Best Smallstep Certificate Manager Alternatives in 2026
The top Smallstep Certificate Manager alternatives are DigiCert Trust Lifecycle Manager, DigiCert ONE and Keyfactor Platform: 15 certificate management software our editors would look at instead of Smallstep Certificate Manager, in our ranking order.
Smallstep Certificate Manager: A hosted PKI platform for teams issuing and managing private TLS certificates. Where it falls short: pricing is handled through contact sales.
Switching from Smallstep Certificate Manager? For most certificate management software buyers the best Smallstep Certificate Manager alternative is DigiCert Trust Lifecycle Manager, built for organizations needing broad certificate governance. ManageEngine Key Manager Plus has a free plan.
Why People Look for a Smallstep Certificate Manager Alternative
- Pricing is handled through contact sales
- Advanced Authorities are required for CRL and OCSP support
- Does not verify certificate discovery
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallDigiCert Trust Lifecycle Manager9.4
Organizations needing broad certificate governance
Visit DigiCert Trust Lifecycle Manager - Best free optionManageEngine Key Manager Plus8.9
Has a free plan
Visit ManageEngine Key Manager Plus
All 15 Smallstep Certificate Manager Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forOrganizations needing broad certificate governance
- Better than Smallstep Certificate Manager:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 7.5
A broad certificate governance platform for hybrid infrastructure and enterprise PKI.
- Certificate discovery
- Deployment automation
9.4/10★★★★★Visit DigiCert -
Best forLarge organizations needing full lifecycle control
- Better than Smallstep Certificate Manager:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 7.5
Full certificate lifecycle control for large organizations managing diverse trust environments.
- Certificate discovery
- Deployment automation
9.3/10★★★★★Visit DigiCert ONE -
Best forEnterprises managing certificates across hybrid estates
- Better than Smallstep Certificate Manager:
- Editor score 9.1 vs 7.5
A broad certificate lifecycle platform for hybrid enterprise environments.
- Certificate discovery
- Deployment automation
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Keyfactor -
Best forBudget-conscious teams needing broad management
- Better than Smallstep Certificate Manager:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 7.5
Broad certificate discovery and automation with flexible licensing and a five-key free edition.
- Certificate discovery
- Deployment automation
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit ManageEngine -
Best forMulti-CA enterprise certificate operations
- Better than Smallstep Certificate Manager:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 7.5
A broad certificate operations platform for enterprises managing multiple CAs and certificate types.
- Certificate discovery
- Deployment automation
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Sectigo -
Best forEnterprises coordinating certificates across CAs
- Better than Smallstep Certificate Manager:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 7.5
A broad certificate lifecycle platform for organizations managing multiple CAs and environments.
- Certificate discovery
- Deployment automation
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Entrust -
Best forModern teams automating certificates and signing keys
- Better than Smallstep Certificate Manager:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.5
A broad certificate, PKI, code-signing, and SSH management platform for modern infrastructure teams.
- Certificate discovery
- Deployment automation
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit TigerTrust -
Best forOrganizations using GlobalSign and hybrid deployments
- Better than Smallstep Certificate Manager:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.5
A broad certificate lifecycle platform for GlobalSign users and hybrid environments.
- Certificate discovery
- Deployment automation
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit GlobalSign -
Best forOrganizations managing user and device certificates
- Better than Smallstep Certificate Manager:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.5
A broad certificate and key management platform for enterprise PKI operations.
- Certificate discovery
- Deployment automation
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit KeyTalk -
Best forTeams building a full open-source PKI
- Better than Smallstep Certificate Manager:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 7.5
A broad open-source PKI foundation for teams building and operating certificate infrastructure.
- Deployment automation
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit EJBCA -
Best forWindows-heavy teams wanting automated deployment
- Better than Smallstep Certificate Manager:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.5
A broad certificate automation suite with strong Windows deployment and multi-instance control.
- Certificate discovery
- Deployment automation
8.2/10★★★★☆Try Certify The Web -
Best forServiceNow customers managing certificate workflows
- Better than Smallstep Certificate Manager:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.5
A ServiceNow-centered option for discovering, tracking, renewing, and revoking TLS certificates.
- Certificate discovery
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit ServiceNow -
Best forGoogle Cloud users needing low-cost TLS automation
- Better than Smallstep Certificate Manager:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.5
Low-cost TLS automation for Google Cloud workloads, with usage-based charges beyond the free tier.
- Certificate discovery
- Deployment automation
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Google Cloud -
Best forAWS users needing managed certificates
- Better than Smallstep Certificate Manager:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.5
A strong AWS-native certificate manager with flexible issuance and deployment options.
- Deployment automation
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit AWS ACM -
Best forOCI users needing free cloud certificate management
- Better than Smallstep Certificate Manager:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 7.5
A free OCI certificate service with private CAs and focused deployment automation.
- Deployment automation
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Oracle Cloud
Smallstep Certificate Manager Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Smallstep Certificate Manager?
DigiCert Trust Lifecycle Manager: #1 in our Certificate Management Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad certificate governance platform for hybrid infrastructure and enterprise PKI.
Is there a free alternative to Smallstep Certificate Manager?
Yes. ManageEngine Key Manager Plus, EJBCA, Certify The Web, Google Cloud Certificate Manager and AWS Certificate Manager have a free plan or a free tier (6 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Smallstep Certificate Manager alternatives?
Pricing is handled through contact sales; Advanced Authorities are required for CRL and OCSP support; Does not verify certificate discovery.
How do I switch from Smallstep Certificate Manager?
Export your data from Smallstep Certificate Manager (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Smallstep Certificate Manager.
How to Switch from Smallstep Certificate Manager
- Export your data from Smallstep Certificate Manager (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Smallstep Certificate Manager.
Smallstep Certificate Manager vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Certificate discovery | Automatic renewal | Deployment automation | Revocation workflows | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Smallstep Certificate Manager | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.5 | |||
| 1 | DigiCert Trust Lifecycle Manager | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 | |
| 2 | DigiCert ONE | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.3 | ||
| 3 | Keyfactor Platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.1 | ||
| 4 | ManageEngine Key Manager Plus | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 | |
| 5 | Sectigo Certificate Manager | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 6 | Entrust Certificate Manager | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | ||
| 7 | TigerTrust | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 8 | GlobalSign Atlas | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | ||
| 9 | KeyTalk CKMS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.4 | ||
| 10 | EJBCA | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 11 | Certify The Web | Yes | $59/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.2 |
| 12 | ServiceNow Certificate Management | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | |||
| 13 | Google Cloud Certificate Manager | Yes | $0.000137/unit usage-based | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.0 |
| 14 | AWS Certificate Manager | Yes | $0.25/unit usage-based | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 15 | Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Certificates | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.8 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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