BIMI Certificate Cost Breakdown: Common and Verified Mark Certificate Pricing Guide

How much do BIMI Certificates cost and what factors affect pricing?

BIMI certificates are quickly becoming a must-have for email marketers focused on both deliverability and brand protection. But implementing BIMI alone will not suffice. To actually display your brand’s logo inside recipient inboxes, you need a BIMI-verified certificate, either a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) or a Common Mark Certificate (CMC). It’s the final step to making sure your brand shows up, stands out, and earns trust.

In this blog, we’ll explain BIMI certificates, compare CMC and VMC options, break down their costs, and help you understand what you’re really paying for.

What Is a BIMI Certificate, and Why Do You Need One?

BIMI – Brand Indicators for Message Identification is a global standard that lets businesses display their brand logo next to authenticated emails in supported inboxes. BIMI relies on email security protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Most major mailbox providers (especially Gmail) require an added layer of assurance, like a formal certification that the logo and sender identity match.

A BIMI certificate is a cryptographic file that proves a brand’s domain and visual identity have been properly authenticated for inbox display. Without a BIMI certificate, mailbox providers have no way to fully validate the logo’s legitimacy, even if all technical records are correct. The certificate acts as a verified signal, ensuring the logo shown to recipients is not only technically linked to the domain but also securely authorized.

For organizations, this matters because it turns behind-the-scenes email authentication into visible, recipient-facing trust. A BIMI certificate doesn’t just protect your email infrastructure; it strengthens how your brand is seen every time your message lands in an inbox.

Types of BIMI Certificates

Verified Mark Certificate – VMC

A VMC Certificate is the “verified” version of BIMI, allowing businesses to display a trademarked logo with a blue checkmark in Gmail. To get a VMC, your brand logo must be a registered trademark, and you must enforce DMARC with ‘quarantine’ or ‘reject’ policy.

VMCs are essential for organizations that want to maximize trust, especially when targeting Gmail users where only VMC-enabled logos show up with verification.

Common Mark Certificate – CMC

CMC is a more accessible version of BIMI that doesn’t require a trademarked logo. Unlike VMC, a CMC does not display a verified checkmark in Gmail, but it still allows the logo to appear in supported inboxes like Gmail, Yahoo, or Fastmail.

CMC is suitable for smaller brands or organizations that are still building their trademark portfolio but want to adopt BIMI early.

BIMI Certificate Cost: What You’ll Pay for CMC and VMC

Knowing the BIMI certificate cost upfront helps align both budget and security goals. The cost of a BIMI certificate reflects more than just the final price – it represents the trust and validation your brand puts forward.

Pricing varies because of several factors. The type of certificate matters: VMCs require trademark validation, which adds legal checks and costs. CMCs skip this step, making them a lower-priced option. Whether you choose a Verified Mark Certificate or a Common Mark Certificate, you’re paying for assurance that mailbox providers will recognize and display your logo securely.

For businesses, the spend covers not just the certificate but the outcome: stronger brand presence, better deliverability, and enhanced phishing defense. A BIMI certificate turns technical compliance into visible, recipient-facing trust, improving how your brand is seen in every inbox.

Here’s the BIMI certificate cost overview from SSL2BUY’s current offerings:

Common Mark Certificate Cost: Understanding the Price and Value

CMC offers brands an affordable path into the world of BIMI. But what exactly are you paying for, and why does it matter?

At SSL2BUY, a CMC starts at $964 per year, but you can significantly lower your annual cost by choosing a multi-year subscription. For example, opting for a three-year term brings the annual price down compared to a one-year plan.

• 1-year plan: $964.00 per year
• 2-year plan: $903.50 per year
• 3-year plan: $810.67 per year

If you want to cover several domains or subdomains that all use the same logo, you can simply add Standard SANs (Subject Alternative Names) to your order. This lets you secure names like www.brand.com, shop.brand.com, and blog.brand.com under one certificate — all linked to the same visual identity.

However, if you need to use different logos across your domains, SANs alone aren’t enough. Each distinct logo requires its own separate validation, meaning you’ll need to increase the quantity of certificates in your order.

SSL2BUY’s ordering system makes this easy:

• Add SANs to extend one logo across multiple sites.
• Adjust quantity if you manage multiple logos under different domains.

This flexible approach ensures you only pay for what fits your specific BIMI needs, whether you’re a single-brand business expanding online or a multi-brand organization managing diverse digital assets.

Verified Mark Certificate Cost: What’s Included?

The Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) offers brands the highest level of BIMI assurance, but the cost covers much more than just the right to display a logo. It includes a series of rigorous checks and validations that elevate your brand’s trustworthiness in the inbox, especially in Gmail, where the blue checkmark next to your logo signals verified authenticity to every recipient.

At SSL2BUY, DigiCert VMCs are priced as follows:

• 1-year plan: $1299.00 per year
• 2-year plan: $1224.50 per year
• 3-year plan: $1099.67 per year

These multi-year plans offer meaningful savings compared to annual renewals, allowing brands to lock in value over time.

The VMC price includes:

The price reflects the depth of validation required. Unlike CMCs, VMCs demand legal trademark proof, making them the premium choice for enterprise brands that want the highest visual authority in inboxes, particularly with Gmail’s verified badge.

Additionally, if you manage multiple trademarked logos, you’ll need to increase the quantity of VMCs in your order, as each certificate is tied to a specific logo and organization. SANs can be used if you’re applying the same logo across multiple domains, allowing you to extend the certificate’s reach efficiently.

Ultimately, a VMC isn’t just a compliance requirement, but a strategic investment in brand reputation, customer confidence, and email security at the highest level.

So, What Are You Actually Paying For?

Whether you choose a VMC or CMC, your investment isn’t just about price — it’s about unlocking tangible benefits that strengthen your email program. You get:

1. Brand Visibility

   Logo impressions directly in the inbox (higher open rates, more brand recognition)

2. Email Trust

   Recipients are more likely to engage with branded, authenticated messages

3. Phishing Defense

   Visually distinguishing your email from spoofed or fake messages

4. Compliance with Major Inboxes

   Gmail mandates VMC for logo display. Others follow BIMI rules with or without a certificate.

Hidden Costs & Practical Considerations

Even with a certificate in hand, BIMI implementation can be tricky. Watch out for:

At SSL2BUY, we walk you through every step: logo readiness, record publishing, DMARC alignment, and certificate validation.

Final Verdict: Is a BIMI Certificate Worth It?

If you’re serious about email engagement and brand security, the answer is yes.

• For enterprise brands or those targeting Gmail users, a VMC is essential. It’s the only way to get verified logo display with a checkmark.
• For emerging brands or those without trademarks, a CMC offers entry-level access to BIMI without the legal hurdles.

Both options strengthen trust, reinforce your visual identity, and reduce the risk of impersonation. And when purchased through SSL2BUY, you get full support from pre-checks to post-issuance.

Related Articles:

• How Do I Trademark a Logo and Qualify for a Verified Mark Certificate
• What is DMARC? Setup & Best Practices to Protect Your Domain
• DMARC Readiness for VMC Certificates: A Foundational Guide
• Technical Guide for Verified Mark Certificates (VMC)