Azure Artifact Signing
The most recommended of 3 code signing services
Cheap Windows code signing, about $10 a month, with no certificates to buy or renew. Caveat: individual signups are limited to the US and Canada.
Cheap Windows code signing, about $10 a month, with no certificates to buy or renew. Caveat: individual signups are limited to the US and Canada.
25 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 10
- criticize it
- 15
- approval share
- 40%
Recommended in 5 of 13 months
- November 2025: recommended
- December 2025: recommended
- January 2026: recommended
- February 2026: not recommended
- March 2026: recommended
- April 2026: recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: not recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: not recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it doesn’t carry the badge
- 10 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
- 0.6 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, not met.
- Recommended in 5 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Cheaper than traditional code signing certificates
“Windows signing was an expensive nightmare before, but is now relatively painless and down to $10/mo”
Comment from 8 Nov 2025 in “Apple's "notarisation" – blocking software freedom of developers and users” “This is wild, thank you so much!! I was struggling with these costs for a long time!!”
Comment from 17 Jan 2026 in “6-Day and IP Address Certificates Are Generally Available” “Instead of hundreds or thousands for a cert it's $10/month”
Comment from 7 Dec 2025 in “The Anatomy of a macOS App” Simpler than traditional code signing
“my code signing cert via Azure (no Microsoft store account required, can be used to self-publish binaries/installers the old fashion way)”
Comment from 9 Apr 2026 in “Veracrypt Project Update” “I just migrated to MS artifact signing and, thank the lord, had an actually easier time getting verified”
Comment from 8 Apr 2026 in “Veracrypt Project Update” “you don't need to worry about procuring or renewing code signing certs”
Comment from 22 Mar 2026 in “Windows native app development is a mess” Best Windows signing option
“So yeah, Azure Trusted Signing or EV certificate is the way to go on Windows.”
Comment from 8 Dec 2025 in “The Anatomy of a macOS App” “Azure Trusted Signing is 100% the best choice”
Comment from 7 Dec 2025 in “The Anatomy of a macOS App”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
SmartScreen warnings on signed installers
“we've been seeing inconsistent SmartScreen warnings for our apps that previously had stable reputation via Azure Artifact Signing certificates”
Comment from 6 May 2026 in “Tell HN: No More Instant Reputation for Apps Distributed Outside Microsoft Store” “Silent CA migration (EOC CA 02 → AOC CA 03) around March 21-23 broke SmartScreen for all affected Trusted Signing customers.”
Comment from 11 May 2026 in “SmartScreen warnings triggered after migration from EOC. EV certs affected too” “since a month ago installers signed with it often display SmartScreen warnings”
Comment from 10 May 2026 in “Apple is increasing my cortisol levels” - Comment from 3 Jul 2026 in “Show HN: IDE for code assembly of resuable code blocks”
- Comment from 28 Apr 2026 in “Paying for Azure Trusted Signing, yet installers get blocked on Windows”
Identity verification failures, little support
“Obfuscating why they revoked trust (as is apparently the case) and leaving the phone ringing is hurting trust in MS as a CA”
Comment from 8 Apr 2026 in “Veracrypt Project Update” “they messed up the verification of one of the legitimate documents, and there was no way to reach them”
Comment from 8 Apr 2026 in “Microsoft Abruptly Terminates VeraCrypt Account, Halting Windows Updates” “after spending one hour on outdated doc on how to set it up I get hit with Identity validation”
Comment from 30 Jan 2026 in “Microsoft's Azure Linux” - Comment from 8 Apr 2026 in “Microsoft Abruptly Terminates VeraCrypt Account, Halting Windows Updates”
Individual signups limited to US, Canada
“they don't actually support individual users in the EU (only in US & Canada, meanwhile EU only gets support for organizations)”
Comment from 9 May 2026 in “Apple is increasing my cortisol levels” “Last time I checked it's still US/Canada only.”
Comment from 8 Nov 2025 in “Apple's "notarisation" – blocking software freedom of developers and users” “US and Canada residents only, sadly.”
Comment from 22 Mar 2026 in “Windows native app development is a mess” Needs business or entity for years
“this requires you to own a business for 3+ years, which makes it a non-starter for indie apps”
Comment from 22 Mar 2026 in “Windows native app development is a mess” “you need to have a proper legal entity for about 2 years before this becomes an option”
Comment from 8 Dec 2025 in “The Anatomy of a macOS App”
Other code signing services people recommend
The two most recommended other code signing services, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
See all 3 code signing services, rankedWhat people said
27 of the 28 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“even using MS Azure certificate sign on exe don't lift windows SmartScreen”
“Silent CA migration (EOC CA 02 → AOC CA 03) around March 21-23 broke SmartScreen for all affected Trusted Signing customers.”
“since a month ago installers signed with it often display SmartScreen warnings”
“they don't actually support individual users in the EU (only in US & Canada, meanwhile EU only gets support for organizations)”
“we've been seeing inconsistent SmartScreen warnings for our apps that previously had stable reputation via Azure Artifact Signing certificates”
“now it seems all installers ever signed with ATS are affected”
“Azure is garbage at all levels”
“my code signing cert via Azure (no Microsoft store account required, can be used to self-publish binaries/installers the old fashion way)”
“the current system is too fragile for critical infrastructure”
“I just migrated to MS artifact signing and, thank the lord, had an actually easier time getting verified”
“they messed up the verification of one of the legitimate documents, and there was no way to reach them”
“verification failed, and they refused to accept any documentation I would give them”
“Obfuscating why they revoked trust (as is apparently the case) and leaving the phone ringing is hurting trust in MS as a CA”
“US and Canada residents only, sadly.”
“this requires you to own a business for 3+ years, which makes it a non-starter for indie apps”
“you don't need to worry about procuring or renewing code signing certs”
“after spending one hour on outdated doc on how to set it up I get hit with Identity validation”
“This is wild, thank you so much!! I was struggling with these costs for a long time!!”
“pretty reasonable, considering it is built in to all the major code signing tools on Windows”
“They have enabled and disabled signups for the individual option, though, and it's unclear if it will be there permanently.”
“So yeah, Azure Trusted Signing or EV certificate is the way to go on Windows.”
“you need to have a proper legal entity for about 2 years before this becomes an option”
“Azure Trusted Signing is 100% the best choice”
“Instead of hundreds or thousands for a cert it's $10/month”
“their onboarding process is held together with duct tape and twine”
“Last time I checked it's still US/Canada only.”
“Windows signing was an expensive nightmare before, but is now relatively painless and down to $10/mo”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.