Five criteria that matter
- Privacy. Does the document stay on your device?
- Installation. Can you start now, or do you need rights and time?
- Validation depth. Integrity only, or a full legal verdict?
- Platforms. Does it run on the device in your hand?
- Offline use. Does it work without a connection?
The candidates
| ASiCE Viewer (web) | DigiDoc4 | ASiC-E Viewer (Android) | RIA DigiDoc (mobile) | ZIP tool | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy | Local | Local | Local | Local | Local |
| Installation | None | Yes | App | App | Built in |
| Shows signers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Integrity check | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Official validation | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Signs | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Document preview built in | Yes | Opens external apps | Yes | Limited | No |
| Platforms | All | Windows, macOS, Linux | Android | Android, iOS | All |
Recommendations by need
- "I just need to read this." ASiCE Viewer in the browser. Nothing to install, built-in previews.
- "I need to know it is legally valid." DigiDoc4. It is the reference.
- "I need to sign it." DigiDoc4 or RIA DigiDoc with your electronic identity.
- "I read signed files on my phone all the time." The ASiC-E Viewer app: offline, with PDF and Word export.
- "I am scripting bulk extraction." A ZIP tool on the command line.
Where a web viewer is strongest
It is the fastest path from attachment to readable document, it works on locked-down and non-Windows machines, and it previews PDF, Word and Excel without other programs. Its weakness is by design: no validation verdict and no signing.
Where the official client is strongest
Authority. Its verdict is the one institutions accept. Its cost is installation and a heavier interface for a simple reading task.
A reasonable setup
For an office: the official client on the machines of people who sign, and the web viewer bookmarked for everyone else. For an individual: the web viewer, plus the app on the phone.
How we judge our own tool
ASiCE Viewer aims to be the best at one thing: letting anyone read a signed container immediately and privately. Where another tool is the right answer, this blog says so. The free options are compared in more detail in free ASiC-E viewer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best ASiC-E viewer for Windows?
For reading, a browser-based viewer; for validation and signing, DigiDoc4. Many people use both.
Is there one viewer that does everything?
DigiDoc4 covers signing and validation on computers. For instant reading on any device, a web viewer complements it.