Free PDF Signer With No Watermark — Top Options in 2026

The Watermark Problem

You find a free PDF signing tool, sign your document, and download it — only to discover a large watermark plastered across every page. "Signed with [Tool Name] — Upgrade to remove watermarks."

This is frustrating for several reasons. A watermark on a signed contract looks unprofessional. It can obscure important text. And for legal documents, it raises questions about the document's authenticity and seriousness.

Many free PDF signing tools use watermarks as a way to push users toward paid plans. This guide covers the tools that actually let you sign PDFs for free without adding any watermarks to your documents.

Top Free PDF Signers Without Watermarks

1. SigPDF (Browser-Based)

SigPDF is a browser-based PDF signing tool with no watermarks, no account required, and free to use — downloading signed PDFs requires a subscription from €2.08/month.

How it works:

• Open sigpdf.com in any browser
• Upload your PDF
• Draw your signature and place it on the document
• Download the signed PDF

Pros:

• Free to use — downloading signed PDFs requires a subscription from €2.08/month
• No watermarks on any documents
• No account or email required
• Files are processed locally in your browser (never uploaded to a server)
• Works on any device — desktop, phone, tablet
• No limits on the number of documents you can sign

Cons:

• Creates simple electronic signatures (not certificate-based digital signatures)
• Requires an internet connection to load the tool (though files are processed locally)

Best for: Anyone who needs a quick, reliable, no-strings-attached PDF signer.

2. macOS Preview (Built-In on Mac)

Apple's Preview app, which comes pre-installed on every Mac, includes PDF signing capabilities.

How it works:

• Open the PDF in Preview
• Click the Markup toolbar, then the Signature button
• Create a signature using your trackpad, camera, or iPhone
• Place the signature on the document

Pros:

• Completely free and pre-installed on macOS
• No watermarks
• Saves signatures for reuse
• Works offline

Cons:

• Mac only — not available on Windows, Linux, or Chromebooks
• Limited to signature placement (minimal text or date stamp features)
• Signature creation via trackpad can feel awkward

Best for: Mac users who want a built-in solution without installing anything.

3. iPhone and iPad Markup (Built-In on iOS)

iOS and iPadOS include a Markup feature that supports PDF signing directly.

How it works:

• Open a PDF in the Files app or from an email
• Tap the Markup icon
• Tap "+" and select "Signature"
• Draw your signature and place it on the document

Pros:

• Free and built into every iPhone and iPad
• No watermarks
• Touch input makes drawing signatures natural
• Works offline

Cons:

• Only available on Apple devices
• Limited annotation options
• Managing multi-page documents can be cumbersome on a small screen

Best for: iPhone and iPad users who receive documents on the go. For a detailed guide, see our sign PDF on iPhone page.

4. Adobe Acrobat Reader (Free Version)

Adobe's free PDF reader includes basic signature functionality.

How it works:

• Download and install Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Open your PDF
• Go to Tools, then Fill & Sign
• Draw or type your signature and place it

Pros:

• Industry-standard PDF software
• No watermarks on signed documents (in the free version)
• Available on Windows and Mac
• Saves signatures for reuse

Cons:

• Requires installing a 200+ MB application
• Requires creating an Adobe account
• Heavily promotes upgrades to Acrobat Pro ($12.99/month)
• Some features locked behind the paid plan
• Files may be processed through Adobe's servers

Best for: People who already have Adobe Reader installed or who work with PDFs regularly.

5. LibreOffice Draw (Open Source)

LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite that includes a Draw application capable of editing PDFs.

How it works:

• Open the PDF in LibreOffice Draw
• Insert an image of your signature
• Position and resize it on the document
• Export as PDF

Pros:

• Completely free and open source
• No watermarks
• Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux
• Full PDF editing capabilities

Cons:

• Requires installing the LibreOffice suite
• The workflow for adding signatures is not intuitive (image insertion rather than dedicated signing)
• PDF rendering may not be perfectly accurate for complex layouts
• Not practical on mobile devices

Best for: Linux users or anyone who prefers open-source software and does not mind a less streamlined workflow.

Tools That Add Watermarks (Avoid for Professional Use)

Several popular PDF tools add watermarks on their free plans. Here are some common ones to be aware of:

• Some online PDF editors — Many add a subtle or not-so-subtle watermark on every page, or add a footer like "Created with [Tool Name]"
• Trial versions of paid software — Some desktop applications offer a free trial that watermarks output
• Freemium signing platforms — Several well-known e-signature platforms limit their free tier to a small number of documents per month, after which they add watermarks or block signing entirely

Before committing to any tool, always do a test run with a non-sensitive document to verify that the output is watermark-free.

Comparison Table

| Tool | Platform | Watermark-Free | Account Needed | Privacy | |------|----------|---------------|----------------|---------| | SigPDF | Any browser | Yes | No | Files stay local | | macOS Preview | Mac only | Yes | No | Files stay local | | iOS Markup | iPhone/iPad | Yes | No | Files stay local | | Adobe Reader | Windows/Mac | Yes (free ver.) | Yes | Server processing | | LibreOffice | Win/Mac/Linux | Yes | No | Files stay local |

What to Consider Beyond Watermarks

While watermarks are a deal-breaker for professional documents, there are other factors worth weighing:

Privacy

Does the tool upload your documents to a server? For sensitive documents like contracts, financial agreements, or documents containing personal information, a tool that processes files locally (like SigPDF) is preferable. Read our guide on safe online PDF signing for more details.

Ease of Use

How many steps does it take to go from opening the tool to having a signed PDF? Fewer steps means less friction, which matters when you sign documents regularly.

Device Compatibility

Can you sign documents on your phone, tablet, and computer? Flexibility across devices is valuable since you never know where you will be when a document needs signing.

Usage Limits

Some "free" tools limit the number of documents you can sign per month. If you sign more than a handful of documents each month, check whether there are limits.

The Bottom Line

You should never have to accept watermarks on your signed documents. There are excellent free tools available that produce clean, professional output. For most people, SigPDF is the best choice — it works on every device, requires nothing to install or sign up for, keeps your files private, and never adds watermarks. The signing tool is free to use, with a subscription from €2.08/month for downloading signed PDFs.

Sign PDFs Now — No Watermarks →