DigiCert PKI Platform vs Microsoft Entra ID comparison

Digicert and Microsoft are both solutions in the Authentication Systems category. Digicert is ranked #22, while Microsoft is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.6. Digicert holds a 1.8% mindshare in AS, compared to Microsoft’s 7.8% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Digicert users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

DigiCert PKI Platform

Read 2 DigiCert PKI Platform reviews

995 Views
886 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Microsoft Entra ID

Read 273 Microsoft Entra ID reviews

26,383 Views
6,332 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

DigiCert PKI Platform

Microsoft Entra ID

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 11, 2024

Microsoft Entra ID and DigiCert PKI Platform are both prominent identity management and security solutions. Microsoft Entra ID offers competitive pricing and excellent customer support, while DigiCert PKI Platform is recognized for its rich feature set and robust security, making it a superior choice for enterprise-level security needs despite a higher price point.

What features are offered by Microsoft Entra ID in comparison to DigiCert PKI Platform?

Microsoft Entra ID is valued for seamless integration with other Microsoft products, strong multi-factor authentication capabilities, and competitive pricing. DigiCert PKI Platform is praised for its comprehensive certificate management, automated workflows, and robust security features that address diverse security concerns.

What areas of improvement can be found in Microsoft Entra ID in comparison to DigiCert PKI Platform?

Microsoft Entra ID reviews highlight complexity in initial setup, integration with non-Microsoft ecosystems, and the need for improved user interfaces. Users of DigiCert PKI Platform mention the need for better documentation, user education, and a more intuitive interface. These reflect different user experience challenges faced by each product.

How is the ease of deployment and customer service of Microsoft Entra ID in comparison to DigiCert PKI Platform?

Microsoft Entra ID is noted for straightforward implementation within Microsoft environments and responsive customer support. DigiCert PKI Platform, while having a more complex setup process, provides detailed support and dedicated account management. Ease of deployment favors Entra ID, but DigiCert’s dedicated support services receive positive user feedback.

What setup costs and ROI can be seen with Microsoft Entra ID in comparison to DigiCert PKI Platform?

Microsoft Entra ID stands out for cost-effectiveness and better-managed long-term costs. DigiCert PKI Platform, though initially more expensive, has a perceived higher ROI due to its comprehensive security solutions. Users feel the investment in DigiCert is justified by its robust capabilities, reflecting the higher initial price point in its ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed DigiCert PKI Platform vs. Microsoft Entra ID Report (Updated: March 2026).

Buyer's Guide

DigiCert PKI Platform vs. Microsoft Entra ID

March 2026

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Helped 885,264 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

DigiCert PKI Platform

Ranking in Authentication Systems

22nd

Average Rating

9.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Microsoft Entra ID

Ranking in Authentication Systems

1st

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

273

Ranking in other categories

Single Sign-On (SSO) (1st), Identity Management (IM) (2nd), Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS) (1st), Access Management (1st), Microsoft Security Suite (2nd)

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Authentication Systems category, the mindshare of DigiCert PKI Platform is 1.8%, up from 1.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Entra ID is 7.8%, down from 16.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Authentication Systems Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Microsoft Entra ID	7.8%
DigiCert PKI Platform	1.8%
Other	90.4%

Authentication Systems

Featured Reviews

Indra Maulana

Business Solution and Development Manager at PT ADPS

Tailored to the lifecycle management needs of banks

The customer finds value in adopting a platform from Jira, particularly for the ease it brings to their processes, both for on-premises operations and batch processing. Their objective is to create a new customized server specifically designed for generating certificates. This server is intended for the generation of certificates, emphasizing that it is not meant for free domain replacement. The platform of choice for this purpose is Digital One, a product that offers full customization and aligns well with the customer's preference for tailored solutions. The process of certificate issuance from Microsoft's AB involves renewal or replacement every five years. However, an issue arises in that this particular certificate requires renewal annually instead of the standard five-year cycle. The challenge is attributed to personnel changes, where an administrator responsible for the process resigns within the five-year period. To address this, we seek an automated solution that operates seamlessly with a single sign-on approach, eliminating the need for user IDs or passwords. The automation involves approval and subsequent deployment without complexities. Being a partner of DigiSet, we rely on the implementer for support in service deployment, installation, and resolution of any issues that may arise.

Read full review

Stafin Jacob

Microsoft 365 Security & Compliance Practice Lead at Invoke

Identity has become our central gatekeeper and has provided secure single sign-on for all users

Microsoft Entra ID can improve by focusing more on new passwordless methods and becoming a primary adopter. One feature we would like to see is the ability to have security questions for password resets. I know the current capability is phasing out, so we do not have an alternative method yet. Customers who already use security questions require a smoother transition for that capability to be available. My experience with the deployment has had some challenges, particularly around the Microsoft MFA campaigns. The hardest part is moving users from a different MFA provider to the Microsoft MFA provider, as it ultimately depends on user activity. In large enterprises with numerous users across various geographies, this transition takes time. If there are ways to exert more control around that process, it would improve the situation.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"I emphasize the importance of automation in Wi-Fi management, particularly in tasks such as certificate renewal. The requirement extends to the ability to generate new certificates from a local server within the data center. There is a need to establish a new server for local certificate issuance and highlights the desire for automation in the deployment process. The emphasis lies in leveraging automated solutions to streamline these operations effectively."

"The public key infrastructure certificates issued by the PKI servers helped me set up good client-server authentic communications."

"The most valuable feature is the communication based on PKI certificates."

"The implementation of Microsoft Entra ID has made my secure access to apps or resources in my environment more seamless."

"The features of Microsoft Entra ID that eliminate the need to remember provisioning and passwords provide a seamless, frictionless experience."

"What I appreciate the most about Microsoft Entra ID is that it integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products, which streamlines the process."

"The most significant aspect is the security measures inherent in Microsoft Entra ID, including features such as conditional access policies."

"It is easy to manage. I can manage systems with policies and automate our systems. Any professional system can be easily integrated with Azure Active Directory. It is widely used with Windows versions."

"The implementation of Microsoft Entra ID has hardened our approach to defending against token theft and nation-state attacks."

"Entra has made it easy to manage identity and access by integrating with all Microsoft services."

"This solution is useful for user management because it is integrated with DNS."

More Microsoft Entra ID pros

Cons

"The customer finds value in adopting a platform from Jira, particularly for the ease it brings to their processes, both for on-premises operations and batch processing. Their objective is to create a new customized server specifically designed for generating certificates. This server is intended for the generation of certificates, emphasizing that it is not meant for free domain replacement. The platform of choice for this purpose is Digital One, a product that offers full customization and aligns well with the customer's preference for tailored solutions.The process of certificate issuance from Microsoft's AB involves renewal or replacement every five years. However, an issue arises in that this particular certificate requires renewal annually instead of the standard five-year cycle. The challenge is attributed to personnel changes, where an administrator responsible for the process resigns within the five-year period. To address this, we seeks an automated solution that operates seamlessly with a single sign-on approach, eliminating the need for user IDs or passwords. The automation involves approval and subsequent deployment without complexities. Us, being a partner of DigiSet, relies on their implementer for support in service deployment, installation, and resolution of any issues that may arise."

"From an automation perspective, PKI is a bit of a debatable topic and can be improved as time demands."

"I want better integration between Azure AD and the on-prem environment because there are currently limitations that can hamper employee experience. We use a feature called password writeback, that can be challenging to implement in a hybrid environment. Employees can change their passwords using a self-service password reset (SSPR) feature, which reflects from the cloud to the on-prem identity, but not the other way around. Currently, there is no way to reflect passwords from on-prem identities to the cloud."

"Adding a new account can be tricky."

"I would like it if Intune could manage MacOS or iOS directly. Right now, we have to use a third-party solution."

"The areas where Microsoft Entra ID could improve include the fact that it is a de facto standard but not a real standard, leading to strong vendor lock-in, which sometimes makes us avoid Microsoft Entra ID for certain purposes."

"We did experience downtime tied to Microsoft when there was an issue with Front Door. All external identity platform services were down for more than 8 hours, which was a critical incident from a couple of months back."

"The automation aspects of Entra ID could be improved, particularly when automating through different providers and SDKs."

"There are many new features being added all the time, and Microsoft is advancing at a pace that aligns with our needs. I can't think of anything immediate that needs improvement."

"I want to see more features to improve security, such as integrated user behavior analysis."

More Microsoft Entra ID cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"This solution won't cost much, as this would be free with the licensing from Microsoft."

"I would rate it seven for the price."

"Azure Active Directory has a very extensive licensing model. Most of the features are available in the free and basic version, and then there are premium P1 and P2 editions. The licensing model is based on how many users you have per month. In Australia, for a P1 license, the cost is 8 dollars. With P1 and P2 licenses, you get a lot of goodies around the security side of things. For example, User Identity Protection is available only in P2. These are extra features that allow you to have a pretty good security posture, but most of the required things are available in the free and basic version."

"Our customers are looking for advanced features and processes for it to be cost-effective for their organizations. They see it as an overpriced product. They are enjoying using Azure Active Directory, but they are looking for better prices."

"Azure AD's pricing is comprehensive and affordable. The prices are easy to understand, and the licenses include a variety of security monitoring and additional features."

"I think we're on the E3 — I think it was about 35 dollars per user."

"I'm not totally aware of the pricing and licensing, but I do know that the pricing and licensing must be quite balanced. We are a pretty old client of Microsoft, and MSA is just one of the services we use from Microsoft. There's a whole Microsoft 365 suite that's implemented as well. I'm sure it is something that is acceptable to both parties."

"It is a really nice tool and we have a license for the more complex model."

"Licensing fees are paid on a monthly basis and the cost depends on the number of users."

"Entra ID is not too bad, but Microsoft licensing generally is insane. Most customers normally buy a bundle license with Microsoft 365, E3, or E5. Out of our 2,000 customers, for 99.9% of our customers, the Entra ID license that they are getting through the part of that would be sufficient. There are some more advanced ones that give you a bit more functionality, but we probably have not had a customer for that. We do not even internally use that ourselves. When you buy the Entra ID license on its own, it is probably three or four pounds. You just get it included in the license."

More Microsoft Entra ID pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

13%

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	88
Midsize Enterprise	39
Large Enterprise	159

Questions from the Community

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We switched to Duo Security for identity verification. We’d been using a competitor but got the chance to evaluate Duo for 30 days, and we could not be happier. Duo Security is easy to configure a...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Azure Active Directory?

My experience with the pricing, setup costs, and licensing of Microsoft Entra ID is that it is decent.

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What needs improvement with Azure Active Directory?

I think Microsoft Entra ID could be improved by assigning permissions to nested groups in the next release.

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Comparisons

CyberArk Certificate Manager vs DigiCert PKI Platform

Compared 18% of the time

Entrust Identity Enterprise vs DigiCert PKI Platform

Compared 13% of the time

Fortinet FortiAuthenticator vs DigiCert PKI Platform

Compared 10% of the time

Yubico YubiKey vs DigiCert PKI Platform

Compared 7% of the time

Entrust Identity Essentials vs DigiCert PKI Platform

Compared 7% of the time

More DigiCert PKI Platform Competitors

Google Cloud Identity vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 22% of the time

Okta Platform vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 5% of the time

Microsoft Intune vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 4% of the time

SailPoint Identity Security Cloud vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 4% of the time

Ping Identity Platform vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 3% of the time

More Microsoft Entra ID Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Authentication Systems

March 2026

Download DigiCert PKI Platform product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Entra ID

March 2026

Download Microsoft Entra ID product report

Also Known As

DigiCert PKI, Symantec Managed PKI Service

Azure AD, Azure Active Directory, Azure Active Directory, Microsoft Authenticator

Interactive Demo

Demo not available

Digicert

Microsoft

Overview

The smartest solution for simplifying user identity management for existing network access, directory services and business applications. DigiCert PKI Platform is the industry-leading solution that allows you to secure and manage all of your PKI applications from one place — no matter what solutions you have in place. Take control of and automate the certificate lifecycle for: Email, WiFi access points, Secure VPN, Mobile device management, Document Signing, Smart card login, Internet of things.

Digicert

Microsoft Entra ID is an advanced identity and access management service offering seamless single sign-on, multifactor authentication, and centralized user access across applications, enhancing security and efficiency for organizations transitioning to cloud-based environments.

Recognized for its centralized management, Microsoft Entra ID significantly boosts organizational security by integrating features such as conditional access and identity protection. It supports a wide array of applications, facilitating a secure transition from on-premises to scalable cloud environments. By adopting robust security measures and flexible identity management, organizations can streamline operations and ensure consistent user experiences. However, challenges like confusing licensing costs, outdated documentation, and limited integration with non-Microsoft applications persist. Enhancements in technical support, interface design, and more granular permissions are needed to address these issues effectively.

What are the key features of Microsoft Entra ID?

Seamless Single Sign-On: Allows users to access multiple applications with one set of credentials.
Multifactor Authentication: Adds an extra layer of security by requiring multiple forms of verification.
Conditional Access: Provides adaptive policies to ensure the right access under the right conditions.
Identity Protection: Detects and responds to potential vulnerabilities and threats.
Privileged Identity Management: Controls and monitors access to critical resources.

What benefits should users expect when evaluating Microsoft Entra ID?

Enhanced Security: Protects against unauthorized access and data breaches.
Operational Efficiency: Centralizes identity management to reduce administrative tasks.
Scalability: Supports growth by accommodating evolving IT environments.
Cost Management: Facilitates cost control through centralized systems and automated processes.

In healthcare, Microsoft Entra ID facilitates secure patient record access and compliance with industry regulations. Financial institutions rely on it for robust security measures in safeguarding client data. In the education sector, it streamlines access to online resources for students and faculty. Global enterprises benefit from its ability to manage complex identity frameworks across multiple regions, ensuring reliable security amidst increasing cyber threats.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

paypal, verizon, cloudflare

Microsoft Entre ID is trusted by companies of all sizes and industries including Walmart, Zscaler, Uniper, Amtrak, monday.com, and more.

Buyer's Guide

DigiCert PKI Platform vs. Microsoft Entra ID

March 2026

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