How to Sign a PDF Online for Free — No Adobe Acrobat Needed
You've received a contract, an agreement, a form, or a lease and you need to sign it digitally. Adobe Acrobat charges a subscription. DocuSign requires an account. Printing, signing, and scanning is slow and wasteful. There's a better way: sign the PDF directly in your browser for free, in under two minutes.
How to Sign a PDF Online for Free
No software, no account, no subscription needed.
Step 1: Go to the iFormat.io PDF e-sign tool.
Step 2: Upload your PDF by clicking Choose File or dragging it into the upload area.
Step 3: Click where you want your signature to appear in the document.
Step 4: Create your signature — draw it with your mouse or trackpad, type your name, or upload an image of your signature.
Step 5: Resize and position it, then click Apply.
Step 6: Download the signed PDF.
Three Ways to Create Your Signature
Draw: Use your mouse, trackpad, or touchscreen to draw your real signature — looks the most authentic
Type: Type your name and choose from signature-style fonts — fastest method, legally valid in most contexts
Upload: Upload an image of your handwritten signature (PNG with transparent background works best)
Is an Electronic Signature Legally Valid?
Yes — in most countries, electronic signatures carry the same legal weight as handwritten signatures. The key legislation:
United States: The ESIGN Act (2000) and UETA make electronic signatures legally binding for most contracts and documents.
European Union: eIDAS Regulation establishes electronic signatures as legally valid across all EU member states.
United Kingdom: The Electronic Communications Act 2000 recognises electronic signatures.
India: The Information Technology Act 2000 (amended 2008) gives legal recognition to electronic signatures.
Important exception: some documents specifically require a wet (handwritten) signature — typically wills, powers of attorney, and certain government documents. When in doubt, check with the requesting party whether an electronic signature is acceptable.
What Types of Documents Can You Sign Online?
Electronic signatures are accepted for the vast majority of business and personal documents:
✓ Employment contracts and offer letters
✓ NDAs and confidentiality agreements
✓ Rental and lease agreements
✓ Sales contracts and purchase orders
✓ Freelance and consulting agreements
✓ Bank and financial forms
✓ School and university applications
✓ Insurance documents
✓ Medical consent forms (varies by jurisdiction)
How to Sign a PDF on iPhone or iPad
iPhones have a built-in PDF signing feature through the Files app and Mail:
Via Files app: Open the PDF in Files → tap the pen icon (markup) in the top right → tap the signature button (+) at the bottom right → draw your signature → tap Done → tap the signature and drag it into position → tap Done to save.
Via Mail: Open an email with a PDF attachment → tap the attachment → tap the pen/markup icon → add your signature → Done → share or reply with the signed PDF.
If neither method is available or the PDF is locked, use the browser method — open Safari, go to iformat.io/e-sign-pdf-free-online, upload and sign.
How to Sign a PDF on Android
Android doesn't have a universal built-in PDF signing feature. The simplest method on Android is the browser approach: open Chrome, go to the e-sign tool, upload your PDF, and draw your signature using your finger on the touchscreen — touchscreen signing produces a natural-looking signature.
How to Sign a PDF on Windows (Without Acrobat)
Browser method (recommended): Use iformat.io/e-sign-pdf-free-online in any browser — Edge, Chrome, or Firefox.
Windows built-in (limited): Microsoft Edge has a basic PDF annotation feature. Open your PDF in Edge → click the draw tool in the toolbar → draw your signature → save. This works but the signature appears as a drawing annotation, not an embedded PDF signature.
Add Other Information to the PDF
Beyond signing, you can often need to fill in text fields too. If the PDF has interactive form fields, use the PDF form filler to type into the fields, then sign. If it's a flat (scanned) PDF with no interactive fields, the e-sign tool also lets you add text boxes anywhere on the document.
Signing Tips
• Sign on a clear area — avoid signing over existing text
• Use the resize handle to scale your signature to match the signature line
• For professional documents, typed signatures in a cursive font look clean and are easier to reproduce consistently
• Save the signed PDF to your device immediately after downloading
Sign Your PDF — Free, No Account
Draw, type, or upload your signature. Sign any PDF document online in seconds.