a date, if needed.
4. Signing on desktop vs. mobile
On desktop, use your mouse to draw and position your signature with more precision. On a phone or tablet, use your finger directly on the screen — the layout adjusts to a single column so there's no horizontal scrolling. See the iPhone signing guide for mobile-specific tips.
5. Download and verify the result
Click “Download signed PDF.” The file saves directly from your browser — nothing is uploaded to sign it. Open the downloaded file and check that each signature and date appears where you expect before sending it to anyone.
Visual signatures vs. cryptographic digital signatures
It's worth understanding the difference. This tool adds a visual signature: an image that looks like a signature, placed on the page. A certificate-based digital signature is a separate technology that cryptographically ties a signature to a verified identity and detects any later changes to the document. Depending on your jurisdiction and the type of document, a visual signature may or may not be sufficient — check your local requirements for anything legally significant.
Frequently Asked Questions
A visual signature is an image of your signature placed on top of the PDF page — that's what this tool creates. A certificate-based digital signature uses cryptography tied to a verified identity and is a different, more involved process. This tool does not create certificate-based digital signatures.
Yes. Use the page navigation controls to move to each page that needs a signature or date.
After downloading, open the file in your PDF viewer and check that your signature appears in the right place on every page it was added to, before sending it on.