www.adobe.com Open in urlscan Pro
2600:141b:1c00:31::1739:5a47  Public Scan

Submitted URL: https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/sign/glossary/digital-signatures.html
Effective URL: https://www.adobe.com/sign/digital-signatures.html
Submission: On December 08 via api from US — Scanned from US

Form analysis 0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

 *  *  *  * Adobe
          *  *  * Home
                * Acrobat Sign
                * Digital signatures
               
                * 
                * PDF & E-signatures
                  
                   *  *  * Products
                           
                            * Adobe Acrobat The complete PDF solution
                            * Acrobat plans and pricing
                            * Adobe Acrobat Sign The complete e-signature
                              solution
                            * E-signature plans and pricing
                            * Acrobat Reader View, scan, and annotate PDFs
                            * View all products
                     
                      *  * Shop for
                           
                            * Business
                            * Students & Teachers
                            * Home & Personal
                            * Government
                     
                      *  * Online Tools
                           
                            * PDF to Word
                            * Compress PDF
                            * Merge PDF
                            * Word to PDF
                            * View all tools
                        
                         * Business Resources
                           
                            * Developer resources
                            * E-signature tutorials
                            * Events & Webinars
                            * Articles & reports
                     
                      *  *  * Acrobat Pro
                           
                            * Create, edit, and sign documents with our
                              all-in-one PDF and e-signature solution.
                              
                               
                              
                              Start free trial
                  
                   *  * Adobe.com
                      * Creativity & Design
                      * PDF & E-signatures
                      * Marketing & Commerce
                      * Help & Support
               
                * 
                *  * Acrobat for business
                   * Products
                     
                      *  *  * Products
                              
                               * Acrobat for teams
                               * Acrobat for enterprise
                               * Acrobat Sign Solutions
                               * 
                        
                         *  * Explore features
                              
                               * Integrations
                               * Branding
                               * Send in bulk
                               * Collect Payments
                               * 
                  
                   * Solutions
                     
                      *  *  * Departments
                              
                               * Sales
                               * HR
                               * Legal
                               * IT
                               * View all
                               * 
                        
                         *  * Industries
                              
                               * Financial services
                               * Insurance
                               * Life sciences
                               * Government
                               * View all
                               * 
                  
                   * Resources
                     
                      *  *  * Learn
                              
                               * Customer stories
                               * E-sign resources
                               * Reports
                               * Webinars
                               * 
                        
                         *  * Support
                              
                               * Security and compliance
                               * Trust Center
                               * Developer resources
                               * Help Center
                               * 
                  
                   * For admins
                   * Contact Sales
                      * Request information
                      * Chat with Sales
                     
                      * Call 800-915-9459
                  
                   * Free trial
                   *  * Buy now
                  
                   *       800-915-9459
         
          * Adobe
      
       *  * Sign In
          * 

 *  * Home
    * Acrobat Sign
    * Digital signatures

Adobe Acrobat Sign


WHAT’S A DIGITAL SIGNATURE?

A digital signature is an e-signature that is backed by a digital certificate.
Digital signatures comply with regulations around the world and provide the
highest level of identity assurance when dealing with digital documents..

Start free trial
View all plans

Learn all about digital signatures. Watch video


WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DIGITAL SIGNATURES?


TRUSTED AND COMPLIANT.

Digital signatures backed by digital certificates issued by third-party
providers help you comply with regulations around the world.


PROTECTED.

Your digital signature and the signed PDF electronic document are
cryptographically bound and secured with a tamper-evident seal.


UNIQUE TO YOU.

Use your unique digital identity to easily validate your credentials and
authorize your signature when you digitally sign.


EASY TO VALIDATE.

Digital signature validation requires renewal -the signed document and digital
signature are designed to be revalidated for at least 10 years.


WHY ARE DIGITAL SIGNATURES SECURE?

A digital signature is a specific type of signature that is backed by a digital
certificate, providing proof of your identity. Digital signatures are recognized
as being a more secure type of e-signature because they’re cryptographically
bound to the signed document and can be verified. When you use a digital
certificate obtained from a trusted third party to e-sign, the resulting digital
signature is virtually impossible to spoof. It also provides powerful evidence
of signer identity, that the signed document was not altered, and that the
signatures are valid.


WHAT IS A DIGITAL IDENTITY?

A digital identity (or digital ID) is like an electronic passport. It provides
strong evidence that you are who you say you are when e-signing a document. Each
digital ID is issued by a trusted third party, such as a bank or government,
after thoroughly verifying your identity.

 

Using a digital ID to authenticate your identity when e-signing a document
strongly affirms that you have agreed to the terms and have authorized your
e-signature on a specific document.

Learn more about digital identity providers


TRY ADOBE ACROBAT SIGN AND GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH E-SIGNATURES.

See how easy it is for you, your customers, and co-workers to send and sign
documents electronically — from any device or browser, from within just about
any popular application. With Acrobat Sign, you can get important documents
signed and delivered in minutes, not days.

Start free trial
Learn more about Acrobat Sign Solutions


ACROBAT SIGN: THE GLOBAL E-SIGNATURE SOLUTION FOR WORLDWIDE BUSINESS




COMPLIANT, LEGAL E-SIGNATURES.

Whether you need a qualified electronic signature (QES) in the European Union,
Switzerland, or the United Kingdom, or an e-KYC compliant signature in India,
Acrobat Sign helps you create enforceable e-signatures around the world.

Learn about global e-signature laws



A BROAD ECOSYSTEM OF TRUSTED IDENTITY EXPERTS.

Acrobat Sign is backed by a global network of local trusted services. You can
choose from hundreds of certificate authorities, timestamp providers, and trust
service providers (TSPs) — all available on the Adobe Approved Trust List (AATL)
and the EU Trust List (EUTL) — to create legal, trusted e-signatures.

View our digital identity providers



A FLEXIBLE, STANDARDS-BASED SOLUTION.

You can select the right type of e-signature for any use case and every signer —
from simple e-signatures to e-signatures with strong identification, to highly
secure and regulated digital signatures in the cloud. Based on open standards
and backed by local, trusted identity verification, Acrobat Sign gives you
maximum flexibility in a single global solution.

 

Visit the Adobe Trust Center to see a list of all Adobe compliance
certifications, standards, and regulations.

View Adobe products compliance list



SECURE, FLEXIBLE DIGITAL SIGNATURES IN THE CLOUD.

Flexibility meets security with our cloud signatures — the first digital
signature in the cloud that’s based on the Cloud Signature Consortium global
open standard. Using a cloud signature, you can apply a highly secure digital
signature backed by identification from a trusted third party, directly from
your mobile phone.

Learn about cloud signatures


WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Whether you need some basic information about our solutions or you’d like a
customized quote for your unique business needs, we’re here to help you get your
questions answered.

Contact Sales
800-685-4192


ACROBAT SIGN ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE FAQ


IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ELECTRONIC AND DIGITAL SIGNATURES?

Yes. An electronic signature is a broad term for any electronic process that
indicates acceptance of an agreement or a record. A digital signature refers to
a more secure electronic signature that is generated using a digital certificate
and cryptographically bound to the document using public key infrastructure
(PKI).


WHAT IS A CLOUD SIGNATURE?

A cloud signature is a digital signature where the signer’s digital certificate
is managed by a trust service provider (TSP) in the cloud. Cloud signatures rely
on the global open standard created by the Cloud Signature Consortium (CSC).
Compared to a traditional digital signature applied using a physical smart card
or USB token, a cloud signature makes it easy to apply trusted digital
signatures directly from a mobile device or a Web browser. For more information,
please see the digital identity solution providers page in the Adobe Trust
Center. 


WHAT IS AN ELECTRONIC SEAL?

An electronic seal or e-seal is used by a legal entity such as a business or
organization to certify the origin, authenticity, and integrity of documents.
Electronic seals may provide strong legal evidence that the document has not
been altered and originated from the entity identified by the digital sealing
certificate.


ARE E-SIGNATURES LEGAL?

Yes. E-signatures are legal in many countries around the world. For more
information, please see our Global e-signature laws pages from the Adobe Trust
Center.


IS ADOBE ACROBAT SIGN SECURE?

The Adobe Acrobat Sign security overview provides information on security for
Adobe Acrobat Sign Solutions. To learn more about how Adobe protects your
documents, data, and personal information, please visit the Adobe Sign Trust
Center.


WHAT REGULATIONS DOES ACROBAT SIGN COMPLY WITH?

For information on Adobe Acrobat Sign compliance, please see the Adobe
Compliance Certifications, Standards, and Regulations list in the Adobe Trust
Center. 


 *  *  * Shop for
          * Creative Cloud
          * Photoshop
          * Adobe Express
          * Photography
          * Premiere Pro
          * Adobe Stock
          * Elements Family
          * Document Cloud
          * Acrobat
          * Acrobat Sign
          * Special offers
          * View plans and pricing
          * View all products
   
    *  *  * For business
             * Creative Cloud for business
             * Creative Cloud for enterprise
             * Acrobat for business
      
       *  * For education
             * Discounts for students and teachers
             * Schools and universities
             * Digital Learning Solutions
      
       *  * For mobile
             * Apps for iOS
             * Apps for Android
   
    *  * Experience Cloud
          * What is Experience Cloud?
          * Analytics
          * Experience Manager
          * Commerce
          * Marketo Engage
          * Workfront
          * Terms of Use
   
    *  *  * Support
             * Download and install
             * Help Center
             * Adobe Support Community
             * Enterprise Support
             * Genuine software
      
       *  * Resources
             * Adobe Blog
             * Adobe Developer
      
       *  * Adobe Account
             * Log in to your account
   
    *  * Adobe
          * About
          * Careers
          * Newsroom
          * Corporate responsibility
          * Investor Relations
          * Supply chain
          * Trust Center
          * Events
          * Diversity and inclusion
          * Integrity

 *  * Featured products   
   
    * Adobe Acrobat Reader
    * Adobe Express
    * Photoshop
    * Illustrator

 *  *  * Change region
       *  * 
          * 
          * 
          * 
   
    * Copyright © 2023 Adobe. All rights reserved.
       * Privacy
       * Terms of Use
       * Cookie preferences
       * Do not sell or share my personal information
       * AdChoices

Start your free e-signatures trial

Start your free e-signatures trial pop-up window


START YOUR FREE E-SIGNATURES TRIAL.


ACROBAT PRO

Free trial
Buy now

Individual free trial

7 days free trial, then US$19.99/mo

Requires annual commitment.

Popular features:

 * Sign and collect signatures
 * Track and send reminders for agreements
 * Desktop and mobile e‑signing
 * Microsoft 365 integration
 * Add customized branding
 * Collect e‑signatures from websites
 * Send in bulk
 * Collect payments with Braintree, where available
 * Advanced PDF tools to quickly compare documents, redact information, create
   searchable & editable PDFs, and more


VIEW FEATURES

Popular features:

 * Sign and collect signatures
 * Track and send reminders for agreements
 * Desktop and mobile e‑signing
 * Microsoft 365 integration
 * Add customized branding
 * Collect e‑signatures from websites
 * Send in bulk
 * Collect payments with Braintree, where available
 * Advanced PDF tools to quickly compare documents, redact information, create
   searchable & editable PDFs, and more





ACROBAT SIGN SOLUTIONS

Free trial
Contact Sales

Business free trial

30 days free.

Call 800-685-4192 for pricing.

Popular features:

 * Sign and collect signatures
 * Track and send reminders for agreements
 * Desktop and mobile e‑signing
 * Microsoft 365 integration
 * Add customized branding
 * Collect e‑signatures from websites
 * Send in bulk
 * Collect payments with Braintree, where available
 * Admin Console access
 * Built-in integrations with Salesforce, Workday, ServiceNow, and more
 * SSO and KBA/phone authentications
 * Industry‑specific compliance requirements (e.g., HIPAA, FERPA, GLBA, and FDA
   21 CFR part 11)


VIEW FEATURES

Popular features:

 * Sign and collect signatures
 * Track and send reminders for agreements
 * Desktop and mobile e‑signing
 * Microsoft 365 integration
 * Add customized branding
 * Collect e‑signatures from websites
 * Send in bulk
 * Collect payments with Braintree, where available
 * Admin Console access
 * Built-in integrations with Salesforce, Workday, ServiceNow, and more
 * SSO and KBA/phone authentications
 * Industry‑specific compliance requirements (e.g., HIPAA, FERPA, GLBA, and FDA
   21 CFR part 11)



Acrobat Pro e-signature capabilities do not offer the same level of compliance
as Acrobat Sign Solutions.

See all plans and pricing

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


WHAT’S INCLUDED IN MY FREE TRIAL?

Acrobat Pro is the all-in-one solution to electronically sign documents,
convert, and edit PDFs. This trial includes full access to Acrobat Pro software,
Acrobat Reader, and Acrobat online services to work seamlessly across desktop
and mobile devices.

Learn More

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


HOW DO I DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL MY FREE TRIAL VERSION OF ACROBAT PRO?

After clicking “Get started” from this web page, you will be asked to provide
your email address. If you already have an Adobe ID you’ll be asked to sign in.
Otherwise follow steps to start your free trial.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


WHEN DOES THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD OFFICIALLY BEGIN?

The free trial period begins on the day you sign up. At the end of the free
trial period, your payment method will be charged unless you cancel. Cancel
before your free trial ends and you won't be charged. On the 8th day, payment
will be collected unless you cancel prior. When the free trial expires, you can
still use Acrobat to view PDFs, comment and fill forms. To access all the
features again, you will need to purchase Acrobat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



See all FAQs



Learn all about digital signatures

Learn all about digital signatures




Language Navigation

Language Navigation

Choose your region

Selecting a region changes the language and/or content on Adobe.com.

 * Americas

 * Argentina
 * Brasil
 * Canada - English
 * Canada - Français
 * Chile
 * Colombia
 * Costa Rica
 * Ecuador
 * Guatemala
 * Latinoamérica
 * México
 * Perú
 * Puerto Rico
 * United States

 * Europe, Middle East and Africa

 * الإمارات العربية المتحدة
 * United Arab Emirates - English
 * Africa - English
 * South Africa
 * Österreich
 * Belgium - English
 * Belgique - Français
 * België - Nederlands
 * България
 * Schweiz
 * Suisse
 * Svizzera
 * Česká republika
 * Deutschland
 * Danmark
 * Eesti
 * مصر - اللغة العربية
 * Egypt - English
 * España
 * Suomi
 * France
 * Ελλάδα
 * Greece - English
 * Magyarország
 * Ireland
 * Israel - English
 * ישראל - עברית
 * Italia
 * الكويت - اللغة العربية
 * Kuwait - English
 * Lietuva
 * Luxembourg - Deutsch
 * Luxembourg - English
 * Luxembourg - Français
 * Latvija
 * الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا - اللغة العربية
 * Middle East and North Africa - English
 * Nigeria
 * Nederland
 * Norge
 * Polska
 * Portugal
 * قطر - اللغة العربية
 * Qatar - English
 * România
 * Россия
 * المملكة العربية السعودية
 * Saudi Arabia - English
 * Sverige
 * Slovenija
 * Slovensko
 * Türkiye
 * Україна
 * United Kingdom

 * Asia Pacific

 * Australia
 * 中国
 * Hong Kong SAR of China
 * 中國香港特別行政區
 * Indonesia - English
 * Indonesia
 * India - English
 * भारत
 * 日本
 * 한국
 * Malaysia - English
 * Malaysia
 * New Zealand
 * Philippines - English
 * Pilipinas
 * Singapore
 * Thailand - English
 * ประเทศไทย
 * 台灣地區
 * Vietnam - English
 * Việt Nam

Locale Modalv2

We have detected you are visiting a different region on adobe.com

United States



Hi there! Can I help you find something?

1

Chat with us