Certified Sends vs. Record-Only Sends — What’s the Difference?

Not Every Message Needs the Same Level of Proof

Sometimes you need undeniable, verifiable proof that a message was delivered and viewed.
Other times, you simply want a clean, timestamped record that something was sent — without waiting for the recipient to interact.

To support both scenarios, Sendcrow provides two distinct send types:

• Certified Sends
• Record-Only Sends

Both generate reliable evidence, but they serve different purposes.

What Is a Certified Send?

A Certified Send is the strongest form of verified digital communication Sendcrow offers.

It includes:

• Proof of Delivery
• Proof of Open (if the recipient views it)
• Recipient Acknowledgment Tracking
• A full Evidence Package with a cryptographically chained event timeline
• Tamper-evident ledger entries for every action
• Optional Certified Conversation continuation if replies are enabled

Certified Sends are ideal when the stakes are high and you need assurance that the recipient actually received and interacted with the message.

Perfect for:

• Employment notices
• Compliance communication
• Agreements and amendments
• Important client updates
• Financial or legal correspondence
• Landlord–tenant notices
• Sensitive personal exchanges

If the message may be questioned later, a Certified Send removes doubt.

What Is a Record-Only Send?

A Record-Only Send creates a formal, timestamped record without requiring or tracking recipient interaction.

It logs:

• Sender identity
• Recipient email
• Timestamp of send
• The exact message content
• Hashes and metadata for future verification

But it does not attempt to confirm whether the recipient opened or acknowledged the message.

It’s perfect for scenarios where:

• You simply need documented proof that you sent something
• Recipient action is not required
• The message is informational rather than actionable
• You do not want to track opens or interactions

Examples:

• Sending a policy update to a distribution list
• Sharing documents where proof-of-delivery isn’t crucial
• Personal reminders you want to timestamp for your own records
• Notices sent “for transparency” rather than legal confirmation

Record-Only Sends save time, avoid interrupting recipients, and provide streamlined documentation.

So Which One Should You Use?

Choose Certified Send when:

• Delivery and acknowledgment matter
• You need a full, legally defensible evidence package
• You’re communicating something that could be disputed
• You want the option to continue the exchange as a Certified Conversation

Choose Record-Only Send when:

• You only need a timestamped record that the message was sent
• You don’t need proof the recipient opened or saw it
• You want zero friction for the recipient
• You’re broadcasting information, not requesting action

Both are secure. Both are verifiable.
The difference is how much interaction and evidence you require.

Backed by Cryptography, Designed for Everyone

Whether you’re a business formalizing compliance workflows or an individual documenting important personal communication, both send types benefit from Sendcrow’s underlying evidence chain:

• Cryptographic hashing
• Event linking
• Secure timestamping
• Tamper-evident storage

You get the protection of complex cryptography, but with a simple user experience built for everyday communication.

Certified Sends give you maximum assurance.
Record-Only Sends give you simple, reliable documentation.

Sendcrow gives you the choice — and the confidence — to send any important message the right way.