The short answer: you can create a free electronic signature with OpenSign™ in under a minute — upload a document, draw or type your signature, place it on the page and download the signed file. It's free, works in any browser, and produces a legally binding signature with a verifiable audit trail.
What is an electronic signature?
An electronic signature (eSignature) is a digital way of indicating agreement to a document — replacing a handwritten signature on paper. It can be a typed name, a drawn mark or an uploaded signature image, and it carries the same legal weight as ink under the ESIGN Act, UETA and eIDAS when captured with proper consent and an audit trail.
How to create a free electronic signature
- Open OpenSign and create a free account.
- Upload the PDF or document you need to sign.
- Choose Sign Yourself, then add a signature field.
- Draw, type or upload your signature.
- Place it, add the date if needed, and click finish.
- Download the signed PDF with its certificate of completion.
Why OpenSign for free eSignatures
- Truly free — sign unlimited documents yourself at no cost.
- Legally binding — compliant with ESIGN, UETA and eIDAS.
- Audit trail — every signature is timestamped and logged.
- No install — works in any modern browser.
- Open source — transparent and self-hostable.
Electronic signature vs digital signature
People often use these terms interchangeably, but a digital signature is a specific cryptographic technology that secures an electronic signature. Learn more in our free digital signature guide.
Common uses
- Contracts and agreements
- NDAs and offer letters
- Consent and waiver forms
- Invoices and approvals
Ready to try it? Create a free OpenSign account and start signing documents in minutes — no credit card required. Prefer to run it yourself? OpenSign is 100% open source on GitHub.