How to Sign a PDF Without Adobe

Adobe Acrobat is the default tool people think of for signing PDFs. But it requires a subscription, and the free version limits what you can do. You do not need it.

There are free alternatives that let you sign PDFs directly in your browser — no software to install, no account to create, and no files uploaded to a server.

What you need

A browser. That is it. No plugins, no downloads, no Adobe account.

Three ways to create your signature

Draw it

The most natural option. Use your mouse, trackpad, or touchscreen to draw your signature freehand. This works well on tablets and phones where you can use your finger or a stylus.

Type it

Enter your full name and choose from several font styles — cursive, script, or formal. The tool renders your name as a signature image that looks handwritten.

Upload an image

If you already have a signature saved as a PNG or JPG (perhaps from scanning a physical signature), you can upload it directly.

How to place it on the document

Open the Sign PDF tool
Upload your PDF
Create your signature using any of the three methods above
Navigate to the page where you want to sign
Click anywhere on the page to place it
Drag to reposition, resize from the corner handle
Add more signatures on other pages if needed
Click Sign & Download

The signature is embedded directly into the PDF. The output is a standard PDF file that can be opened anywhere.

Is this legally binding?

This tool embeds a visual signature into the PDF. For most everyday purposes — approvals, acknowledgments, informal agreements — this is sufficient.

For contracts that require legally binding e-signatures with audit trails and certificates (like DocuSign provides), you would need a dedicated e-signature platform. But for the vast majority of "sign this and send it back" situations, a visual signature in the PDF is what people expect.

Common use cases

Signing a lease or rental agreement before returning it to a landlord
Approving an internal document like a purchase order or time sheet
Completing government forms that ask for a signature
Signing a letter before emailing it as an attachment
Adding your signature to multiple pages of a long contract

Privacy

Your PDF and signature never leave your browser. The tool runs entirely in JavaScript on your device. When you close the tab, everything is gone — no copies are stored anywhere.

Related tools

Merge PDFs — combine the signed document with other files
Compress PDF — reduce file size before emailing
Delete PDF Pages — remove unnecessary pages before signing
Add Watermark — mark as "Signed" or "Final"

The Drive AI offers free PDF tools that run entirely in your browser. No sign-up, no upload, no Adobe subscription required.