Create and sign PDF forms in the browser with this open-source tool
DocuSeal reduces the hassle of scanning paper documents to obtain electronic signatures. It is a platform that lets you create PDF forms and allows multiple people to fill in content and sign online. As a web tool that works well on mobile, it moves the final stage of document processing to digital.
Directly editable PDF forms
When creating document forms, you place fields directly on the screen using drag and drop without writing code. It supports 12 field types, including signatures, dates, file attachments, and checkboxes. Multiple people can participate in a single document to fill in their respective parts. The forms created this way are optimized for mobile screens, making them accessible from anywhere.
Signature processing and data storage
When a user signs, the system automatically applies an electronic signature to the PDF. It also provides a feature to verify the authenticity of signed documents. Files can be stored on local disk or uploaded to cloud storage such as AWS S3, Google Storage, or Azure Cloud. It automatically sends signature request or completion notification emails via SMTP.
Deployment and extension features
It runs as a Docker container and uses a SQLite database by default. To use PostgreSQL or MySQL, you simply specify environment variables. It can be quickly deployed to major cloud platforms like Heroku, Railway, DigitalOcean, and Render. Enterprise features include user role management, SMS authentication, bulk sending via CSV/XLSX, SSO/SAML integration, and the ability to embed signature forms into frontend frameworks like React or Vue.
License and pre-use considerations
This project is distributed under the AGPLv3 license with an additional Section 7(b) clause. You must review the LICENSE file and additional clauses before commercial use or modification. While the default deployment environment uses SQLite, PostgreSQL or MySQL is recommended for production environments. It also provides a Docker Compose configuration that uses Caddy for domain name and SSL certificate setup.
