How Much Does an Electronic Signature Cost in Ecuador? 2026 Pricing
Reference price table for electronic signatures in Ecuador, updated 2026, comparing every ARCOTEL-accredited ECI: BCE, ICERT-EC, Security Data, UANATACA, ANF AC, Eclipsoft, ArgosData, and more. How much an electronic signature costs for SRI, ECUAPASS, or personal use.
By IDK Manager Team ·
Direct answer. In Ecuador, a certified electronic signature costs between USD 16 and USD 60 depending on the ECI (Certificate Information Entity accredited by ARCOTEL), validity (1 to 3 years), and format (
.p12file, USB token, or cloud certificate). The cheapest option with a publicly published rate is ICERT-EC by the Judiciary Council (~USD 19.80 + VAT for 2 years). Certificates with remote video identification start at ~USD 16 + VAT. firmar.ec does not charge to sign PDFs — the web tool is 100% free and open source. What you pay is the certificate to the ECI.
Price table per ECI (reference, 2026)
Public or reference prices for natural person certificates with standard validity. Always verify with the ECI before paying — rates change.
| ECI | Mode | Validity | Reference price (+ VAT) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICERT-EC (Judiciary Council) | .p12 or token | 2 years | USD 19.80 (official rate) | Public |
| Banco Central del Ecuador (BCE) | .p12 or token | 2 years | USD ~28 | Public |
| Registro Civil ECI | .p12 or token | 2 years | USD ~30 | Public |
| ArgosData (Signare) | .p12 with video ID | 1-2 years | USD ~16–40 | Private |
| Eclipsoft | .p12 / token / mobile | 1-2 years | USD ~18–40 | Private |
| UANATACA Ecuador | .p12 / cloud / eIDAS | 1-3 years | USD ~20–50 | Private |
| ANF AC Ecuador | .p12 / cloud / eIDAS | 1-2 years | USD ~20–45 | Private |
| Security Data | .p12 / token / HSM | 1-3 years | USD ~28–60 | Private |
| Datil | .p12 with video ID | 1-2 years | Inquire | Private |
| Other ARCOTEL ECIs | varies | varies | Inquire | Private |
See full comparison of 17+ accredited ECIs →
These prices are not firmar.ec quotes. Each price is charged by the ECI directly. We don’t (yet) resell their certificates.
What price fits you? Quick guide
- Cheapest for occasional use: ICERT-EC (USD 19.80 + VAT, 2 years), in-person.
- Need it today / this week: ArgosData, UANATACA, Datil, or ANF AC — remote video ID, 24–72 hours.
- Accountant / daily SRI invoices: Security Data, UANATACA, Eclipsoft, or BCE.
- Sign from mobile / web (PWA): any ECI issuing
.p12(most of them). - Company with multiple signers in the cloud: UANATACA, ANF AC, Lazzate.
- Quipux / physical USB token: public ECIs (BCE, ICERT-EC, Civil Registry).
Does the price include VAT?
No, listed prices are before VAT (15%). Total = price + 15% VAT. Example: ICERT-EC USD 19.80 + VAT = USD 22.77 total.
Hidden costs?
- Renewal: when the cert expires (1-3 years), you pay again.
- Physical token: USB token costs separately (USD 25–60 per device).
- Urgent revocation: some ECIs charge admin fees (USD 5–15).
- Re-issuance for data changes: new full issuance.
What’s included?
- Certificate issuance (
.p12file or provisioned token). - Identity validation (in-person or remote video).
- Certificate maintenance in the ECI’s trust chain (OCSP/CRL publication).
- Basic support during validity.
What’s NOT included?
- The signing tool. That’s on you. Use firmar.ec free (our preferred case, of course), FirmaEC by MINTEL free, Adobe Acrobat (paid), or anything else.
- EU qualified eIDAS validity. Requires a European provider with qualified eIDAS seal — significantly more expensive (USD 80–200+).
- Unlimited timestamping (TSA). Some signatures (PAdES B-T / B-LT / B-LTA) require an RFC 3161 TSA. firmar.ec uses FreeTSA by default, free.
Comparison with international alternatives (informational)
| Alternative | Typical price | Valid for SRI / Quipux? |
|---|---|---|
| DocuSign | USD ~10/mo/user | ❌ Does not equate to handwritten in Ecuador without ARCOTEL cert |
| Adobe Sign | USD ~15/mo/user | ❌ Same |
| HelloSign / Dropbox Sign | USD ~15/mo/user | ❌ Same |
| EU Qualified eIDAS cert | USD ~80–200/year | ⚠️ Technically yes, but recognition depends on treaty |
| ARCOTEL ECI cert (Ecuador) | USD 16–60 once per 1-3 years | ✅ Yes, full equivalence (Law 2002-67) |
Conclusion: for signing in Ecuador with full legal validity, the cheapest and correct option is a certificate from an ARCOTEL-accredited ECI. DocuSign and similar work for private contracts that accept that mechanism, but not for SRI, ECUAPASS, or Quipux.
Will firmar.ec sell certificates?
Yes, we are in the process of enabling UANATACA Associate reseller within firmar.ec, with plans from USD ~16/year + VAT with remote video identification. Completing integration. If you want to be notified when available, contact us.
Meanwhile, recommended flow:
- Pick your ECI at ARCOTEL ECIs comparison.
- Apply directly on its official site. You pay the ECI, not us.
- Once you have your
.p12, open app.firmar.ec and sign. Free, no install, also from mobile.
FAQ
Why do prices vary so much? Private ECIs compete on service (speed, support, cloud platform, video ID); public ECIs are cheaper but with more in-person flows.
Does the signature expire and I lose what I signed? No. The certificate expires, but documents you signed keep their validity if the signature was valid at signing time. PAdES B-LT / B-LTA embeds validity evidence.
Can I deduct VAT? Yes, if invoiced to your RUC, VAT offsets in your monthly return. Categorize as professional / IT service.
Volume discounts? Yes, all ECIs offer corporate plans with volume discounts (10+ users).
Specific pricing question? Contact us. We don’t sell certificates yet but we’ll guide you honestly, free. The signing tool is and always will be free and open source.