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 France

Electronic signatures are legally binding in France under the EU eIDAS Regulation and Articles 1366 to 1367 of the Civil Code, with the same evidential value as a handwritten signature.

Governing law: EU eIDAS Regulation (No 910/2014) + French Civil Code (Code civil) Art. 1366-1367 (2016)

France recognises electronic signatures under the directly applicable eIDAS Regulation and its own Civil Code. Article 1366 provides that an electronic document has the same evidential value as paper provided the signer can be identified and the document is created and stored in conditions guaranteeing its integrity. Article 1367 states that a reliable electronic signature identifying its author and expressing consent has the same effect as a handwritten one, and establishes a presumption of reliability for qualified signatures. The three eIDAS tiers (Simple, Advanced, Qualified) all apply. A Simple or Advanced electronic signature is sufficient for the vast majority of commercial and employment contracts; a Qualified Electronic Signature carries the strongest legal presumption for high-stakes or regulated documents.

What makes an eSignature valid in France

Identification of the signer
Consent to the content and to signing electronically
Integrity, the document is preserved so any alteration is detectable
A reliable signature process (Advanced or Qualified for stronger presumption)
Retention of proof (audit trail, timestamp, certificate)

Where eSignatures are not valid

Notarised deeds (actes authentiques) unless via an authorised electronic notarial process
Certain family-law and inheritance instruments
Some private deeds relating to personal or family sureties
Documents the law reserves to a specific paper formality

FAQ

Are electronic signatures legal in France?

Yes. Under eIDAS and Articles 1366-1367 of the Civil Code, electronic signatures are legally valid and admissible, with the same evidential value as handwritten signatures when the signer is identified and integrity is preserved.

Do I need a Qualified Electronic Signature in France?

Not for most contracts. A Simple or Advanced signature is sufficient for ordinary business and employment documents; a Qualified signature gives the strongest legal presumption for high-value or contested matters.

Is a signed PDF admissible evidence in France?

Yes. A signed PDF with a reliable signature process, an audit trail and preserved integrity is admissible; qualified signatures benefit from a legal presumption of reliability.