Choosing a French PDP: What to Look for in a Certified E-Invoicing Platform
France's mandatory e-invoicing requires using a certified PDP (Partenaire de Dématérialisation Privé) or the free government PPF. Here is how to evaluate and choose the right platform for your business.
France's September 2026 e-invoicing mandate introduces a new concept for most businesses: the PDP (Partenaire de Dématérialisation Privé) — a certified private platform that routes your Factur-X invoices between businesses.
Unlike Germany (where you just need software that outputs the right format) or Italy (where all invoices go through the government SDI), France offers a choice: use a certified private PDP or the government's free PPF fallback.
What a PDP Does
A certified PDP acts as your trusted intermediary: 1. Receives your invoices (from your accounting software, ERP, or directly) 2. Validates them against the EN 16931 / Factur-X standard 3. Routes them to your customer's PDP (or the PPF if they don't use a PDP) 4. Receives and delivers incoming invoices to you 5. Reports transaction metadata to the French tax authority (DGFiP) in real time
PDP vs. PPF: When to Use Each
PPF (free government portal)
- Good for: Very small businesses, very low invoice volumes
- Limitations: No ERP/API integration, no Peppol connectivity, basic reporting only
Certified PDP
- Good for: Any business with regular invoicing needs
- Benefits: ERP integration, Peppol access, real-time status tracking, archive included
What to Look For When Choosing a PDP
1. DGFiP Certification Status
The PDP must be officially certified by the DGFiP. Avoid platforms that are "in the process" of certification without a confirmed date — use the official DGFiP registry when it is published.
2. ERP/Accounting Software Integration
Does the PDP connect natively with your existing tools? Look for native connectors for:
- SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics (enterprise)
- Sage, EBP, Cegid (French SME market leaders)
- API access for custom integration
3. Cross-Border and Peppol Support
If you invoice customers in Germany, Italy, or other EU countries, your PDP should also be a Peppol-certified access point. This gives you a single platform for both French domestic and EU cross-border invoicing.
4. Pricing Structure
PDP pricing typically follows one of these models:
- Per invoice: €0.10–€0.50 per document (good for low volumes)
- Monthly subscription: €50–€500/month including unlimited volume (good for high volumes)
- Bundled with accounting software: Often the most cost-effective for existing software users
5. Archive and Conservatoire Obligation
France requires invoices to be archived for 10 years (conservatoire obligation). Confirm the PDP includes legally compliant archiving in their service — this is a significant hidden cost if it is charged separately.
Leading PDPs in the French Market (2026)
- Chorus Pro / PPF — Government, free, basic
- Cegedim e-Business — B2B focused, strong ERP connectors
- Yooz — AI-assisted processing, strong for accounts payable automation
- Sage e-invoicing — Bundled with Sage 50/100/300, popular with French SMEs
- Storecove — Cross-border focused, Peppol certified, API-first
Always verify current certification status on the DGFiP registry before signing a contract.
