Is a Cachety signature legally valid?

It is what is commonly called a simple electronic signature: an image of your signature on the page. It counts if nobody disputes it, and it is usually accepted for everyday documents. If it is disputed, it carries little weight on its own. When a contract really matters, or the other party asks for it, use a service that offers advanced or qualified signatures, such as iLovePDF. This is not legal advice.

Do I need an account?

Not with Cachety. iLovePDF asks for an account when you request signatures from other people.

Can I send the document to someone else to sign?

Not through Cachety. It has one signer: you. You download the signed PDF and send it yourself. iLovePDF can invite several signers and produce an audit trail.

Does iLovePDF upload my document?

Yes. The document is processed on iLovePDF's servers, within the European Economic Area. Its security page says files are deleted within two hours and signed documents are kept for a maximum of 5 years.

Cachety vs iLovePDF: which should you use to sign a PDF?

Updated 17 October 2026

iLovePDF's Sign PDF tool, also sold as iLoveSign, can sign a document yourself or send it to other people to sign. Cachety only does the first, but in your browser, without uploading the file.

In short

To invite others to sign, get an audit trail or an advanced signature, iLovePDF is the better choice. Its Premium digital signature also embeds a certified hash and a qualified timestamp. To sign a PDF yourself and send it back, Cachety does it with no account, no ads, and nothing uploaded.

Side by side

Criterion	Cachety	iLovePDF
Where the document is processed	CachetyIn your browser, on your own device. Nothing is uploaded.Advantage Cachety	iLovePDFOn iLovePDF's servers, within the European Economic Area. Uploaded files are deleted within two hours.
Free use and ads	CachetyFree, with no paid tier. No ads and no trackers.Advantage Cachety	iLovePDFA free Basic plan that shows ads, with a 50 MB limit for Sign and a limited number of requests. Unlimited simple signatures of your own documents with iLoveSign.
Account	CachetyNone.	iLovePDFNeeded to request signatures from other people.
Signature level	CachetyWhat is commonly called a simple electronic signature: an image of your signature placed on the page.	iLovePDFA simple signature, which becomes an eIDAS advanced signature with SMS validation. A Premium Digital Signature is also offered.Advantage iLovePDF
Audit trail	CachetyNone: no certificate, no audit trail, no timestamp.	iLovePDFAn audit trail is generated when signing is complete, archived for 10 years with iLoveSign.Advantage iLovePDF
Sending to other signers	CachetyNo. One signer: you. You send the signed file yourself.	iLovePDFYes: ‘Several people’, with signing order, expiry date and reminders.Advantage iLovePDF
Identity checks	CachetyNone.	iLovePDFSMS validation, and an ID scan option.Advantage iLovePDF
How long signed documents are kept	CachetyNothing is stored. Your signature only exists in the tab's memory.	iLovePDFSigned documents are kept for a maximum of 5 years, according to its security page.
What you get	CachetyA flattened PDF: pages are rebuilt from pixels, and hidden text, metadata and attachments are removed. A SHA-256 fingerprint is shown after download.	iLovePDFWith the Premium Digital Signature, a signed certified hash and a qualified timestamp are embedded in the document.

Signing yourself, or asking others

iLovePDF's Sign PDF tool starts with a choice: ‘Only me’ or ‘Several people’. For yourself, you draw, type or upload your signature and initials, then add a date or text. To invite others, you need an account, and you can set a signing order, an expiry date and reminders. An audit trail is generated at the end. With SMS validation, iLovePDF says the signature becomes an eIDAS advanced signature, and it also offers an ID scan.

The work happens on iLovePDF's servers. Its security page says files are deleted within two hours and signed documents are kept for a maximum of 5 years. iLovePDF is a company based in Barcelona, it processes data within the European Economic Area, and it holds ISO/IEC 27001 certification.

Cachety only covers ‘Only me’. You sign in your browser, download the signed PDF and send it yourself. Nothing is uploaded and nothing is kept.

What a Cachety signature is worth

A signature you draw, type or upload and place on the page is what is commonly called a simple electronic signature. It counts if nobody disputes it, and it is usually accepted for everyday documents. But an image of a signature, like a scanned one, is easy to dispute, and then it carries little weight on its own: whoever relies on the document must prove who signed it. Only a qualified signature, made with a certificate from a qualified provider, is presumed reliable. This is not legal advice.

Cachety is not the right tool when an advanced or qualified signature is required, when you need an audit trail or several signers, for a will or a deed, or when the other party insists on a specific signing platform. In those cases, use what they ask for.

Where iLovePDF is better

Sending a document to several people, with order, expiry date and reminders.
An audit trail, archived for 10 years with iLoveSign.
An advanced signature with SMS validation, and a digital signature with a qualified timestamp.
Apps for iOS and Android.

Where Cachety is better

Your document is never uploaded. It still works in aeroplane mode once the page has loaded.
Free, with no ads, no trackers and no account.
The signed PDF is flattened, and hidden text, metadata and attachments are removed.
Open source, so anyone can check what it does.

How to sign a document with Cachety

1Open cachety.com/en/sign in your browser, on a computer or a phone. There is nothing to install and no account to create.
2Add your PDF, or a photo of a paper document (JPG, PNG or HEIC). A photo becomes a page that fits an A4 sheet. You can add several documents at once.
3Draw your signature with a finger or the mouse, type your name, or upload a photo of your signature on white paper. Add the date, the place or a short note underneath if you wish.
4Drag the signature onto the line and resize it. Tick ‘Also initial every page’ if you are asked to.
5Check the preview and download the signed PDF. Keep the fingerprint shown after the download with your records.

When iLovePDF is the better choice

You need other people to sign the same document, with reminders and an audit trail.
You need an advanced signature, or a digital signature with a qualified timestamp.
You already use iLovePDF for other PDF jobs and are comfortable with the upload.

When Cachety is the better choice

You only need to sign a PDF yourself and send it back.
You would rather the document never left your device, even for two hours.
You want a free tool with no ads and no account.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Cachety signature legally valid?: It is what is commonly called a simple electronic signature: an image of your signature on the page. It counts if nobody disputes it, and it is usually accepted for everyday documents. If it is disputed, it carries little weight on its own. When a contract really matters, or the other party asks for it, use a service that offers advanced or qualified signatures, such as iLovePDF. This is not legal advice.
Do I need an account?: Not with Cachety. iLovePDF asks for an account when you request signatures from other people.
Can I send the document to someone else to sign?: Not through Cachety. It has one signer: you. You download the signed PDF and send it yourself. iLovePDF can invite several signers and produce an audit trail.
Does iLovePDF upload my document?: Yes. The document is processed on iLovePDF's servers, within the European Economic Area. Its security page says files are deleted within two hours and signed documents are kept for a maximum of 5 years.

Sources

Facts checked on 17 October 2026 on each publisher's public pages. Services change: if something here is out of date, tell us on GitHub and we will fix it.

Written by the author of Cachety. We aim to be factual and fair: every claim about another tool links to its source.