Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | France | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| app Name | France Identité | MyGov.be |
| auth Method | FranceConnect | eID or itsme |
| launch Status | Live, scaling to 5M users | Live since May 2024 |
| user Base | Millions scaling rapidly | 7M+ itsme users |
| current Features | ID, driving license, health card | ID data, certificates, ISI+ healthcare card |
| integration | FranceConnect ecosystem | itsme private sector integration |
Winner by Category
userBase
🏆 France (France Identité)
firstToMarket
🏆 Belgium (MyGov.be)
features
🏆 Belgium (MyGov.be)
perCapitaAdoption
🏆 Belgium (MyGov.be)
Architecture and Technical Approach
France and Belgium offer a compelling comparison as two neighboring francophone countries with live EUDI Wallet implementations taking different approaches. France Identité uses ANSSI-certified cloud architecture with FranceConnect as the authentication backbone. This government-operated model ensures centralized control over the identity infrastructure while using cloud scalability.
Belgium's MyGov.be wallet is distinctive for its public-private partnership with itsme, jointly developed by Belgian banks (BNP Paribas Fortis, KBC, ING, Belfius) and telecom operators (Proximus, Orange, Telenet). This unique model integrates government identity with private-sector services, making itsme useful for banking, insurance, and telecom alongside government transactions. With 7 million users in a country of 11.5 million, Belgium has achieved remarkable per-capita adoption.
The architectural distinction lies in the private-sector role: France keeps identity infrastructure entirely within government control; Belgium actively involves the private sector in identity delivery. Both approaches meet eIDAS 2.0 requirements while reflecting different governance philosophies.
Security Models Compared
France's security relies on ANSSI certification with cloud-based credential protection and biometric enrollment verification. The FranceConnect protocol ensures mutual authentication and transparent data sharing between users and relying parties. Cloud-based monitoring enables rapid threat detection and response.
Belgium's security builds on its eID card heritage dating back to 2003, one of the world's first national electronic identity cards with PKI capabilities. The itsme layer adds SIM-based security elements and biometric verification through the mobile app. The dual authentication path (physical eID card or itsme app) provides both hardware-backed and software-based options.
Both countries meet eIDAS 2.0 assurance requirements, but Belgium's private-sector involvement in security means additional audit and compliance requirements to ensure that commercial operators maintain government-grade security standards.
User Experience and Adoption
Belgium's per-capita adoption is extraordinary: 7 million itsme users out of 11.5 million citizens represents over 60% penetration. This success stems from the dual government-private utility that makes itsme genuinely useful in daily life, from signing into bank accounts to filing taxes. France has the larger absolute user base but lower per-capita penetration given its much larger population.
Both wallets are already live, giving both countries real-world operational data and user feedback. Belgium's head start since May 2024 provides additional deployment experience, while France's rapid scaling demonstrates strong government commitment and citizen interest.
For the shared francophone user base along the Franco-Belgian border, both wallets offer intuitive, modern interfaces with government service integration. The key experiential difference is Belgium's deeper private-sector integration, making it a more versatile daily tool.
Cross-Border Interoperability
France and Belgium share a border, a language (French is official in both), and deep economic ties. Cross-border interoperability is essential for the hundreds of thousands of cross-border commuters, the shared business environment, and the Benelux-French economic corridor. Under eIDAS 2.0, both wallets must accept credentials from the other country.
The proximity and cultural similarity between the two countries makes them ideal for early cross-border EUDI testing. Both participate in EU Large Scale Pilots, and the standardized credential formats ensure smooth cross-border functionality regardless of the underlying cloud-based or public-private architecture.
For francophone citizens moving between France and Belgium, EUDI Wallet interoperability will eliminate many friction points in accessing government and private services across the border.
Which Should You Choose?
Use the wallet provided by your country of residence. French residents use France Identité; Belgian residents use MyGov.be with itsme. Both are already operational and provide full EU-wide interoperability.
France leads in absolute scale and government-controlled infrastructure. Belgium leads in per-capita adoption and private-sector integration through the innovative itsme partnership model. Both represent successful live EUDI Wallet deployments that other EU member states can learn from.