How to add signature to a PDF document?

Boobesh Ramalingam
Boobesh Ramalingam
Co-founder of Guesswork.co.
"the signed document should get saved in drive in PDF format"- Google Drive Community

This is a common question from people who keep their PDFs in Google Drive, and 281 people on Google's forum have asked it. Some have a PDF to sign themselves. Others need a client or a whole team to fill it in and sign. Downloading it into Adobe and uploading the signed copy again takes time, and Google's eSignature only works on some Workspace plans. With Formesign, you upload your PDF once and either sign it yourself or share one link for others to fill in and sign on any device.

Below are three ways to sign a PDF or get it signed, and where each one falls short.

There are three ways to sign a PDF or get it signed: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Google's eSignature and Formesign.

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader lets you type, draw or upload a signature and place it on a PDF. You download the PDF to do it and upload the signed copy again, and it doesn't get the PDF to the other people who have to sign.

Google Workspace eSignature

On some Google Workspace plans, Google's eSignature lets you request signatures on a PDF in Drive.
You can easily create documents for signatures and send signature requests in Google Docs and Google Drive. To collect signatures in PDF, upload your PDF document to your Google Drive > click on the uploaded PDF document to select it > click on the ⋮ More icon > click Share > click Request eSignature.
A PDF selected in Google Drive with the More menu open on Share and Request eSignature
You can drag one or more fields such as Signature, Initials, Name, Date Signed, Text field to add to your document. If you have multiple signers, under "Insert fields for", select the specific signer for whom you want to add an eSignature field. You can also use the Manage Signers option to update the list of available signers. Currently, you can add up to 10 signers to a PDF document and assign fields to each.
Signature, Initials and other fields being added to a PDF for each signer
You can assign signers to each field in the document. To manage a field, click on it to select it and use the Assigned to dropdown to change the signer. Each signer is assigned a unique color, making it easy to identify the fields assigned to them.
A field on the PDF selected with its Assigned to dropdown
Once you have added the relevant fields to the document, you can send it for signatures by clicking on the Request signature option on the right. Enter a title for the PDF file, add the email address for each signer, include a message to be sent with the eSignature request and then click Send Request.
The Request signature panel with a title for the PDF, the signers' email addresses and Send Request
When you send the signature request, a PDF is generated and shared with the signers, who can only update the fields assigned to them and sign the document. Once the document is signed, a PDF copy of the completed file is saved in the same folder as your original document.

✅ Pros

  • Secure and legally compliant (ESIGN Act, eIDAS)
  • User-friendly and intuitive interface
  • Seamless integration with Google Drive
  • Supports multiple signers

❌ Cons

  • Does not support sequential signature workflows (cannot enforce signing order)
  • Cannot specify the Google Drive folder to save signed documents
  • Limited reporting and analytics

Use Formesign

The Upload a PDF to collect signatures screen with Service agreement.pdf added and the Proceed button marked
  • Select Yes, keep my PDF exactly as it is and click Continue
  • Compare the boxes with your PDF and click Proceed. If one is missing, click + Add, then click where the answer goes or drag to draw its box.

Sign it yourself

  • Under How do you want the signature?, select I'll sign it and click Continue
  • Fill in the fields, draw your signature and click Submit document. The signed copy is sent to your email.

Get it signed by others

  • Under How do you want the signature?, select Create a reusable link for recurring forms and click Continue
How do you want the signature, with Create a reusable link for recurring forms chosen and marked and the Continue button marked
  • Click View signed documents. Each signed copy will be listed there.
  • Each signer starts on Google Sign-in. If your signers have no Google account, click Form, click the signature field and click Not required beside Verify identity.
  • Click on "Share" tab, copy the link and send it to your signers
Each signer reads the PDF, fills in the fields and their email, signs and clicks Submit document. Each response creates a new document and you get every signed copy.
The Service agreement filled in by Sam Lee with his signature, under the steps Read, Fill, Review and Submit, with the Submit document button marked

Summary

Whether you sign a PDF yourself or need others to sign it, downloading it into another tool and uploading it again takes time. With Formesign, you upload your PDF once, sign it yourself or share one link, and each signer fills it in and signs on any device. Upload your PDF and complete the steps above. If you have any questions, write to support.

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