How to Use an eSignature Generator to Sign Documents Online

Someone sends you a document to sign. You don't have a printer or scanner. You definitely don't want to pay for DocuSign just to sign one thing. The eSignature generator lets you create a professional electronic signature — by drawing it with your mouse or typing your name in a signature font — and apply it to your documents for free.

How to Create Your eSignature

You've got two options. Draw your signature using your mouse, trackpad, or touchscreen. This gives the most natural-looking result, especially on a tablet or phone where you can use your finger. Or type your name and pick from several handwriting-style fonts that make it look like a real signature.

Either way, you end up with a clean signature image you can use on any document. Save it so you don't have to recreate it every time.

Are Electronic Signatures Legal?

In most countries, yes. The US ESIGN Act and the EU eIDAS regulation both recognize electronic signatures as legally valid for most types of documents. There are some exceptions — certain real estate documents, wills, and court orders may still require wet ink signatures depending on your jurisdiction.

For everyday business documents like contracts, agreements, NDAs, and forms, electronic signatures are perfectly legal and widely accepted.

Applying Your Signature to Documents

Once you've created your signature, you can download it as a transparent PNG image. This is useful because you can then place it on any document — PDFs, Word docs, or even image files. Position it right on the signature line.

The tool can also directly overlay your signature on a PDF. Upload the document, click where you want your signature to appear, adjust the size, and download the signed version. Way easier than print-sign-scan.

Tips for a Good Electronic Signature

If you're drawing, use a stylus or your finger on a touchscreen for the most natural look. Mouse signatures tend to look shaky — that's normal, but a touchscreen gives better results.

If you're typing, pick a font that looks similar to your actual handwriting style. Most people go with something that has some flourish but isn't so fancy it's hard to read.

Keep your signature consistent. Use the same one every time so recipients can recognize it across documents. Saving it to your computer means you'll always have the same version ready.

Need to sign something right now? Try it free →