Compare
The choices, side by side
Four decisions account for most of the confusion: Standard or EV, cloud or token, one year or a subscription, and whether a certificate is the right tool at all. Each comparison ends with a verdict, including the ones where something other than Klarseal wins.
All comparisons
Azure Artifact Signing vs an EV code signing certificate
An honest 2026 comparison of Microsoft's Azure Artifact Signing (formerly Azure Trusted Signing) against a Certum EV code signing certificate, including the cases where Azure is the better choice.
VerdictIf you already run on Azure, ship only Windows user-mode applications, and your business is registered in a supported country, Azure Artifact Signing is cheaper and easier — use it. Buy an EV certificate when you submit drivers to the Windows Hardware Developer Program, when you are outside the supported countries, when you need to sign artifacts that are not Authenticode, or when procurement requires a named certificate authority and an invoice.
Cloud code signing vs a USB token
Both satisfy the CA/Browser Forum hardware requirement. The differences are shipping, how each is authorised, team access and what happens when the hardware is lost — compared honestly.
VerdictCloud signing is the better default for almost every team: nothing ships, nothing is lost, and signing works from the machine you already develop on. Choose a token only when an internal policy demands a physical device you control, or when signing must work with no network access at all.
Decided? Start the order
We pull your company from Brønnøysundregistrene, verify who is ordering, and Certum confirms the application is complete before you pay.