Certyneo vs Dropbox Sign: 2026 comparison
Formerly HelloSign, now part of the Dropbox ecosystem. Neutral comparison of both solutions on the criteria that really matter: actual pricing, eIDAS compliance, US Cloud Act exposure, and API access.
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, États-Unis
- Hosting
- AWS USA par défaut — pas d'option EU native documentée
- US Cloud Act
- Exposed
Data verified on 2026-09-26 from Dropbox Sign's official website. Pricing and features evolve — verify before signing.
Dropbox Sign public pricing
Dropbox Sign offers a free plan. Dropbox Sign propose un plan gratuit limité à 3 signatures par mois.
| Plan | Price | Includes | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 0 $US | 3 signatures / mois — 1 utilisateur — sans API | Limite stricte à 3 signatures/mois, aucun template réutilisable |
| Essentials | 15 $US / mois | Signatures illimitées — 1 utilisateur — templates — pas d'API | API non incluse — vendue sur une grille séparée, dès 75 $US/mois |
| Standard | 25 $US / utilisateur / mois | Multi-utilisateurs — templates — intégrations basiques | — |
| Standard, 5 utilisateurs et plus | Sur devis | Contact commercial obligatoire au-delà de 4 utilisateurs | — |
For comparison — Certyneo offers a permanent Free plan (5 envelopes for 14 days, then 2/mo), a Standard plan at €19/month with REST API included, and a Business plan at €39/month (Business) or €99/month (Business Pro) with unlimited envelopes (billed per account, not per sending user). See Certyneo details
Feature-by-feature comparison
Neutral comparison table. Each row shows what each solution offers according to its public documentation.
| Feature | Certyneo | Dropbox Sign |
|---|---|---|
| Plan gratuit | 5 enveloppes pendant 14 jours, puis 2/mois — 1 utilisateur — eIDAS SES + audit trail | Plan gratuit limité à 3 signatures/mois — sans API ni templates |
| API REST + webhooks | Inclus dès le plan Standard (19 €/mois) — endpoints documentés | API REST (ex-HelloSign API) vendue à part, sur sa propre grille — dès 75 $US/mois pour 50 demandes de signature |
| Templates réutilisables | Illimités sur tous les plans — champs dynamiques | Inclus à partir du plan Essentials |
| Multi-signataires (séquentiel ou parallèle) | Inclus sur tous les plans payants | Inclus sur Essentials et plans supérieurs |
| Preuve de signature & audit trail | PDF de preuve eIDAS, horodatage RFC 3161, log immuable | Audit trail conforme eSign Act US — journal des activités exportable |
| Signature qualifiée (QES) | AES via OTP SMS — QES en option (réservé entreprise) | AES et QES via l'option payante eID (vérification d'identité), sur devis |
| Hébergement UE par défaut | IONOS, Union européenne — pas d'option non-UE | Pas d'option d'hébergement UE native documentée publiquement |
| Exposition au Cloud Act US | Aucune — entité française, infrastructure UE | Exposé — entité US-domiciled (Dropbox, Inc.) |
| Interface utilisateur disponible en | 24 langues | 17 langues |
| Tampon d'entreprise réutilisable | Inclus dès le plan Standard (19 €/mois) — jusqu'à 5 tampons configurables, appliqués automatiquement sur les documents signés à côté de la signature | Pas de tampon d'entreprise dédié — workaround par upload d'image dans un champ signature |
Choose Certyneo if…
- Vos données doivent rester en UE — Dropbox Sign n'offre pas d'option d'hébergement UE native.
- Vous voulez la signature avancée et la QES en libre-service (QES à l'acte : 14,90 € sans abonnement, 9,90 € avec) plutôt qu'en option payante sur devis.
- Vous voulez l'API REST incluse dans le forfait (19 €/mois) plutôt que vendue à part, dès 75 $US/mois.
- Votre volume dépasse les 3 signatures/mois du gratuit Dropbox Sign — le forfait Personnel de Certyneo en couvre 25 pour 9 €/mois, et le gratuit en offre 5 par mois pendant 14 jours, puis 2.
Stay with Dropbox Sign if…
- Vous utilisez déjà Dropbox Business ou Paper et voulez intégrer la signature sans changer d'écosystème.
- Vos besoins sont simples (< 3 signatures/mois) et le plan gratuit suffit.
- Vous développez des intégrations basées sur l'API HelloSign historique (Dropbox Sign conserve la compatibilité).
Frequently asked questions
Are Dropbox Sign and HelloSign the same thing?
Yes. HelloSign was acquired by Dropbox in 2019 and rebranded as Dropbox Sign in 2023. The product, API, and integrations remain the same under this new name. Integrations developed with the HelloSign API continue to work.
Is Dropbox Sign GDPR compliant for French contracts?
Dropbox Sign claims to be GDPR compliant but Dropbox, Inc. is a US entity subject to the Cloud Act. Without a documented EU hosting option, your contract data transits and is stored on servers subject to US jurisdiction. For employment contracts, mandates, or NDAs, this represents a non-negligible legal risk.
What is the difference between Dropbox Sign and Certyneo on eIDAS compliance?
By default, Dropbox Sign produces simple signatures (SES). The AES and QES levels defined by the eIDAS regulation are available through the eID option, which adds identity verification: it is a paid extra, priced on quotation. Certyneo offers all three levels (SES, AES, QES) on a self-service basis, with RFC 3161 timestamping and QES on a pay-per-use basis at €14.90.
Is the Dropbox Sign API accessible without contacting sales?
Yes, but separately: the Dropbox Sign API is not included in any signature plan and is sold on its own price list, from $75 USD per month for 50 signature requests. Certyneo includes the REST API and webhooks from the Standard plan at €19/month, at no extra cost.
Is Dropbox Sign subject to the American Cloud Act?
Yes. Dropbox, Inc. is a US company listed on NASDAQ, subject to the CLOUD Act and FISA. All data processed by Dropbox Sign — including employment contracts, mandates and NDAs — can be subject to a US order. Certyneo is a French company whose data is hosted in the European Union: it is not exposed to that extraterritorial reach.
Is long-term archiving (10 years) included with Dropbox Sign?
Dropbox Sign retains signed documents as long as the account is active and offers manual export of PDFs + audit trail. There is no integrated digital safe with long-term legal archiving. Certyneo includes 10-year archiving (article 1379 of the Civil Code) in an encrypted vault on all plans, accessible via API and enforceable in French courts.
Is payment collection possible during signing with Dropbox Sign?
Not natively. Dropbox Sign does not offer payment collection during signing; you must integrate a third-party module (Stripe, PayPal) via Zapier or the API. Certyneo Business at €39/month natively includes payment collection (card, SEPA, Mobile Money) at the moment of signature — relevant for management mandates, property agreements, and commercial deposits.
Can you sign without a Dropbox account on Dropbox Sign?
Yes, just like with Certyneo. Signatories receive a unique email link and sign without creating a Dropbox account. An account is only necessary for sender users who prepare and send envelopes. This applies to all Dropbox Sign and Certyneo plans.