The invention relates to a cyanide-free electrolyte composition for depositing a silver or silver alloy layer on a substrate as well as a method for depositing silver or silver alloy layers with a cyanide-free electrolyte composition. The electrolyte composition according to the invention comprises at least one silver ion source, a sulfonic acid and/or a sulfonic acid derivative, a wetting agent and a hydantoin. The silver or silver alloy layers deposited from the inventive electrolyte composition by the method according to the invention are dull and ductile.