Every so often someone asks you to sign a document, and it arrives as a PDF: an agreement, a consent form, an authorization to move your phone number, and so on. You do not need to print it, sign it by hand, and scan it back in. You can sign a PDF online for free, right in your browser, in a couple of minutes.
This guide uses DocHub, a free online PDF editor and signer. There is nothing to install, it works on any computer or phone with a web browser, and the free plan is enough to sign the occasional document without paying anything. Whatever the document is, the steps below are the same.
Prefer to watch? Here is a short video that walks through signing a document in DocHub and downloading it. The written steps are all below.
Why sign a PDF online
Signing on your computer or phone is faster than the old print-sign-scan routine, and the result usually looks cleaner too. An electronic signature added this way is widely accepted for everyday business documents. You keep a digital copy, you can send it back by email in seconds, and you never have to find a printer.
Step 1: Create a free account
Open your web browser and go to dochub.com. Click sign up and create a free account. There is no credit card required, and you can sign up quickly with your Google account if you prefer. The free plan lets you sign PDFs and download them.
Step 2: Upload your PDF
Once you are signed in, bring your PDF into DocHub. Drag and drop the file into the upload area, or import it from a cloud service like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Box. Your document opens in the DocHub editor, where you will see it on the page with a toolbar of tools above it.
Step 3: Create your signature
In the toolbar, click Sign, then Create your signature. DocHub gives you three ways to make one:
- Type your name and pick a handwriting-style font.
- Draw your signature with your mouse, trackpad, or finger on a touchscreen.
- Upload a photo of your handwritten signature.
Once it looks right, save it (choose Save as default if you would like to reuse the same signature later without recreating it).
Step 4: Place your signature
Click Sign again and choose the signature you just made. Then click the spot on the document where it belongs. You can drag it to reposition it and pull its corner to resize it so it fits the signature line.
If the form needs anything else, use the same toolbar to add it: click the Text tool to type into fields such as your name or the date, or the checkmark tool to check any boxes. Fill in everything the document asks for before you finish.
Step 5: Download the signed PDF
When the document is signed and filled in, save your work, then download it. Look for the Download or Export option (often under a Download menu) and save the signed PDF to your computer or phone.
If someone asked you to sign and return the document, you can now email that downloaded file back to them, or use DocHub's own send option to share it directly.
A few tips
- The free plan has monthly limits, but it is plenty for signing a document here and there.
- Always keep a copy of the signed file for your own records before you send it off.
- Double-check that every required field, including the date, is filled in before you download.
Need to sign a document to get started with Zinng?
If we have sent you something to sign, such as an authorization form to move your phone number over, these same steps will get it signed and back to us in a few minutes. Any questions, just reach out at [email protected] and we are glad to help.
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About the Author
Timothy Bramlett
Co-Founder & CEO, Zinng
Timothy Bramlett is an American entrepreneur, software engineer, and product strategist. He is the founder of Zinng, an AI-powered phone agent platform that helps businesses never miss a customer call with intelligent call handling, real-time transcripts, and instant summaries.