General information, not legal advice. Last updated 30 September 2026.
Download the free mutual or one-way NDA in Word, fill it in, then send it for signature with Pactlyra’s free plan.
Can you sign an NDA online?
Usually, yes. An NDA is an ordinary commercial contract, and the main electronic signature laws treat an electronic signature on that kind of contract like a handwritten one. What matters in practice is that both sides agreed to sign electronically, that each signature can be tied to the person who made it, and that the signed copy cannot be changed afterwards without it showing.
United States
The federal ESIGN Act says a signature or contract relating to a transaction in interstate or foreign commerce may not be denied legal effect just because it is in electronic form. Almost every state has also adopted the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, which says the same for transactions under state law. Some documents, such as wills, are excluded.
- ESIGN Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001 (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School)
- Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (Uniform Law Commission)
An NDA with an individual, such as an employee or contractor, should also carry the whistleblower immunity notice from the Defend Trade Secrets Act; without it, an employer cannot be awarded exemplary damages or attorney fees against that person under the Act. Both NDA templates on this site include the notice.
European Union
Under the eIDAS Regulation, an electronic signature cannot be denied legal effect or refused as evidence in court just because it is electronic. Only a qualified electronic signature automatically has the same effect as a handwritten one, but for most business NDAs an ordinary electronic signature with a clear record of who signed and when is what companies use.
United Kingdom
Section 7 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000 allows electronic signatures to be admitted as evidence, and English courts accept them for commercial contracts where the signer meant to sign. Deeds have extra witnessing rules.
How to sign an NDA online, step by step
- Fill in the NDA: names, addresses, the purpose of sharing and the time periods in the [square brackets].
- Upload the finished file to an e-signature service and add each signer’s name and email address.
- Place the signature and date fields for each party, and set the signing order if one side should sign first.
- Send it. Each signer opens the link, reviews the document and signs.
- Keep the completed PDF and its completion record (who signed, when, and a fingerprint of the document) with your contract files.
What to check before you rely on it
- Everyone agreed to sign electronically. Receiving the document by email and choosing to sign it online normally shows that.
- The final signed copy is locked, and any later change would show.
- You can show who signed: an email address the signer controls, and a record of when they signed.
- The document is not one the law says must be signed on paper or witnessed, such as a will or a deed.
Questions
Is an NDA signed online legally binding?
Generally yes, in the United States, the EU and the UK, as long as both parties meant to sign and the signatures can be tied to them. Some documents, such as wills and deeds, have special rules.
Do both parties need an account to sign online?
Not with every service. With Pactlyra, only the sender needs an account; signers open a link and sign.
Where do I get an NDA to sign?
Download the free mutual or one-way NDA from this site, fill it in, then send it for signature.