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📧 Sign and encrypt personal email · Basic S/MIME — Email validated
CertificatesS/MIME › Basic S/MIME
S/MIME · Basic (Email Validated)

Start signing and encrypting email today — no paperwork

The fastest way to get S/MIME — email-address validation, issued in minutes.

A Basic S/MIME certificate validates your email address and lets you sign and encrypt email messages. Recipients of signed messages see a verified-sender indicator in their mail client. Issued in minutes, it's the most accessible way to add S/MIME to your personal or professional email — no identity documents required.

Email-address validation Issued in minutes Sign + encrypt email Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird
mailto://you@yourco.com
S/
Email Security
SSL.com · S/MIME · Email signing & encryption
Signing
✓ Included
Encryption
✓ S/MIME
Validation
Email only
Clients
Outlook · Apple Mail
Email signing
S/MIME encryption
1-year validity
Get Basic S/MIME on ssl.com →
Basic S/MIME (Email Validated)
from $14/yr
Per email address · Email validation
  • Email-address validation only
  • Issued in minutes
  • Digitally sign outbound email
  • End-to-end email encryption
  • Works with Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird
  • Reissues included
Get Basic S/MIME → Compare S/MIME tiers
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What is a Basic S/MIME Certificate?

A Basic S/MIME certificate is the entry-level tier of S/MIME (Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions). It validates your email address — proving you control the inbox — and then issues a certificate that lets you digitally sign and encrypt email messages. Signed messages display a verified-sender indicator in compatible mail clients. Encrypted messages are readable only by the intended recipient. No identity documents are required; validation happens automatically through the email address itself.

Why choose Basic S/MIME

Signed email in minutes, zero paperwork

Issued in minutes — no paperwork or identity verification
Digitally sign email to verify you sent it
End-to-end encrypt sensitive messages
Works with Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, eM Client
Most affordable S/MIME tier
First step to a signed, trusted inbox
Who is it for

For anyone who wants signed email

Individual professionals

Freelancers & remote workers

Administrative & office staff

Email correspondence & record-keeping

Personal account holders

Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail

Getting started fast

Issued in minutes, no paperwork

Business impact

Trust in every message you send

Proven it's really you

S/MIME cryptographic signature proves the email wasn't forged or altered in transit — verifiable in any major email client.

No phishing risk

Signed emails can't be spoofed — your cryptographic signature is uniquely tied to your certificate and cannot be forged.

Issued in minutes

Email address validation only — no paperwork, no waiting. Start signing emails the same day.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What does "email validated" mean?
The CA verifies you control the email address by sending a confirmation link. No identity documents, company registration, or phone call is required. This is why Basic S/MIME issues in minutes.
What's the difference between Basic S/MIME and IV S/MIME?
Basic validates your email address only. IV (Individual Validated) also verifies your legal identity using a government-issued ID. Signed IV messages show your real legal name — not just your email — to recipients who inspect the signature.
Which mail clients are compatible?
Outlook (desktop and Microsoft 365), Apple Mail (macOS and iOS), Thunderbird, eM Client, and most enterprise mail platforms. Install the certificate in your mail client's certificate store and it works automatically.
Can I encrypt email with Basic S/MIME?
Yes — S/MIME encryption is available at all tiers including Basic. Both you and your recipient need S/MIME certificates, and you need each other's public keys to exchange encrypted messages.
When should I upgrade to IV or higher?
Upgrade to IV S/MIME if you want your verified legal name to appear in signatures — useful for professionals, regulated individuals, or anyone whose identity matters to recipients. Upgrade to OV for organizational role mailboxes.

Sign and encrypt your email — starting today

Basic S/MIME — email-address validated, issued in minutes, works with every major mail client.