Sign a PDF
Type, draw, or upload your signature, drag it where it goes, then download. Free, 100% in your browser, works offline, — your file never leaves your device.
Drop a PDF file here
or click to choose from your device
Choose a PDFHow to sign a PDF
- Drop your PDF or click to choose it.
- Create a signature — type your name in a handwriting font, draw it with your mouse or finger, or upload an image.
- Drag the signature onto the page where it should go and resize with the corner handle.
- Click Place on this page, or All pages if it's a multi-page form.
- Click Sign & download PDF to save the signed file.
What is "Sign PDF"?
Signing a PDF means placing a visible mark — your signature image — onto one or more pages of an existing PDF, then writing out a new PDF that has the signature embedded directly into the page content. The result is a single self-contained file you can email back, archive, or print. PDFtez supports three ways to create that signature:
- Type your name and pick one of four handwriting fonts. Fastest method when speed matters more than mimicking your real ink signature.
- Draw your signature with a mouse on desktop or your finger on a phone or tablet. Closest to a real ink signature; particularly natural on touch devices.
- Upload a transparent-PNG (or JPG) image of your real signature — scanned, photographed, or exported from another tool. This is the option to use if you have an "official" image you've used elsewhere.
Once a signature is created you can drag it anywhere on the page, resize it with the corner handle, and place it on the current page or stamp it onto every page in one click.
When to use Sign PDF
Signing a PDF online is the right tool for any document where the other party accepts a visible signature image — which is the vast majority of routine paperwork in 2026:
- NDAs, service agreements, and consultancy contracts. Type or draw your signature, drop it next to your name, and return the signed PDF in under a minute.
- Lease agreements and tenancy forms. Both new applications and condition reports often arrive as PDFs requiring a signature on multiple pages — Sign PDF can stamp every page in one click.
- Permission slips and school forms. Parental consent forms can be signed and returned without printing and re-scanning.
- Insurance claims and forms. Many claim forms ask for a signed acknowledgement; uploading a PNG of your real signature gives consistent paperwork across multiple insurers.
- Invoices and supplier paperwork. Many freelancers and small businesses need to return countersigned invoices, purchase orders, or change orders.
- Internal sign-offs. Travel approvals, expense reports, IT access requests — anywhere a "signature here" box exists, Sign PDF removes the print → sign → scan loop.
For documents where you specifically need a cryptographic / certificate-based digital signature (some government filings, court submissions, or regulated industries), see the comparison below.
How PDFtez signs your PDFs (under the hood)
PDFtez's Sign tool runs entirely inside your browser. When you drop a PDF, it is rendered locally by PDF.js so you can see the pages. Typed signatures are rasterised to a PNG using a hidden canvas in the selected font. Drawn signatures are captured directly from a <canvas> element. Uploaded images are read into memory.
When you click Sign & download PDF, pdf-lib embeds the signature image into the chosen pages at the correct coordinates and writes a new PDF — all in the browser's memory. The file is then downloaded via URL.createObjectURL. No upload, no server, no logging. Your signature image and your document never leave your device.
How is PDFtez Sign different from DocuSign / Adobe Sign / Dropbox Sign?
Dedicated e-signature platforms (DocuSign, Adobe Acrobat Sign, Dropbox Sign, SignNow) provide things PDFtez deliberately does not: an audit trail, a tamper-evident certificate, automatic email reminders, sequential signer routing, and legally-binding electronic signature certificates under regulations such as the US ESIGN Act, eIDAS in the EU, and Australia's Electronic Transactions Act. If you are a real-estate broker sending a 30-page lease for two parties to counter-sign, or you need a certificate-backed signature, use one of those platforms.
PDFtez does one specific thing well: it places a visible signature image on a PDF, for free, without uploading the file. If the other party just needs to see your signature on the page — which is the case for most everyday paperwork — PDFtez is faster, more private, and free. If you need an audit trail, choose a dedicated e-signature tool. We maintain a comparison page at eSign tools if you want help choosing.
Frequently asked questions
Is a signature placed with PDFtez legally binding?
In most jurisdictions (including Australia, the US, the UK, and the EU), a visible signature on a PDF is legally enforceable when both parties intend to be bound — under laws such as the Electronic Transactions Act, ESIGN Act, and eIDAS. However, some transactions (wills, certain real-estate transfers, court filings) require specific certificate-based digital signatures or witnessed signatures. If your document requires a specific level of e-signature compliance, use a certified e-signature platform like DocuSign or Adobe Sign. This is information, not legal advice.
Can I sign every page in one click?
Yes. After placing your signature where you want it on one page, choose All pages instead of This page and it will stamp the signature at the same position on every page. Useful for initials at the bottom of each page of a long contract.
Will my signature look right when printed?
Yes. Signatures are placed at the resolution of the source page, so the printed result matches what you see on screen. Drawn signatures may look slightly thinner when printed at high DPI compared to the on-screen preview; if that matters, draw a thicker stroke or use the upload-image option with a high-resolution PNG.
Can I use a stylus or finger on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The draw canvas accepts touch and stylus input on any modern mobile or tablet browser, including Safari on iPad with Apple Pencil. Drawing on touch typically produces the most natural-looking signature.
Is the signed PDF tamper-evident?
No — a visible signature image is not a cryptographic digital signature. The signed file is a normal PDF that can be edited like any other. If you need tamper-evidence (a recipient must be able to verify the document hasn't been changed after signing), use a certificate-based e-signature platform.
Where does my signature image go? Is it uploaded?
Your signature and your PDF stay on your device. Signing runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing is uploaded to any server, no copy is stored, and nothing is logged. You can verify this in DevTools → Network while you sign — there will be no outgoing requests carrying your file.