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certstrap vs step-ca: catalog facts
certstrap	step-ca
Free Free and open source under the Apache 2.0 licence.	Free Free and open source.
Windows, Linux, Command line	Linux, Self-hosted, Command line
Simpler than raw openssl commands Covers CA creation, CSRs and signing	Issues both X.509 and SSH certificates Built-in ACME server for automated renewal
Command line only Aimed at basic private PKI rather than full certificate lifecycle management	Running a private CA requires careful key management Aimed at administrators comfortable with PKI concepts
Downloadable app	Downloadable app, Self-hosted
Open source	Open source
License: Apache-2.0	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.