Guide · updated 2026-11-03
How to sign a PDF online for free
Printing a document just to sign and re-scan it wastes ten minutes every time. Signing in the browser takes one: draw or type your signature, place it, download. PDFVelvet also sends documents out for signature — each signer gets a private link by email, and the finished file carries an audit trail.
Signing something you received needs no account at all; creating a signature request for others takes a free one.
Step by step
- 1Open the Sign tool. Drop your PDF on the Sign PDF page. The document opens in the browser.
- 2Create your signature. Draw it with the mouse or finger, type it and pick a style, or upload a photo of your written signature. With an account you can save it for next time.
- 3Place and resize. Click where the signature belongs; drag the corners to fit the line. Add initials or the date the same way.
- 4Download — or send for signature. Signing yourself? Press Save PDF. Need someone else to sign? Choose "Request signatures", add their email, and they sign through a private link — no account needed on their side.
What the audit trail records
Each completed request keeps evidence of who signed and when: the signer’s name and email as provided, the signing time, IP address and browser. The certificate page links from the document and can be checked by anyone through its QR code, which is what makes the signature defensible later.
Whether an electronic signature is legally sufficient depends on your jurisdiction and the type of document — routine contracts and approvals are the normal use; documents like wills often have stricter form requirements.
Signing vs. certifying
This tool produces electronic signatures — the image of your signature plus the evidence record. It does not add a cryptographic certificate from a certificate authority (the padlock kind used in some government workflows). For everyday business signing, the electronic form with an audit trail is what services like DocuSign sell — here it is free.
Frequently asked questions
- Do my signers need an account?
- No. Signers open a private email link, sign in the browser and are done — no registration.
- Is there a watermark on the signed document?
- No. The signed PDF is clean, free plan included.
- Can I save my signature for reuse?
- Yes, with a free account you can store your signature and initials and place them with one click.
Ready to try it?
Free, in your browser — no signup, no watermark, files deleted after 60 minutes.