European alternatives to DocuSign
DocuSign is the best-known e-signature provider, but it is US-based and can therefore be subject to the US CLOUD Act. Anyone who wants to sign contracts with legal certainty and sovereignty will find eIDAS-compliant alternatives in Europe – some with a qualified signature (QES) directly from the provider and data residency in the EU or Switzerland.
Why look for an alternative?
Reasons to switch include data sovereignty (no US jurisdiction), an eIDAS-compliant qualified signature (QES) that is legally equivalent to a handwritten one, and data residency in the EU or Switzerland. European providers are also often closer to local legal and language requirements.
What to look for in an alternative
- Signature level: is AES enough or is QES required?
- Is the provider itself a QTSP (EU Trusted List) or just an intermediary?
- Server location/data residency (EU or Switzerland), certifications (ISO 27001, SecNumCloud)
- Integrations and API for your own workflows
- Pricing model including QES/identity costs per transaction
The best European alternatives at a glance
Sorted by suitability as a replacement for the tool you searched. The Sovereignty Score independently rates how European and data-sovereign a provider is – so the two values can differ.
French eIDAS QTSP for electronic signatures – qualified signature (QES) directly from the provider, data in France on SecNumCloud.
Swiss e-signature for all levels under eIDAS and ZertES – QES via Swisscom/A-Trust, data in Switzerland to banking standards.
Swedish eIDAS QTSP for e-signature and eID – QES from the EU, with a variant running exclusively on European infrastructure.
Large Italian eIDAS QTSP for qualified signatures and seals – pan-European (IT/FR/ES), a leader in eIDAS 2 / EUDI Wallet.
Comparison table
| Providers | Fit | Sovereignty | Headquarters | Open Source | Self-hosting | EU hosting | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yousign | 92 | 90 | France | Subscription per user/month (QES partly per signature) | |||
| Skribble | 86 | 80 | Switzerland | Subscription per user/month (QES per signature) | |||
| Scrive | 84 | 84 | Sweden | Subscription per user/month (QES partly per signature) | |||
| Namirial | 80 | 86 | Italy | Enterprise/custom (on request) |
The top providers in detail
Yousign is one of the leading European e-signature providers and a genuine, sovereign alternative to DocuSign. Unlike many competitors, Yousign is itself a qualified trust service provider (QTSP) on the EU Trusted List and can issue qualified electronic signatures (QES) – legally equivalent to a handwritten signature – directly. Data is hosted exclusively in France on SecNumCloud-certified infrastructure – France's highest sovereignty certification for cloud services – with an ANSSI security visa. Yousign offers simple (SES), advanced (AES) and qualified (QES) signatures, templates, signing workflows and an API for integration into your own processes.
Strengths
- Own eIDAS QTSP – QES directly from the provider
- Data exclusively in France, SecNumCloud-certified
- All signature levels (SES/AES/QES) plus API
- A clearly European, sovereign alternative to DocuSign
Weaknesses
- Not open source, no self-hosting
- QES transactions often billed additionally
- Entry-level pricing not very transparent on the website
Skribble is a Swiss signing service from Zurich (with a site in Karlsruhe) covering all signature levels under EU law (eIDAS) and Swiss law (ZertES): simple (SES), advanced (AES) and qualified (QES) signatures. Skribble is not itself a trust service provider, but works with recognised certification authorities – Swisscom Trust Services (recognised under EU and Swiss law) and A-Trust (EU) – so legally valid QES are possible. Data is hosted in Switzerland to banking standards; processing complies with the GDPR and the Swiss FADP. For German-speaking markets, Skribble is a particularly easy-to-use, sovereign alternative to DocuSign.
Strengths
- All signature levels under eIDAS and Swiss ZertES
- QES via recognised services (Swisscom, A-Trust)
- Data in Switzerland to banking standards
- Very easy to use
Weaknesses
- Not itself a QTSP – qualified certificates via partners
- Data residency Switzerland rather than the EU (country with an adequacy decision)
- Not open source, no self-hosting
Scrive is a Swedish provider of electronic signatures and electronic identity (eID) from Stockholm and an EU-recognised qualified trust service provider (QTSP) able to issue qualified signatures (QES). For organisations with strict requirements, Scrive offers the "Scrive EC" (Extended Compliance) variant, which runs all core services exclusively with European-owned, European-located providers, avoiding exposure to US jurisdiction. Scrive is especially widespread in the Northern European and public sectors. Since 2020 the company has been majority-owned by the European private-equity firm Vitruvian Partners.
Strengths
- EU-recognised QTSP – QES available
- "Scrive EC" runs exclusively on European infrastructure (no US jurisdiction)
- Strong eID integration (especially Nordic eIDs)
- Experience in the public sector
Weaknesses
- Majority private-equity owned (Vitruvian Partners)
- Not open source, no self-hosting
- Full freedom from US jurisdiction only in the EC variant
Migration effort
| Providers | Migration effort | Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Yousign | low | 92/100 |
| Skribble | low | 86/100 |
| Scrive | medium | 84/100 |
| Namirial | medium | 80/100 |
When switching pays off
Switching is worthwhile if data sovereignty and a clearly European legal and data basis matter to you, or if you need qualified signatures (QES) with EU/Swiss data residency. For the DACH region, Yousign and Skribble are especially obvious choices.
When to stick with your current tool
If your company is deeply embedded in an existing DocuSign ecosystem with many integrations, a migration can mean effort. In that case, check whether a European QTSP such as Yousign, Scrive or Namirial covers your requirements (including API).
Frequently asked questions
Are European e-signatures as legally valid as DocuSign?
Which alternative suits German-speaking markets?
The Sovereignty Score is an editorial orientation aid, not legal advice. How we rate.