DigiCert CertCentral vs Smallstep OSS PKI Toolchain (step-ca & step-cli): side-by-side comparison (2026)

DigiCert CertCentral: Platform for managing 20+ types of publicly trusted digital certificates. Built by DigiCert.

Smallstep OSS PKI Toolchain (step-ca & step-cli): Open-source private CA toolchain for automated X.509 & SSH cert mgmt. Built by Smallstep.

The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ.

DigiCert CertCentral is made by DigiCert. Smallstep OSS PKI Toolchain (step-ca & step-cli) is made by Smallstep. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

Often, yes. DigiCert CertCentral and Smallstep OSS PKI Toolchain (step-ca & step-cli) are both Certificate Lifecycle Management products, and both cover TLS. Key differences: DigiCert CertCentral is Commercial while Smallstep OSS PKI Toolchain (step-ca & step-cli) is Free. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.