Updated October 2026 · Prices checked October 6, 2026
A d.velop sign alternative, and when d.velop is the better pick
d.velop sign, from German software company d.velop AG, offers all three eIDAS levels (simple, advanced and qualified), runs on T Cloud Public data centers in Germany and the Netherlands, and is sold within d.velop's document management plans, with a €17 one-off identification fee per user for personal signatures. eSignSimple offers only simple electronic signatures, from $4.99/month, with unlimited documents on Silver at $9.99/month. If German law requires the written form, you need a QES and should use d.velop or another qualified provider.
d.velop AG, based in Gescher, Germany, is known for document management and ECM software. d.velop sign is its e-signature product: PDF and XML documents can be signed by one person or by several in a shared workflow, at simple (EES), advanced (FES/AES) or qualified (QES) level. Personal signatures require registration and identification with a cooperating trust service provider, for a flat €17 per user, valid as long as the ID document and at least two years.
Pricing for d.velop sign on its own was not clearly listed on the official pages we read. On its pricing page, d.velop shows the d.velop documents platform from €27 per month (Basic), €39 (Business, with 50 advanced signatures per month per tenant) and €55 (Ultimate, 100 per month), with extra signatures as paid packages and hybrid or on-premises plans on request. Ask d.velop for a quote if you need standalone signing.
eSignSimple does not offer qualified or advanced signatures. In Germany, where a law prescribes the written form (BGB §126), only a QES can replace it electronically (BGB §126a), and some documents, such as an employment termination (BGB §623), cannot be signed electronically at all. For contracts with no form requirement, our simple signature with an audit trail is enough. See our Germany guide.
How does eSignSimple compare with d.velop sign?
| Feature | eSignSimple | d.velop sign |
|---|---|---|
| Signature levels | No (simple electronic signatures only) | EES, AES (FES) and QES under eIDAS |
| Replaces the written form (BGB §126a) | No | Yes, with QES (unless the law excludes electronic form) |
| Free plan | Yes, 3 documents/month | Not listed |
| Entry price | $4.99/month (Bronze, 25 documents/month) | Standalone price not listed; d.velop documents from €27/month |
| Included signatures | 25/month on Bronze; unlimited on Silver | Business: 50 advanced signatures/month per tenant; Ultimate: 100 |
| Identification for personal signatures | No | €17 per user, one-off, via a trust service provider |
| Hosting | Cloud | T Cloud Public, data centers in Germany and the Netherlands; hybrid and on-premises |
| Document management | No; signing only | Yes, in the d.velop documents platform |
| Signer needs an account | No | Identification needed for personal AES/QES |
| Templates / bulk send | Yes / Yes, up to 200 people per send | Workflows within d.velop |
| Audit trail | Yes, with certificate of completion and SHA-256 hash | Yes |
| API | REST API v1 and webhooks (Silver and up) | REST API |
| Languages | 10 languages: English, Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), German, French, Italian, Japanese, Indonesian, Arabic | German first, English available |
How much does d.velop sign cost?
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| d.velop documents Basic | €27/month | Document management; no signatures included. |
| d.velop documents Business | €39/month | 50 advanced signatures per month per tenant. |
| d.velop documents Ultimate | €55/month | 100 advanced signatures per month per tenant. |
| Identification | €17 per user | One-off, for personal (AES/QES) signatures via a trust service provider. |
| Standalone d.velop sign / hybrid / on-premises | Quote-based | Not clearly listed on the pages we read. |
Prices checked October 6, 2026 on d.velop: Digitale Unterschrift (d.velop sign), d.velop: Preise & Pläne. Vendors change prices and may show different prices by country and currency, so confirm before you buy.
eSignSimple pricing, for comparison
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 3 documents a month (a document counts when it is sent), unlimited signers, templates, audit trail and certificate of completion. |
| Bronze | $4.99/month or $39.99/year | 1 sender, 25 documents a month, automatic reminders. |
| Silver | $9.99/month or $89.99/year | 1 sender, unlimited documents, bulk send (up to 200 people per send), web forms, REST API and webhooks. |
| Gold | $19.99/month or $179.99/year | Everything in Silver, team seats for up to 5 senders with shared templates, your logo and brand color, priority support. |
Where is d.velop sign the better choice?
- Qualified electronic signatures that replace the written form under BGB §126a. We cannot offer this.
- Advanced signatures and seals for stronger proof of identity and origin.
- German development and hosting in European data centers, plus hybrid and on-premises options.
- Deep integration with d.velop's document management for companies that archive everything there.
- German-language sales, onboarding and support for mid-sized companies.
Why do people switch to eSignSimple?
You only need everyday contracts signed
Most commercial contracts, quotes and NDAs have no form requirement in Germany. A simple electronic signature with an audit trail is valid evidence for them.
Transparent, flat price
$0 for 3 documents a month, $4.99/month for 25, or $9.99/month for unlimited documents. No quotes, no signature quotas. See pricing.
No document management suite needed
If you don't want an ECM platform, you don't need to buy one to send contracts. eSignSimple is signing only.
No identification step for signers
Signers open a link and sign, with no account and no ID check. That is faster, and also why our signatures are simple, not qualified.
Who should pick which?
| Pick eSignSimple if… | Pick d.velop sign if… |
|---|---|
| You are a freelancer or small business with no written-form requirements. | You need QES for written-form documents in Germany or AES for regulated processes. |
| You want a published, flat price without signature quotas. | You already use d.velop for document management. |
| You don't need a document management system. | You need German hosting, hybrid or on-premises deployment. |
How do you switch from d.velop sign to eSignSimple?
- Keep documents that need QES or AES with d.velop sign or another qualified provider.
- Export your signed documents and signature reports from d.velop.
- Create an eSignSimple account with Google and upload your everyday documents.
- Save recurring documents as templates and set signing order and reminders.
- Review your d.velop subscription once only qualified signing remains there.
Our take
d.velop sign is a solid choice for German mid-sized companies that already live in d.velop's document management, and it offers qualified signatures we do not. If written form applies, use a QES provider; see our Germany guide.
If you just need everyday contracts signed, an ECM suite with signature quotas is more than you need. eSignSimple is cheaper and quicker to start. For pay-per-use QES without a suite, compare Skribble.
We compare published features and prices from each vendor's own website and list the sources above. Where we could not verify something, we say so. d.velop sign is a trademark of its owner; eSignSimple is not affiliated with it. See how we protect documents on our security page and what each plan includes on pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Does d.velop sign offer QES?
Yes. d.velop sign supports simple, advanced and qualified electronic signatures under eIDAS; personal signatures need a one-off identification for €17 per user.
How much does d.velop sign cost?
We could not find a standalone price on the official pages we read. d.velop's pricing page lists the d.velop documents platform at €27, €39 and €55 per month, with 50 or 100 advanced signatures per month per tenant on Business and Ultimate (checked October 2026). Ask d.velop for a quote.
Does eSignSimple offer QES?
No. We only offer simple electronic signatures with an audit trail and certificate of completion.
When is QES required in Germany?
When a law prescribes the written form (BGB §126) and you want to sign electronically, BGB §126a requires a QES. Some documents, like employment terminations (BGB §623), cannot be signed electronically. See our Germany guide.
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