How to Sign a PDF Online

Add a handwritten or typed signature to a PDF for free, without printing.

By the ShalaDarpan PDF Studio team · Updated July 2026

Being asked to "sign and return" a PDF no longer means finding a printer. You can add a signature to a PDF online, free, in a couple of minutes, and end up with a clean digital document you can email straight back. Here's how — and what to know about when a drawn signature is enough.

Three ways to sign a PDF

There are three common ways to put a signature on a PDF, and our free editor supports all of them:

• Draw it. Sign directly on the document with your mouse, trackpad or finger. This looks the most like a real handwritten signature.
• Type it. Add your name as text in a signature-style position. Quick and legible, good for informal approvals.
• Upload an image. If you've scanned or photographed your signature and saved it as a PNG (ideally with a transparent background), you can drop that image onto the page for a consistent, polished look.

How to sign, step by step

1. Open the PDF. Drag your document into the editor. It loads on your device and is never uploaded.
2. Choose your method. For a handwritten look, select the Draw tool and pick a colour (dark blue or black looks most natural). To use a saved signature, pick the Image tool instead.
3. Sign. Draw your signature in the signature area, or click to place your image. Take your time — you can delete and redo it as many times as you like.
4. Position and size it. Drag your signature so it sits on the signature line, and resize an uploaded image so it looks proportionate.
5. Add the date. Many documents want a date next to the signature — use the Text tool to add it.
6. Download. Click Download PDF and send the signed file back.

Make your signature look its best

A drawn signature looks far better if you slow down and use a larger canvas. On a laptop, a trackpad works but an external mouse gives you more control; on a phone or tablet, your finger or a stylus is ideal and often produces the nicest result. If you sign a lot of documents, it's worth creating a clean signature image once — sign a white sheet of paper, photograph it in good light, remove the background, and save it as a PNG. Then you can drop that same crisp signature onto any PDF in seconds.

Is a drawn signature legally valid?

For the vast majority of everyday documents — internal approvals, permission slips, delivery confirmations, simple agreements — a signature you draw or place on a PDF is perfectly acceptable and widely used. However, a drawn signature is not the same as a certified digital signature, which uses cryptography to prove who signed and that the file hasn't changed since. Some formal contracts, or certain legal and government processes, require that stronger form of e-signature from a qualified provider. If a document specifies a particular e-signature standard, or if the stakes are high, use a dedicated e-signature service. For normal day-to-day signing, a drawn or placed signature does the job. (See our disclaimer for more.)

Why sign in your browser?

Signed documents are, by definition, important and personal. Uploading them to a random website to add a signature is exactly the kind of thing you want to avoid. Because our editor works entirely in your browser, your document — and your signature — never leave your device. You sign privately, download the result, and nothing is stored anywhere. It's free, there's no sign-up, and it works on any device.

Ready to sign? Open the free PDF editor and add your signature now.

This guide is general information about working with PDF files and is provided as-is. Always keep a backup of important documents before editing them.