Sign Your PDF Documents

What is a PDF electronic signature?

A PDF electronic signature (e-signature) is a visual representation of a person's signature embedded directly into a PDF document. It can be a typed name rendered in a script font, a drawn signature captured with a mouse or touchscreen, or an uploaded image of a handwritten signature. Electronic signatures signal intent and approval and are legally recognized in most jurisdictions under laws such as the U.S. ESIGN Act and EU eIDAS regulation for most business agreements. PDFLE also supports cryptographic digital signatures using a personal certificate (.pfx file), which provide a higher level of assurance by cryptographically binding the signer's identity to the document.

How to sign a PDF online — step by step

1. Upload your PDF — click "Select PDF file to sign" or drag the file into the drop zone. The PDF opens in the preview panel.
2. Choose signature type — select "Simple Signature" to place a typed/drawn signature, or "Digital Signature" to sign with a cryptographic certificate.
3. Enter your signature — for simple signature, type your name in the Signature field; for digital, upload your .pfx certificate and enter its password.
4. Place the signature on the PDF — click the "+" button next to your signature to add it as a draggable field, then drag it to the correct position on the page.
5. Add optional fields — add initials, date, printed name, or a company stamp as additional draggable fields if needed.
6. Download the signed PDF — click "Download Signed PDF" to save the document with your signature embedded.

Simple signature vs. digital certificate signature

• Simple (electronic) signature — a typed or drawn signature image embedded in the PDF. Sufficient for most everyday business agreements, NDAs, and approvals where legal weight is governed by intent and audit trail.
• Digital certificate signature — uses a public-key cryptographic certificate (.pfx/.p12) to cryptographically sign the document. The signature is verifiable and tamper-evident; any change to the document after signing invalidates the signature. Required for high-assurance contexts such as regulated industries, government submissions, or formally enforceable contracts.

All signing operations are performed locally in your browser. Your PDF and signature data are never uploaded to a server.

Related tools: password-protect the signed PDF before distributing it, or add a watermark to mark the document as approved or confidential.