Visual signature vs digital signature on a PDF: what is the difference?
Updated 2026-09-30
People use "signature", "e-signature" and "digital signature" as if they meant one thing. For a PDF they can mean three different things. This page explains them in plain terms. It is general information, not legal advice, and the rules differ by country and by document.
| Kind | What it is | Offered here |
|---|---|---|
| Visual signature | A picture of your signature, or your typed name, placed on the page. Like signing a printout and scanning it. | Yes: Sign PDF |
| Electronic signature workflow | A service that collects signatures from several people, records who signed and when, and keeps an audit trail. | No |
| Certificate-based digital signature | A cryptographic signature tied to a certificate issued to you. It can show whether the document changed after signing. | No |
Which one does your form want?
- "Sign and return" or "upload a signed copy": usually a visual signature is enough.
- "Digitally signed", "signed with a certificate" or a named service: use what they specify.
- "Handwritten", "wet ink" or "original signature": print, sign in ink and scan or post it as they ask.
If you are unsure
Ask the person or office that sent the document which kind they accept. A short question saves a rejected submission. Some documents, for example certain legal and property documents, have formal signing requirements that a picture of a signature does not meet.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a typed name a signature?
- Sometimes. Whether a typed name is accepted depends on the country, the document and who asks. Check with the recipient.
- Does a visual signature prove the document was not changed?
- No. It is a picture on the page. Only a certificate-based digital signature can show whether a document changed after it was signed.
- Does Sign PDF lock the PDF afterwards?
- No. The signed PDF can still be edited by anyone with a PDF editor.