What Is an Electronic Signature?
An electronic signature (e-signature) is any digital method used to indicate agreement on a document. This includes:
- • A drawn signature using a mouse, stylus, or finger
- • Your name typed in a signature-style font
- • An uploaded image of your handwritten signature
- • A checkbox indicating "I agree" (in some contexts)
Electronic signatures are legally recognized under the US ESIGN Act, EU eIDAS regulation, and equivalent laws in most countries. They're valid for contracts, NDAs, employment agreements, and most standard business documents.
How to Add a Free Electronic Signature to a PDF
Go to PDF.it eSign
Visit pdf.it.com/esign. No account needed for your first 3 signatures per day. Free account gives you 10/day.
Upload your PDF
Upload the document you need to sign — a contract, lease, NDA, offer letter, or any PDF form.
Create your signature
Draw with your mouse or finger, type your name in a signature font, or upload a PNG/JPG image of your existing signature.
Place and size the signature
Click where the signature should go. Drag to reposition. Use the corner handles to resize until it looks right.
Download the signed PDF
Click Apply and download. Your signature is permanently embedded in the PDF — it displays correctly in Adobe Acrobat, Preview, and any other PDF viewer.
Electronic Signature vs. Digital Signature
These terms are often confused but mean different things:
| Feature | Electronic Signature | Digital Signature |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Visual mark on the document | Cryptographic proof of identity |
| Tamper detection | No | Yes — detects any changes after signing |
| Legal status | Valid in most countries for most contracts | Higher legal status, required for some documents |
| Ease of use | Very easy | Requires certificate/key setup |
For everyday business documents, an electronic signature is sufficient. See our article on Digital vs. Electronic Signatures for a full comparison.