How to Sign PDF Electronically Free - Legal E-Signatures
How-To Guide
6 min read

How to Sign PDF Electronically Free - Legal E-Signatures

PDFHubs Team
January 15, 2026

Add legally binding electronic signatures to PDFs for free. Complete guide to signing documents digitally without paid software.

E-Sign PDFs Without Paying for Software

Electronic signatures are legally binding in most countries. You don't need expensive e-signature software to sign PDFs digitally.

Yes! E-signatures are legally valid under:

  • United States: ESIGN Act (2000)
  • European Union: eIDAS Regulation
  • UK: Electronic Communications Act 2000
  • Canada: PIPEDA
  • Australia: Electronic Transactions Act

How to Sign PDF for Free with PDFHubs

Method 1: Draw Your Signature

  • 1.Go to PDFHubs.site/tool/sign-pdf
  • 2.Upload your PDF
  • 3.Click "Draw Signature"
  • 4.Draw with mouse or finger
  • 5.Place signature on document
  • 6.Download signed PDF

Method 2: Type Your Signature

  • 1.Upload PDF to Sign PDF tool
  • 2.Click "Type Signature"
  • 3.Enter your name
  • 4.Choose a signature style font
  • 5.Place and download

Method 3: Upload Signature Image

  • 1.Photograph your handwritten signature
  • 2.Upload to the Sign PDF tool
  • 3.Position on your document
  • 4.Save and download

Tips for Professional E-Signatures

  • 1.Use a consistent signature across all documents
  • 2.Include your name and date in text form
  • 3.Keep a clean white background for uploaded signatures
  • 4.Save your signature for future use

E-Signature vs Digital Signature

E-SignatureDigital Signature
Image/drawing of signatureCryptographic verification
Valid for most documentsRequired for high-security docs
Free with PDFHubsOften requires certificates

Documents You Can E-Sign

  • Employment contracts
  • Rental agreements
  • NDAs and business agreements
  • Invoices and quotes
  • Permission slips
  • Internal approvals

Documents That May Require Wet Signatures

  • Wills and trusts (varies by jurisdiction)
  • Notarized documents
  • Court filings (check local rules)
  • Real estate deeds (varies by state)

Free vs Paid E-Signature Services

ServiceFree TierPaid Plans
PDFHubsUnlimitedN/A (always free)
DocuSign3 signatures$10-40/month
HelloSign3/month$15+/month
Adobe SignNone$12.99+/month

Conclusion

PDFHubs offers unlimited free electronic signatures that are legally valid for most documents. No subscription, no limits, no catch.

Tags:
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Ready to try these tips?

Use our free PDF tools to put this knowledge into practice.

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