Guide · October 4, 2026

How to sign a PDF online for free (no printing or scanning)

How to add your signature to a PDF in the browser, resize and rotate it, initial every page, and what an image signature is and isn't.

4 min read

You can sign a PDF on screen without printing it. Create a signature, drop it where it belongs, and download the signed copy.

Quickest answer: sign a PDF in five steps

  1. Open Sign PDF and drop your document on the page.
  2. Click Create Signature and draw, type or upload it.
  3. Click the page where it should go.
  4. Drag to move it, pull a corner to resize, or use the rotate control to angle it.
  5. Click Download Signed PDF.

Initialling a multi-page document

Use the duplicate control on a placement to repeat it on every other page in one click. It is meant for initialling each page of a contract without placing the mark thirty times.

The audit trail file

Alongside the signed PDF you can download a separate Audit Trail PDF: a document ID, the file name, when it was signed and where the signatures were placed. It is a simple record kept next to the signed file.

What this kind of signature is, and isn't

This places a signature image on a document you control. It is right for countersigning a form, initialling a lease or signing an invoice. It is not a cryptographic digital signature, and it doesn't send requests to other people to sign. If a contract specifically requires a certificate-based signature or a managed signing process, use a service built for that.

Tip: Want a password on the signed file? Run it through Protect PDF afterwards.

Ready to try it?

Open the Sign PDF tool — no signup, no upload, no watermark.

Open Sign PDF

Frequently asked

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Got questions? We've got answers.

How do I sign a PDF online for free?

Open SmilingPDF's Sign PDF tool, drop your file, create a signature by drawing, typing or uploading it, place it on the page and download the signed PDF. No account or watermark.

Is a signature added this way legally binding?

That depends on your country and the document. This tool places a signature image; it does not create a certificate-based digital signature. If a document requires one, or a managed signing process, use a service built for that.

Can I sign every page of a document?

Yes. Use the duplicate control to repeat a signature or initials on every other page in one click.

Can I move or resize the signature after placing it?

Yes. Drag it to move it, pull a corner to resize it, and use the rotate control to change its angle.

Is my document or signature uploaded?

No. Your document and signature are handled in your browser and are not sent to a SmilingPDF server.

Open SmilingPDF's Sign PDF tool, drop your file, create a signature by drawing, typing or uploading it, place it on the page and download the signed PDF. No account or watermark.