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ZealiD vs Adobe Acrobat Sign
Acrobat Sign comes with the PDF tools many firms already use, and ZealiD's qualified signature works inside it. Trust Circle is built for regulated firms that also need to verify each client and share files with them. Here is how they compare, and when to use both.
In short
Adobe wins on the tools you already have.Acrobat bundles PDF editing with e-signing. Adobe calls Acrobat Sign "Microsoft's preferred e-signature solution", and it works in Word, Outlook and Teams, plus Salesforce and Workday.
Qualified signatures in Adobe come from a provider you choose.Adobe lists 25 European cloud signature providers, ZealiD among them. Adobe itself is qualified only for timestamps.
Trust Circle adds the client side.Each client verifies once, with no fee per check, and stays verified for two years. Their files, signatures and KYC answers sit in one shared space. Many firms keep Acrobat for documents and use ZealiD for qualified signatures and verified clients.
ZealiD and Adobe Acrobat Sign, side by side
Sources: Adobe Acrobat pricing (EUR), Adobe cloud signature providers, Acrobat Sign Government ID, Adobe Trust Services and ZealiD pricing, November 2026. Qualified status checked on the EU Trusted List, November 2026.
Where they really differ
An ID check built in, or bought per use
In Acrobat Sign, an ID document check (Government ID) is for enterprise plans, charged per use. Adobe's own help page says it "isn't intended for regulated or high-value electronic signature workflows". For a qualified signature, the cloud signature provider verifies the signer. In Trust Circle, ZealiD verifies each client once in the ZealiD app, valid for two years, at no extra cost to you or them.
A signed PDF, or a shared client space
Acrobat is excellent at creating, editing and signing PDFs. Trust Circle gives each client or matter its own space, with every document, signature and verified identity in one place. You and the client both upload, and every file shows its status.
Nordvik M&A
Check what a qualified signature costs you today
In Acrobat Sign, open Account Settings › Digital Signatures and see which cloud signature providers are switched on, and what each one charges per signature. Then compare that with the QES allowance in the Trust Circle plan that covers your team.
In your Acrobat Sign admin
What each one costs
Acrobat is priced per user, and Acrobat Sign Solutions is priced by Adobe's sales team. Qualified signatures are charged by the provider you choose. Trust Circle is priced per plan, billed yearly, with identity verification included and a set QES allowance.
Adobe Acrobat
Per user a month, yearly plan, incl. VAT
See Adobe pricing →Trust Circle
A month, billed yearly. ID checks included
See pricing →Already on Acrobat Sign? Add ZealiD to it.
ZealiD is on Adobe's list of cloud signature providers. An Acrobat Sign admin switches ZealiD on under Account Settings › Digital Signatures and sends the Acrobat Sign account ID to ZealiD. After that, signers choose ZealiD and sign in the ZealiD app. Integrations are included from the Starter plan. Read how ZealiD works with Adobe Acrobat Sign and why ZealiD QES is available direct from Adobe.
HR agreements signed with ZealiD inside Acrobat Sign
Microsoft onboards new EU employees remotely and signs their HR agreements with a qualified signature.
Read the case study →Three ways to use ZealiD
ZealiD on its own (Trust Circle)
Who it's for: Firms that want one place for verified clients, their files and signatures
Where documents are sent: In a Trust Circle
Who issues the qualified signature: ZealiD
Client portal and KYC: Included
What you pay ZealiD: A plan from €40 a year
ZealiD inside Adobe Acrobat Sign
Who it's for: Firms whose documents already run through Acrobat Sign
Where documents are sent: In Acrobat Sign, as today
Who issues the qualified signature: ZealiD
Client portal and KYC: Not part of the integration
What you pay ZealiD: A plan from Starter, €39.20 a month
Both
Who it's for: Firms that keep Acrobat workflows and also want verified client files
Where documents are sent: Agreements in Acrobat Sign, client files in Trust Circle
Who issues the qualified signature: ZealiD
Client portal and KYC: In Trust Circle
What you pay ZealiD: One plan from Starter
Which one is right for you?
Choose Adobe Acrobat Sign if:
- Your team already lives in Acrobat and Microsoft 365
- You create and edit PDFs as much as you sign them
- You need Salesforce or Workday integrations
- A simple signature covers most of what you sign
Choose Trust Circle if:
- You must know who your client is, and keep that proof
- You want identity checks without paying per check
- You share documents with clients, not just send them for signature
- Your clients sign with qualified signatures often
Use both if: your documents run through Acrobat. Add ZealiD inside Acrobat Sign for qualified signatures, and use Trust Circle for verified client files.
What Trust Circle doesn't do
Live sanctions and PEP screening, beneficial ownership checks and the risk decision stay with your firm.
It isn't a PDF editor. Keep Acrobat for creating and editing documents.
What our customers say
Following a challenging couple of weeks during which our previous TSP partner refused to accept the latest form of identity documents from Malta, it became crucial for us to locate a provider who could smoothly integrate it into our system. ZealiD offers a robust platform and a competitive pricing model which is among the finest in the industry.
Paper procedures are a no-go for modern businesses with complicated signing journeys and long delays. It was time for us to go digital, and ZealiD came through with a user-friendly and simple solution that cut our signing cycles from weeks to just minutes ensuring the highest level of security.
ABN AMROMicrosoftDLA PiperBird & BirdBinderrOyster HRCALIPIA
Verify, share and sign in one place
- Identity verification in every plan, no fee per check
- Verified once, valid for two years
- ZealiD AB is a qualified trust service provider on the EU Trusted List
- Documents stored in Stockholm, EU
Common questions
Does Adobe Acrobat Sign support qualified electronic signatures?
Yes, through cloud signature providers. Adobe lists 25 in Europe, and ZealiD is one of them. Adobe cloud signature providers.
Is Adobe a qualified trust service provider?
For qualified timestamps, yes. Qualified signing certificates come from the provider you choose, such as ZealiD. Adobe Trust Services.
How do I add ZealiD to Acrobat Sign?
Your Acrobat Sign admin switches ZealiD on under Account Settings › Digital Signatures and sends the account ID to ZealiD. It's included from the Trust Circle Starter plan. ZealiD with Adobe Acrobat Sign.
Adobe Acrobat Sign or DocuSign?
Both are strong. Acrobat Sign suits teams that work in Acrobat and Microsoft 365; DocuSign suits firms that need agreement workflows and many integrations. ZealiD's qualified signature works inside both. ZealiD vs DocuSign.
Does identity verification cost extra in Trust Circle?
No. It's included in every plan, with no limit, and your client doesn't pay. See plans.