The mandatory move to the French INPI Guichet Unique in 2023 turned electronic signature from an option into an obligation. To validate an articles amendment, an annual accounts filing or a business cessation, you must provide an eIDAS qualified signature. And then you discover that prices range from €29 to over €800 per year depending on the provider.
This article gives a complete tour of INPI electronic signature pricing in 2026, provider by provider, with what's actually included. By the end, you'll know which pricing model fits your need (one-off or recurring).
Why prices vary so much
The qualified electronic signature market for INPI has two speeds:
- Pay-as-you-go providers, who charge each signature individually (€29 to €50 ex. VAT per signature), designed for individuals and small businesses with 1-3 formalities per year.
- Subscription providers, who sell an annual plan (€300 to €800 ex. VAT) with a signature quota, designed for accounting firms, lawyers, and large structures signing dozens of documents per month.
The confusion comes from a director with only one formality to sign landing on a subscription site and ending up paying €39 ex. VAT per month for 12 months for a single signature. That's the most expensive mistake on the market.
Pricing comparison: qualified signature for INPI in 2026
Real prices observed in April 2026 for an eIDAS qualified signature accepted by the INPI Guichet Unique:
SignerSynthèse.fr — €19 ex. VAT per signature
Our service is positioned on pay-as-you-go without subscription. You pay €19 ex. VAT (€22.80 incl. VAT) once, you receive your qualified eIDAS-signed summary in 2 minutes. No commitment, no auto-renewal. Technical provider: Universign (Cryptolog International), listed on the EU Trust List.
For: SME directors, micro-entrepreneurs, individuals signing 1 to 5 formalities per year.
Yousign Pro — from €25 ex. VAT/month (€300 ex. VAT/year)
Yousign offers a Pro subscription from €25 ex. VAT/month billed annually (€300 ex. VAT/year), including 50 simple signature sends per month. For eIDAS qualified signature, you must move to a Pro+ or Business plan, with an additional €5 to €12 cost per qualified signature. Expect at least €360 to €600 ex. VAT/year to access qualified.
For: small firms, structures signing more than 10 documents per month.
DocuSign Standard — from €38 ex. VAT/month (€456 ex. VAT/year)
DocuSign positions its qualified signature on Business Pro and Enterprise plans. The Standard plan at €38 ex. VAT/month (€456 ex. VAT/year) covers simple signature; eIDAS qualified requires upgrading to Business Pro at €52 ex. VAT/month (€624 ex. VAT/year) with a limited qualified signature quota.
For: international companies, sales teams with multi-signer workflows.
Universign direct — around €80 ex. VAT/month
Universign also sells its services directly to companies without going through a reseller, with an entry ticket around €80 ex. VAT/month for 10 qualified signatures per month. It's the technical provider behind SignerSynthèse.fr, AR24, and several other French players.
For: integrators, IT service companies looking for an API.
AR24 — 5-signature pack at €99 ex. VAT
AR24 (Docaposte / La Poste) offers packs: 5 qualified signatures at €99 ex. VAT (~€20/signature), 10 at €179 ex. VAT, 25 at €399 ex. VAT. No mandatory annual subscription, but the pack expires after 12 months.
For: someone who knows in advance they will sign multiple documents in the year.
Pricing recap 2026
| Provider | Model | Price per qualified signature |
|---|---|---|
| SignerSynthèse.fr | Pay-as-you-go | €19 ex. VAT (€34.80 incl.) |
| AR24 (5-pack) | Annual pack | ~€20 ex. VAT |
| Yousign Pro+ | Subscription | €5–12 + €360/year min. |
| DocuSign Business Pro | Subscription | €624/year min. |
| Universign direct | API subscription | ~€80/month min. |
Only one signature to do? €19 ex. VAT, no subscription.
eIDAS qualified electronic signature delivered by email in 2 minutes. 100% accepted by the INPI Guichet Unique.
Sign my summary →What's included in the price: the hidden details
Beyond the headline price, what matters is what's actually included. Points to check:
1. Identity verification (PVID)
To produce a qualified signature, the provider must verify your identity under EU Regulation eIDAS 910/2014. The market standard is the ANSSI-certified PVID journey: front/back ID photo + selfie + SMS code. Verify it's included in the announced price. With SignerSynthèse.fr, it is.
2. Long-term archiving
The qualified signature must be verifiable for several years. Some providers charge long-term archiving as an option (€10 to €50 ex. VAT/year). The PDF signed at SignerSynthèse.fr includes all cryptographic verification elements directly in the file (LTV — Long Term Validation), at no extra cost.
3. Expert callback
A failed signature, a blocked formality, an INPI error message... these happen. Verify that human assistance is included. With us, the phone callback at +33 1 82 28 02 30 is free and unlimited, Monday to Friday, 9am–12pm and 2pm–7pm CET. On weekends and public holidays, we reply by email.
4. INPI Guichet Unique compliance
Not all qualified providers are equivalent for the Guichet Unique. Check explicitly that INPI accepts 100% of signed PDFs. With SignerSynthèse.fr, the acceptance rate is 100% on more than 2,000 signed documents to date.
The "free electronic signature" trap
When you search "INPI electronic signature" on Google, you'll find results promising free signature. Be careful: no free signature reaches the eIDAS qualified level.
- Adobe Sign / Adobe Reader (free): simple signature. Rejected by INPI.
- Handwritten scanned signature: no legal value. Rejected.
- FranceConnect+ via La Poste basic Digital Identity: substantial level, not qualified. Rejected by INPI for amendments and accounts.
- Yousign free plan: 5 simple-level signatures per month. Rejected.
The only "free signature" that passes INPI is FranceConnect+ with La Poste Digital Identity certified level, but it requires a physical visit to a French post office for certification, and the service regularly fails (blank page, orange banner, infinite loop).
Which provider should you choose?
You have 1 to 3 INPI formalities to sign per year
Choose a pay-as-you-go provider with no subscription. SignerSynthèse.fr at €19 ex. VAT per signature is unbeatable. No commitment, no renewal, no platform access to manage.
You're an accountant or lawyer with 10+ formalities/month
A Yousign Pro+ subscription or AR24 25-pack will cost less per use. Expect €12 to €20 per qualified signature depending on volume. Above 50 signatures/month, negotiate a direct contract with Universign.
You're a large company with API needs
Look at Universign, Yousign API or DocuSign Enterprise. Quote-based pricing, generally from €1,500 ex. VAT/month for industrial volumes.
How to avoid overpaying
1. Never subscribe for a single signature
The most common mistake: a director subscribing to Yousign at €39/month to sign a business cessation, ending up billed for 12 months (€468) for not cancelling in time. Pay-as-you-go avoids this trap.
2. Verify the provider is on the EU Trust List
Only Qualified Trust Service Providers (QTSPs) listed on the European Trust List can produce a signature accepted by INPI. Official list: eidas.ec.europa.eu/efda/tl-browser.
3. Beware of hook prices
Some sites advertise "from €5": that's usually simple signature, which will be rejected by INPI. The real qualified rate starts at €19 ex. VAT.
4. Read the terms before paying
Check: silent renewal, hidden fees (identity verification, archiving), minimum commitment. Our Terms are deliberately short: no subscription, no renewal.