"eSign" is just shorthand for "electronically sign" — the same legally binding action that used to require a pen, a printer, and a scanner. Whether you're on a laptop, iPhone, or Android, you can eSign a PDF in under a minute without installing anything. Here's how to do it, plus how to eSign Word documents and how the process differs on mobile.
What "eSigning" actually means
Under the federal ESIGN Act and state-level UETA, an electronic signature is any symbol — typed name, drawn signature, or clicked "I agree" button — that a person applies to a document with intent to sign. There's no special certificate, biometric, or vendor required. A signed PDF from a browser tool has the same legal weight as one from a $45/month enterprise seat, provided the tool preserves the audit trail.
For the full legal breakdown, see are electronic signatures legally binding.
How to eSign a PDF (browser, any device)
- Open eSign Services and drop your PDF into the upload area. No account required.
- Choose Type to render your name in a signature font, or Draw to sign with your mouse, trackpad, or finger.
- Place the signature where it belongs on the page.
- Download the signed PDF — the audit certificate is embedded automatically.
How to eSign a document that isn't a PDF
For a Word document, Google Doc, or Pages file, export it to PDF first (File → Export → PDF works in every major editor) and then follow the browser steps above. PDF is the universal format for signed documents because the layout is locked — a Word file can be edited after the signature is applied, which defeats the audit trail.
How to eSign a PDF on iPhone
- Tap the PDF in Mail, Messages, or Files, then tap Share.
- Open Safari and go to eSign Services. Drop the file into the upload area — iOS handles the picker natively.
- Draw your signature with your finger. It renders instantly.
- Download or save back to Files.
You can also use the iOS Markup tool (long-press the PDF → Markup) to add a signature offline, but Markup doesn't produce an audit trail — fine for informal use, not for anything a counterparty might need to prove later.
How to eSign a PDF on Android
Same flow as iPhone: open Chrome, go to eSign Services, upload from your Downloads or Drive, sign with your finger, save the result. No app install required — the entire flow runs in the mobile browser.
Free vs paid: what's the actual difference?
Many tools advertise "free" eSigning but paywall the download or limit you to a few documents a month. The features that actually matter — the audit certificate, tamper-evident PDF, and multi-signer support — are what separate a real e-signature tool from a novelty. See free e-signature options for a breakdown of what each free tier includes.
The bottom line
eSigning a PDF takes about 60 seconds in any browser. You don't need Adobe, a subscription, or a special app. The one thing you do need is a tool that produces an audit certificate — otherwise you have a signed image, not a legally defensible document.
eSign your first PDF now — free to start, pay only when you send documents to others.