Polski
УкраїнськаCheapest qualified electronic signature in 2026: prices and free mObywatel option
indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index
The cheapest paid qualified electronic signature costs from 238 PLN/year net (excl. VAT) per year, while the median price in price lists is 255 PLN/year (typically 240 ‑ 275 PLN/year). A qualified electronic signature can be created completely free of charge in the mObywatel app, but only for private matters and with a limit of 5 documents per month. A paid certificate is required for business use and larger numbers of signatures.
At a glance (as at 5 October 2026)
- A one-year qualified electronic signature certificate typically costs 240 ‑ 275 PLN/year, while the median price in price lists is 255 PLN/year.
- The cheapest qualified electronic signature offers start from 238 PLN/year net (excl. VAT) per year, usually for a cloud-based option with a signature limit.
- Since 23 October 2025, the qualified electronic signature in the mObywatel app has been free for up to 5 documents per month, exclusively for private matters.
- Card and reader kits cost more on initial purchase, reaching 300 PLN/year per year.
- The median price is based on 4 price lists and articles collected by indekscen.pl.
Until recently, obtaining a qualified electronic signature meant buying a kit with a card and reader. Today, cloud-based certificates signed using a phone are the cheapest option, while a qualified electronic signature is available free of charge through mObywatel for private matters. We compare prices from providers’ price lists and articles to help you choose a suitable option without overpaying.
How much does the cheapest qualified electronic signature cost?
The cheapest paid qualified electronic signature costs from 238 PLN/year net (excl. VAT) per year, according to 4 price lists and articles collected by indekscen.pl. The median is 255 PLN/year, and half of the offers fall within the 240 ‑ 275 PLN/year range. The cheapest options are cloud-based certificates with a limit on the number of signatures, such as one thousand per year. The most expensive, costing up to 300 PLN/year, are first-time purchases of kits containing a cryptographic card and reader.
Details, quotations from price lists and verification dates are available on the qualified electronic signature page.
Where can you buy a qualified electronic signature most cheaply?
The cheapest way to buy a qualified electronic signature is to purchase a cloud-based (mobile) option directly from a provider or its partner, as you do not have to pay for a card and reader. Qualified certificates in Poland are issued by several trust service providers, including Certum, KIR (Szafir), CenCert, EuroCert and PWPW (Sigillum). Their prices depend mainly on the option, validity period and signature limit, and less on the brand itself.
Comparison of options based on factors listed in price lists:
| Option | Price | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| mObywatel | free, up to 5 documents per month | private matters |
| Cloud-based certificate with a signature limit | from 238 PLN/year net (excl. VAT) per year | sole proprietors, several contracts per month |
| Typical one-year certificate | 240 ‑ 275 PLN/year | businesses, accountants, authorised representatives |
| Card and reader kit, initial purchase | up to 300 PLN/year per year | working on one computer, without a phone |
Check whether the price is net (excl. VAT) or gross (incl. VAT). Some providers quote prices excluding VAT and others including VAT, so the same amount in two offers does not always mean the same thing.
How can you obtain a qualified electronic signature for free?
A qualified electronic signature is available free of charge in the mObywatel app. Since 23 October 2025, every user has been able to sign up to 5 documents per month this way, exclusively for private matters. This is sufficient for signing a tenancy agreement, power of attorney or application concerning a private matter. For business use and larger numbers of documents, you need to purchase a certificate, which usually costs 255 PLN/year per year.
A trusted signature created using a trusted profile is also free. However, it is a different type of signature, as explained below.
Are a trusted signature and a qualified electronic signature the same thing?
A trusted signature and a qualified electronic signature are not the same thing. A trusted signature is free and is mainly used for official matters, while a qualified electronic signature has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature in dealings with anyone, including contracts between businesses and transactions in other European Union countries. A qualified electronic signature costs money if you use it beyond the mObywatel limit, typically 240 ‑ 275 PLN/year per year.
In practice:
- A trusted signature is sufficient for most online dealings with public authorities, such as applications submitted through gov.pl.
- A qualified electronic signature is needed when required by the other party, including for contracts with business partners, some tenders, powers of attorney for businesses or documents sent abroad.
If you are unsure which type of signature your matter requires, ask the relevant authority or the other party to the contract before purchasing a certificate.
What do you need to do to obtain a qualified electronic signature?
There are several steps to obtaining a paid qualified electronic signature:
- Choose an option: cloud-based (phone) or a card with a reader, one or two years, and a signature limit.
- Buy a certificate from a provider or partner. The median price is 255 PLN/year per year.
- Confirm your identity. Depending on the offer, this can be done at a partner outlet, through a courier, by video verification or using an e‑ID card.
- Activate the certificate in the provider’s app, or install the software and reader.
- Remember to renew it before it expires. Renewal is usually cheaper than the initial purchase.
A qualified electronic signature for one year or two years?
A two-year qualified electronic signature is worthwhile if you know you will use it for longer, as a two-year certificate usually costs less per year than two separate one-year certificates. If you renew annually, you will pay around PLN 510 over two years, based on the median. A one-year certificate makes sense if you need the signature for a single matter or want to test whether the cloud-based option suits you.
The signature limit also affects the price. The cheapest packages allow you to create, for example, one thousand signatures per year, which is enough for most people. Businesses signing large numbers of invoices, contracts or HR documents choose packages with higher limits, sometimes reaching one hundred thousand signatures, and pay more.
It is also worth checking which devices support the signature. The cloud-based option works on a phone and different computers, while a card and reader require drivers and an available USB port, which can be inconvenient on work laptops.
How do you create a qualified electronic signature?
A qualified electronic signature is created using the provider’s software or app. You open the document, choose the signature format and confirm it with a PIN. For PDF files, an embedded signature (PAdES format) is most commonly used, while other documents are usually signed using a separate signature file (XAdES). With the cloud-based option, the confirmation appears in the phone app. In mObywatel, you sign the document selected in the app and confirm the operation.
How does the cost of a qualified electronic signature compare with other business expenses?
A qualified electronic signature is one of the smaller recurring business expenses. 255 PLN/year per year is less than one month of accounting services. By comparison, accounting for a sole proprietorship usually costs 205 ‑ 320 PLN/month, while having a company stamp made is a one-off expense of around PLN 35.
| Service | Median | Typically | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualified electronic signature | 255 PLN/year | 240 ‑ 275 PLN/year | 4 |
| Accounting for a sole proprietorship | 260 PLN/month | 205 ‑ 320 PLN/month | 4 |
| Having a company stamp made | PLN 35 | PLN 20 ‑ 40 | 5 |
Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.
If you are a sole proprietor and sign several contracts per month, the cheapest cloud-based certificate will usually be sufficient. Read more about business operating costs in our articles full accounting services: price list and tax adviser: price list.
How can you avoid overpaying for a qualified electronic signature?
- Check whether mObywatel is sufficient. You do not need a paid certificate for a few private documents per month.
- Do not buy a reader unless you need one. The cloud-based option is cheaper on initial purchase.
- Choose a signature limit that suits your needs. The limit in the cheapest packages is sufficient for most small businesses.
- Compare prices on the same tax basis: net (excl. VAT) with net, gross (incl. VAT) with gross.
- Renew instead of buying again. Renewing before expiry is usually cheaper and does not require another in-person identity verification.
„certyfikat na rok z limitem 1 tys. podpisów zaczyna się od 238 zł netto”
meetergo.com, 2026-09, source
„Certyfikat na rok albo dwa lata kosztuje od 238 zł netto.”
podpiszmy.pl, source
„Cena 293,97 zł brutto (1 rok)”
panodpodpisu.pl, source
„Certyfikat roczny albo dwuletni dla jednej osoby kosztuje najczęściej od około 240 do około 300 złotych netto za rok.”
devstockacademy.pl, 2026-09, source
More prices for official services are available in the law and public authorities category, while business costs can be found in the business and finance category.
The prices in this article come from public price lists published by signature providers and from industry articles. Each price has a source, date and verbatim quotation on the service page.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to pay for a qualified electronic signature?
Tak, poza bezpłatnym limitem w aplikacji mObywatel podpis kwalifikowany jest płatny. Certyfikat na rok kosztuje zwykle 240 ‑ 275 PLN/year, najtańsze oferty zaczynają się od 238 PLN/year netto.
Are a trusted signature and a qualified electronic signature the same thing?
Nie. Podpis zaufany jest darmowy i służy głównie do spraw urzędowych przez profil zaufany. Podpis kwalifikowany ma skutek prawny równy podpisowi własnoręcznemu w całej Unii Europejskiej, także w umowach między firmami, a płatny certyfikat kosztuje zwykle 255 PLN/year za rok.
Can you get a one-off qualified electronic signature?
Część dostawców sprzedaje certyfikaty krótkoterminowe albo pakiety z małą liczbą podpisów, ale w naszych danych mamy ceny certyfikatów rocznych: typowo 240 ‑ 275 PLN/year. Do kilku prywatnych dokumentów w miesiącu wystarczy darmowy podpis w mObywatelu.
What do you need to do to obtain a qualified electronic signature?
Trzeba wybrać dostawcę, kupić certyfikat (zwykle 240 ‑ 275 PLN/year za rok) i potwierdzić tożsamość: w punkcie, u kuriera, przez wideoweryfikację albo e‑dowodem, zależnie od oferty. Darmowy podpis w mObywatelu aktywuje się w aplikacji.
How much does it cost to renew a qualified electronic signature?
Odnowienie certyfikatu jest zwykle tańsze niż pierwszy zakup, bo nie kupujesz ponownie karty i czytnika. Ceny odnowienia mieszczą się najczęściej w dolnej części przedziału 240 ‑ 275 PLN/year.
Check prices with sources
Every amount quoted in the article has a source, date and verbatim quote from the price list on the service page.
Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.
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