Code Signing Certificate Costs Compared

Code signing certificates range from $65/year for basic OV certificates to $500+/year for premium EV certificates. The total cost also includes hardware tokens ($50-$150), shipping ($40-$90), and platform fees like Apple Developer Program ($99/year). For both Windows and macOS signing, expect to spend $300-$600/year total.

Legitimate code signing is not free. While you can create self-signed certificates for free, they won't be trusted by operating systems and will trigger security warnings. Certum offers free code signing certificates for verified open source projects. Otherwise, the cheapest legitimate option is SSL.com at $65/year for OV certificates.

Not necessarily. Since March 2024, Microsoft changed SmartScreen to treat EV and OV certificates similarly - EV no longer provides instant SmartScreen reputation. EV is still required for signing Windows kernel drivers. For most applications, an OV certificate works fine and costs significantly less ($65-$220/year vs $250-$580/year).

EV (Extended Validation) requires stricter identity verification, hardware token storage, and costs more ($250-$580/year). OV (Organization Validation) has simpler verification and lower cost ($65-$220/year). Since Microsoft's March 2024 SmartScreen changes, the practical difference is minimal for most apps. EV is still required for Windows kernel-mode drivers.

Code signing certificates are expensive because they require identity verification by the Certificate Authority, ongoing infrastructure costs, and compliance with CA/Browser Forum requirements. Since June 2023, certificates must also be stored on hardware tokens (FIPS 140-2 compliant), adding $50-$150 to the cost. The CA industry has consolidated, reducing competition.

Yes, you can create a self-signed certificate for free using tools like OpenSSL or PowerShell. However, self-signed certificates are not trusted by Windows, macOS, or users. Your software will show security warnings like 'Unknown Publisher' or be blocked entirely. For distribution, you need a certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority.

The cheapest legitimate code signing certificate is SSL.com's OV certificate at $65/year. For EV certificates, Certum offers cloud-based EV signing starting at $226/year (no hardware token needed). Remember to factor in hardware token costs ($50-$150) and shipping ($40-$90) for most certificates.

Yes. macOS requires code signing and notarization for apps distributed outside the Mac App Store. Without it, users see 'App is damaged and can't be opened' or Gatekeeper blocks the app entirely. You need an Apple Developer Program membership ($99/year) which includes code signing certificates.

As of December 2025, code signing certificates are limited to 1-year validity (366 days) per CA/Browser Forum rules. Previously, 2-3 year certificates were available. However, timestamped signatures remain valid even after the certificate expires, so your already-signed software continues to work.

If you used timestamping when signing (recommended), your existing signatures remain valid indefinitely. Without timestamping, signatures become invalid when the certificate expires, and users may see security warnings. Always use timestamping - it's free and included with all certificates.