Is a drawn-based e-signature legally valid?

It depends on the signature level and the context in which it's used. Signatures drawn with a mouse or touchscreen are usually classified as a Simple Electronic Signature (SES) — widely used for low-risk agreements accepted by mutual consent between parties, such as quote approvals, internal correspondence, or delivery receipts. Official government procedures, notarized contracts, or high-value legal commitments usually call for stronger verification mechanisms, such as a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES). If the document is critical, it's wise to confirm with the other party or your advisor beforehand whether this signature level is sufficient.

How do I get the same document signed by multiple people?

In a tool that supports multiple signers, after uploading the document you add signers in order and set positions for each one's signature field, date field, and so on. The system sends each signer their own link; once everyone has signed from their own device, the document comes back to you complete with all signatures. Compared to passing the document around by hand or getting tangled in email version confusion, this is both faster and easier to track.

How can I make sure the PDF I signed stays identical to the original?

A good signing tool doesn't alter the document's page layout, text, or other content after the signature is added — it only places the signature image, and a timestamp if applicable, at the position you chose. After signing, it's good practice to download the document and check the page count, text content, and any prior fields (form entries, existing signatures). For critical documents, keeping the pre-signing and post-signing files stored separately also helps if a discrepancy is ever disputed later.

PDF Signing Guide: By Hand, With Software, or Online?

There are three ways to sign a PDF — which one fits your situation?

When you need to sign a PDF, you're really choosing between one of three paths: printing the document, signing it by hand, and scanning it back in; using a program installed on your desktop; or using an online tool that runs in your browser. All three "get the job done," but which one causes the least friction for you depends on the nature of the document, how many people need to sign it, and how often you do this.

In this article we compare all three methods honestly — none of them is "best" in every scenario; each has a place where it shines.

Method 1: Print, sign, scan

The oldest and most familiar method. You print the PDF, sign it with a pen, and digitize it again via scanner or phone camera.

When it makes sense: If you already have a printer and scanner on hand, and the document is a one-off, low-formality item (like an attachment to a petition), this method can be a quick fix. It's also still the only accepted route for certain institutional processes that require a wet-ink signature.

Where it struggles: The process has a lot of steps — printing, signing, scanning, naming the file, sending it. Scanned images often come out crooked, shadowed, or low-resolution, so the document doesn't look professional. If more than one person needs to sign, things get even messier: the document travels by courier, in person, or through a chain of emails, and tracking who has and hasn't signed becomes difficult. For remote teams or parties in different cities, this method quickly becomes impractical.

Method 2: Desktop software

Using a signing or PDF-editing program installed on your computer is the second common option.

When it makes sense: If you sign dozens of documents a day, need to work offline (say your internet connection is unreliable), or company policy requires that documents never be uploaded to a third-party server, installed desktop software can be the right call. Enterprise-licensed software often comes with extras like advanced audit trails and integration with internal document management systems.

Where it struggles: There's installation and licensing cost — usually an annual subscription or a one-time but steep fee. For someone who only signs a few PDFs a month, that investment is disproportionate. Also, since the program is installed only on your own computer, you're stuck if you need to quickly sign a document from a different device (say a personal computer or your phone). Technical friction like installation, updates, and sometimes license activation adds to the overhead.

Method 3: Online signing tool

Tools that run in the browser without any installation are the third option. You upload the document, draw your signature with a mouse or touchscreen, position the signature field on the document, and download it.

When it makes sense: For occasional, quick, low-volume signing needs, this method is generally the lowest-friction option. No installation required, and it's accessible from different operating systems (Windows, Mac, even tablets). If you're using a tool that supports multiple signers, you can send the document to several people in sequence or in parallel and have each sign from their own device — no courier, hand delivery, or email chain needed. This offers a clear time savings over the print-sign-scan cycle, especially for remote teams, business partners in different cities, or freelance contracts.

Where it struggles: A drawn signature sits at the Simple Electronic Signature (SES) level — meaning it doesn't offer the high degree of legal verification that a wet-ink signature or a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) provides. For official government applications, notarized contracts, or high-risk legal commitments, this level may not be sufficient; a wet-ink or qualified electronic signature may be required instead. Also, since you have to upload the document to a server, if you're dealing with extremely sensitive content that must never leave the company, you'll need to check your organization's own policies.

Three questions to ask when deciding

1. How many people need to sign? If only one person is signing, the difference between methods is minor. If there are more than two signers in different locations, an online tool with multi-signer support significantly cuts down the coordination overhead.

2. How much legal weight does the document carry? For everyday operational documents (delivery receipts, internal approvals, quote acceptance forms), SES level is usually sufficient. If a notary, government office, or high-value contract is involved, you need to clarify which signature level is required first, independent of the signing method.

3. How often do you do this? If you sign rarely, investing in a solution that requires installation and licensing doesn't make sense. If signing is frequent and high-volume, the extra audit and integration features an enterprise desktop solution offers can pay for themselves over time.

Bottom line

No single method is universally "right." For a one-off, official transaction, a wet-ink signature may still be required; for high-volume enterprise needs, desktop software can be a sound investment. But for most day-to-day scenarios — quickly approving a contract, getting a quote signed by the other party, collecting sequential approvals from a few people — an online tool that requires no installation and supports multiple signers stands out as the most practical route in terms of time and effort. What matters most is making sure the method you choose matches the signature level your document requires.