Compare software

certstrap vs XCA: catalog facts
certstrap	XCA
Free Free and open source under the Apache 2.0 licence.	Free Free to download, with source code published on GitHub.
Windows, Linux, Command line	macOS
Simpler than raw openssl commands Covers CA creation, CSRs and signing	Covers a full CA workflow including sub-CAs and CRLs Templates for issuing similar certificates
Command line only Aimed at basic private PKI rather than full certificate lifecycle management	Assumes familiarity with PKI concepts Interface is functional rather than polished
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Closed source
License: Apache-2.0	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	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.