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FreeIPA vs step-ca: catalog facts
FreeIPA	step-ca
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source.
Linux, Web, Self-hosted, Command line	Linux, Self-hosted, Command line
Integrates LDAP, Kerberos, DNS and certificates in one system Trusts with Microsoft Active Directory	Issues both X.509 and SSH certificates Built-in ACME server for automated renewal
Linux-centric; built around Fedora and related distributions Many integrated components make it heavy to deploy and operate	Running a private CA requires careful key management Aimed at administrators comfortable with PKI concepts
Self-hosted	Downloadable app, Self-hosted
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026

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