How to Sign a PDF Online
Signing a document used to mean printing it, signing the paper, scanning it back in, and emailing a crooked, grey photograph of your own contract. That workflow is still surprisingly common, and it is entirely unnecessary. This tool lets you draw your signature with a mouse or finger, type it in a script font, or photograph an existing one — then place it exactly where it belongs on any page. The whole thing happens inside your browser, which matters enormously when the document is a contract.
Upload your PDF
Every page is rendered so you can see exactly where you are signing. The file is never uploaded to a server.
Create your signature
Draw it, type your name in a script style, or upload a photo of a signature you made on paper - the white background is removed automatically.
Place it and download
Click anywhere on any page to drop the signature. Add as many as you need, then download the signed PDF.
Why Signing in Your Browser Actually Matters Here
For most file tools, privacy is a nice bonus. For signing, it is close to essential. The documents people sign are the most sensitive files they handle — employment contracts, tenancy agreements, NDAs, medical consent forms, financial paperwork. Uploading one to an unknown web service means handing a stranger both your confidential document and an image of your signature.
This tool never sends either anywhere. The PDF is opened locally, your signature is drawn on a canvas in your own browser, and the two are combined on your device using pdf-lib. Nothing is transmitted, nothing is stored, and there is no account holding a copy of your paperwork. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and it will still work.
A word on what this is: it produces an electronic signature — a visual signature placed onto the document, which is what the overwhelming majority of everyday agreements require and accept. It is not a cryptographic digital signature backed by a certificate authority, which some regulated contexts specifically demand. For a rental agreement, a freelance contract or a school form, an electronic signature is exactly right. For court filings or regulated financial documents, check what your specific situation requires first.
Getting a Signature That Looks Right
Drawing with a mouse looks shaky
It always does - a mouse is a terrible pen. Draw larger and slower than feels natural, or better, open this page on a phone or tablet and sign with your finger, which looks far more like your real hand.
The photo method gives the best result
Sign on plain white paper with a dark pen, photograph it in good light, and upload. The white background is stripped automatically, leaving a clean signature that genuinely looks like yours.
Typed signatures are legitimate too
A typed name in a script font is a perfectly valid electronic signature for most agreements, and it looks tidier than a shaky mouse drawing. Nobody is fooled into thinking it is handwritten, and that is fine.
Size it against the signature line
Around twenty percent of the page width sits naturally on a standard signature line. Too large looks amateurish; too small looks like an afterthought.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I sign a PDF for free?
Upload your PDF, draw or type your signature, then click anywhere on the page to place it. Download the signed document. No signup, no watermark, no limits.
Is my document uploaded to a server?
No. The PDF is opened and signed entirely inside your browser. Neither your document nor your signature is ever transmitted, stored, or seen by anyone - which matters when the file is a contract.
Is an electronic signature legally valid?
In most countries electronic signatures are legally recognised for the majority of everyday agreements. This tool creates an electronic signature, not a certificate-backed digital signature - check your specific requirements for regulated or court documents.
Can I sign on multiple pages?
Yes. Navigate to any page and click to place a signature there. Add as many as the document needs - initials on every page, a full signature at the end.
How do I upload a photo of my real signature?
Sign on plain white paper with a dark pen, photograph it in good light, and use the Upload tab. The white background is removed automatically, leaving a clean transparent signature.
Can I sign a PDF on my phone?
Yes, and it is the best way to draw one. Open this page on a phone or tablet and sign with your finger - the result looks far more natural than a mouse drawing.
Does signing reduce the PDF quality?
No. The original pages are untouched - your signature is drawn on top as an image layer. Text stays selectable and nothing is re-compressed.
Can I remove a signature after placing it?
Before downloading, yes - hover over any placed signature and click the X. After downloading, the signature is part of the document and would need to be edited out.
Can I sign a password-protected PDF?
Not while it is encrypted. Remove the password using a reader you have the password for, then sign the unlocked file here.
Is a typed signature good enough?
For most everyday agreements, yes. A typed name in a script font is a valid electronic signature and often looks cleaner than a shaky mouse-drawn one.
Can someone else sign the same document?
Yes - send them the signed PDF and they can add their own signature here on top of yours. Each signature is simply placed onto the page.
Is this PDF signing tool really free?
Completely free, with no page limits, no signup, no watermark and no premium wall. Everything runs in your browser, so there are no server costs to pass on.
Last updated: July 19, 2026 · FlipMyFormat PDF Signer
Written and maintained by the FlipMyFormat team