PDF Sign Studio
ESIGN · UETA · eIDAS · PIPEDA

Electronic signatures that hold up.

Sign business documents with a legally recognised electronic signature — no printer, no scanner, no signup. Everything happens in your browser.

  • Recognised under US, UK, EU, and Canadian law
  • Works for contracts, NDAs, offers, invoices
  • Draw, type, or upload your signature
  • Downloadable PDF opens in any reader

Drop your PDF here

or click to browse from your device

Any sizePassword-protected OKNever uploaded

How it works

1

Upload the document

Drop the agreement into the box above.

2

Apply your e-signature

Draw, type, or upload it — then place it on the signature line.

3

Send the signed PDF

Download and email or share; the signed copy is a standard PDF.

When an e-signature is enough

For most day-to-day business — vendor agreements, employment offers, sales contracts, statements of work, NDAs, invoices, consent forms — a simple electronic signature is fully enforceable in the US, UK, EU, and Canada. The law focuses on intent to sign and a reliable link between the signature and the document, both of which a signed PDF satisfies.

Types of electronic signature

Not every e-signature is created equal. The right level depends on the document, the counterparty's requirements, and the risk of dispute.

  • Simple electronic signature (SES) — a typed name, drawn signature, or uploaded image. Standard for internal and low-risk documents.
  • Advanced electronic signature (AES) — uniquely linked to the signer and capable of detecting tampering.
  • Qualified electronic signature (QES) — AES issued by a qualified provider with a hardware-backed certificate; required in the EU for specific documents.

Keeping evidence

For added assurance, keep the signed PDF alongside a short audit trail: the email thread the document was exchanged in, the date and time of signing, and any counterparty acknowledgement. Store the file where you keep other contracts — that combination is what makes an e-signature defensible if it's ever questioned.

Frequently asked questions

What is an electronic signature?+

An electronic signature (e-signature) is any electronic mark — typed name, drawn signature, uploaded image, or click-to-agree — that a signer applies with intent to sign a document. Under US ESIGN/UETA, UK ECA, EU eIDAS, and Canadian PIPEDA, e-signatures are broadly enforceable for business agreements.

Is an electronic signature legally binding?+

For standard business documents — NDAs, offers, statements of work, invoices, employment paperwork — yes. Certain documents (wills, some family-law filings, notarized real-estate deeds) still require a wet-ink or qualified electronic signature.

What's the difference between electronic and digital signatures?+

'Electronic signature' is the legal concept — any mark showing intent to sign. 'Digital signature' is a specific cryptographic technique (PKI) that additionally proves the signer's identity and detects tampering. Both are electronic signatures under the law; digital signatures add stronger evidence.

Do I need a certificate authority?+

No — not for standard e-signatures. Certificates are only required if you specifically need a qualified electronic signature under eIDAS or a document type mandates it.

How do I prove who signed?+

Keep the original PDF, the audit trail (email thread, timestamps), and the counterparty's confirmation. For higher-assurance workflows, use a qualified provider or add certificate-based signing.

Related PDF tools