A European alternative to DocuSign
DocuSign and the other large e-signature suites are excellent products - but they are built first for the US market and for enterprises that need hundreds of features. If you are a European company that mainly needs documents signed- legally, affordably, with data kept in the EU - a European-built tool may fit better. Here is an honest look at when that’s Kaddye, and when it isn’t.
What Kaddye does differently
- eIDAS-first. Kaddye is designed around European law. Both Simple (SES) and Advanced (AES) electronic signatures are included on every plan - advanced signatures are not gated behind enterprise tiers or per-envelope surcharges.
- EU-only data residency. Documents and metadata are stored exclusively in Amsterdam and Frankfurt, operated under EU jurisdiction. No transatlantic transfers to reason about in your GDPR documentation.
- MitID and MitID Erhverv. Danish signers verify identity with the national eID, producing an AES that is uniquely linked to them and tamper-evident.
- Simple, flat pricing in DKK. Pay per case file from 30 kr. with no subscription, or 130 kr./month for unlimited sending. See pricing.
- Purpose-built, not a feature maze. Upload a PDF, add signers, follow the audit trail. From sign-up to signed document in about three minutes.
When a large suite is the better choice
Honesty matters more than a sale. Stick with DocuSign or a similar suite if you need:
- US legal compliance. Kaddye is built for European law and does not claim UETA or ESIGN Act compliance. If your counterparties are mostly outside the EU/EEA, a global provider is the safer choice.
- Deep enterprise workflows. CRM integrations, complex approval chains, bulk sending at massive scale, or contract lifecycle management beyond signing.
- Identity methods beyond MitID.Kaddye’s AES currently supports MitID and MitID Erhverv; SES (draw, type, upload) works for any signer worldwide.
The legal footing is the same
Under eIDAS, the legal effect of a signature follows from how it is created - not from the vendor’s brand. An AES made on Kaddye meets the same eIDAS requirements as one made anywhere else, is sealed with a qualified certificate from a trust service provider on the EU Trusted Lists using the PAdES standard with PAdES-LTA archive timestamps, and the seal can be independently verified by anyone against those lists. Read more in SES vs AES: what’s the difference?
Frequently asked questions
Why choose a European e-signature provider?
Three common reasons: data residency (documents and metadata stay in the EU under EU jurisdiction, simplifying GDPR compliance), legal fit (the product is designed around eIDAS rather than US law), and local identity methods such as MitID, which give signatures the evidentiary strength of an advanced electronic signature.
Are Kaddye signatures as legally valid as signatures from larger providers?
Legal validity comes from the eIDAS regulation, not from the size of the vendor. A signature is an SES or AES based on how it is created. Kaddye AES documents are sealed with a qualified certificate from a trust service provider on the EU Trusted Lists using PAdES, and the seal can be verified by anyone against those Trusted Lists.
Can I switch without losing my existing signed documents?
Signed PDFs are self-contained: the signature, certificate and timestamps travel inside the file, so documents signed elsewhere remain valid and verifiable. Simply download your completed documents from your current provider before closing the account.
What does Kaddye cost?
Pay as you go from 30 kr. per case file with no subscription, or Pro at 130 kr./month for unlimited case files. Every signing method (SES and AES) is included on both plans. Prices in DKK, exclusive of VAT.
Try it on your next document
No demo calls, no procurement cycle: upload a PDF and send it for signing in minutes. Get started - pay as you go from 30 kr., cancel anytime. Comparing Nordic providers too? See our notes on Penneo and Addo Sign.