How to sign a PDF online for free without uploading it
Printing a document just to sign it and scan it back is slow and makes a messy copy. You can add your signature to the PDF directly: draw it, type it or use a picture of your handwritten signature.
Sign PDF runs in your browser. The document stays on your device and is not uploaded to PixnPDF, and there is no account to create.
Choose how to make your signature
Draw lets you sign with a mouse, trackpad or finger on a phone. Type creates a signature from your name in a handwriting-style font. Upload uses a photo or scan of your real signature; sign on plain white paper in dark ink and crop it closely for the cleanest result.
A saved signature is kept in your browser only if you choose to save it, and you can remove it any time with Forget saved signature.
Place and size it
Open Sign PDF, add your document and go to the page that needs signing. Place the signature on the signature line and resize it so it looks natural next to the printed text. Add the date or your name with a text box if the document asks for them.
If there are several places to sign, repeat for each page. Check every page before you export so nothing is missed.
Fill the rest of the form
If the PDF has form fields, PDF forms lets you type into them before signing. For documents without fields, Edit PDF can add text anywhere on the page.
Export a new copy when you are done. Your original file stays unchanged.
Know what kind of signature this is
This is a simple electronic signature: a visual signature placed on the page. It is not a certified digital signature with a cryptographic certificate. Many everyday documents only need a simple signature, but some contracts and official forms require a specific signing method. If you are unsure, ask the person or organisation that sent the document.
Editing a PDF that already carries a digital signature can invalidate that signature. Keep the original if it was digitally signed by someone else.
Make your signature look natural
A signature that is much larger or darker than the surrounding text looks pasted on. Keep it roughly the height of two lines of the document's text and place it so it sits on the line rather than floating above it.
For an uploaded signature, a clean background matters. Sign on white paper, photograph it in good light and crop tightly. If the background still shows, Remove background can make it transparent before you upload it to Sign PDF.
Typed signatures are convenient but look less personal. For letters and forms that a person will read, a drawn or uploaded signature usually looks more appropriate.
Send it safely
A signed document often contains personal details. If you send it by email, consider adding a password with Protect PDF and sharing the password by phone or message. If the recipient has an upload portal, use that instead of email.
How it works
- Open Sign PDF and add the document.
- Draw, type or upload your signature.
- Place and resize it on each signature line, and add the date if needed.
- Export the signed copy and check every page.
- Send it through the channel the recipient asked for.
Before you export Confirm that a simple electronic signature is acceptable for your document. Some agreements need a certified digital signature or a signing service.
Sign PDF · Edit PDF · PDF forms · Protect PDF
Common questions
Is my document uploaded?
No. Sign PDF runs in your browser and the file stays on your device.
Is the signature legally valid?
It is a simple electronic signature. Whether that is enough depends on the document and who receives it, so check with them for important agreements.
Does PixnPDF keep my signature?
Only if you save it, and then only in your own browser. Use Forget saved signature to delete it.
Can I sign on my phone?
Yes. Open Sign PDF in your phone's browser and draw your signature with your finger.