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🖊️ E-Signature Guide
Send PDF for E-Signature
Free. Multi-Party. Cryptographically Verified.
Collect legally binding electronic signatures on any PDF — no account required on either side, no subscription, and no vendor lock-in. Sequential or parallel signing for up to 100 signers, with optional PAdES-B cryptographic signatures that are independently verifiable in Adobe Reader without ever needing to trust an intermediary.
100
Max signers
3
Signature modes
PAdES-B
Crypto standard
7
Max days expiry
0
Accounts required
0
Data retained
No account. No subscription. Signed PDF delivered in minutes.
The workflow
How the Signing Workflow Works
The entire workflow — from upload to signed PDF download — happens in the browser, with no software to install on either side. Here is each step in detail:
1. Upload the PDF
Drop or select the PDF you want signed. Up to 50 MB. The file is uploaded over HTTPS and stored encrypted on pqpdf.com servers — accessible only to the workflow participants.
2. Add Signers
Enter each signer's full name and (optionally) their email address. Drag rows to set the signing order. Up to 100 signers per workflow. Signers can be added or removed after the workflow is created.
3. Configure the Workflow
Choose sequential (one after another) or parallel (all at once) signing. Optionally pin required signing areas to specific pages. Lock or pre-set any field controls — signature method, date format, ink colour, stroke width, cryptographic signature on/off. Save the entire configuration as a named local template to reuse on future documents of the same type — no account required.
4. Share Secure Links
Each signer receives a unique token-protected link — impossible to reuse or forge. Links can be emailed directly from the tool or copied and shared manually. Sequential signers receive their link automatically when it is their turn. Links remain valid for the expiry duration you chose (1–7 days).
5. Signers Sign
Each signer opens their link in any browser — no account, no app. They choose their signature method (draw, type, or upload an image), position their signature, and optionally add a cryptographic PAdES-B certificate. The workflow tracks completion in real time.
6. Download & Done
When all signers are done, the completed PDF and an audit trail are available to download immediately. The audit trail PDF can also be emailed to any addresses directly from the completion page. Files are deleted from our servers after download.
Use cases
Who Uses PDF E-Signature Workflows?
Electronic signatures have replaced wet-ink signatures for the majority of commercial documents worldwide. The bottleneck is no longer whether e-signatures are accepted — it is whether the tool collecting them is accessible, affordable, and trustworthy. These are the people who benefit most from a free, no-account workflow:
Freelancers & Contractors
Client contracts, project agreements, and NDAs. Sending a document for signature should not cost more than the contract itself. No subscription required — send one document or a hundred, free.
Small Businesses
Vendor agreements, employment contracts, lease documents, and service proposals requiring multiple approvals. Sequential signing enforces the approval chain — the CFO sees it after the department head signs.
Real Estate
Offer letters, lease agreements, and property disclosures often require signatures from multiple parties in a specific order. Parallel signing lets both buyers sign simultaneously; sequential ensures the agent countersigns last.
Education & Non-Profits
Permission slips, volunteer agreements, grant applications, and partnership MOUs. DocuSign's per-user pricing is often prohibitive for organisations with tight budgets. PQ PDF is free with no per-envelope charge.
Remote & International Teams
Cross-border agreements where signers are in different countries and time zones. Parallel signing gets all parties their link at once. Email delivery means no need for signers to check a vendor portal.
Privacy-Conscious Senders
Agreements containing sensitive commercial terms, personal data, or confidential IP that you cannot upload to a cloud service where it may be retained indefinitely. PQ PDF deletes the document after download — no copy, no index, no retention.
How the alternatives compare
PQ PDF vs. DocuSign, Adobe Sign, Smallpdf & iLovePDF
Most e-signature services are built around subscription revenue. Free tiers are narrowly limited to push users into paid plans. Account requirements on both sides create friction that slows simple agreements to a crawl. And vendor-managed "digital signatures" — where the verification depends on the vendor's audit server still being online — are not independent cryptographic proof. PQ PDF offers full multi-party workflows, free, with optional self-contained PAdES-B cryptographic signatures that need no vendor to verify:
| Feature | PQ PDF Free · No account |
DocuSign From ~$15/month |
Adobe Acrobat Sign From ~$23/month |
Smallpdf Free (1 doc/mo) · Paid |
iLovePDF Free (limited) · Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sender account required | ✓ No account needed | ✗ Account required | ✗ Acrobat subscription | ✗ Account required | ⚠ Account for full features |
| Signer account required | ✓ None — browser link only | ✓ No account needed | ✓ No account needed | ✓ No account needed | ✓ No account needed |
| Cost | ✓ Free — unlimited | ✗ From ~$15/month | ✗ From ~$23/month | ⚠ 1 doc/month free, then paid | ⚠ Limited free tier |
| Multi-signer support | ✓ Up to 100 signers | ✓ Multiple signers | ✓ Multiple signers | ⚠ Limited on free plan | ⚠ Limited on free plan |
| Sequential signing order | ✓ Built-in chain signing | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ⚠ Paid plans only | ⚠ Paid plans only |
| Parallel signing (all at once) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ⚠ Paid plans only | ✗ No |
| PAdES-B cryptographic signature | ✓ Per-signer, optional or required | ✗ Vendor-managed certificate chain | ⚠ Available on higher tiers | ✗ Visual signature only | ✗ Visual signature only |
| Independently verifiable signature | ✓ Verifiable in any PDF viewer without PQ PDF | ✗ Requires DocuSign server to verify | ⚠ Depends on tier and certificate source | ✗ No cryptographic verification | ✗ No cryptographic verification |
| Required signing position placement | ✓ Drag-and-drop boxes per signer per page | ✓ Yes (template editor) | ✓ Yes | ⚠ Basic placement | ⚠ Basic placement |
| Signing field controls (lock/preset) | ✓ Lock or pre-set 8 fields per workflow | ⚠ Template-level controls | ⚠ Template-level controls | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Reusable workflow templates | ✓ Local browser templates — no account, no server | ✓ Cloud templates (paid plans) | ✓ Cloud templates (paid plans) | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Audit trail PDF | ✓ PDF with per-signer timestamps & IPs | ✓ Certificate of completion | ✓ Audit report | ⚠ Basic audit log | ⚠ Basic audit log |
| Email audit trail to recipients | ✓ To/CC/BCC on completion | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Workflow expiry (creator's choice) | ✓ 1, 2, 3, or 7 days — chosen at creation | ⚠ Fixed per plan (typically 30 days) | ⚠ Fixed per plan | ✗ Fixed window | ✗ Fixed window |
| Zero document retention | ✓ Deleted after download — no copy kept | ✗ Stored in DocuSign cloud indefinitely | ✗ Stored in Adobe cloud | ✗ Stored until manual deletion | ⚠ Auto-deleted after ~2 hours |
| No third-party tracking or ads | ✓ CSP blocks all external scripts | ✗ Analytics and marketing trackers | ✗ Adobe telemetry | ✗ Analytics and ads | ✗ Analytics and ads |
| Add/remove signers after creation | ✓ Full manage panel post-creation | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No |
The honest assessment: DocuSign and Adobe Acrobat Sign are the right choice for enterprises that need workflow management, advanced templates, compliance reporting, and deep integrations with CRM and ERP systems — and have a budget for it. For everyone else — freelancers, small businesses, remote teams, one-off agreements — PQ PDF provides the same core signing workflow, free, with better privacy and independently verifiable cryptographic signatures.
Feature breakdown
Every Feature Explained
The Send for E-Signature tool is a complete multi-party workflow — not just a signature pad. Here is every capability in detail:
Signing Order
Sequential & Parallel
MODE 1
Sequential Signing
Signers sign one after another in the order you specify. Signer 2 receives their link only after Signer 1 completes. This enforces an approval chain — useful for contracts requiring a specific hierarchy (employee → manager → director), or agreements where the counter-party must sign last.
MODE 2
Parallel Signing
All signers receive their unique links simultaneously and can sign independently in any order. The workflow completes when the last signer finishes. Faster for peer agreements — shareholder resolutions, joint statements, or any document where signing order is irrelevant.
Signer Management
Up to 100 signers
FEATURE
Drag-to-Reorder
Drag signer rows before creating the workflow to set the sequential signing order. Each signer's position determines when they receive their link in sequential mode.
FEATURE
Email Delivery
Opt in to automatically email each signer their unique link. Emails are sent from pqpdf.com on your behalf. For signers without email, you can copy their link and share it manually via any channel.
FEATURE
Post-Creation Management
After the workflow is created, you can add new signers (they receive a fresh link immediately) or cancel the entire request. The manage panel is available on the return URL for the full duration of the workflow expiry you chose.
FEATURE
Return URL
A permanent tracking link is generated when the workflow is created. Bookmark it to return and check signing status, copy individual signer links, add signers, or download the completed document — from any device, at any time within the workflow expiry window you chose (up to 7 days).
Signature Methods
3 modes
METHOD 1
Draw
Freehand signature drawn with mouse or touchscreen. Configurable ink colour (black, navy, blue, dark grey) and stroke thickness (thin, medium, thick). The drawn signature is embedded as a vector path in the signed PDF.
METHOD 2
Type Name
The signer types their name and it is rendered in a signature-style font. Configurable ink colour. Suitable for signers on devices where drawing is awkward and a typed stylised name is acceptable.
METHOD 3
Upload Image
The signer uploads a PNG or JPEG image of their handwritten signature — scanned or photographed. The image is embedded in the signed PDF. Suitable for parties with an existing signature image on file.
Cryptographic Signatures
PAdES-B
STANDARD
PAdES-B Baseline
PDF Advanced Electronic Signatures — Baseline level (ETSI EN 319 102-1). A cryptographic hash of the document is signed with the signer's private key and embedded in the PDF. Any standards-compliant viewer (Adobe Reader, Foxit, etc.) can verify the signature without contacting pqpdf.com. The proof lives in the file itself — not on a vendor's server.
OPTION
Auto-Generated Certificate
If the signer does not have their own certificate, a self-signed certificate is generated for them. Adobe Reader will show the signature as valid with a note that the certificate is not in the Trusted Identity List — appropriate for most commercial agreements where the identity is established by the workflow audit trail.
OPTION
Own Certificate (.p12 / .pfx)
Signers who hold a certificate from a trust service provider (e.g., a national qualified certificate) can upload their .p12 or .pfx file. The signature is then anchored to a trusted certificate chain and will show as fully trusted in Adobe Reader and other compliant viewers.
CONTROL
Require or Disable Per Workflow
The workflow initiator can require all signers to add a cryptographic signature (locked on), allow signers to choose (free), or hide the option entirely (locked off). Certificate source can be similarly locked to auto-generate or to the signer's own certificate.
Placement & Field Controls
8 lockable fields
FEATURE
Required Signing Positions
Before creating the workflow, optionally define exactly where each signer must place their signature — on any page, at any position. A live document preview lets you drag "Sign Here" and "Initial Here" boxes per signer. Signers see their boxes locked in place and cannot sign elsewhere.
FEATURE
Signing Field Controls
Eight signing parameters can each be set to free (signer decides), pre-selected (default the signer can override), or required (locked — greyed out on the signer's page): signature method, date inclusion, time inclusion, page placement (first / last / all), ink colour, stroke thickness, PAdES-B cryptographic signature, and certificate source.
FEATURE
Local Templates
Save the complete workflow configuration — signer slots, signing order, field controls, and required signature positions — as a named template in your browser. Templates are stored in your browser's local storage: no account, no server, nothing transmitted. Load a template on any future document to instantly restore the entire layout. Placement positions are stored as proportions of the page, so they transfer correctly to future PDFs with the same page layout (e.g., your standard contract or NDA). Delete templates from the tool at any time.
Audit Trail
PDF + email delivery
RECORD
What the Audit Trail Contains
The audit trail PDF records the document title, workflow creation timestamp, signing order mode, and for each signer: full name, email address (if provided), signing timestamp (UTC), and IP address at the time of signing. This constitutes the evidentiary record of consent.
DELIVERY
Email Audit Trail on Completion
The completion page includes an optional "Send audit trail by email" panel with To, CC, and BCC fields. The audit trail PDF is attached and emailed directly from pqpdf.com — useful for immediately distributing the record to all parties or a legal archive inbox.
Privacy & security
Your Documents Are Safe
Signature workflows necessarily involve documents you cannot afford to lose control of — contracts, agreements, sensitive financial or legal terms. PQ PDF is designed so that you never have to trust us beyond the duration of the workflow.
Zero retention
The original and completed PDFs are deleted from pqpdf.com servers after download. If not downloaded within the expiry window you chose (1–7 days), they are deleted automatically. No archive, no backup, no index.
Unique per-signer tokens
Each signer's link contains a cryptographically random token. It is impossible to guess another signer's link or sign as another person. Tokens are single-use per workflow role.
HTTPS everywhere
All document transfers — upload, signer page delivery, signed PDF download — are encrypted in transit via TLS. HSTS with preload is enforced. The CSP policy blocks all mixed content.
No account, no identity
No login, no email address, no payment details. There is no way to associate a signing workflow with a user identity — because no identity is collected. The return URL is the only reference to your workflow.
No third-party scripts
The Content Security Policy blocks all external script sources. No Google Analytics, no ad pixels, no social tracking. The document and signer data never pass through a third-party service.
Self-contained proof
PAdES-B signatures embed the cryptographic proof in the PDF itself. Even if pqpdf.com ceases to exist, signed documents with cryptographic signatures remain independently verifiable in any standards-compliant PDF viewer.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
In most jurisdictions, yes. The US ESIGN Act (2000), UETA, and EU eIDAS Regulation (2016) recognise electronic signatures as legally binding when there is intent to sign, consent to electronic form, and a reliable record of the signing event. PQ PDF produces an audit trail PDF documenting each signer's name, timestamp, and IP — sufficient evidence for the vast majority of commercial agreements. PAdES-B signatures additionally provide independent cryptographic proof embedded in the PDF itself. For documents requiring qualified electronic signatures under eIDAS (a narrow regulated category), a trust-service-provider-issued certificate is required — that is a legal requirement about certificate source, not a technical limitation of the workflow.
PAdES (PDF Advanced Electronic Signatures) is a European standard (ETSI EN 319 102-1) for cryptographic signatures embedded in PDF files. At the Baseline level (PAdES-B), a cryptographic hash of the document is signed with the signer's private key and the proof is embedded directly in the PDF. Anyone with Adobe Reader, Foxit, or any PDF viewer that supports ISO 32000-2 can verify the signature without contacting PQ PDF — ever.
DocuSign's "digital signature" is different: it is effectively a receipt issued by DocuSign's PKI infrastructure. Verifying it requires DocuSign's servers to confirm the certificate chain. If DocuSign's services are unavailable, or if DocuSign closes, the cryptographic proof chain is broken. PAdES-B signatures are self-contained — the proof lives in the file, independent of any vendor.
DocuSign's "digital signature" is different: it is effectively a receipt issued by DocuSign's PKI infrastructure. Verifying it requires DocuSign's servers to confirm the certificate chain. If DocuSign's services are unavailable, or if DocuSign closes, the cryptographic proof chain is broken. PAdES-B signatures are self-contained — the proof lives in the file, independent of any vendor.
Sequential: Signers sign one after another in the order you specify. Signer 2 only receives their link after Signer 1 completes. Use this when signing order matters — approval chains, counter-signatures, or staged reviews.
Parallel: All signers receive their links simultaneously and sign in any order. The workflow completes when the last signer is done. Use this when order doesn't matter — joint declarations, peer agreements, simultaneous consent.
Parallel: All signers receive their links simultaneously and sign in any order. The workflow completes when the last signer is done. Use this when order doesn't matter — joint declarations, peer agreements, simultaneous consent.
No. Each signer receives a unique URL — clicking it opens their signing page directly in any web browser on any device. No registration, no app download, no plugin. The entire signing experience is browser-based. Signers who choose to upload their own .p12 certificate for a PAdES-B signature do need to have that file available, but generating one is optional — auto-generated certificates work for most use cases.
When creating the workflow, you choose how long it stays open: 1, 2, 3, or 7 days. Signing links remain valid for the entire duration you select. The completed signed PDF and audit trail are available for download immediately after the final signer completes — do not wait until the deadline. Use the return URL (shown on the creation page) to track progress, download the signed document, or email the audit trail at any point within the chosen window. After expiry, the document is permanently deleted.
The audit trail PDF records: the document title, workflow ID, creation timestamp, signing order mode, and for each signer: full name, email address (if provided), signing timestamp in UTC, and IP address at the time of signing. This document constitutes the evidentiary record of consent and can be downloaded separately from the completed signed PDF. It can also be emailed to any recipients (To, CC, BCC) directly from the completion page.
Yes. Before creating the workflow, enable "Set required signing positions" and a live document preview will appear. Use the page navigator to move through the document and drag "Sign Here" or "Initial Here" boxes for each signer onto the pages where they must sign. Signers see their assigned boxes locked in place and cannot place their signature anywhere else. You can assign different positions for different signers, on different pages.
Yes. The tool supports local templates — save the complete workflow configuration (signer slots, signing order, field controls, and required signature positions) under a name of your choice. Templates are stored entirely in your browser's local storage: nothing is uploaded to or stored on pqpdf.com servers. Load a template at the start of a new request to instantly restore the entire layout. Required signature positions are stored as proportions of the page dimensions, so they transfer correctly to future PDFs with the same page structure — useful for recurring document types such as contracts, NDAs, or lease agreements.
The document is stored encrypted on pqpdf.com infrastructure during the signing workflow. It is not indexed, not searchable, not shared with any third party, and not used for any purpose other than presenting it to each signer in sequence. Access is restricted to anyone holding a valid signing token — only the signers you added. The document is permanently deleted after the completed PDF is downloaded, or when the workflow expiry you chose (1–7 days) is reached. No copy, hash, or metadata is retained after deletion.
Send Your PDF for Signature — Free
No account. No subscription. Up to 100 signers.
PAdES-B cryptographic signatures. Zero retention.
🖊️ Open E-Signature Tool
PAdES-B cryptographic signatures. Zero retention.