Which eSignature standard should I use?

Privacy-First: Sign digitally, protect documents

In contrast to "wet" signatures, not all eSignatures have the same legal weight
Common standards include SES, AES and QES
Best solution: Use eSignature Standard depending on requirements

QES: Qualified Electronic Signature (max. legal weight)

A qualified electronic signature has the highest legal validity. The identity of the signatory is confirmed using an online ID verification method with a face scan. In Switzerland, an additional manual check is carried out by a clerk.

AES: Advanced electronic signature (high legal weight)

An advanced electronic signature has a high legal weight. An e-mail address and telephone number are required to confirm the identity of the signatory.

SES: Simple electrical signature (basic legal weight)

A simple electronic signature has fundamental legal probative value. An e-mail address is required to confirm the identity of the signatory.

Are eSignatures legal?

The legal validity of eSignatures is governed by laws and standards depending on the place of jurisdiction of a contract.

Check out our detailed page about the legal validity for an in-depth overview.

It’s important to note that not all eSignatures are created equal: Because documents vary in content and require different legal weight depending on the use case, there are different types of eSignatures with unique attribues and ideal use cases for each.

SES vs. AES vs. QES: An Overview

There are three types of electronic signatures: SES, AES and QES.

A four-column comparison table presenting an overview of three types of electronic signatures: EES (Simple Electronic Signature), FES (Advanced Electronic Signature), and QES (Qualified Electronic Signature). The columns are labeled: “Evidential Value,” “Identification,” “Use Case,” and “Examples.” Row 1 – EES (Simple Electronic Signature) Evidential Value: Basic Identification: Email address Use Case: B2B contracts or internal documents without legal form requirements Examples: NDA, supplier agreement, internal document, B2C customer contract Row 2 – FES (Advanced Electronic Signature) Evidential Value: High Identification: Email address and phone number Use Case: B2B contracts or internal documents without legal form requirements Examples: NDA, supplier agreement, internal document, B2B customer contract Row 3 – QES (Qualified Electronic Signature) Evidential Value: Maximum Identification: Email address, forgery-proof online ID check with facial verification (EU), or manual agent check (CH) Use Case: Documents with legal form requirements Examples: Consumer credit agreement, official authority filings, audit reports, etc.
	Legal Weight	Identification	Use Case	Examples
SES Simple electronic signature	Basic	Email address	B2B contracts or internal documents without legal formal requirements	NDA Supplier contract Internal document Customer contract (B2C)
AES Advanced electronic signature	High	Email address Telephone number	B2B contracts or internal documents without legal formal requirements	NDA Supplier contract Internal document Customer contract (B2B)
QES Qualified electronic signature	Maximum	Email address Forgery-proof online ID check with face scan comparison (EU) + Manual agent check (CH)	Documents with legal formal requirements	Consumer credit agreement Entries with authorities Audit reports etc.

For a better understanding

The different types of eSignatures in detail

Simple electronic signature

The SES has the lowest legal weight of all available types and is best suited for simple, everyday documents that do not require advanced identification.

An SES signature is identified by email: Anyone with an email address can start using the SES signature with Certifaction today.

The SES is suitable for B2B contracts or internal documents, as the business email address serves as a basis of trust.

Daily business in B2B: Advanced electronic signature

The AES is one level higher: still a low entry barrier, the FES is ideal for legally valid B2B contracts for which the law does not prescribe a specific form.

An AES signature is identified via a mobile phone number in addition to a valid email address.

Compared to the SES, the AES offers greater legal validity.

The highest level: qualified electronic signature

For a very limited number of documents, there are legal formal requirements issued by the government. The QES is the highest standard for eSignatures and offers maximum legal weight.

A QES signatory is identified either online via video call, by personal identification with a registered representative or – the most convenient option – with the help of ID and facial recognition software on a smartphone.

Summary: Which eSignature you should choose

The decision on which type of eSignature to use depends on the requirements of the document to be signed.

The simple electronic signature (SES) only requires an email address, which is sufficient for most B2B contracts, but not for tamper-proof identification: personal email addresses have no identification value whatsoever (do you know hotboy97@gmail.com?).

The advanced electronic signature (AES) is also suitable for B2B interactions, as it requires both an email address and a telephone number. It enables identification via a company email address and adds an additional verification step by sending a code to a telephone number.

For a very specific type of document with legal formal requirements, the qualified electronic signature (QES) is the only valid option that offers the highest level of legal weight.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. If you have specific legal questions, you should consult a licensed lawyer in your area.

FAQs

Our answers to the most frequently asked questions

Are Certifaction's eSignatures legally valid?

Yes. Our eSignatures are legally valid and support all major global standards (incl. eIDAS, ZertES, UETA, ESIGN).

In addition, you can choose the signature type that suits you best: from the cost-effective simple eSignature to the qualified eSignature (QES).

What is the Zero Document Knowledge technology and what are the advantages?

Unlike most competing providers, Certifaction offers the option of signing documents without ever seeing their content. The documents are processed locally on the customer side and encrypted when using the web app.

In the case of API integration, a local gateway takes over the encryption. In the event of a hack, the file would therefore be encrypted and unreadable. We also ensure that the documents are stored on ISO 27001-certified servers in Switzerland or an EU country.

Is there a white-labeled version of Certifaction?

Yes, Certifaction offers a customised white label option for partners. This enables the seamless integration of own products such as eIDs and certificates. The white label solution gives partners complete control over the platform. As an integration partner, we help open up new revenue streams and maximise business potential by providing tailored solutions for individual needs.

How much integration work is involved?

The Certifaction WebApp can be used immediately in the browser. The eSignature solution can also be integrated quickly via an API connection. Alternatively, the solution can be used as a white label product with full personalisation. Depending on the requirements, this is ready within a few weeks.

Why should I choose Certification over an on-premises solution?

Certifaction is a hybrid solution without a complex infrastructure. The connection is established via API or by installing the CLI client. This makes our eSignature solution more flexible and cost-effective than a solution that is operated in your own data centre.

What makes Certification stand out from the competition?

Certifaction is characterised by its innovative technology and clear focus on partnerships. Our customers value us as a trustworthy European partner that not only offers close cooperation and the highest security standards, but also enables the integration of its own products through white label solutions. This opens up new business opportunities and additional revenue streams for our partners. Our solution offers:

maximum security through Zero Document Knowledge
innovative features such as the Digital Twin (making digitally signed documents verifiable even when printed out), bulk signing, Teamspaces (rooms with shared signature processes) and guest signatures without registration
Signature requests in under a minute and smooth onboarding in just 15 minutes thanks to intuitive operation
smooth identifications without app download within a very short time
a recommendation score (NPS) of +90

Do you have any further questions?