Is an electronic signature legally valid?

In most countries, yes. The US Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN Act, 2000) and Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) give electronic signatures the same legal standing as handwritten signatures for most commercial documents. The EU's eIDAS regulation establishes a legal framework for electronic signatures across all member states. However, some documents still require wet signatures: wills, certain real estate transactions, court filings in some jurisdictions, and some government forms. Always verify requirements for specific document types.

What is the difference between an electronic signature and a digital signature?

An electronic signature is any electronic indication of intent to sign — it can be as simple as typing your name or inserting a signature image. A digital signature is a cryptographic mechanism using public-key infrastructure (PKI) to provide mathematical proof of who signed and that the document has not been altered since signing. Digital signatures (used in DocuSign, Adobe Sign, and similar platforms) are more secure and legally robust. The image signature created by this tool is an electronic signature — sufficient for most everyday business documents, but not a cryptographic digital signature.

How do I insert a signature into a PDF?

Download the signature PNG and open your PDF in a viewer that supports editing: Adobe Acrobat Reader (free version supports basic signature insertion), Preview on Mac (markup toolbar), or any PDF editor. Use the 'Insert Image' or 'Stamp' feature to place the signature PNG on the signature line. Resize and position as needed. Save the PDF. For legally sensitive documents requiring a verifiable audit trail, use a proper e-signature service like DocuSign or HelloSign.

How to Create an Electronic Signature Online

Create a professional electronic signature with our free eSignature Generator. Draw, type, or upload your signature and download as PNG.

Steps

Choose your signature method

Select from three input methods: Draw (use your mouse, touchpad, or touchscreen to draw your signature by hand), Type (enter your name and choose a signature font style), or Upload (upload an image of your handwritten signature to be processed and cleaned up).

Create your signature

For Draw mode: sign naturally using your mouse or finger on a touch screen. For Type mode: enter your name and browse through signature font styles until you find one that looks right. For Upload mode: take a photo of your signature on white paper and upload it — the tool will remove the background.

Adjust style and size

Change the ink colour (black is standard for business documents; blue is also widely accepted). Adjust the thickness and size to match how you want it to appear in your documents. Preview at the target size before downloading.

Download your signature

Download the signature as a PNG with a transparent background. This lets you overlay it on any document without a white box appearing. SVG format is also available for vector-quality rendering at any size.

Add to documents

Insert the PNG signature into your documents: in Word, use Insert > Picture > Inline; in PDF editors, use the stamp or image insert tool; in Google Docs, use Insert > Image. Position it on the signature line.

When to Use Electronic Signatures

Electronic signatures are appropriate for the vast majority of business agreements, contracts, and approvals in modern workflows. Common use cases include: employment agreements and offer letters, NDAs and confidentiality agreements, vendor and supplier contracts, sales contracts and quotes, lease agreements (in most jurisdictions), internal approvals and authorisations, freelance and consultant agreements, and SaaS subscription agreements. The key test is whether the transaction is conducted electronically and whether both parties have demonstrated clear intent to be bound. Where physical delivery is needed (certain government filings, some real estate transactions, powers of attorney) or where the law specifically requires a wet signature, electronic signatures are not sufficient.

Best Practices for Electronic Signature Documents

To ensure your electronically signed documents are enforceable: keep a record of the signing process including when the document was signed and by whom, use a consistent email address linked to the signature for identification, for business-critical documents use a proper e-signature platform that maintains an audit trail, never sign a document you have not read in full regardless of medium, ensure the contract clearly identifies the parties and their intent to be bound, and store signed documents in a secure, accessible location for the duration of the legal obligation plus any applicable statute of limitations. For contracts above a certain value or risk level, having a lawyer review before signing is worth the investment regardless of the signature format.