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Compare › D-Trust sign-me
ZealiD vs D-Trust sign-me
sign-me is the Bundesdruckerei group's portal for signing your own PDFs with a qualified signature. Trust Circle is built for firms that verify their clients and send them documents to sign. Here is how they compare.
In short
sign-me wins on price for German eID holders.Identifying with the online function of a German ID card is free on the sign-me portal, and a qualified signature costs 5 coins per document, about €1.40 to €1.75 incl. VAT. D-Trust is part of the Bundesdruckerei group.
It is built for one person signing.You upload, sign and download your own documents. D-Trust names small companies, the self-employed and private individuals as its users. Organisations connect through an API.
Trust Circle adds the client side.Each client verifies once, with no fee per check, and stays verified for two years. Their files, qualified signatures and KYC answers sit in one shared space.
ZealiD and D-Trust sign-me, side by side
Sources: sign-me portal and prices, sign-me support, sign-me start page and ZealiD pricing, November 2026. Prices incl. VAT, coins sold via the REINER SCT shop. Qualified status checked on the EU Trusted List, November 2026.
Where they really differ
Free for German eID holders. What about everyone else?
A signer with a German ID card and its online PIN identifies for free on sign-me. Anyone else uses video identification at 50 coins, about €14 to €17.45, and D-Trust doesn't publish which ID documents it accepts. In Trust Circle, ZealiD verifies each client once in the ZealiD app, valid for two years, at no extra cost to you or them. 265+ ID documents from 50+ nationalities are accepted.
Signing your own PDF, or working with a client
sign-me is a good way to put a qualified signature on your own documents. 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
Try it with your next ten clients
Take the next ten clients who must sign with a qualified signature. Count how many hold a German ID card with the online function and know their PIN. Those can use sign-me for free identification. For the rest, add 50 coins each for video identification, and work out who pays and how the signed file reaches you. Then compare with the Trust Circle plan that covers your team.
Your next ten clients
What each one costs
sign-me is paid in coins, per document and per identification. Business pricing for organisations is not published. Trust Circle is priced per plan, billed yearly, with identity verification included and a set QES allowance.
D-Trust sign-me
Incl. VAT. German eID identification free
See D-Trust sign-me pricing →Trust Circle
A month, billed yearly. ID checks and QES included
See pricing →Which one is right for you?
Choose D-Trust sign-me if:
- You sign your own documents rather than sending them to clients
- You and your signers hold a German ID card with the online function
- You sign now and then and want to pay per signature
- You want a provider from the Bundesdruckerei group
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
What Trust Circle doesn't do
Live sanctions and PEP screening, beneficial ownership checks and the risk decision stay with your firm.
Your clients verify and sign in the ZealiD app, so each signer needs a smartphone.
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
Is D-Trust sign-me a qualified electronic signature?
Yes. D-Trust GmbH, part of the Bundesdruckerei group, is a qualified trust service provider on the German Trusted List. EU Trusted List.
How much does a qualified signature cost in sign-me?
5 coins per document. Coins cost €34.90 for 100 or €139.90 for 500, incl. VAT, so about €1.40 to €1.75 per signature. Registration includes two free QES. sign-me prices.
Is identification free in sign-me?
With a German ID card, eID card or electronic residence permit, the portal page lists it as free. Video identification costs 50 coins. sign-me support.
Can I send documents to clients to sign with sign-me?
The sign-me portal is for signing your own documents. Organisations connect sign-me through an API or partner workflows. In Trust Circle, you invite clients and collect their qualified signatures in one place. Secure document sharing.
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.
Who issues ZealiD's qualified signatures?
ZealiD AB itself. It is a qualified trust service provider on the Swedish Trusted List, supervised by PTS and audited every year by TÜViT and SRC Security. Certifications and compliance.