Adobe Acrobat charges $20–$30/month just to sign documents. That's a steep price for what is, in most cases, a five-second task. The good news: you can sign PDFs for free, without installing anything.
Method 1: Use a Browser-Based PDF Signer (No Upload)
The fastest option is a tool like Signpdf that processes everything locally in your browser. Your file never leaves your device — which matters if you're signing sensitive contracts, tax forms, or medical documents.
- 1Go to Signpdf and click "Sign PDF"
- 2Drag and drop your PDF (or click to upload)
- 3Draw your signature, or type it in your preferred font
- 4Drag the signature to the correct position
- 5Click "Download Signed PDF"
Your PDF is never sent to any server. All processing happens in your browser using PDF.js and pdf-lib.
Method 2: Mac Preview (Built-In)
If you're on a Mac, Preview has a built-in signature tool. Open your PDF, click the Markup toolbar (pencil icon), then the Signature button. You can sign with your trackpad, camera, or iPhone.
- Works offline — no internet required
- Signature is stored in Keychain for reuse
- Quality varies when using trackpad
Method 3: Google Docs (Basic Only)
Upload your PDF to Google Drive, open it as a Google Doc, and use Insert → Drawing to create a signature. This works for simple cases but the PDF formatting may shift during conversion.
Which Method Should You Use?
- Need privacy + speed: use Signpdf (browser-based, no upload)
- On a Mac with no internet: use Preview
- Already working in Google Workspace: use Google Docs
Ready to sign? No account needed for your first 3 documents.
Sign a PDF now →