Alternative to SignNow: an eIDAS electronic signature, billed per envelope and hosted in Europe
SignNow is the signature component of American group airSlate. It has no permanent free plan, bills each package per user and in dollars, reserves the API for the Business Premium plan, gives access to eIDAS qualified signature only after activation by its sales team and offers European hosting only by negotiation on the Enterprise plan. For a European company, Certyneo is a French alternative: permanent free plan, API included from the Standard plan, three eIDAS levels and data in the European Union.
Pricing and features of SignNow collected from its public website on May 26, 2026. Grids evolve: re-verify before committing. View source
Why look for an alternative to SignNow?
No permanent free plan
SignNow offers a 7-day trial, then a subscription starting at $20 USD per user per month. Certyneo offers 5 envelopes for 14 days, then 2/month permanently, without a credit card.
Qualified signature only after activation by the sales team
By default, SignNow produces simple signatures, with an audit trail designed for the American ESIGN Act. eIDAS qualified signature goes through partner trust service providers, which an administrator must have activated by the sales team; advanced signature is not publicly documented. Certyneo offers all three eIDAS levels on a self-service basis, with QES per act at €14.90.
API reserved for the Business Premium plan
SignNow's REST API requires the Business Premium plan at $30 USD per user per month. At Certyneo, it is included from the Standard plan at €19/month, with webhooks.
European hosting to be negotiated
SignNow data is hosted on AWS in the United States; a European option is negotiated on the Enterprise plan, without default guarantee, and airSlate Inc. remains subject to the Cloud Act. Certyneo hosts in the European Union, under French law.
Certyneo against SignNow: six criteria that decide
| Criterion | Certyneo | SignNow |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 5 envelopes for 14 days, then 2/month, without a credit card | None — 7-day trial |
| Paid entry price | €9/month for 25 envelopes | $20 USD per user per month (Business) |
| REST API and webhooks | Included from the Standard plan at €19/month | Business Premium plan at $30 USD per user per month |
| eIDAS levels | Simple, advanced and qualified (QES per transaction, €14.90 per signature) | Simple; qualified via partner providers, after activation by the sales team |
| Hosting and jurisdiction | European Union, French entity, outside Cloud Act | AWS United States; European option negotiable on Enterprise; American entity |
| Billing model | Per envelope, 10 users included from Standard plan onwards | Per user per month on all plans |
Prices excluding taxes, collected from the public pricing pages of both editors on the date indicated above. The brands mentioned belong to their respective owners.
What you find at Certyneo
The expected features of electronic signature software, without changing your signers' habits.
Envelope sending and tracking
Multiple signers in sequence or in parallel, automatic reminders, real-time tracking and timestamped audit trail.
Reusable templates and fields
Templates with signature, date, text and checkbox fields; company stamp applied automatically from the Standard plan onwards.
Three eIDAS levels
Simple signature, advanced with SMS authentication, and qualified by act, recognized throughout the European Union.
API, webhooks and integrations
Documented REST API and webhooks included from the Standard plan onwards, self-service integration catalogue.
When to stay with SignNow
SignNow remains the right choice if you already use the airSlate suite (Bots, WorkFlow, pdfFiller) and want signature in the same ecosystem, if your signature workflows are multi-step automations built with no-code, or if you operate mainly in the United States and ESIGN Act compliance is sufficient for your documents.
Migrate from SignNow to Certyneo
Three steps, without interruption to your ongoing signatures.
- 1. Export
Download your signed PDFs and their audit certificates from SignNow: they remain valid indefinitely and do not need to be re-signed.
- 2. Reconstruct the templates
Import your template documents into the Certyneo editor and reposition the fields. This step is up to you: the migration offer brings over your signed contracts, not your templates.
- 3. Switch new submissions
Create your first envelopes from the free plan, connect the API or your integrations, then cancel SignNow at the expiry date.
Frequently asked questions about the alternative to SignNow
- Does Certyneo replace SignNow?
- Yes for electronic signature: envelopes, multiple signers in sequence or in parallel, templates, reminders, form fields, audit trail, API and webhooks. Certyneo adds advanced signature and qualified eIDAS signature on a self-service basis, a permanent free plan and hosting in the European Union. It does not replace the no-code automations of the airSlate suite.
- Does SignNow offer a free plan?
- No. SignNow offers a 7-day trial, then paid plans starting at $20 USD per user per month. Certyneo offers a permanent free plan: 5 envelopes for 14 days, then 2/month, with no credit card required.
- Is SignNow eIDAS compliant?
- By default, SignNow produces simple electronic signatures, admissible under the eIDAS regulation. Qualified signature is available through partner trust service providers, which an administrator must have activated by the sales team; advanced signature is not publicly documented. Certyneo offers all three levels on a self-service basis, QES per transaction.
- Where is SignNow data hosted?
- On AWS in the United States by default. A European hosting option is negotiable on the Enterprise plan, without contractual guarantee by default, and airSlate Inc. is subject to the Cloud Act. Certyneo hosts in the European Union and is subject to French law.
- How much does SignNow's API cost compared to Certyneo's?
- The SignNow API requires the Business Premium plan, at $30 USD per user per month. The Certyneo API is included from the Standard plan, at €19/month for 100 envelopes and up to 10 users, with webhooks and public documentation.
- Will my documents signed on SignNow remain valid after migration?
- Yes, indefinitely. The probative value depends on the certificate and audit trail produced at the time of signature. Export your signed PDFs and their certificates before cancelling, archive them, then switch your new shipments to Certyneo.
The other alternatives in this comparison
Each page follows the same layout: why leave, what Certyneo offers instead, when to stay.