Sign PDFs Without Google Docs

Many people try to sign PDFs using Google Docs because it is free and widely available. However, Google Docs does not natively support PDF signatures. The typical workaround involves uploading your PDF to Google Drive, opening it in Google Docs (which converts it and often breaks the formatting), using the Drawing tool to create a crude signature, inserting it into the document, and then exporting back to PDF. This process is tedious, error-prone, and frequently produces a document that looks different from the original. Tables may shift, images may move, and fonts may change during the conversion process. SigPDF avoids all of these problems by letting you sign the actual PDF file directly, without any conversion or reformatting.

Another common approach is to install a Google Workspace add-on for electronic signatures. While several third-party add-ons exist, they require you to grant extensive permissions to your Google account, including access to your Google Drive files and email. Many of these add-ons are paid services that use a freemium model, limiting you to a few free signatures before requiring a subscription. SigPDF requires no Google account, no add-on installation, and no third-party access to your cloud storage. You simply open SigPDF in any browser, upload your PDF from your device (not from Google Drive), sign it, and download the result. Your document never touches Google's servers or any other server — it is processed entirely in your browser.

Privacy is a significant concern when signing documents through Google. When you upload a PDF to Google Drive, Google stores that file on their servers and may analyze it for advertising or machine learning purposes, depending on their terms of service and your account settings. For sensitive documents like contracts, medical forms, legal agreements, and financial statements, this raises legitimate privacy questions. SigPDF takes the opposite approach: your PDF is processed entirely within your browser using client-side JavaScript. The file never leaves your device. There are no servers involved in the signing process, which means there is zero risk of your document being stored, analyzed, or accessed by anyone other than you.

SigPDF preserves your PDF's original formatting perfectly because it works with the PDF file directly rather than converting it to another format. When you upload a PDF, SigPDF renders it exactly as it was created, with all fonts, images, tables, and layouts intact. You then add your signature, text fields, dates, and initials on top of the existing document. The downloaded result is a properly formatted PDF that looks identical to the original, plus your signature. This is vastly superior to the Google Docs approach, where conversion artifacts can make the document look unprofessional or even alter important content. SigPDF works on any device with a browser — Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android, iPad, Chromebook — making it truly universal.

Step-by-Step: Sign a PDF Without Google Docs

1. Open any browser on your device (you do not need to be signed into a Google account)
2. Navigate to SigPDF and upload your PDF directly from your device
3. Your PDF loads in the viewer with its original formatting fully preserved
4. Draw your signature with your mouse, touchpad, finger, or stylus — or type your name or upload a signature image
5. Click or tap on the document to place your signature, then drag to reposition or resize
6. Add dates, initials, text fields, or additional signatures as needed
7. Download the signed PDF — the original formatting remains perfectly intact