Add your signature to PDF documents with our simple and intuitive signing tool.
Click 'Open PDF' to load a document and start signing
PDFDeal's Sign PDF tool embeds a signature into a PDF file entirely within your browser. No file leaves your device. The editor renders each page of the document on a canvas, then writes your signature data into the PDF structure before you download the finished file. The result is a standard PDF with the signature baked in, readable by any PDF viewer.
You can place a signature on any page of a multi-page document, which makes this useful for contracts, forms, letters, and approval workflows where the signing field appears on a specific page.
The editor gives you three distinct input methods, each producing a different kind of signature element in the final PDF.
All three methods produce a signature that is embedded in the PDF output, not layered as a separate overlay file.
The flow is the same regardless of which signature method you choose. Here is the full process using the Draw method as an example.
For the Type or Upload methods, the steps are identical except you select the corresponding tab and provide text or an image file instead of drawing.
The toolbar includes several controls that affect how the signature is handled before you download.
Keyboard shortcuts are also supported for common actions, which speeds up repetitive signing tasks.
PDF signing is appropriate whenever a document requires a visible signature mark but does not require a cryptographic certificate chain (which is a separate concept called a digital signature). Common situations include:
If your workflow also involves filling in form fields before signing, the PDF Forms tool handles interactive field completion. You can fill the form there and then add your signature here.
Adding a signature to a PDF is technically different from annotating or editing it. An annotation layer sits on top of the page content and can sometimes be stripped by a PDF processor. A signature embedded through this tool is written into the page content stream, which makes it more persistent across different viewers and print workflows.
If you need to add comments or markup rather than a signature, the comment PDF tool is the appropriate choice. If you need to modify the text or layout of the document itself, use the edit PDF tool before signing.
For background on the broader distinction between electronic signatures and cryptographic digital signatures, the blog post on e-signatures vs digital signatures covers the technical difference in detail.
See the tool in action with this quick tutorial video:
The tool renders your PDF pages in the browser editor, collects your signature input (drawn path, typed text, or uploaded image), and writes that data into the PDF content stream before generating the output file. The signature becomes part of the page itself, not a floating layer. This means it persists when the file is printed, converted, or opened in any standard PDF viewer.
No. All processing happens in your browser. Your PDF is loaded into browser memory, the editor runs locally, and the signed output is generated on your device. Nothing is transmitted to a remote server at any point in the process. This applies to both the input file and the signature data you create, whether drawn, typed, or uploaded as an image.
Yes. The tool runs directly in the browser with no login or account required. You upload your file, use the editor, and download the signed PDF. Because processing is client-side, there is no user session or stored document to manage on a server side. You can use it as many times as needed without registering.
An electronic signature is a visible mark placed on a document to indicate agreement. It has no cryptographic backing. A digital signature uses a certificate authority and a private key to create a tamper-evident seal in the PDF structure. This tool produces an electronic signature: your drawn, typed, or image-based mark is embedded visually in the page. It does not generate a cryptographic certificate chain. For a detailed breakdown, see the blog post on e-signatures vs digital signatures .
Yes. The editor includes Previous and Next navigation buttons that let you move between pages. You can place signatures on multiple pages in a single session. Each placement is tracked independently, so you can sign page 1, navigate to page 5, sign there, and then download the complete document with all signatures embedded in their respective pages.
The Upload tab accepts PNG, JPG, WebP, and SVG files. PNG is generally the best choice for signature images because it supports a transparent background, which prevents a white rectangle from appearing behind the signature on the PDF page. SVG files are also rendered cleanly at any scale. JPG and WebP work but may show a background fill depending on the original image.
Six handwriting-style fonts are available: Great Vibes, Dancing Script, Allura, Sacramento, Pacifico, and Satisfy. Each has a distinct style ranging from formal cursive to casual script. You can also adjust the size from 8 to 200 pixels, change the color, and toggle bold, italic, or cursive rendering to further customize how the typed signature appears on the page.
Yes. The editor includes an optional date stamp feature. When enabled, a date text element is placed alongside your signature on the page. This is useful for contracts or approval documents where the signing date needs to appear next to the signature mark. The date stamp is embedded in the PDF content in the same way the signature itself is.
Signing places a visual signature mark on the page content. Form filling writes data into interactive AcroForm fields that are already built into the PDF structure (text boxes, checkboxes, radio buttons). If your document has fillable fields, use the PDF Forms tool to complete those fields first, then add your signature here. The two operations modify different parts of the PDF and are best done in sequence.
Yes. The toolbar includes an Undo control that steps back through recent actions, including signature placements. You can also use the Remove control to delete a specific placed signature element from the page. The Clear control resets the drawing canvas if you want to redraw your signature from scratch without affecting already-placed elements on the PDF.
The signature is written into the PDF page content stream, which is part of the standard PDF specification. This means the signed file opens and displays correctly in Adobe Acrobat, browser-based viewers, macOS Preview, and mobile PDF apps. Because the signature is not stored as a proprietary annotation layer, it does not depend on any specific viewer to render correctly.
Because processing happens in the browser, the practical limit depends on your device's available memory rather than a server-side restriction. Very large PDFs with many high-resolution pages may load slowly or strain browser memory on older devices. For very large files, consider using the compress PDF tool to reduce the file size before signing, which can improve editor performance noticeably.