Do you really need DocuSign?
DocuSign and similar services are powerful for collecting multiple signatures across teams, tracking audit trails, and legal workflows. But for a single person who just needs to sign a PDF and send it back, they're overkill — and expensive at $15–45/month.
For the vast majority of everyday signatures (a contract you received, a form from your landlord, a work agreement), a free browser-based tool is all you need.
Is a drawn PDF signature legally valid?
In most jurisdictions, including the United States (under the ESIGN Act), UK, EU (under eIDAS), and Australia, an electronic signature on a PDF is legally binding as long as it represents the signer's intent. For routine personal and business documents, a drawn or typed signature in a PDF is sufficient.
Step-by-step: sign a PDF with PrivaPDF
Go to privapdf.net/sign-pdf. No account needed.
Drag the PDF you need to sign onto the tool. The document renders in your browser — it is not uploaded anywhere.
Choose to Draw (use your mouse or touchscreen) or Type your name in a signature font. You can adjust size and colour.
Drag the signature to the exact position on the page where it needs to go. Resize if needed.
Click Download. The signed PDF is generated in your browser and saved to your device. Ready to email or upload directly.
Signing on mobile
The Sign PDF tool works on iPhone and Android. Drawing your signature with your finger or a stylus often produces a more natural-looking result than using a mouse on desktop. Just open the tool in Chrome or Safari on your phone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sign multiple pages?
Yes. After placing a signature on one page, navigate to the next page and add another. You can place signatures on as many pages as needed.
Can other people countersign the same document?
With PrivaPDF's current tool, each person signs independently. Download the signed version, send it to the other party, and they sign using the same tool. For automated multi-party routing, you'd need a dedicated e-signature platform.
Will the signature look like a real handwritten signature?
If you draw it with a mouse or touchscreen, yes. Typed signatures use a cursive font that looks signature-like, though not identical to handwriting.