# VMC certificates for BIMI: requirements, CMC and prices (2026)

> What a Verified Mark Certificate does, the DMARC and trademark requirements, the cheaper CMC alternative, and verified 2026 prices from DigiCert and SSL.com.

Source: https://ssl.sh/compare/vmc-certificate-bimi/
Last updated: 2026-11-10

A **Verified Mark Certificate (VMC)** proves you own the logo shown next to your email through BIMI. Gmail shows a BIMI logo only with a VMC (registered trademark required, blue checkmark shown) or, since September 2024, a cheaper Common Mark Certificate (CMC) without the checkmark. On 10 November 2026 a DigiCert VMC cost $1,474.00 a year at GoGetSSL.

## What you need before buying

BIMI needs DMARC enforcement and an SVG logo; a VMC also needs a registered trademark.

1. **DMARC at enforcement.** Your sending domain must publish a DMARC policy of `p=quarantine` or `p=reject`; Google's BIMI help page lists this as a requirement.
2. **An SVG logo** in the SVG Tiny PS profile, served over HTTPS and referenced from a BIMI DNS record.
3. **For a VMC: a registered trademark** for that exact logo with a recognized office. SSL.com lists USPTO, EUIPO, UKIPO, CIPO and IP Australia among others.
4. **For a CMC:** evidence that you have used the logo publicly; the BIMI Group's CMC guidance explains the rules.

## VMC vs CMC

A VMC needs a registered trademark and adds Gmail's checkmark; a CMC needs neither and cost $385 less at GoGetSSL.

| | VMC | CMC |
|---|---|---|
| Logo requirement | Registered trademark | No registered trademark needed |
| Gmail display | Logo + verified checkmark | Logo, no checkmark |
| Cheapest verified 1-year price | [$1,474.00](https://ssl.sh/certificates/digicert-vmc/) (DigiCert at GoGetSSL) | [$1,089.00](https://ssl.sh/certificates/digicert-cmc/) (DigiCert at GoGetSSL) |

## Verified prices

GoGetSSL had the cheapest DigiCert VMC ($1,474.00) and CMC ($1,089.00) on 10 November 2026.

| Certificate | Seller | 1-year price |
|---|---|---|
| [DigiCert VMC](https://ssl.sh/certificates/digicert-vmc/) | GoGetSSL | $1,474.00 |
| [SSL.com VMC](https://ssl.sh/certificates/ssl-com-vmc/) | SSL.com | $1,500.00 |
| [DigiCert VMC](https://ssl.sh/certificates/digicert-vmc/) | The SSL Store | $1,527.60 (2-year: $1,451.22 per year) |
| [DigiCert CMC](https://ssl.sh/certificates/digicert-cmc/) | GoGetSSL | $1,089.00 |
| [DigiCert CMC](https://ssl.sh/certificates/digicert-cmc/) | The SSL Store | $1,128.00 |

## Is it worth it?

A VMC is worth it for brands that send large volumes of email to Gmail users and want their logo and checkmark in the inbox. It is not a deliverability fix: the DMARC enforcement you need for BIMI is what protects your domain from spoofing, and you should have it anyway. If you lack a registered trademark, a CMC gets the logo shown for about $400 less per year in our data.