Acrobat Signatures: Fill & Sign, Request Signatures, and Certificates

Quick answer: Acrobat's signature system has three tiers: Fill & Sign (personal e-signature — DocsAll covers this free), Adobe Sign request workflows (a paid cloud service — a stated Product Gap), and certificate-based digital signatures (cryptographic, enterprise compliance — not supported, stated honestly). Open PDF Sign — everything runs locally in your browser, and files never leave your device.

Steps

1. Personal signing: Acrobat E-Sign panel → Fill in form fields / sign (verified against Adobe's official help, updated 2025-09); or DocsAll PDF Sign — draw or upload an image, local and free.
2. Multi-party signing: Adobe Sign sends, tracks, and reminds — a SaaS workflow, not a local feature.
3. Certificate signing: CA-based cryptographic verification for compliance scenarios — use Acrobat certificates or dedicated CA solutions.

Important notes

• Everyday contracts usually need only the visual e-signature tier.
• E-signatures do not lock files — pair with encryption when changes must be prevented.

Common questions

Is an e-signature legally valid? Widely accepted with weight below certificate signatures — confirm the counterparty's requirement for high-stakes deals.

Free alternative for request-signing workflows? No direct free equivalent today — sign locally, send by email, and archive with PDF Compare.