Comparison · Free vs BackToMe
A free withdrawal button: is it really a good idea?
A community plugin, a home-made form or a Google Form do indeed show a button. But the European obligation (EU Directive 2023/2673) does not stop at the button: it requires an acknowledgement of receipt that the customer keeps (an email) and the archiving of the request. The real question is not "do I have a button?" but "do I have proof to produce on the day of a dispute or an inspection?". That is exactly where free stops, and where the hidden cost begins.
The head-to-head, line by line
| Criterion | free | BackToMe |
|---|---|---|
| A visible button on the site | ||
| Label compliant with the applicable national text ("Withdraw from the contract" or equivalent) | to be checked, depends on the plugin | |
| Two-step form (identification + confirmation) | variable | |
| Automatic acknowledgement of receipt by email (that the customer keeps) | depends on the tool | |
| Dated archiving that cannot be altered afterwards, that holds up in a dispute | a simple date can be changed afterwards | |
| Retained for 5 years, hosted in France | ||
| Monitoring: alert if the button disappears (theme, cache, update) | ||
| Works on every platform from a single account | often a single CMS | |
| Tracked updates if the regulation changes | depends on a volunteer maintainer | |
| Installation and maintenance | on you | 5 min, zero maintenance |
| Advertised cost | 0 € | 25 € excl. VAT/month |
| Real cost (audit time + maintenance + exposure: in Ireland, up to €60,000) | hidden | predictable, risk covered |
Comparison at the level of the category of solution, not a named product. Established from the criteria of Directive (EU) 2023/2673 and Directive 2011/83/EU and common practice; subject to change.
When a free solution can be enough
- •You sell very little and accept carrying the regulatory risk.
- •You can check yourself that the tool ticks the 4 legal criteria (label, acknowledgement by email that the customer keeps, dated archiving, identification of the customer).
- •You are comfortable maintaining it (updates, plugin conflicts, cache) and re-auditing it at every change to the text.
- •You accept not having proof that cannot be altered on the day of a dispute.
When you need BackToMe
- You want proof that holds up, not just a button for show.
- You do not want to monitor, maintain or re-audit anything.
- You are not on WooCommerce, or you manage several sites.
- The cost of a single forced refund (period extended to 12 months) already exceeds a year of subscription.
The verdict
Free gives you the button. BackToMe gives you the proof that protects you, plus the button, the monitoring, the multi-platform coverage and zero maintenance. You are not paying 25 € a month for a button: you are paying 25 € a month so as not to risk, in Ireland, a fine of up to €60,000 (up to 4% of turnover for widespread infringements) and a withdrawal period extended to 12 months. A single poorly defended dispute, for want of proof, costs more than an entire year of BackToMe.
Frequently asked questions
Is a free plugin enough to be compliant on 19 June 2026?
It depends on exactly what it does. The regulation requires a precise label, an acknowledgement of receipt by email that the customer keeps, dated archiving of the request and a clear identification of the customer. A plugin that ticks these boxes may do the job; but you have to audit it yourself, maintain it, and you generally do not have proof that cannot be altered. Absent a commitment from the maintainer to keep it up to date with the regulation, the risk falls back on you.
What is the difference between a simple date and proof that holds up?
A simple date says when, but nothing stops it being changed afterwards: it therefore protects you poorly. BackToMe locks down every request so that it becomes impossible to alter, with 5-year retention hosted in France. That is what gives the proof its value on the day of a dispute, and what free almost never provides.
How much does a "free solution" really cost?
0 € of licence, but hidden costs: the time to audit its compliance, to maintain it (updates, conflicts, cache), to re-audit it at every change to the text, and above all the exposure in the event of a dispute or an inspection: in Ireland, an administrative fine of up to €60,000 (Consumer Rights Act 2022, enforced by the CCPC) and a withdrawal period extended to 12 months and 14 days. A single forced refund often exceeds a year of BackToMe subscription.
I have already installed a free plugin. Does BackToMe replace it?
Yes. You remove the plugin and paste the BackToMe line of code into the <head> of your site (5 minutes, all platforms). You get back the button, but also the acknowledgement of receipt, the locked archiving, the monitoring and the regulatory updates, without maintaining anything.