How to Sign a PDF for Free (Online, iPhone, Mac and Windows)
Quick answer: open a free Sign PDF tool, choose your PDF, create your signature (draw, type or upload it), click on the page where it goes, adjust its size and position, then click Apply signature & download.
Printing a document just to sign it, then scanning it back, wastes time and paper. You can sign a PDF electronically on any phone or computer in less than a minute. Here are the free methods for every device.
How to sign a PDF online (any device)
- Open Sign PDF and choose your document.
- Create your signature: ✍️ Draw it with your mouse, finger or stylus, ⌨️ Type your name, or 🖼️ Upload an image of your signature (a PNG with a transparent background looks best).
- Go to the right page and click where the signature should go.
- Drag it into position and use the slider to resize it. You can place it on several pages — for example to initial every page.
- Click Apply signature & download to save the signed PDF.
Add your signature to a PDF online. Draw or type a signature, place it on any page and download the signed document.
Your PDF and signature are processed in your browser and never uploaded — important for contracts, leases, employment forms and anything with personal details.
Create a reusable signature image
If you sign documents often, make a signature image once and reuse it. The signature generator lets you draw your signature or type your name in handwriting-style fonts, then download a transparent PNG to upload into the PDF signer, Word or email.
Draw or type your signature and download it as a transparent PNG for documents and emails.
How to sign a PDF on iPhone and iPad
- Open the PDF in the Files app (or tap the attachment in Mail).
- Tap the Markup icon (a pen tip).
- Tap + → Add Signature, sign with your finger, and tap Done.
- Drag the signature into place, resize it, and tap Done to save.
Your iPhone remembers the signature for next time.
How to sign a PDF on a Mac
- Open the PDF in Preview.
- Click the Markup toolbar button, then the Sign button.
- Create a signature with your trackpad, or by holding a signature on white paper up to the camera.
- Click the signature to add it, drag it into place, then save.
How to sign a PDF on Windows and Android
- Any browser: the online PDF signer works in Chrome, Edge and Firefox on Windows, and in Chrome on Android phones and tablets.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader (free): open the PDF, choose Fill & Sign, then Sign → Add signature.
- Microsoft Edge: its built-in PDF viewer has a Draw tool you can use to sign by hand.
Filling in a form before you sign
If the PDF has fillable fields, fill them in your PDF viewer first (Preview, Acrobat Reader, Edge or Chrome all support form fields), save it, and then sign. If the form isn't fillable, you can use Preview's text tool on a Mac or Acrobat Reader's Fill & Sign text option to type on top of it.
Is an electronic signature legally binding?
In many countries, a simple electronic signature — like an image of your signature on a PDF — is legally valid for most everyday agreements. In the United States this is covered by the ESIGN Act and UETA, and in the European Union by the eIDAS regulation. However, some documents (certain government forms, court filings, wills, notarised documents and property transfers, depending on where you live) need a certified digital signature or a handwritten one. If in doubt, ask the person or organisation that sent you the document.
Tips for signing documents
- Read the whole document before signing, including any small print.
- Keep a copy of the signed PDF for your records.
- Add the date next to your signature if the form asks for it.
- Don't send your signature image to people you don't trust — it can be copied onto other documents.
Frequently asked questions
Is an electronic signature on a PDF legally valid?
In many countries, yes, for most everyday documents — for example under the ESIGN Act in the US and eIDAS in the EU. Some documents, such as certain government, court, notarised or property papers, require a certified digital signature or a handwritten one, so check if you're unsure.
Can I sign a PDF without Adobe?
Yes. You can sign in your browser with a free PDF signing tool, with Preview on a Mac, or with the Markup tool on iPhone and iPad.
How do I sign a PDF on my phone?
On iPhone, open the PDF in Files or Mail, tap the Markup (pen) icon, then + → Add Signature. On Android, open a free online signing tool in Chrome, or use the Adobe Acrobat Reader app.
What is the difference between an electronic and a digital signature?
An electronic signature is any mark that shows you agree — like an image of your signature on a PDF. A digital signature uses a certificate to cryptographically prove who signed and that the document hasn't changed since.
Is it safe to sign a PDF online?
Choose a tool that doesn't upload your document. The PDF signer in this guide works inside your browser, so your file and signature stay on your device.
ERP developer and AI & automation engineer who builds and maintains every tool on WebToolNest. More about me.