Is Certifaction a viable alternative to Adobe Sign?
The short answer: yes! If you…
…are looking for a one-stop-shop for all common eSignature standards including QES
…value maximum data security thanks to zero-document-knowledge
…want to benefit from easy integration into your IT environment incl. individual consulting & service
Certifaction vs. Adobe Acrobat Sign at a glance
The software company Adobe pursues a different philosophy than Certifaction with its eSignature solution Adobe Acrobat Sign:
| Certifaction | Adobe Sign | |
|---|---|---|
| eSignatures | ||
| Core focus on eSigning | Yes | No |
| Global validity of eSignatures |  |
 |
| Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) | Integrated | Requires a separate contract with an external provider |
| Separate signing page (besides placeable signatures) | |
 |
| Intuitive User Experience | |
 |
| Contract management features |  |
|
| Professional eSignature with integrated ID-Check | |
|
| Digital Twin to verify printed documents | |
|
| Custom branding | |
 |
| Data protection & security | ||
| Data residency | Switzerland | Distributed / unclear |
| Local data processing | |
|
| Suitable for sensitive data | |
|
| Integration & Service | ||
| Net Promoter Score | >90 | 33 |
| Individual consulting | |
|
| Technical support | |
|
| Easy to integrate API | |
|
| Customization based on client needs | |
|
| Pricing | ||
| Base | Flexible thanks to credits (based on usage) | Rigid due to pricing based on envelope or user |
With Adobe, signatures are part of a broader package that also includes document management and PDF editing. Certifaction, on the other hand, is a specialist focused exclusively on digital signatures and allows you to embed electronic signatures into your existing IT environment in a straightforward & customized way.
Certifaction also goes its own way when it comes to data protection: we rely on the principle of zero-document-knowledge, which means that we, as the provider, have no access whatsoever to your transmitted data. Everything you transmit to us is stored encrypted on ISO-27001 certified servers in Switzerland – the Swiss bank vaults of the digital world.
FAQ – What’s the difference between Certifaction and Adobe Sign?
How are the Certifaction and Adobe approaches different?
At Adobe, the Acrobat Sign eSignature solution is part of the Acrobat package, which includes other document management features.
Certifaction, on the other hand, offers electronic signatures only. Our solution can be integrated into the context of your existing IT systems in a customized manner. In addition, we place the highest value on data protection and security with our zero-document-knowledge approach.
What are the biggest differences in features?
Certifaction is a one-stop-shop for all relevant eSignature standards, which you can easily select yourself depending on your intended use. Our solution already includes all required features for the secure identification of signers and gives you out-of-the-box the possibility to use Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES). These are equivalent to handwritten signatures and are required by law for contracts with formal requirements.
We offer a very user-friendly SES, AES and QES identification and an intuitive tool, that is easy to use. Certifaction also offers features like bulk and selective signing, as well as teamwork abilities.
In addition, Certifaction offers the digital twin as a bridge between the analog and digital worlds: It allows you to print digitally signed documents in a way that they remain verifiable at all times.
How does Certifaction take data protection one step further?
Certifaction operates on the principle of zero-document-knowledge. Documents you sign via our app are processed locally and transmitted to us in encrypted form.
This means we can’t read your data, a practice that other providers do routinely.
Your data is stored on ISO 27001-certified servers in Switzerland that meet the highest security requirements. In contrast, with other vendors like Adobe, your data is usually distributed across a network of different server locations.
For which scenarios is Certifaction optimized?
Certifaction is the optimal alternative to Adobe Sign if you..:
- Do not want your eSignature provider to be able to read your documents
- Want to use all relevant standards like QES already out-of-the-box
- Want to know exactly where and how your data is stored
- Identify signers beyond doubt
- Want the simplest and most customizable integration possible into your IT environment
- Want our individual and personal technical service from the heart of Zurich as a partner at your side
- Need a solution where digitally signed documents can be printed out
- Do not need additional contract management features
Do you have more questions?
Why Certifaction
Your Benefits: The privacy-first solution for electronic signatures
Zero-Document-Knowledge
Simple Integration
Bulk Signing
Regulatory-compliant
Legally valid
“What you have developed is the next generation of eSigning, which is by far better than all the rusty certificate-based signing solutions regarding security, Digital Twin, life-cycle updates, and data privacy.”
Urs Fischer, Head of Business Development & Innovation, Health Info Net (HIN) AG
