Best DocuSign Alternatives for European Companies in 2026

DocuSign pioneered electronic signatures, but better alternatives exist, especially for European businesses. Whether you’re concerned about data privacy, looking for better value, need developer friendly APIs, or want a solution tailored to European business requirements, there’s a more suitable option for you.

This guide covers the top DocuSign alternatives for European companies in 2026, with a focus on GDPR compliance, data sovereignty, developer tools, and features that matter to EU businesses.

Why European companies are looking beyond DocuSign

Before diving into alternatives, let’s address why European organizations are actively exploring other options:

Data sovereignty concerns: DocuSign is an American company subject to the CLOUD Act, which can require them to provide US authorities access to data stored anywhere in the world. This poses compliance challenges to European companies handling sensitive contracts or regulated data.

Privacy requirements: GDPR and emerging regulations like NIS2 require stronger data protection than standard e-signature platforms provide. E-signature platforms generally provide encryption at rest and in transit, but many European businesses need stronger guarantees about how their data is processed.

Developer experience: Many platforms (and not only e-signature tools) treat API access as an enterprise add-on. Developers building e-signature into applications need quality API support, SDKs, and webhooks without enterprise pricing tiers.

Pricing models that punish growth: Per-user pricing becomes expensive as teams scale. Growing companies need predictable costs that don’t penalize adding users.

Hidden enterprise taxes: Features like SSO (Single Sign-On) are often gated behind expensive enterprise tiers, adding hundreds or thousands of euros per year to costs.

Feature gaps: DocuSign covers basic e-signatures well but may lack specialized features for specific industries or workflows common in European markets.

Top DocuSign alternatives compared

Here’s a quick comparison of leading alternatives:

Detailed reviews

1. Subnoto - Best for developers and privacy conscious SMBs

What makes it different: Subnoto combines three things rarely found together: privacy by design through confidential computing, API first tooling, and pricing that doesn’t punish growth. Built API first for developers but designed for everyone, your team can start using it without training.

Unlike per-user models that become expensive as you scale, Subnoto offers a flat €119/month for unlimited users and unlimited signatures, perfect for growing companies. SSO is included at every tier without added enterprise costs.

Confidential computing explained: Unlike traditional e-signature platforms, Subnoto keeps documents private at all times. Traditional platforms temporarily decrypt your documents server-side to process them (signing, viewing, editing). Subnoto uses confidential computing to keep documents encrypted throughout. Privacy is technically proven with our architecture, rather than just promised.

The company is French, GDPR compliant, and offers the most flexible pricing on this list, from a free tier (10 signatures/month for individuals, unlimited for nonprofits) to flat rate for unlimited business users.

Best for:

• SMBs wanting privacy without enterprise complexity
• Developers building e-signature workflows into applications
• Growing teams (flat rate doesn’t penalize adding users as you scale; SSO available without enterprise pricing)
• Privacy conscious businesses handling sensitive data
• Nonprofits (completely free, unlimited)

Who uses Subnoto:

• HR teams sending employment contracts and onboarding documents
• Consulting firms getting client NDAs and service agreements signed
• Software companies integrating e-signatures into their products
• Agencies managing vendor and freelancer contracts
• Startups that need predictable costs as they scale

Key features:

• Confidential computing: Zero knowledge architecture - documents never decrypted server-side
• Simple and speedy: Intuitive interface saves time for signers and document creators
• Developer tools: REST API, SDKs (Python, JavaScript), webhooks, and an MCP server for AI integration
• French hosting: GDPR compliant data storage in France
• SSO included: Single Sign-On at every tier with no enterprise tax (saves €600-1200/year vs. competitors)
• Budget friendly: Free for individuals and nonprofits, lowest paid tiers for teams, flat €119/month option eliminates surprise costs as you grow

Pricing:

• Free: Individual users (10 signatures per month) and nonprofits (unlimited signatures)
• €19/user/month: Small teams, unlimited signatures per user
• €119/month flat: Unlimited users, unlimited signatures for entire company (best value at ~7+ users)

The math: At 7 users, you’d pay €133/month per-user (7 × €19) or just €119/month flat. At 20 users, that’s €380/month vs €119/month, you save €261/month. The flat rate means predictable costs even as you hire aggressively.

Limitations:As a platform prioritizing privacy and developer experience:

• No enterprise certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2) - not suitable for regulated industries requiring these
• Simple Electronic Signatures only: no eIDAS Advanced/Qualified signatures for specialized legal use cases
• Fewer pre-built CRM integrations - API available but no out of the box Salesforce/HubSpot connectors

Why choose Subnoto over DocuSign: If you’re a developer integrating e-signatures or a growing team that needs predictable costs, Subnoto’s flat rate pricing and included SSO eliminate surprise expenses. The confidential computing architecture provides an unmatched level of privacy in the e-signature market, and the API first approach with SDKs, webhooks, and MCP server makes integration straightforward. You trade enterprise certifications (which most SMBs don’t need) and sales focused features for genuine privacy technology, developer friendly tools, and low pricing.

Developer perspective: Subnoto’s developer offerings rival established platforms. The API, SDKs, webhooks, and MCP server provide comprehensive integration options. SSO included at every tier means you can integrate with your identity provider immediately. If you’re building e-signatures into your product, Subnoto’s pricing and privacy model make it attractive compared to enterprise-tier API access from Adobe or DocuSign.

2. Yousign - Best for companies needing high assurance signatures

What makes it different: Yousign is DocuSign’s primary French competitor, with local market knowledge and eIDAS Advanced and Qualified Electronic Signatures for industries requiring higher legal assurance (notaries, legal property transfers).

Important context: Most businesses (95%+) don’t need Advanced or Qualified signatures, simple eIDAS compliant signatures work for employment contracts, NDAs, vendor agreements, and standard business transactions. Choose Yousign specifically if your industry requires these higher assurance levels or enterprise certifications.

Best for:

• Legal firms, notaries, or industries requiring eIDAS Advanced or Qualified signatures for specific legal transactions
• Teams needing French customer support and established local provider

Key features:

• eIDAS Advanced and Qualified electronic signatures: Higher legal assurance than simple e-signatures (required for some industries)
• Clean, simple interface
• French data hosting and GDPR compliance
• Good mobile signing experience
• Mature integration ecosystem including Zapier
• Established player with track record

Pricing: €9/month for individual plan (same 10 signatures/month limit as Subnoto’s free plan), from €23/user/month for business

Limitations:

• Privacy model relies on traditional cloud architecture (documents accessible to Yousign during processing, unlike Subnoto’s confidential computing)
• Per-user pricing becomes expensive as teams grow
• SSO typically requires enterprise tier
• API first features less comprehensive than developer focused platforms

Why choose Yousign over DocuSign: Lower cost than DocuSign, French first approach, and eIDAS Advanced/Qualified signatures. If you need these higher assurance signature types, Yousign delivers them while staying in the EU ecosystem.

Subnoto vs Yousign: Both are French, both serve SMBs, and both are eIDAS compliant. Choose Yousign if you’re in an industry requiring eIDAS Advanced or Qualified signature levels (notaries, certain legal documents, high-value property transfers). Choose Subnoto if simple eIDAS signatures cover your use cases (which they do for 95%+ of businesses) and you prioritize privacy technology (confidential computing), developer tools, lower cost, and included SSO. Yousign is the established choice with certifications for specialized needs; Subnoto is the modern privacy alternative with better scaling economics.

3. Adobe Sign - Best for Adobe ecosystem users

What makes it different: Adobe Sign offers enterprise security certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2) for highly regulated industries. If your team already uses Adobe Acrobat, Creative Cloud, or Adobe’s marketing tools, the deep integration is an added benefit.

Best for:

• Enterprises already invested in Adobe products
• Organizations needing advanced PDF manipulation alongside e-signatures
• Companies requiring comprehensive security certifications
• Marketing teams using Adobe Experience Cloud

Key features:

• Native integration with Acrobat, Microsoft 365, Salesforce
• Advanced form creation and PDF manipulation capabilities
• Enterprise certifications: ISO 27001, SOC 2, and industry-specific compliance
• Bulk sending and advanced workflow automation
• Strong authentication options including government IDs
• EU data center options
• Advanced eIDAS signature support

Pricing: From $24/user/month for business plans. SSO and advanced features require enterprise tiers (often $50-100+/user/month)

Limitations:

• Complex initial setup and configuration
• Per-user pricing adds up quickly for larger teams
• US company subject to CLOUD Act like DocuSign
• Overkill for simple e-signature needs
• Less developer friendly than API first platforms
• SSO and advanced features require expensive enterprise tiers ($50-100+/user/month)

Why choose Adobe Sign over DocuSign: If you need enterprise certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2), Adobe Sign and PandaDoc are your options, though PandaDoc requires enterprise tier for these features and EU hosting. If you’re already paying for Adobe products, Sign may be included or bundled at lower cost, with better PDF manipulation capabilities and deeper Adobe ecosystem integration.

4. PandaDoc - Best for sales teams

What makes it different: PandaDoc is more than e-signatures, it’s a complete document workflow platform with CPQ (configure-price-quote), proposals, and content management built for sales workflows.

Best for:

• Sales teams creating and sending proposals
• Businesses needing document templates with dynamic pricing
• Companies wanting analytics on document engagement
• Organizations needing proposal to signature in one platform

Key features:

• Built in document editor: Create proposals directly in platform without external tools
• Pricing tables and payment collection
• Deep CRM integrations: HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive with bi directional sync
• Security certifications: SOC 2 Type II compliance
• Document analytics (who viewed what, for how long)
• Content library for reusable blocks and templates
• Workflow automation for approval chains

Pricing: Starts at $19/user/month, enterprise features (EU hosting, advanced automation) require higher tiers

Limitations:

• More expensive than pure e-signature tools
• Overkill if you only need signing without proposal features
• EU data hosting requires enterprise plan
• Steeper learning curve due to comprehensive feature set
• Per-user pricing gets expensive for large teams
• SSO typically gated behind enterprise tier

Why choose PandaDoc over DocuSign: If you’re building sales documents from scratch and need proposal to signature workflow with pricing tables, PandaDoc eliminates tool switching between document creation and e-signature platforms.

5. Dropbox Sign (formerly HelloSign) - Best for solo users

What makes it different: Acquired by Dropbox, HelloSign (now Dropbox Sign) is known for its no frills interface and straightforward API.

Best for:

• Solo freelancers or consultants
• Individuals already using Dropbox
• Very light usage (1 user only)

Key features:

• Intuitive drag and drop interface
• Templates for common documents
• Developer friendly API for custom integrations
• Basic integrations (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.)
• Affordable for low-volume users
• Clean, uncluttered user experience

Pricing: €13.33/month for single user only; €24/user/month for 2-4 users; contact for custom quote at 5+ users (pricing becomes uncompetitive vs flat rate alternatives)

Limitations:

• Limited EU data center options
• Fewer enterprise features and workflow automation than Adobe or PandaDoc
• US based company subject to CLOUD Act like DocuSign
• Lacks advanced compliance certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2)
• Per-user pricing doesn’t scale beyond ~7 users
• SSO requires enterprise tier

Why choose Dropbox Sign over DocuSign: Only consider for solo use cases requiring >10 signatures per month - clean UI and reasonable pricing for individuals. For 2+ users, Subnoto and other alternatives offer better value.

Subnoto vs Dropbox Sign: Dropbox Sign only makes sense for solo users dealing with high signature volumes at €13.33/month. For low signature volumes, Subnoto’s free plan offers up to 10 signatures per month, and at 2+ users, Subnoto is dramatically cheaper:

• 2 users: Dropbox €48/month vs Subnoto €38/month (€19/user)
• 5 users: Dropbox €120/month vs Subnoto €95/month per-user or €119 flat
• 7+ users: Dropbox requires custom quotes; Subnoto flat rate is €119/month for unlimited users

If you’re anything beyond a solo user, Subnoto offers better pricing, EU hosting, privacy technology, and developer tools.

How to choose the right DocuSign alternative

Consider these factors when evaluating alternatives:

1. Privacy and compliance requirements

If you handle highly regulated data requiring certifications (aerospace, defense, healthcare with PHI, government contracts): You need platforms with ISO 27001, SOC 2, or industry-specific certifications. Adobe Sign and PandaDoc offer these, though PandaDoc’s certifications and EU hosting require enterprise-tier pricing.

If you need eIDAS Advanced or Qualified Electronic Signatures (notaries, legal property transfers, certain regulated transactions): Yousign or Adobe Sign offer these higher assurance signature types required by specific industries. Both Subnoto and Yousign provide eIDAS compliant simple electronic signatures that cover the vast majority of business use cases: employment contracts, NDAs, commercial agreements, vendor contracts, partnership agreements, service contracts, etc.

If you’re a privacy conscious European SMB without certification requirements: Subnoto’s confidential computing gives you technical privacy guarantees (documents never decrypted server-side, even during processing) that go beyond what GDPR requires at competitive pricing. Good for businesses handling sensitive but not regulated data, for example, startups with proprietary information, consulting firms with client confidentiality, or any business wanting provable privacy without enterprise overhead.

If GDPR compliance is sufficient: Any EU hosted provider (Yousign, Adobe Sign EU, PandaDoc Enterprise, Subnoto) works. Focus on features, pricing model, and developer tools instead of advanced privacy.

2. Team size and growth plans

Solo user: Subnoto offers 10 signatures/month free. Nonprofits get unlimited signatures free. For paid solo use, Dropbox Sign (€13.33/month for unlimited signatures) is cheapest, but Subnoto (€19/user) adds EU hosting, privacy, and SSO for just €6 more.

Small team (2-4 users): Subnoto is dramatically cheaper:

• 2 users: Subnoto €38/month vs Dropbox €48/month
• 4 users: Subnoto €76/month vs Dropbox €96/month Plus Subnoto adds EU hosting, confidential computing, and included SSO.

Growing team (5+ users or expect to hire): Dropbox requires custom quotes at 5+ users (likely €24+/user). Subnoto’s €119/month flat rate becomes dramatically cheaper:

• 5 users: Dropbox €120/month (€24×5) vs Subnoto €119/month flat for unlimited
• 7 users: Dropbox custom quote (~€168/month) vs Subnoto €119/month flat (save ~€50/month)
• 10 users: Dropbox custom quote (~€240/month) vs Subnoto €119/month flat (save €120+/month)
• 15 users: Dropbox custom quote (~€360/month) vs Subnoto €119/month flat (save €240+/month)

Beyond 5 users, Dropbox’s lack of transparent pricing and high per-user costs make Subnoto’s flat rate the better choice.

Enterprise with budget: Adobe Sign or PandaDoc have features and certifications but expect per-user costs to scale linearly.

Free/nonprofit needs: Subnoto is completely free for nonprofits and has a generous free individual tier. No other platform on this list matches this.

3. Use case complexity

Simple signing workflows (HR documents, client agreements, vendor contracts): Subnoto and Yousign provide straightforward solutions for teams. Dropbox Sign works for solo users. All three work out of the box with minimal setup.

Complex approval chains and workflows: Adobe Sign or PandaDoc offer more sophisticated workflow automation for multi-step approvals.

Sales focused workflows with proposals: PandaDoc’s document creation + signing combo is specifically designed for sales teams and eliminates tool switching.

Developer integration into your product: Subnoto’s API, SDKs, webhooks, and MCP server make it easy to embed e-signatures. Dropbox Sign also offers good API documentation. Established players like Adobe Sign have mature APIs but at enterprise pricing.

4. Developer integration needs

Building e-signature into your product: Subnoto offers API, SDKs (Python, JavaScript), webhooks, and an MCP server for AI integration, comprehensive developer tools with a modern architecture. Yousign also has solid API documentation. Adobe Sign and PandaDoc have mature APIs but at enterprise pricing tiers.

No-code integrations out of the box: If you need Salesforce, HubSpot, or Zapier without development work, Yousign, PandaDoc, or Adobe Sign offer more pre-built connectors. Subnoto’s API makes custom integration straightforward but requires development work for CRM connections.

API first vs. UI first: Subnoto and Dropbox Sign are API first platforms that also have intuitive UIs for non-technical users. PandaDoc and Adobe Sign are UI first with APIs added later. Choose based on your primary use case: if you’re a developer or might need integration flexibility later, API first platforms give you more options.

AI integration: Subnoto’s MCP server is unique for integrating e-signature workflows with AI agents and LLM-based automation. If you’re building AI powered document workflows, this is the clear choice.

SSO requirements: Most platforms charge €600-1200/year for SSO on top of base pricing. Subnoto includes SSO at every tier, even the €19/user plan. If your company requires SSO (common for tech companies, security-conscious organizations, or companies with compliance requirements), this saves significant money and eliminates the “enterprise tier” negotiation.

5. Certification and legal requirements

Need security certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2, etc.): Adobe Sign and PandaDoc have these.

Need eIDAS Advanced or Qualified signatures: Yousign and Adobe Sign support these for specific niche use cases (notaries, legal property transfers, certain regulated financial transactions). Subnoto provides eIDAS compliant Simple electronic signatures that work for 95%+ of business contracts.

Privacy technology without formal certifications: Subnoto’s confidential computing provides technical reassurance (documents never decrypted server-side) that most platforms don’t offer. This is provable privacy through architecture, not certifications, important distinction if you care about actual privacy vs. compliance checkboxes.

Switching from DocuSign

Migrating from DocuSign doesn’t have to be painful. Here’s a typical migration process:

1. Export your DocuSign templates and data (most platforms offer export tools)
2. Set up your new platform with company branding, user accounts, and permissions
3. Recreate critical templates in your new system (most alternatives have similar template builders)
4. Test with parallel runs - try 5-10 documents in the new system while maintaining DocuSign
5. Train your team - most alternatives have simpler UIs, so training is minimal (30-60 minutes)
6. Full migration - once confident, switch all workflows

Most companies complete this process in 2-4 weeks. Developer migrations with API integration may take longer initially but provide more flexibility long term.

Conclusion

DocuSign isn’t necessarily the best choice for European companies in 2026. The right alternative depends on your specific needs:

• Choose Subnoto if you’re a developer, solo entrepreneur or growing team (8+ users), or privacy conscious SMB wanting confidential computing, SSO included, and flat rate pricing, and you don’t need enterprise certifications or eIDAS Advanced/Qualified signatures for niche legal use cases
• Choose Yousign if you’re in a specialized industry requiring eIDAS Advanced/Qualified signatures (notaries, certain legal/financial transactions)
• Choose Adobe Sign if you need enterprise certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2) and are already in the Adobe ecosystem, or if Adobe products are your primary workflow
• Choose PandaDoc if you’re a sales team needing document creation + signing in one platform, or if you need SOC 2 certification with sales focused features
• Choose Dropbox Sign only if you’re a solo user needing the absolute cheapest option (€13.33/month) and don’t need EU hosting or developer tools

For developers building e-signature workflows, Subnoto’s API first approach with confidential computing privacy is compelling, especially with SSO included and flat rate pricing that scales. For growing European teams, the pricing model alone justifies a serious look: €119/month for unlimited users means you never worry about adding team members, and included SSO saves €600-1200/year compared to platforms that charge enterprise taxes.

For European SMBs, whether you’re in France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, or anywhere in the EU, the choice between Subnoto (privacy + developer tools + scaling) and Yousign (certifications + eIDAS Advanced/Qualified signatures + established track record) depends on whether you need formal compliance frameworks for niche use cases or prefer technical privacy guarantees with developer friendly tools at predictable costs. Most general businesses will find Subnoto’s simple eIDAS signatures sufficient.

The European e-signature landscape is diverse enough that you don’t need to settle for US based solutions with data sovereignty concerns. Whether you prioritize privacy technology, certifications, developer tools, or cost predictability, there’s likely a better fit than DocuSign for your specific situation.

Ready to try a DocuSign alternative? Start signing with Subnoto’s free plan or explore Subnoto’s developer documentation.