How to Sign a PDF — Free, in Your Browser, No Account
Updated June 2026 · Covers visible PDF signature, cryptographic signature, and how to verify a signed file
"How do I sign a PDF?" is one of the most common digital-document questions, and somewhere along the way it became "open a DocuSign account, share the doc with their server, click a few times, hope the recipient also has an account." This guide walks through the simpler version: how to sign a PDF for free in your browser, no signup, no DocuSign — including when a typed-name visible signature is enough and when you want a cryptographic signature with a tamper-evident audit log.
Quick how-to (visible signature on the page)
For routine signing — sending a contract, signing an NDA, returning a form — the visible-signature workflow takes about 30 seconds:
- Open essexsoftware.com/sign in any modern browser.
- Drop the PDF into the dropzone. It loads locally — nothing is uploaded.
- Type your name in the signature field. The signature appears as a stylized signature font on the PDF page where you place it.
- Position the signature on the right page and area (click to set, drag to move).
- Click Sign & Download. The signed PDF downloads automatically.
That's it. The signed PDF is a normal PDF — every PDF reader on every device can open it. The signature is part of the page from the reader's perspective.
Sign a PDF now
Free, in your browser, no signup. Visible signature on the page or cryptographic wrap with audit log.
The two kinds of "signature" and when to use which
"Signing a PDF" can mean two genuinely different things. Most tools only do the first one. We do both.
Visible signature on the page
A typed-name or drawn signature painted on a specific position on the PDF page. The signed file is a normal PDF — anyone with any reader can open it. Legally binding in most jurisdictions under e-signature laws (ESIGN Act in the US, eIDAS in the EU) when both parties intend to be bound.
Use for: NDAs, freelance contracts, returning forms, internal sign-offs, anything where the signature is a record of agreement.
Cryptographic signature with audit log
A mathematical proof binding the exact bytes of the file to your signature at a specific moment in time. The output is a signed zip containing the original file and a PKCS#7 signature. Any subsequent change to the file invalidates the signature — the recipient can detect tampering offline.
Use for: legal contracts, real estate transactions, code releases (signing a software archive), board resolutions, anywhere you want detectable evidence of tampering.
Is signing a PDF in the browser legally binding?
Short version: yes, in most jurisdictions, with a few caveats.
- United States. The ESIGN Act (federal) and UETA (state) make most electronic signatures legally equivalent to handwritten ones. A typed-name visible signature on a PDF, sent and accepted by both parties, qualifies. Notable exceptions: wills, divorce papers, court orders, some real-estate documents — these often require notarization, regardless of how they're signed.
- European Union. Under eIDAS, "simple electronic signatures" (a visible signature) are legally admissible but the recipient may need additional evidence of intent. "Advanced electronic signatures" (cryptographic with audit log) carry more weight. "Qualified electronic signatures" — issued by a regulated trust service provider — are equivalent to handwritten signatures by default.
- UK, Canada, Australia, India, Japan, most other jurisdictions. Similar tiered framework. Typed-name visible signature is admissible; cryptographic is stronger.
For routine use the visible signature is enough. For high-stakes documents prefer the cryptographic wrap. For documents that explicitly require a wet signature or notarization (some wills, some real-estate transfers), no electronic signature is sufficient — print, sign, and follow the jurisdictional procedure.
How we compare to DocuSign, Adobe Acrobat, HelloSign
| Tool | Account required? | Per-document fee | File leaves your device? | Cryptographic / tamper-evident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex Sign (this site) | No | Free, unlimited | No — runs in browser | Yes (wrap mode) |
| DocuSign | Yes | $10–40/mo + per-envelope fees | Yes — uploaded | Yes |
| Adobe Acrobat Sign | Yes | $15–25/mo | Yes — uploaded | Yes |
| HelloSign / Dropbox Sign | Yes | 3 free/mo, paid after | Yes — uploaded | Yes |
| Smallpdf eSign | Yes (for full features) | Free with cap; paid after | Yes — uploaded | No |
| macOS Preview Markup | No | Free | No | No |
DocuSign/HelloSign/Acrobat Sign are good products if you need workflow features — sending the doc to multiple signers, sequential signing order, in-app reminders. For one-off signing where you don't need the workflow, the account and per-envelope fees become friction without value. macOS Preview Markup is free and local but only does visible signatures (no cryptographic mode and no cross-platform: it's Mac-only).
How the recipient verifies a signed file
Anyone with the signed file can verify it for free, offline, without an account, at essexsoftware.com/sign/verify. The verifier:
- Drops the signed PDF or signed zip into the browser.
- Confirms the cryptographic signature is valid and that the file hasn't been modified since signing.
- Surfaces who signed (name, optional email), when, and on what file.
- Works offline once loaded — verification doesn't depend on our site staying up.
This matters for the cryptographic mode specifically. The signature isn't useful if recipients can't verify it; the verifier being free, accountless, and offline-capable removes every friction point that would have made the cryptographic signing pointless in practice.
Try it now
Sign a PDF — free, in your browser, no signup
Drop a PDF, type your name, click Sign & Download. Visible signature on the page, or cryptographic wrap with audit log for high-stakes documents.
FAQ
How do I sign a PDF for free?
Open essexsoftware.com/sign in any browser, drop your PDF, type your name in the signature field, position the signature box on the page, and click Sign & Download. No signup, no per-document fee, no DocuSign account.
Is signing a PDF in the browser legally binding?
A typed or drawn visible signature on a PDF is legally binding in the United States, EU, and most other jurisdictions under e-signature laws (ESIGN Act, eIDAS), provided both parties intend to be bound. For higher-stakes documents (real estate, large contracts) a cryptographic signature with audit log is stronger. Our tool supports both: a visible signature on the PDF page, or a cryptographic wrap with offline-verifiable audit log.
What's the difference between a visible PDF signature and a cryptographic signature?
A visible signature is your name (typed or drawn) painted on the PDF page. It's what most people mean by "sign a PDF". A cryptographic signature is a mathematical proof that the exact bytes of the file existed at signing time and haven't changed since. Cryptographic signatures are tamper-evident: any modification to the signed bytes invalidates the signature. Use visible for routine signing, cryptographic for high-stakes documents where you want detectable evidence of tampering.
Do I need a DocuSign account to sign a PDF?
No. DocuSign is one option but most PDF signing — including signing for personal, freelance, and small-business use — doesn't require an account-based service. Browser-only tools let you sign without creating an account and without per-document fees.
Do you upload my file when I sign it?
No. The signing operation runs entirely in your browser via WebAssembly. The PDF and the resulting signed output never leave your device. The only optional step that transmits anything is the email verification — and even then, only your email address is sent (not the file). You can verify the no-upload claim by disconnecting from Wi-Fi after the page loads.
Can someone else verify my signed PDF?
Yes. The signed PDF or signed bundle includes everything needed to verify offline. The recipient opens essexsoftware.com/sign/verify in their browser, drops the file, and gets a pass/fail result. No account required on either side. The verification works even if our site is offline — you can save the verifier as a Progressive Web App.
Can I sign files other than PDFs?
Yes, in cryptographic-wrap mode. The wrap signs the bytes of any file — Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, code archives, images. The output is a signed zip containing the original file and the cryptographic proof. For traditional "visible signature on the page" workflow, the input has to be a PDF.