Overview
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Lehi, Utah, USA, DigiCert is the world's largest enterprise SSL certificate authority (CA). In 2017, DigiCert acquired Symantec's website security and PKI business (including GeoTrust, Thawte, and RapidSSL), further solidifying its leadership in the enterprise certificate market. Its root certificates are pre-installed in over 99% of major browsers and operating systems, with 90%+ of Fortune 500 companies relying on DigiCert for certificate services.
DigiCert's core product line includes DV, OV, EV, Wildcard, and Multi-Domain SSL/TLS certificates, plus extended PKI services for code signing, document signing, S/MIME email encryption, and IoT device certificates. The CertCentral management platform provides full lifecycle automation — certificate discovery, deployment, monitoring, and renewal — processing over 2 million certificates annually for more than 250,000 enterprise customers.
Key Strengths
- Fortune 500 Preferred CA: 90%+ of Fortune 500 companies choose DigiCert, with over 250,000 enterprise customers and 2M+ certificates issued annually. Brand trust and market recognition are unmatched among commercial CAs. See CDN and SSL/TLS configuration best practices for validation differences.
- CertCentral Lifecycle Management: Unified platform for automatic certificate discovery, bulk enrollment and deployment, expiry alerts, compliance auditing, and auto-renewal — reducing certificate operations workload by up to 70%. REST API integration enables DevOps automation with environment deployment pipelines.
- Broadest Root Compatibility: DigiCert root certificates are pre-installed in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS — achieving 99%+ compatibility across all major platforms with no additional installation required.
- Comprehensive Enterprise PKI Ecosystem: Beyond SSL/TLS, DigiCert offers code signing (Microsoft Authenticode, Java, Adobe), document signing (AATL certified), S/MIME email certificates, and IoT device certificates — covering the full enterprise digital security spectrum. Combined with security strategies, it creates an end-to-end trust framework.
- Industry Compliance: WebTrust, ETSI EN 319 411, and GDPR certified. EV certificates meet the latest CA/Browser Forum Baseline Requirements, suitable for finance, government, and other highly regulated industries.
Product Ecosystem
CertCentral Management Platform
CertCentral is DigiCert's unified certificate management portal with multi-tier role-based access (administrators, approvers, requesters). It provides certificate discovery, bulk enrollment, deployment monitoring, expiry alerts, and compliance auditing. CertCentral can also manage third-party CA certificates, making it ideal for multi-cloud and multi-vendor environments. REST API integration connects with ITSM, CMDB, and CI/CD tools.
Code Signing Certificates
DigiCert offers standard and EV code signing certificates. EV code signing requires hardware token (SafeNet eToken 5300) private key protection, immediately establishing Microsoft SmartScreen reputation and reducing SmartScreen warnings during Windows app distribution. Supports Microsoft Authenticode, Java JAR, Adobe AIR, macOS, and iOS code signing.
IoT Device Certificates
DigiCert IoT Device Manager provides large-scale device certificate management supporting MQTT, TLS, and DTLS device authentication. Features include auto-enrollment, bulk issuance, and certificate revocation for manufacturing, connected vehicles, and smart energy applications.
Limitations
- Premium Pricing: Entry-level DV certificates start at ~$800/year, OV at ~$1,500, EV at $2,000-$3,000+ — 3-5x the cost of competitors like Sectigo. A significant expense for budget-conscious SMBs.
- High Barrier for Individuals: No free tier or low-cost entry plans. Personal blogs and small sites should consider Let's Encrypt or Sectigo instead.
- Limited Chinese Support: Management console and official documentation are primarily in English. Chinese-language resources and support are limited, requiring reliance on English materials or third-party local partners.
- Simplified Product Flexibility: Wildcard and multi-domain certificate configuration flexibility trails some competitors; advanced PKI features require the Enterprise CertCentral tier.
Use Cases
- Large Enterprise Websites (★★★★★): Highest brand trust EV certificates significantly improve conversion rates. Pair with CDN acceleration for global HTTPS optimization.
- Finance & E-commerce Platforms (★★★★★): EV certificates and code signing meet PCI DSS compliance; green address bar enhances payment trust.
- Government & Public Sector (★★★★): WebTrust certification and enterprise compliance meet stringent security requirements.
- Multinational PKI Deployments (★★★★): CertCentral supports global distributed certificate management and multi-cloud unified control.
- Personal or Small Websites (★★): Cost-prohibitive; choose Let's Encrypt (free) or Sectigo (from $30) instead.
Pricing
| Certificate Type | Annual Fee Range | Issuance Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| DV SSL | ~$800 | Minutes | Personal sites, testing |
| OV SSL | ~$1,500 | 1-3 business days | Business websites, commercial |
| EV SSL | $2,000-$3,000+ | 1-5 business days | E-commerce, SaaS, finance |
| Wildcard SSL | ~$1,800 | 1-3 business days | Multi-subdomain protection |
| Code Signing | ~$300 | 1-3 business days | Software distribution signing |
| EV Code Signing | ~$500 | 2-5 business days | Windows app distribution |
Note: Retail prices shown. Actual costs vary by reseller and promotions. Enterprise bulk pricing and CertCentral Enterprise require custom quotes.
FAQ
- What is the relationship between DigiCert and Symantec certificates? In 2017, DigiCert acquired Symantec's website security and PKI business, including GeoTrust, Thawte, and RapidSSL brands. All Symantec-issued certificates have been migrated to DigiCert's root, now fully operated under DigiCert management—see CDN and SSL/TLS configuration best practices.
- Why choose DigiCert over cheaper CAs? DigiCert's core advantages are brand trust, root certificate compatibility, and the CertCentral management platform. For finance and e-commerce scenarios requiring maximum user trust, DigiCert EV certificates' green address bar and brand endorsement directly improve conversion rates. See CDN and SSL/TLS configuration best practices for guidance.
- Does DigiCert support ACME automation? Yes. DigiCert ACME service (DigiCert Automated Certificate Manager) supports automated enrollment and renewal for DV and some OV certificates, compatible with Certbot, acme.sh, and other ACME clients—see CDN and SSL/TLS configuration best practices.
- Can individuals use DigiCert? Technically yes, but the value proposition is poor. Personal blogs and small sites should use free Let's Encrypt or low-cost Sectigo DV certificates. DigiCert is best suited for mid-to-large organizations requiring brand trust and enterprise compliance—see CDN and SSL/TLS configuration best practices.
- How to verify DigiCert certificate trust? DigiCert root certificates are pre-installed in all major browsers — no additional action needed. Use DigiCert's SSL Certificate Checker tool online to verify certificate chain integrity and browser compatibility—see CDN and SSL/TLS configuration best practices.