How to Sign a PDF Online for Free
6 min read
Printing a document, signing it with a pen, and scanning it back is slow and unnecessary for most paperwork. An electronic signature — a drawn, typed, or placed mark on a digital document — is accepted for the vast majority of everyday agreements, from rental applications to freelance contracts.
This guide explains how to sign a PDF directly in your browser with AllDayPDF, what kinds of marks you can place, and what to check before treating an electronic signature as final.
What an electronic signature is (and is not)
An electronic signature is any electronic mark that shows a person intends to sign a document. Drawing your name with a mouse or finger, typing it in a handwriting-style font, or placing initials all count as electronic signatures in everyday use.
An electronic signature is different from a certificate-based digital signature, which uses cryptographic identity verification issued by a trust provider. AllDayPDF places electronic signatures and form fields — it does not provide identity verification, notarization, or certificate-based signing. For documents where a recipient requires a verified digital signature, confirm their requirements first.
Are electronic signatures legal?
In many jurisdictions, yes for most documents. In the United States, the ESIGN Act and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) give electronic signatures the same general standing as handwritten ones for most contracts. In the European Union, the eIDAS regulation recognizes electronic signatures, with stronger requirements for qualified signatures in regulated contexts.
There are exceptions. Wills, some court filings, certain real-estate transfers, and notarized documents often require handwritten signatures or a specific signing process. When in doubt, ask the person or organization receiving the document what they accept.
How to sign a PDF with AllDayPDF
The Sign tool runs entirely in your browser — the document never leaves your device while you work on it.
- Open the Sign tool and drop in your PDF.
- Choose a signature style: draw it with your mouse or finger, or type your name and pick one of the handwriting fonts.
- Click where the signature belongs. You can drag it into position and resize it by pulling its corners.
- Add initials, dates, free text, or checkmarks the same way — each is a separate, movable annotation.
- Download the flattened PDF. Your annotations are baked into the file so they display in any PDF reader.
Tips for a clean signature
Sign at a comfortable size first, then scale the annotation down — small, cramped signatures are harder to draw smoothly. If the document is a form, zoom in before placing checkmarks so they land inside their boxes. And before you download, flip through every page: a signature page near the end is easy to miss.
Free vs Pro signing
One signature per document is free. Pro ($0.99/month or $9.99/year) removes that limit so you can place unlimited signatures, initials, and other annotations across every document — useful for contracts that need initials on every page or multiple sign-off points.