What is PDF Verified?

PDF Verified (pdfverified.com) is an online platform to sign, stamp and verify PDF documents. You can send a document for legally binding electronic signatures, add a digital rubber stamp or company seal, and let anyone confirm the finished file is authentic and unaltered through a public QR code and SHA-256 audit trail. It is pay-as-you-go with no subscription required, and eIDAS + ESIGN + UETA compliant across 190+ countries.

Is PDF Verified legally binding?

Yes. PDF Verified signatures comply with the US ESIGN Act, UETA, EU eIDAS regulation, and equivalent eSignature laws in 190+ countries. Every signed document includes a cryptographic SHA-256 fingerprint and a complete audit trail with timestamps and signer hash chain — admissible in court.

How is PDF Verified different from DocuSign?

PDF Verified offers unlimited documents on the $15 Business plan with REST API included. DocuSign charges $40+/user for Business and gates the API behind a $720/month add-on. PDF Verified also includes unique features: public QR verification page on every signed PDF, eStamp designer, AI field auto-detection, and mobile-first signing without requiring an app.

Can I use PDF Verified without a subscription?

Yes. The pay-as-you-go option lets you sign or send one document or envelope for $1.50 without a monthly subscription. Monthly paid plans include a 7-day free trial.

Which file types can I sign with PDF Verified?

Upload PDF, DOCX, TXT, PNG or JPG files. Non-PDF formats are automatically converted to PDF on upload so signers always receive a clean signing-ready document.

How do recipients verify a signed document is authentic?

Every signed PDF includes a QR code on every page. Anyone — even without a PDF Verified account — can scan it to land on a public verification page showing the document status, completion date, SHA-256 fingerprint, and tamper-evidence proof.

Does PDF Verified work on mobile?

Yes — PDF Verified is mobile-first by design. The signing portal uses a native bottom-sheet pattern with touch-optimized canvas signing, sticky CTAs in the thumb zone, and 44px+ touch targets following Apple Human Interface Guidelines. No app download required.

Can I add a company stamp or seal to a document?

Yes. PDF Verified includes a stamp designer for company seals, official seals, approval stamps (APPROVED, PAID, RECEIVED), date stamps, and certified-true-copy marks. Place a stamp on any document like a signature field. On Business plans, the verified stamp library adds auto-incrementing serial numbers, locked metadata, workspace sharing, revocation, and a public QR verification link for every stamp applied.

How do I verify a stamp is genuine?

Each stamp PDF Verified applies mints a unique verification token at /verify-stamp/:token. Scan the stamp's QR code or open the link from the document's audit certificate to see the stamp's name, serial number, the document it was applied to, and whether it has been revoked — so anyone can confirm a company seal or approval stamp is authentic and current.

How do I verify a signature on a PDF is real?

Open the verification page at pdfverified.com/verify and scan the QR code on the signed PDF, paste the verification code, or upload the file. PDF Verified recomputes the document's SHA-256 fingerprint and compares it against the sealed value — if a single byte changed since signing, verification fails. You also see every signer, their timestamps, and the full tamper-evident audit trail. No account is required to verify.

How do I add a digital stamp to a PDF online?

Upload your PDF, open the editor, add a Stamp field, and pick a stamp from your library — a company seal, an APPROVED or PAID approval stamp, a date stamp, or a certified-true-copy mark. The stamp is baked into the sealed PDF with an optional auto-incrementing serial number and a QR code that links to its public verification page. No printer, ink pad, or scanner needed.

Can PDF Verified check if a PDF has been edited?

Yes. PDF Verified can recompute the SHA-256 fingerprint of a signed PDF and compare it with the fingerprint sealed at completion. If the file was edited after signing, the fingerprint changes and verification fails.

Does PDF Verified include a certificate of completion?

Yes. Completed documents include an audit certificate, also called a certificate of completion, with signer identities, timestamps, IP records, document fingerprint, verification status, and the event history needed for legal review.

Does PDF Verified include an eSignature API?

Yes. Business plans include a REST API and webhooks for sending documents, embedding signing, applying stamps, checking status, and building automated signing workflows.

Can I create a company chop or official seal online?

Yes. PDF Verified includes editable company seal, company chop, official seal, date stamp, and approval stamp templates. Verified stamps can include serial numbers, locked metadata, revocation, and a public QR verification page.

What is the best DocuSign alternative for stamps, seals, and verification?

PDF Verified is built for teams that need more than basic eSignature: public QR verification, PDF authenticity checks, serialized stamps, company seals, audit certificates, and pay-as-you-go signing from $1.50.

eSignature law in European Union

Electronic signatures are recognized across all EU member states under Regulation (EU) 910/2014, eIDAS.

Governing law: Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS) (2014)

The eIDAS Regulation (EU 910/2014) creates a single, harmonized framework for electronic signatures across all 27 EU member states. It defines three legally recognized tiers: Simple Electronic Signature (SES), any electronic mark indicating intent; Advanced Electronic Signature (AdES), uniquely linked to and identifies the signer with tamper-evidence; and Qualified Electronic Signature (QES), AdES backed by a Qualified Certificate from a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP). QES is automatically equivalent to a handwritten signature in every member state. SES and AdES are legally admissible but their weight depends on the surrounding evidence, the standard for most commercial contracts. The Regulation also covers electronic seals (for legal persons), timestamps, and electronic registered delivery.

What makes an eSignature valid in European Union

For SES: any electronic data attached to other data with intent to sign
For AdES: unique link to signer, signer identification, sole control of signing data, tamper-detection
For QES: AdES + Qualified Certificate from QTSP + Qualified Signature Creation Device
Cross-border recognition guaranteed within the EU/EEA
Non-discrimination: an eSignature cannot be denied legal effect solely because it is electronic

Where eSignatures are not valid

Documents requiring written form under member-state-specific law (varies by country)
Certain notarial acts and registry filings (jurisdiction-specific)
Family-law and inheritance documents in some member states
Public-administration acts requiring qualified seals

FAQ

Are electronic signatures legal across the EU?

Yes. eIDAS (EU 910/2014) provides uniform legal recognition across all 27 member states, with mutual cross-border validity for QES.

When do I need QES in the EU?

For most commercial contracts SES or AdES is sufficient. QES is required when the law specifically demands qualified form, typically certain real-estate, family-law, and notarial acts.

Can I use a PDF Verified signature in any EU country?

Yes. PDF Verified SES is recognized in every member state under eIDAS Article 25(1). For AdES/QES, we partner with EU-listed QTSPs on Business Plus and Enterprise.

How does eIDAS handle cross-border recognition?

A QES generated in one member state must be recognized as equivalent to a QES in every other member state (Article 25(3)). SES and AdES are admissible but their evidentiary weight depends on member-state procedure.