DigiCert SSL Certificate Review: Features, Pricing & Verdict (2026)
DigiCert SSL certificate review summary: DigiCert is the world's largest commercial certificate authority, trusted by over 90% of Fortune 500 companies and 97 of the top 100 global banks. Their SSL/TLS certificates offer industry-leading encryption, fast issuance, and the most complete validation coverage available from any CA - though they come at a premium price and do not offer domain validation (DV) certificates.
DigiCert is a certificate authority (CA) founded in 2003 and headquartered in Lehi, Utah. A certificate authority is an organization that issues digital certificates verifying a website's identity and enabling encrypted HTTPS connections. DigiCert focuses exclusively on the higher-assurance end of the market: Organization Validation (OV), Extended Validation (EV), wildcard, multi-domain, and code signing certificates.
According to DigiCert's company profile on LinkedIn, the company is trusted by 90% of Fortune 500 companies and operates across more than 180 countries. A 2024 digital certificate management market analysis found that DigiCert held 96% of the OV SSL market and over 60% of the EV SSL market globally, according to Market Growth Reports' 2024 digital certificate management analysis - making it the dominant choice for enterprises that need verified business identity on their certificates.
DigiCert Official Information
DigiCert HeadQuarters:
2801 North Thanksgiving Way
Suite 500
Lehi, Utah 84043
https://www.digicert.com/
1-801-701-9600
Is DigiCert a good SSL certificate provider?
DigiCert is the best SSL certificate provider for organizations that need verified business identity, high-assurance validation, or enterprise-level certificate management. It is not the right choice for site owners who only need a basic DV certificate or want the lowest possible price point.
The company's strengths are well-documented: fast OV issuance (often under 24 hours), 99.9% browser compatibility, daily malware scanning, and the CertCentral management platform for handling certificates at scale. The main tradeoffs are a higher price compared to budget CAs and the absence of DV certificates entirely.
If your priority is trust signals, compliance, and enterprise support, DigiCert SSL certificate review findings consistently place it at the top of the market.
What certificate types does DigiCert offer?
DigiCert offers six primary certificate categories, each targeting a specific security use case.
DigiCert OV SSL certificate
The Organization Validated (OV) SSL is DigiCert's core product. It validates both domain ownership and the legal existence of the business, making it suited for e-commerce sites, SaaS platforms, and any organization that wants its company name visible in the certificate details. Issuance typically completes within 24 hours.
DigiCert EV SSL certificate
The Extended Validation (EV) SSL provides the most rigorous vetting available - legal, physical, and operational verification of the business. It is recommended for financial institutions, healthcare providers, and large e-commerce platforms where user trust is a competitive factor. EV validation takes 3–5 business days.
DigiCert Wildcard SSL
A Wildcard SSL certificate from DigiCert secures a primary domain and an unlimited number of subdomains under a single certificate. This is cost-effective for organizations running staging environments, regional subdomains, or multiple services on one root domain.
Multi-Domain / SAN SSL
The multi-domain SAN certificate secures up to 250 different domains or subdomains in a single certificate. Available in OV and EV validation levels, it simplifies management for businesses operating multiple brands or regional domains.
Code Signing Certificates
DigiCert's code signing certificates digitally sign software executables, scripts, and applications to confirm their authenticity and prevent tampering. They are required for distributing software through major app stores and operating system platforms. Notably, the CA/Browser Forum approved a mandate in Q2 2025 limiting public TLS certificate validity to 47 days effective 2029, per Market Research Future's CA market report - a development that increases demand for automated certificate management tools like DigiCert's CertCentral.
Client Certificates (S/MIME)
S/MIME certificates secure and encrypt email communication. DigiCert offers three validation tiers (Class 1–3) and supports two-factor authentication for email access. These are increasingly relevant in regulated industries where email encryption is mandated.
What are the key features of DigiCert SSL certificates?
DigiCert SSL certificates include a feature set that goes well beyond basic encryption:
- 2048-bit RSA encryption with SHA-256 hashing - the current industry standard for all certificates
- Unlimited server licensing - install on multiple servers behind a load balancer at no extra cost
- 99.9% browser and device compatibility across all major desktop and mobile platforms
- Daily malware scanning with automatic revocation if threats are detected - most CAs do not include this
- Global CDN support across 150+ OCSP and CRL validation nodes for fast certificate status checking
- CertCentral management platform for automated issuance, renewal tracking, and certificate lifecycle management across the organization
- McAfee SECURE trust seal available for OV/EV certificate holders, displayed on-site to increase visitor confidence
- SOC-audited operations and ISO 27001/9001 certification confirming operational security standards
- 24/7 technical support via phone and email for both pre-sales and post-sales inquiries
The DigiCert CertCentral platform is particularly notable for enterprise buyers. It centralizes public and private certificates, automates renewals, and integrates with popular DevOps tools - reducing the manual overhead that causes certificate expiration incidents.
What does DigiCert SSL cost?
DigiCert SSL certificate pricing is positioned at the premium end of the market. The table below shows the main certificate products and their validation level and issuance speed.
| Certificate | Validation Level | Issuance Time |
| DigiCert Secure Site Pro SSL | Organization Validation (OV) | ~1 business day |
| DigiCert Secure Site SSL | Organization Validation (OV) | ~1 business day |
| DigiCert Basic SSL | Organization Validation (OV) | Minutes |
| DigiCert Secure Site Wildcard SSL | Organization Validation (OV) | ~1 business day |
| DigiCert Secure Site Multi-Domain SSL | Organization Validation (OV) | ~1 business day |
| DigiCert Code Signing Certificate | Organization Validation (OV) | 0–3 business days |
How much does DigiCert SSL cost compared to alternatives? DigiCert's per-certificate prices run higher than budget CAs like Sectigo or RapidSSL. However, volume discounts through CertCentral and the inclusion of malware scanning, unlimited reissuances, and unlimited server licensing often narrow the real cost gap for organizations managing more than a handful of certificates.
DigiCert Pros and Cons: What Does the Evidence Show?
DigiCert SSL pros and cons can be summarized as a trade-off between unmatched trust infrastructure and higher cost.
Advantages:
- Dominant market position - 96% OV market share and 60%+ EV market share means universal browser and device trust
- Wide certificate portfolio covering every business validation need except basic DV
- Fast OV issuance (often hours, not days) despite rigorous validation standards
- Malware scanning included - an active security layer absent from most competitor offerings
- CertCentral simplifies lifecycle management at enterprise scale
- Generous refund and reissuance policies reduce buyer risk
- Competitive volume pricing for organizations managing large certificate inventories
Disadvantages:
- No domain validation SSL certificate - organizations needing a quick, low-cost DV cert must look elsewhere
- Higher baseline pricing compared to budget CAs for single-certificate buyers
Is DigiCert trusted by browsers and operating systems?
Yes - DigiCert certificates are trusted by all major browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, as well as all major operating systems. This universal trust stems from DigiCert's root certificates being embedded in every major browser and OS trust store.
DigiCert is a trusted certificate authority with a track record dating back to 2003. The company acquired Symantec's web and PKI business in 2017, inheriting one of the largest existing certificate trust chains in the market. DigiCert maintains extensive Certificate Transparency (CT) logging on all issued certificates, submitting to at least two CT logs per certificate - a requirement for Chrome trust and a signal of operational transparency.
For context on what browser trust means in practice: Google Chrome no longer shows a padlock icon for HTTPS sites as of Chrome 117 (replaced by a neutral tune icon), but the underlying certificate validation still determines whether browsers display security warnings.
DigiCert vs. competitors: how does it compare?
DigiCert vs Sectigo and DigiCert vs GoDaddy SSL are the two most common comparisons buyers research.
| Feature | DigiCert | Sectigo | GoDaddy |
| DV SSL available | No | Yes | Yes |
| OV SSL | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EV SSL | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wildcard SSL | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Daily malware scanning | Yes | No | No |
| CertCentral management platform | Yes | (SCM) | Limited |
| 24/7 expert support | Yes | Yes | Variable |
| Pricing tier | Premium | Mid-range | Budget–Mid |
| Fortune 500 market share | ~90% | Growing | Lower |
DigiCert's advantage over both competitors is concentrated in its malware scanning, validation expertise, and enterprise management platform. Sectigo is a strong alternative for organizations that need DV certificates or want a lower price point at OV level. GoDaddy suits straightforward single-domain use cases where advanced management features are unnecessary.
DigiCert SSL Certificate Review: Final Verdict
DigiCert is the right SSL certificate provider for enterprises, financial institutions, healthcare organizations, and any business where brand trust and compliance requirements outweigh cost. The combination of 96% OV market dominance, 90% Fortune 500 penetration, daily malware scanning, and the CertCentral platform creates a security offering that no budget CA replicates.
The two genuine limitations are real: no DV certificates exist in the portfolio, and per-certificate pricing is higher than most competitors. For an organization buying one certificate for a small website, DigiCert is probably not the optimal choice. For any organization managing certificates at scale, securing regulated data, or representing a brand where a security incident would cause reputational damage, DigiCert's premium is easily justified.
DigiCert certificate authority review conclusion: industry-leading trust infrastructure, enterprise-grade management, and the deepest validation expertise in the commercial CA market.
Alternatives to DigiCert SSL
Businesses looking for cheaper or faster alternatives can consider these options:
Frequently Asked Questions About DigiCert SSL Certificates
Here are some common questions regarding DigiCert and their SSL certificates:
Does DigiCert offer DV SSL certificates?
No - DigiCert does not offer domain validation (DV) certificates. Their portfolio focuses exclusively on OV, EV, wildcard, multi-domain, and code signing certificates. Organizations that need a basic DV certificate should consider Sectigo, SSL.com, or Let's Encrypt for free DV issuance.
How long does DigiCert take to issue SSL certificates?
DigiCert issues most OV certificates within 24 hours, and the DigiCert Basic SSL can be issued within minutes for straightforward validations. EV certificates require 3–5 business days due to the additional legal and physical verification steps. Exact issuance times depend on how quickly the applicant responds to validation requests.
How much does DigiCert SSL cost?
DigiCert does not publish fixed retail pricing - costs vary by certificate type, validity period, and volume. Their Secure Site products are priced at the premium tier. Organizations managing multiple certificates can negotiate volume pricing through CertCentral, which typically reduces per-certificate cost significantly.
What is DigiCert's refund policy?
DigiCert offers a 30-day refund on most certificates. Cancellations within 30 days qualify for a full refund minus any applicable administration fees. Refunds are generally not available after the 30-day window has passed.
Can I install a DigiCert certificate on multiple servers?
Yes - all DigiCert SSL certificates include unlimited server licensing. You can install the same certificate across multiple servers behind a load balancer without incurring additional charges, which makes them cost-effective for distributed environments.
Is DigiCert better than GoDaddy or Sectigo for enterprise use?
For enterprise use cases, DigiCert is generally the stronger choice. It holds dominant market share in OV and EV validation, includes daily malware scanning that competitors lack, and its CertCentral platform offers more mature lifecycle automation. Sectigo and GoDaddy are more competitive for basic or budget use cases.
🔔 The Chromium Blog announced that as of Google Chrome's Version 117, the traditional lock icon, commonly known as the padlock icon, has been replaced with a 
Tune Icon.