This document provides a comparison of Comodo SSL certificates and those offered by competitors such as VeriSign, GeoTrust, and Thawte. It includes comparison tables for four main certificate types: Extended Validation Certificates, which provide the highest level of trust; Organization Validation Certificates; Domain-Only Validation Certificates, the lowest-cost option; and Wildcard and Unified Communications Certificates. The tables show differences in prices, features, benefits, and technical specifications among the certificates. The document aims to demonstrate that Comodo certificates offer more robust security features, lower prices, and a better overall value compared to rival certificate providers.

1. ComodoSSLCertificates
Key Features and Competitive Comparison

2. Endpoint Security Manager 2.0
Comodo SSL Certificates
ComodoSSLCertificates
At a glance feature and price comparison
Extended Validation Certificates
EV certificates provide the highest levels of encryption,
security and trust and immediately reassure web site
visitors that it is safe to conduct online transactions
by turning the address bar green on next generation
browsers such as Internet Explorer 7.0, FireFox 3.0 and
Opera 9.5. Each EV certificate, regardless of the vendor, is
organization validated to the rigorous guidelines set by the
CA/B Forum – an organization founded by Comodo. EV
certificates are the future of online security and are highly
recommended for online businesses of all sizes.
Click Here To View EV Comparison table
Organization Validation Certificates
OV certificates include full business and company
validation from a certificate authority using currently
established and accepted manual vetting processes.
Because of this requirement, these certificates provide
significantly higher levels of trust and security than
Domain-Only SSL certificates but are not validated to the
stringent standards set by the CA/B forum and do not
possess the ability to turn the address bar green in the
latest browsers.
Click Here To View OV Comparison table
Domain-Only Validation Certificates
DV certificates are the lowest cost means of securing a
website but do not provide authentication or validation
of the business behind the website. Unlike EV and
OV certificates, DV certs provide are validated and
provisioned automatically via an online interface using a
system of ‘challenge-response’ emails.
Click Here To View DV Comparison table
Wildcard Certificates
Wildcard certificates allow web-hosts and enterprises to
secure unlimited sub-domains of a domain name on a
single certificate (for example, a wildcard certificate for
‘*.domain.com’ could also be used to secure ‘payments.
domain.com’ , ‘login.domain.com , ‘anythingelse.
domain.com’ etc etc). Apart from providing a very cost
effective alternative to single certificate purchases,
Wildcard certificates also simplify the certificate life-cycle
management processes by removing the need to manage
and track multiple individual certificates.
Click Here To View Wildcard Comparison table
Unified Communications / Multi-Domain
Certificates
By taking advantage of the Subject Alternative Name
(SAN) field, Unified Communications/Multi-Domain
Certificates are capable of securing up to 100 different
fully qualified domains on a single certificate. This
simplifies SSL management because administrators
need only keep track of a single certificate with a unified
expiry date instead of multiple certificates. Depending
on the vendor, UC/MDC certificates can also represent
a per-domain cost saving over the purchase price of
individual certificates.
Click Here To View UCC Comparison table
Thank you for considering Comodo CA as your SSL security provider. This document contains a feature by feature and
price comparison of the Comodo range of certificates against those offered by rival certificate authorities. There is a
separate comparison table for each of four main certificate types:

3. Endpoint Security Manager 2.0
Comodo SSL Certificates
Extended Validation Certificates
Certificate Name
Comodo
EV SGC Certificate
VeriSign
Secure Site Pro
with EV
GeoTrust
TrueBusinessID
with EV
Thawte
SSL Web Server
Certificate with EV
Validation Level
Organization Validated
to EV guidelines by
Comodo - founders of
the CA/B forum
Organization Validated
to EV Guidelines set by
the CA/B forum
Organization Validated
to EV Guidelines set by
the CA/B forum
Organization Validated
to EV Guidelines set by
the CA/B forum
SGC Capable ü ü  
Warranty $250,000 $250,000 $10,000 None offered.
Site Seal
Dynamic - 'point-to-
verify' feature delivers
real-time verification of
business identity
Passive - No 'point-to-
verify' functionality
Passive - No ‘point-to-
verify’ functionality
Passive - No ‘point-to-
verify’ functionality
Speed of Issuance 1 week 1-2 Weeks 1-2 Weeks 1-2 Weeks
Technical Support:
Telephone, email, online
knowledge-base, web-
based ticketing system
Tel, Email, Web Tel, Email, Web Tel, Email, Web
Free Site Seal
Dynamic
TrustLogo 'point-to-
verify' feature delivers
real-time verification of
business identity
Passive
No ‘point-to-verify’
functionality
Passive
No ‘point-to-verify’
functionality
Passive
No ‘point-to-verify’
functionality
Automatic Green Address
Bar' enabling technology
for Windows XP based
browsers

Certificate comes with
free ‘EV AUTO - En-
hancer™ - Automatic
EV Deployment and
Maintenance Technol-
ogy’ so XP users always
see the green bar

Manual. Requires
owner to install javas-
cript and/or obtrusive
site seal on all their web
pages

Manual. Requires
owner to install javas-
cript and/or obtrusive
site seal on all their web
pages

Manual. Requires
owner to install javas-
cript and/or obtrusive
site seal on all their
web pages
Refund Policy 30 days 30 days 7 days 7 days
2048 bit private key used
throughout CA certificate
chain
Yes. 2048-bit keys are
used in all CA Certifi-
cates in our EV
cert chain
No. Root certificate
signed with 1024 bit
key which will be insuf-
ficient by year 2010
(source: RSA)
-
No. Root certificate
signed with 1024 bit
key which will be insuf-
ficient by year 2010
(source: RSA)
Price Includes Unlimited
Server Licenses
   

4. Endpoint Security Manager 2.0
Comodo SSL Certificates
Certificate Name
Comodo
InstantSSL Certificate
VeriSign
Secure Site Pro
GeoTrust
TrueBusinessID
Thawte
SSL Webserver
Certificate
1 yr Certificate Price $99.95 $995 $399 $249
Maximum Certificate
Term
5 years 3 years 5 years 5 years
Lowest Per-Year Price $64.95 $826.67 $319.20 $219.80
Validation Level
Domain ownership and
Company Legitimacy
Domain ownership and
Company Legitimacy
Domain ownership and
Company Legitimacy
Domain ownership and
Company Legitimacy
SSL Encryption 256 bit 256 bit 256 bit 256 bit
Speed of Issuance 1 hour 2 days 2 days 2 days
Re-issuance Policy Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Free Site Seal
Dynamic TrustLogo ‘point-
to-verify’ feature delivers
real-time verification of
business identity
Passive
No 'point-to-verify'
functionality
Passive
No ‘point-to-verify’
functionality
Passive
No ‘point-to-verify’
functionality
Automated Provision-
ing Tools

Automatic CSR genera-
tion and certificate instal-
lation tools.
  
Technical Support:
Telephone, e-mail, online
knowledge-base, web-
based ticketing system.
Tel, email, web Tel, email, web Tel, email, web
Secures
domain.com AND www.
domain.com
domain.com domain.com domain.com
Price Includes Unlim-
ited Server Licenses
   
Domain-Only Validation Certificates
Certificate Name
Comodo EssentialSSL
Certificate
VeriSign
Certificate Type
Not Offered
GeoTrust
QuickSSL
Thawte
SSL 123 Certificate
1 yr Certificate Price $79.95 N/A $249 $149
Lowest Per-Year Price $51.95 N/A $199.20 $129.80
Validation Level Domain Control N/A Domain Control Domain Control
Speed of Issuance Immediate N/A 10 minutes 10 minutes
Organization Validation Certificates

5. Endpoint Security Manager 2.0
Comodo SSL Certificates
Wildcard Certificates
Certificate Name
Comodo EssentialSSL
Certificate
VeriSign
Certificate Type
Not Offered
GeoTrust
QuickSSL
Thawte
SSL 123 Certificate
Re-issuance Policy Unlimited N/A Unlimited Unlimited
Free Site Seal  N/A  
Technical Support:
Telephone, e-mail, online
knowledge-base, web-
based ticketing system.
N/A Tel, email, web Tel, email, web
Secures
domain.com AND www.
domain.com
N/A domain.com domain.com
Refund Policy 30 days N/A 7 days 30 days
Price Includes Unlim-
ited Server Licenses
 N/A  
Certificate Name
Comodo
PremiumSSL
Wildcard
GeoTrust
TrueBusiness ID
Wildcard
Thawte Wildcard
Certificate
Symantec /
VeriSign Secure
Site Wildcard SSL
Certificates
One Year Price $449.95 $499.00 $799.00 $1,999
Term Options 1-5 years 1-4 years 1-2 years 1-3 years
Secure domain &
unlimited sub-domains
   
Full business and domain
validation
   
Unlimited Reissuance
(lifetime of cert)
   
256-Bit Encryption    
99% Browser Recognition    
Refund Policy 30 days 7 days 30 days 30 days
Dynamic site seal

Point-to-verify delivers
real time verification of
business identity

Static seal. No ‘Point-
to-Verify’ feature

Static seal. No ‘Point-
to-Verify’ feature

Static seal. No ‘Point-
to-Verify’ feature
Free daily website
vulnerability scans
   
Free PCI vulnerability
scanning service
   
Unlimited server licenses    

6. Endpoint Security Manager 2.0
Comodo SSL Certificates
Key
 Functionality or Feature is Present
 Functionality or Feature is Not Present
Blank Cell Functionality or Feature is Not Confirmed
UC Certificates
Certificate Name Comodo UCC SSL
Verisign/Symantec
Secure Site with
MDC
Thawte SSL Web
Server with MDC
Geotrust Business
ID with MDC
1 yr certificate price $285.00 $997.00 $497.00 $359.00
Price of three domains $285.00 $997.00 $497.00 $359.00
Price of each additional
domain per year
$35.00 $299.00 $149.00 $29.00
Lowest price year $235.00 $897.66 $403.25 $291.75
Term options 1-3 years 1-3 years 1-4 years 1-4 years
Validation level
Domain ownership
and company
legitimacy
Domain ownership
and company
legitimacy
Domain ownership
and company
legitimacy
Domain ownership
and company
legitimacy
2048 bit roots    
SSL encryption 256 bit 256 bit 256 bit 256 bit
Re-issuance policy Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Compatible with most
mobile devices and
browsers
   
Single certificate secures
up to a maximum of
100 domain names 25 domain names 25 domain names 25 domain names
Free PCI scanning service
(value $249)
   
Free daily vulnerability
scanning for your website
(value $2,250)
   
Price includes unlimited
server licenses
   
Technical support
Telephone, live-chat,
e-mail, online knowledge
base, web-based
ticketing system
Tel, email, web Tel, email, web Tel, email, web
Refund policy 30 days 30 days 30 days 7 days

7. About Comodo
The Comodo companies provide the infrastructure that is essential
in enabling e-merchants, other Internet-connected companies,
software companies, and individual consumers to interact and
conduct business via the Internet safely and securely. The Comodo
companies offer PKI SSL, Code Signing, Content Verification and
Email Certificates; award winning PC security software; vulnerability
scanning services for PCI Compliance; secure email and fax services.
Continual innovation, a core competence in PKI, and a commitment
to reversing the growth of Internet-crime distinguish the Comodo
companies as vital players in the Internet’s ongoing development.
Comodo secures and authenticates online transactions and
communications for over 200,000 business customers and
10,000,000 users of our desktop security products.
For additional information on Comodo – Creating Trust
Online™ visit www.comodo.com
Comodo CA Limited
3rd Floor, 26 Office Village,
Exchange Quay,
Trafford Road, Salford,
Manchester M5 3EQ,
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 161 874 7070
Fax: +44 (0) 161 877 7025
Comodo Group, Inc.
1255 Broad Street
Clifton, NJ 07013
United States
Tel: + 1.888.266.6361
Tel: + 1.703.581.6361
Email: sales@comodo.com