HelloSign vs DocuSign in 2026: which to pick (and the best European alternative)?
Pricing, features, eIDAS compliance, GDPR hosting — the two US players compared, plus the European alternative.
HelloSign vs DocuSign: which to pick?
HelloSign was renamed Dropbox Sign in 2022 — pick it if you already use Dropbox Business. DocuSign remains the reference for ultra-complex workflows and deep Salesforce integration. But both are US-hosted, exposed to the Cloud Act, and billed per-sender — a cost that scales linearly. Certyneo is the native European alternative (eIDAS, German hosting, free tier), from €19/month flat for 5 users.
Why this comparison?
HelloSign (now Dropbox Sign) and DocuSign are the two best-known US electronic-signature players. But neither offers a guaranteed EU hosting option on its standard plans — a blocker for many European companies.
This page lines up the two US solutions side by side, then presents Certyneo as the European-native alternative. All numbers are verifiable on the three vendors' public pricing pages (sources at the bottom).
European compliance
eIDAS imposes strict standards. All three are SES-compliant — but only Certyneo covers AES and QES natively.
True total cost
Beyond the sticker price, the billing model changes everything. HelloSign and DocuSign charge per sender; Certyneo charges flat per team.
Data sovereignty
Dropbox Sign and DocuSign host on AWS USA by default and are exposed to the Cloud Act. Certyneo hosts in Germany, with no Cloud Act exposure.
Differentiating features
AI contract generator, AI review, flat-priced REST API — available only on Certyneo in this trio.
Pricing comparison
For a 5-person team with ~100 envelopes / month
DocuSign
Business Pro
~65 €
/ user / month
- eIDAS signature
- API available
- EU hosting not guaranteed
- Per-user pricing
- No free plan
Dropbox Sign
Standard
~25 $
/ user / month
- eIDAS signature
- US hosting by default
- ~ API on Premium plan only
- Per-user pricing
- No AI generation
Certyneo
Standard
19 €
/ month — 5 users included
- eIDAS signature (SES, AES, QES)
- EU hosting (Germany)
- Full REST API
- Flat pricing
- AI generator included
Full feature comparison
Every key feature reviewed, no sugar-coating.
| Criterion | Certyneo | DocuSign | Dropbox Sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💶 Pricing | |||
| Entry plan | €0 (5 env.) | No free plan | 3 free/month |
| Team plan (5 users) | €20 / month | ~€325 / month | ~€125 / month |
| Billing model | Flat | Per user | Per user |
| Unlimited envelopes | Business plan | Plan-limited | Plan-limited |
| 🏛 Compliance & legality | |||
| Simple signature (SES) eIDAS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced signature (AES) eIDAS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Full audit trail | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 10-year archive | ✓ Included | Optional | Optional |
| 🔒 Security & data | |||
| EU hosting | ✓ Germany | ✗ USA by default | ✗ USA by default |
| US Cloud Act exposure | None | Exposed | Exposed |
| Native GDPR compliance | ✓ | Partial | Partial |
| ⚙️ Features | |||
| Multi-signers & ordering | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI contract generator | ✓ Exclusive | ✗ | ✗ |
| Full REST API | ✓ From €9/mo | ✓ Business Pro plan | Premium only |
| AI contract review | ✓ Exclusive | ✗ | ✗ |
| Free assisted migration | ✓ Free | ✗ | ✗ |
| UI in | 41 languages | 44 languages | 17 languages |
Which solution for which use case?
Based on your context, here's our honest recommendation.
✦ Pick Certyneo if…
You're a European SMB, startup or professional firm
- Budget matters (up to -85% vs HelloSign/DocuSign)
- Your data must stay in the EU — Cloud Act is a no-go
- You need AES or QES on top of SES (HelloSign and DocuSign limit AES/QES)
- You want to generate or review contracts with AI
- You want a flat-priced REST API (€19/month)
→ Consider DocuSign if…
You have US or multi-region constraints
- You operate cross-border at US/AsiaPac scale
- You rely on deep Salesforce or Workday integrations
- You need CFR Part 11 (FDA-regulated pharma)
→ Consider Dropbox Sign (HelloSign) if…
You're already on Dropbox Business
- Your team already uses Dropbox Paper, Capture or Dropbox Business
- Your needs are simple (< 5 signatures/month) and the legacy HelloSign API suffices
✦ Certyneo shines for…
These sectors
- Real estate (mandates, agreements, leases)
- HR (contracts, amendments, mutual terminations)
- Legal (engagement letters, private deeds)
- Healthcare (consents, agreements)
- Freelancers & contractors (quotes, T&Cs)
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Frequently asked questions
What companies ask before switching.
Does HelloSign still exist?
HelloSign was renamed Dropbox Sign in August 2022 following Dropbox's 2019 acquisition. Existing users were automatically migrated. The HelloSign brand is no longer used — any 'HelloSign' search now points to Dropbox Sign.
Are Dropbox Sign and DocuSign both eIDAS-compliant?
Both support SES (Simple Electronic Signature), which is baseline eIDAS-compliant. DocuSign offers AES and QES via its paid EU offering. Dropbox Sign is SES-only — no native AES or QES, which can block high-stakes deeds (employment contracts, leases, SEPA mandates).
What happens to documents I already signed on HelloSign or DocuSign?
Already-signed documents retain their legal value regardless of your current platform. The electronic signature certificate is the proof — you can download the original PDFs to archive in Certyneo or anywhere.
Can I integrate Certyneo with my CRM or HR tool?
Yes. Certyneo offers native integrations with HubSpot, Pipedrive, Make, Zapier, and a full REST API from the Standard plan (€19/month). Webhooks cover signature, return, and expiration events.
Does the US Cloud Act apply to Dropbox Sign and DocuSign?
Yes. Dropbox, Inc. (Dropbox Sign) and DocuSign, Inc. are US entities, so they fall under the Cloud Act. This means US authorities can access data stored by these companies regardless of physical hosting location. To escape this exposure you need a provider whose legal entity is in the EU — Certyneo fits (French entity, German hosting).
Other comparisons
Certyneo head-to-head with each solution, no sugar-coating.
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