Digital Stamp vs. Electronic Signature: What's the Difference?
Updated 28 September 2026
A stamp image on a PDF looks official, but what does it actually prove? Here's the difference between stamps, electronic signatures and digital signatures, in plain language.
Three things that often get mixed up
1. A stamp or signature image. A picture of your stamp (like the PNG from our stamp maker) or a scan of your handwritten signature placed on a PDF. It shows intent and status — approved, paid, received — but anyone can copy the image, and it doesn't prove who placed it or that the document hasn't changed since.
2. An electronic signature. A broad legal term. In the EU (eIDAS regulation) and the US (ESIGN Act), almost any electronic indication that you agree — typing your name, clicking "I accept", pasting a signature image — can count as a simple electronic signature. It is generally allowed, but its value as evidence is limited if someone disputes it.
3. A certificate-based digital signature. Created with a personal certificate (for example through Adobe Acrobat, DocuSign or a national ID card). It cryptographically links the signature to the signer and shows if the document was changed afterwards. In the EU, advanced and qualified electronic signatures fall into this category; a qualified electronic signature has the same legal effect as a handwritten one.
So when is a stamp image enough?
- Internal workflows: marking invoices as approved or paid, logging received post.
- Status marks for readers: DRAFT, COPY, CONFIDENTIAL.
- Branding: a company stamp on quotes, delivery notes and letters.
When you need more than a stamp
- Contracts you may need to enforce later.
- Documents for authorities, courts or banks that specify a signature type.
- Anything where proving that the document wasn't changed matters.
In those cases, use a proper e-signature service or sign by hand. You can still add the stamp alongside for the familiar look.
Frequently asked questions
Is a stamp on a PDF legally binding?
A stamp image alone usually isn't what makes a document binding. It can support an agreement, but signatures — handwritten or electronic — are what courts and authorities look for.
Can I combine a stamp and a digital signature?
Yes. Place the stamp image first, then apply the digital signature. Signing last keeps the signature valid, because any change after signing is flagged.
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More guides
- How to Add a Stamp to a PDF (Free, 4 Ways)
Step-by-step: put a stamp image on any PDF for free with Adobe Acrobat Reader, macOS Preview, Microsoft Word or Google Docs. No paid software needed.
- How to Add a Stamp in Word (Every Page or Just One)
Put a stamp image in a Word document: insert it in front of text, keep the transparent background, repeat it on every page with the header, and export to PDF.
- Stamp Size Guide: Common Sizes in mm, Inches and Pixels
Standard rubber stamp sizes for round and rectangular stamps in mm and inches, plus how many pixels you need to print a digital stamp sharply.