A final draft, a report, a document someone else already signed elsewhere — plenty of files need to be locked in as "this is the real one" without anyone actually signing anything new. That's a different job than e-signing, and most PDF tools don't offer it as its own action. EZ PDF Editor does, for free.
What certifying actually does
Certifying takes the document exactly as it stands right now and turns its exact bytes into a unique fingerprint — a SHA-256 hash — which gets registered. You get back a separate copy with a certificate page added; that copy is the one that verifies. Change even one character in a copy afterward and its fingerprint no longer matches, so anyone checking it later can tell instantly whether it's genuine and unaltered.
It is explicitly not a signature or a witnessing. It only proves a specific file existed, unchanged, at a specific moment.
How to certify a document
- Open the document you want to certify — or click Seal & Certify Document in the Extras sidebar with nothing open yet, and pick Upload File, My Documents, or Write a Document to get one loaded first.
- Click Seal & Certify Document.
- Read the confirm dialog — it explains exactly what gets registered — and click Certify it.
- A certified copy downloads automatically, with its certificate page and fingerprint already in the file.
Can you still edit the document afterward?
Yes. Certifying doesn't lock or replace what's open in your editor — it builds a snapshot and hands you a separate file. Keep working on the original freely; if you want a certified copy that reflects your latest edits, just certify again. Your earlier certified copy stays valid and verifiable forever regardless.
Certify your first document free
No signing, no signers — just a tamper-evident fingerprint and a certificate page, in one click.
Open EZ PDF Editor →EZ PDF Editor vs Adobe Acrobat vs DocuSign
| What you need | EZ PDF Editor | Adobe Acrobat | DocuSign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certify without signing | Yes, one click | Needs certificate-based Digital ID setup | Not offered as a standalone action |
| Price | Free, unlimited, on every plan | Paid tier / Digital ID add-on | Certified envelope features are paid |
| Public verification | Free at /seal, no account | Verification usually assumes Acrobat/Reader | Requires their own portal/login for full detail |
| Visual certificate page | Automatic | Manual setup | Certificate of Completion, separate document |
How anyone else verifies it
They go to /seal, drop in the file, and click Verify File Authenticity. It's free, instant, needs no account, and works for anyone holding a copy — not just people with an EZ PDF Editor login.
Is this the right tool for your document?
If you need someone's actual signature, use Send for Signature instead. If you just need to prove a file is the real, unaltered one — a report, a final draft, something already signed elsewhere — Seal & Certify Document is built exactly for that, free.