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 — €29 ex. VAT per signature
Our service is positioned on pay-as-you-go without subscription. You pay €29 ex. VAT (€34.80 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 | €29 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? €29 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, 7 days/week, 9am-7pm CET.
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 €29 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 €29 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.