How to Sign a Contract Online Securely Using 3 Methods

The most common method of communication for conducting business is through email. Today, every organization relies on the Internet and other web connections to run their business. As technology continues to evolve, so do the day-to-day processes as more tasks are done online. This is especially true for important matters like legal documents and contracts. This article will explain how you can depend on online services to handle the signing of important contracts and documents with ease and how to sign a contract online instead of pen and ink.

Method 1: How to Sign a Contract Online Using UPDF

UPDF is a safe tool to sign your contracts for free online. It is an AI-integrated PDF editor, converter, annotator, and reader with several other useful functions. It allows users to sign contracts securely online with any signature. You can download UPDF here to start signing your contracts online.  

Step 1: Create a Contract

First, you upload your contract to UPDF or create it from a template. UPDF offers contract templates that can be used as a start for creating your contract, or you can edit an already existing contract. You can even upload and save your own template for future use on any new contracts.

Once you have a contract to start with, you go to "Edit PDF" mode at the upper left-hand side to start on your edits.

You can add and edit text from the "Edit PDF" view screen and select the text section you want to change. If you want to add more text to a blank section or a template, you select the "Text" box at the top of the page and choose where to place it. When adding text, you press the "Option" key to superimpose a text box.

Step 2: Send Your Contract via an Online Link

When your contract is ready to be signed, you can send your contract to the other parties using UPDF. Navigate to the share button on the sidebar to the right, and a bubble will pop up to "Share this file with others" when you hover over it. When the button is selected, you can manually type in the recipient's email addresses and include any special instructions if needed.

You can also share the PDF via a link by selecting the "Share a Link" option. It is very convenient.

Step 3: Sign the Contract

When the contract is sent, the recipients will get an email with a unique link, prompting them to view and sign the contract online. The link will open to UPDF where the contract will be stored, and they can now sign with a handwritten signature or a digital signature.

To Sign with a Handwritten Signature:

To use a handwritten signature, the user will open the yellow "Comment" button in the upper left-hand corner. Then, select the ink tip pen on the top right, and choose a photo of their handwritten signature. The user will have to upload a photo of their handwritten signature in order to use it when signing the contract online. When they choose the signature they want to use, they can move it into the contract's signature space as seen in the screenshot below:  

To Sign with a Digital Signature:

To sign with an electronic, digital signature, the user will go to the green "Prepare Form" button on the left sidebar. The signor will go to the upper right-hand "Preview" button and select the signature box. When the signature box is selected, UPDF will prompt the signor to type their name and choose the characters for their digital signature. This will also show a preview of the signature before it is e-signed as shown in the screenshot below:  

Step 4: Send the Signed Contract Back via Link or Email

After the contract is ready and signed by all the necessary parties, it can be sent back online through UPDF with a link or email. By following the same steps as Step 3, they can follow the link and download the contract.

UPDF makes it easy and safe for you to sign contacts online. You do not have to worry about losing the contract or it falling into the wrong hands because it is only shared with the recipient of the link. In addition to easy digital contract signing, UPDF has many other useful features for users like its edit and organize PDF feature, translate, and secure feature.  

UPDF's edit and organization feature can help you edit your contract and the language if you have sections that need changing before you sign. You can always put the pages of the contract into a different order, like moving the signature page from the back to the middle. UPDF has an AI feature that can help you translate your contracts with ChatGPT. If your contract was sent to you in a foreign language, UPDF's AI can help translate it into your native language before you sign it. Another useful feature that can help with contract signing is the Secure feature. This feature will allow the contract users to password-protect and lock the PDF so no one else can make changes to it or access it without the right password. This allows an additional level of security so users feel comfortable signing their contract online with UPDF.

Method 2: How to Sign a Contract Online with Docusign

Docusign is another popular online contract-signing program. It is similar to UPDF where the contract is sent by a secure link to each signor's email address. Before beginning, a signor will need to checkmark the disclosure agreement to continue. Then, the signor selects the "Signature" option where they can choose how they want the signature to look. Just like UPDF, a signor can choose between a digital signature or an actual handwritten one. If a signor is a returning user to Docusign, the pre-selected signature is generally saved and stored for future use.  

Once your signature is set, you then go to the signature line field, tap, and your signature will populate. You can click "Next" on the bottom right corner and Docusign will jump to the next signature field without you having to go through the whole contract to look for every field. When you're done signing you click the "Finish" button and you can send via a secure link, or if it was already sent to you, you can instantly submit and return it to the sender. Once all the parties have signed the contract, every signor will receive a copy of the fully signed contract via email. You can go back in any time after signing to "Review the Document" again if needed. It is not necessary for someone to create a DocuSign account to sign contracts.

Method 3: How to Sign a Contract Online with Signeasy

Signeasy is another common website that allows users to sign digital contracts. Users will need to create an account on this website or sign up for a 14-day free trial. Like UPDF, you can import and upload your own contract for signing. To sign your contract, you navigate to the upper left-hand corner and click the blue arrow where you select "Sign Document" from the drop-down menu. You can choose your signature from the "Annotations" tool where you set your signature. Like both the programs discussed above, you can choose a digital signature or upload a handwritten one. Once you choose your signature, you can drag and drop any of the signature options (initials, date, checkmark, signature, etc.) to the signature field. When the contract is complete, you can send it to other users via email link.

The process to share the contract and request a signature from others is also the same as the other programs. You manually enter a recipient's email address into the box with a personal message, and the contract will be sent to them via email through Signeasy. Like Docusign, fields can be added that show the signors exactly where to sign. Your Signeasy account dashboard stores the contracts and users can log in to check the status of the contract at any time.

Conclusion

After exploring these 3 common methods to sign a contract electronically, UPDF is the best, easiest way to sign a contract online. UPDF can guarantee secure sending and receiving of important contracts and allows users to not only just sign the contract digitally, but also create contracts on any device. UPDF also offers various other tools to help improve your contracts such as the organization feature, annotation, AI translator, and the Secure feature. As the world advances in technology, consumers need to evolve with it and try out new, better ways to produce results efficiently and safely, and downloading UPDF today for 60% off is the first step.