Alternative to PandaDoc: electronic signature without the "document management" layer
PandaDoc is a platform for proposals and quotes with integrated electronic signature. Its free plan signs without limits but without templates, without API and without custom branding; the API only comes in the Business plan, billed per user in dollars; and eIDAS qualified signature is not native to it. If your need is to have contracts signed with European probative value, at a cost that follows your sends rather than your headcount, Certyneo is the French alternative to compare.
Pricing and features of PandaDoc collected from its public website on April 1, 2026. Grids evolve: re-verify before committing. View source
Why look for an alternative to PandaDoc?
A free plan that signs, but without everyday tools
PandaDoc's Free eSign plan allows unlimited signatures, but without reusable templates, without API, without custom branding or CRM integration. Certyneo's free plan includes one reusable template and the same audit trail as paid plans.
API only comes in the Business plan
At PandaDoc, the REST API is reserved for the Business plan at $49 USD per user per month. At Certyneo, it is included from the Standard plan at €19/month, with webhooks and public documentation.
No native eIDAS qualified signature
PandaDoc covers simple signature and, via add-ons, advanced signature. Qualified signature (QES), the one required by certain formalities and public procurements, is not offered natively. Certyneo offers it per transaction, on all plans.
Per-user billing, in dollars
Essentials and Business plans are billed per user per month, in dollars, and European hosting is only available in Enterprise on quote. Certyneo bills per envelope, in euros, and hosts in the European Union by default.
Certyneo against PandaDoc: six criteria that decide
| Criterion | Certyneo | PandaDoc |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 5 envelopes for 14 days, then 2/month, with 1 reusable template | Unlimited signatures, but without templates, API or custom branding |
| Paid entry price | €9/month for 25 envelopes | $19 USD per user per month (Essentials) |
| REST API and webhooks | Included from the Standard plan at €19/month | Business plan at $49 USD per user per month |
| Qualified signature (QES) | Per signature on all plans: €14.90 without a subscription, €9.90 with one | Not available natively |
| Hosting and jurisdiction | European Union, French entity, outside Cloud Act | AWS global; European option reserved for Enterprise; American entity |
| Integrated document editor | Field and template editor; contract generation via Certyneo generator | Rich proposal editor, conditional logic and product catalogue |
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 PandaDoc
PandaDoc remains the right choice if your sales team produces enriched proposals and quotes, with product catalogue, conditional logic and CPQ, and if they manage them from Salesforce or HubSpot with automated workflows. Signature is only one step of the document: if it's the document itself that saves you time, the comparison doesn't come down to signature.
Migrate from PandaDoc to Certyneo
Three steps, without interruption to your ongoing signatures.
- 1. Export
Download your signed PDFs and their audit certificates from PandaDoc: 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 PandaDoc at the expiry date.
Frequently asked questions about the alternative to PandaDoc
- Does Certyneo replace PandaDoc?
- For electronic signature, yes: envelopes, multiple signatories, templates, reminders, audit trail and simple, advanced and qualified eIDAS levels. For drafting commercial proposals with catalogue and conditional logic, no: that's the heart of PandaDoc, and Certyneo is limited to document templates and the contract generator.
- Is PandaDoc's free plan enough for a business?
- It allows unlimited signing, but without reusable templates, without API, without custom branding or CRM integration: each send is prepared manually. As soon as a document repeats, the Essentials plan becomes necessary, at $19 USD per user per month.
- Is PandaDoc compliant with GDPR and eIDAS?
- PandaDoc declares its GDPR compliance, but remains an American company subject to the Cloud Act, with European hosting reserved for the Enterprise plan. On the eIDAS side, it covers simple signature and, via add-ons, advanced; qualified signature is not native. Certyneo is a French entity hosted in the European Union and offers all three eIDAS levels.
- How much does PandaDoc's API cost compared to Certyneo's?
- PandaDoc API is reserved for the Business plan, at $49 USD per user per month. Certyneo API is included from the Standard plan, at €19/month for 100 envelopes and up to 10 users, with webhooks.
- Can you migrate your PandaDoc templates to Certyneo?
- PandaDoc templates cannot be imported as-is, but they can be recreated: export your standard documents as PDF, import them into the Certyneo editor and reposition the signature, date and text fields. This step is up to you: the migration offer brings over signed contracts, not templates.
- Do my documents signed on PandaDoc remain valid?
- Yes, indefinitely. The evidential value of an electronic signature depends on the certificate and audit trail produced at the time of signing, not on your current subscription. Export the signed PDFs and their certificates before cancelling, and archive them.
The other alternatives in this comparison
Each page follows the same layout: why leave, what Certyneo offers instead, when to stay.