An electronic signature (eSign) on a PDF is legally the same as a handwritten one for most documents. And you can do it online, free, in under a minute — without installing anything.
How to eSign a PDF online right now
- Go to quickpdfsign.com
- Upload your PDF — drag and drop or click to browse
- Create your signature:
- Draw — sign with your mouse or finger
- Type — enter your name, rendered in a handwriting font
- Upload — use a PNG of your existing signature
- Place your signature — click anywhere on the page to position it, drag to reposition
- Download — your signed PDF is ready instantly
Is an eSigned PDF legally valid?
Yes. The ESIGN Act (2000) in the US and eIDAS Regulation in the EU both confirm that electronic signatures have the same legal effect as handwritten signatures. This applies regardless of which tool you use to create the signature.
Contracts, lease agreements, employment forms, consent forms, NDAs — all of these can be legally eSigned online.
What eSign doesn't cover
Some documents are excluded from electronic signature laws and require a wet ink signature or specific certified digital signature:
- Wills and testamentary trusts (varies by state)
- Court orders and official judicial documents
- Adoption, divorce, or guardianship papers (in some jurisdictions)
- Documents that explicitly require notarization
For any document where you're unsure, check with a lawyer in your jurisdiction. For everyday business and personal documents, an online eSignature is sufficient.
Do I need to keep a copy?
Yes — save the signed PDF somewhere accessible. Since there's no account and no cloud storage, the downloaded file is the only copy. Store it in a folder where you keep important documents, or upload it to your preferred cloud storage after downloading.