Electronic signatures are the quickest and easiest way to sign a PDF or other type of document. No meetings, no calls, no rescheduling of appointments – Docusign eSignature digitally automates your entire agreement process.

Docusign eSignature supports virtually any type of document file type from most applications–like Microsoft® Word, Excel, and PowerPoint–to ensure all your important documents can be sent for signature. Docusign eSignature even recognizes PDF documents and automatically tags form fields for data entry by signers.

An electronic signature, often abbreviated as e-signature, is a broad term referring to any electronic means of indicating agreement or approval. E-signatures can include simply typing your name at the end of an email, creating a digital version of your signature with your mouse and applying it to a contract, or clicking an "I agree" button on a website. 

Digital signatures may sound interchangeable with electronic signatures, but in fact they are a type of electronic signatures that meet specific conditions. Digital signatures are a specific type of electronic signature that provides strong authentication and non-repudiation through encryption. Many highly regulated industries or certain countries, like in the EU, might require digital signatures for additional assurance.

Read more about electronic signatures vs. digital signatures.

Electronic signatures generally hold the same legal weight as traditional handwritten signatures in many jurisdictions, thanks to legislation like the U.S. Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN Act) and similar laws in other countries. These laws establish that electronic records and signatures are legally valid and enforceable, provided certain conditions are met, such as intent to sign and association of the signature with the record. This legal recognition has facilitated the widespread adoption of electronic signatures in various transactions and agreements.

Learn more about e-signature legality.

Electronic signatures are commonly used in a wide array of scenarios to streamline processes and increase efficiency. They are frequently employed for signing contracts, agreements, and forms online, such as real estate documents, loan applications, and employment paperwork. 

E-signatures are also used for approving invoices, purchase orders, and other business documents, as well as for signing consent forms, waivers, and other legal documents. Their convenience and speed make them ideal for remote transactions and situations where physical signatures are impractical.

Discover more e-signature use cases.

Try signing a PDF with Docusign eSignature, it’s: 

• Free to signers

• Convenient 

• Simple and intuitive

• Available on most devices

Electronically signing PDFs saves time, reduces costs and increases your productivity. Working from home or on the road? Speed up remote workflows by electronically signing PDFs and other documents from almost anywhere, on most devices.

76% of all successful eSignature transactions on our platform were completed in less than 24 hours and 41% within 15 minutes. Docusign eSignature is trusted, secure and can help you send and sign agreements in minutes. 

Many of our customers report saving money by using Docusign. These cost savings often include both hard costs and improved employee productivity.

Veterans Services of the Carolinas, a division of the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, saved $75,000 per year by using Docusign. 

"We're saving over $75,000 a year now by just having Docusign as a tool in our toolkit. For a nonprofit that’s trying to stretch community dollars, that’s a big lift. I don’t think we could have scaled without it,” said Brandon Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM).

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) saved over $700,000, reclaimed thousands of staff hours, and earned Gartner recognition for its forward-thinking use of technology in education, thanks to Docusign eSignature and the guidance and support from Customer Success.

Our products are researched, designed, and developed with security as a top priority and built with configurable security in mind.

Docusign maintains around-the-clock onsite security with strict physical access control that complies with industry-recognized standards, such as SOC 1, SOC 2, and ISO 27001.

We also use world-class security software and hardware to protect the physical integrity of Docusign eSignature and all associated computer systems and networks that process customer data. The quality and integrity of Docusign eSignature is ensured by a formal product development lifecycle that includes secure coding practices in accordance with OWASP. We also perform internal and external vulnerability scans and penetration tests against the Docusign eSignature production environment.

Get more information on Docusign eSignature security.

1. Register for a Docusign free trial. Then sign in to your account. Go to the “Sign or get signatures” section of the dashboard and click “Start”

2. Upload your PDF document. Drag and drop your files into the “Add documents” section, or upload a document. You can upload your document from your computer or from Google Drive or another cloud storage location. Then select “Sign a document now” 

3. Add your signature. Check the “I’m the only signer” box if you’re just trying to sign the PDF yourself, not send it to someone else to sign. When you get to your document, add a signature field to the document from the menu next to the document and drag and drop it into the document.

4. Place your signature in the document. You’ll need to adopt your signature by selecting a style, drawing your own signature, or uploading your signature.

5. Finalize and save. Sign and click “Finish”. You can then share your signed document with recipients via email. You’ll get a copy of your signed document added to your account in the “Completed” section and sent to you via email as well.

Docusign eSignature has hundreds of millions of signers in 180 countries. Docusign eSignature is accepted and trusted by millions around the world. Docusign offers everything you need to automate and connect your agreement process.  

e-Signing PDFs is fast and easy with the world’s #1 e-signature solution. Try it for free! Docusign eSignature