How to sign a Google Doc without an add-on

The signing add-ons in the Google Workspace Marketplace all want the same thing first: permission to see your Drive. For one contract that is a lot to hand over. Download the doc instead, as .docx or PDF, drop it here, sign it, and put the signed copy back in Drive. Nothing gets access to anything, and it takes about as long as approving the permission screen would have.

Sign PDF online → · Free PDF Signer

What you can do

How to sign a Google Doc without an add-on

  1. In Google Docs, use File, then Download, and pick either Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF Document. Both work here.
  2. Drop the downloaded file in. A .docx is laid out as written, a PDF opens as it is.
  3. Sign it, date it, and add a stamp if the document needs one.
  4. Download the sealed PDF and upload it back to Drive, or send it straight on. The Google Doc stays as your editable original.

Ready? Sign PDF online now, free, no signup, and your file is auto-deleted after an hour.

Frequently asked questions

Why not just draw a signature in the Doc itself?

Because a drawing inside a Google Doc is an object in an editable file. Anyone with edit access can move it onto a different version of the text, and there is no record of what the document said when you signed. That is fine for a note and wrong for an agreement.

Does the other person need a Google account?

No. Once the document is signed and sealed here, it is an ordinary PDF with a verification link. The person receiving it needs nothing at all, no account with Google and none with us.

Is it free to sign a PDF online?

Yes. You can fill in and sign a PDF for free with no account, you only pay when you download a finished document ($1.50 per document pay-as-you-go, or unlimited on any paid plan). sign a Google Doc works the same way.

Is signing a PDF online secure?

Yes. Files are uploaded over 256-bit TLS, processed in your browser session, and automatically deleted after one hour. Each signature is bound to the document with a SHA-256 tamper-evident seal, so any later edit is detectable.

Are electronic signatures legally binding?

Yes, electronic signatures are legally binding for ordinary business documents in 190+ countries under the US ESIGN Act and UETA, the EU eIDAS Regulation, and equivalent laws worldwide. Courts look for intent, identity and integrity, all of which PDF Verified records.

Do I need to install anything?

No. Everything runs in your browser on desktop or mobile, no app, plugin or download required.

What PDF Verified is, and what it is not

Electronic signature law is settled in broad terms and specific in the details. The ESIGN Act, UETA, eIDAS and their equivalents recognise electronic signatures across more than 190 countries, and what decides a particular case is intent to sign plus evidence connecting the signature to the signer, which is what the audit certificate records. Certain document types carry their own formalities wherever you are: deeds, wills, some property instruments, and anything requiring a witness or a notary. Sign only what you are authorised to sign, since applying another person signature without their authority is forgery whatever tool is used.

PDF Verified is a tool for preparing, signing, stamping and checking documents. It is not a law firm, a compliance service or a forensic examiner, and nothing here is legal, financial or compliance advice. Requirements differ by country, by document type and by the party asking, so check what applies to your document before you rely on it, and take advice where the document matters. You are responsible for the documents you create, sign and send, and for having the authority to do so: signing or stamping in somebody else name, or as an organisation you do not represent, is forgery whatever tool is used. To the extent the law allows, we accept no liability for how a document made with this tool is used or relied on. The full position is in our terms of service.

More ways to sign