# SmartDocs as a Yousign alternative

> The German alternative to Yousign: data hosted in Germany instead of France, a simple pricing model, QES and in-person signing. Start for free.

Source: https://smartdocs.de/en/yousign-alternative/

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Yousign is an established European provider headquartered in France. European is good. But for many German companies, data protection officers and works councils, hosting in Germany is the simpler answer: no cross-border data flow, German data protection law, German data centers. SmartDocs combines what Yousign does well with the advantage of being based in Germany and a pricing model without tier puzzles.

## Head-to-head comparison

| Criterion | SmartDocs | Yousign |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Headquarters | Germany | France |
| Data hosting | Exclusively Germany (Nuremberg) | France / EU |
| Pricing model | Two clear plans: €25 or €40 per seat | Four plans (€9 to €38) with tiered feature limits |
| Free plan | Yes, 5 signature requests per month | Yes, 2 signature requests per month |
| QES | Yes, terms on request | Yes, approx. €10 to €15 extra per signature |
| In-person signing (kiosk mode) | Yes | Not advertised |
| API access | Included in the Pro plan at no extra cost | Separate API plans from approx. €104 per month |

## In fairness

Yousign has been on the market for years, offers a mature platform with identification and seal products and serves more than 30,000 customers in Europe. If you also need KYC verification or electronic seals, you will find a broader portfolio there.

As of June 2026. The SmartDocs Free plan is permanently free.