Just Sign It

Guides

Electronic signature vs. digital signature

An electronic signature is any electronic mark that shows you agree to a document, like an image of your signature or your typed name. A digital signature is a specific kind that uses a cryptographic certificate to prove who signed and that the document hasn’t been changed since.

Sign a PDF

Electronic signatures

This is what most people mean when they say they “signed a PDF”: an image of their signature, a typed name or a click to agree. It shows you meant to sign. It’s also what Just Sign It adds to your document.

Electronic signatures are generally legally valid in the US for most documents. On their own, though, they don’t prove who put the signature there, and they don’t stop someone from editing the document afterwards.

Digital signatures

A digital signature is built on a certificate that’s issued to you, usually by a trusted provider. When you sign, the PDF gets sealed with a cryptographic code tied to that certificate. Then PDF readers like Adobe Acrobat show a signature panel with who signed and whether the file has changed.

Getting a certificate usually means verifying your identity with a provider, and often paying for it.

Which one do you need?

For most everyday paperwork, like leases, permission slips, offer letters and forms from your town, an electronic signature is what people expect.

Use a digital signature if the person you’re sending it to asks for one, or if you need proof the document wasn’t changed after you signed. That comes up with some government filings, regulated industries and big contracts.

How it works

  1. Drop your PDF onto the page, or click “Choose PDF”.
  2. Click “New signature”. Draw it, type your name in a handwriting font, or upload a photo of it.
  3. Click your signature to place it. Drag it where it goes and use the corner dot to resize it.
  4. Click “Download signed PDF”. That’s it.

Questions

Does Just Sign It create digital signatures?

No. It puts an image of your signature on the PDF, which is an electronic signature. It doesn’t add a certificate.

Is a digital signature more legally valid?

Not necessarily. Both can be legally binding. A digital signature just makes it easier to prove who signed and that nothing changed afterwards.

How can I tell if a PDF has a digital signature?

Open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If it has one, you’ll see a signature panel or a blue bar at the top showing who signed and whether the signature is valid.