Choose the Right BIMI Certificate for Your Brand
Bimimi helps brands choose the right BIMI certificate before they buy. Compare Verified Mark Certificates and Common Mark Certificates, understand which path fits your logo and legal status, and move forward with less friction.
A BIMI certificate can follow one of two paths: VMC or CMC. Choose a VMC if your logo is trademarked and you want the strongest validation route. Choose a CMC if your logo is not trademarked but qualifies through prior use. Bimimi helps you compare both options and move toward the right next step. Google states that BIMI requires a VMC or CMC, recommends VMC when possible, and requires DMARC plus compatible hosting.
Key Facts
- BIMI requires a third-party VMC or CMC for the domain and logo.
- Google recommends a VMC whenever possible.
- A VMC requires a trademarked logo.
- A CMC is the more accessible route when a logo is not trademarked.
- BIMI also requires DMARC and a compatible public web server.
Bimimi: The Largest Choice in Mark Certificates
| Certificate Name | Lowest Price | Discount | pa_average-insuance-time | Blue Check Mark | Logo Proof | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DigiCert – Common Mark Certificate (CMC)
|
As low as 804 £/y | -12% off MSRP | — |
|
1 year public usage of the logo needed
|
Add to cart |
DigiCert – Verified Mark Certificate (VMC)
|
As low as 1 071 £/y | -13% off MSRP | — |
|
Trade Mark registration needed
|
Add to cart |
GlobalSign – Common Mark Certificate (CMC)
|
As low as 606 £/y | -20% off MSRP | — |
|
1 year public usage of the logo needed
|
Add to cart |
GlobalSign – Verified Mark Certificate (VMC)
|
As low as 760 £/y | -33% off MSRP | — |
|
Trade Mark registration needed
|
Add to cart |
SSL.com – Common Mark Certificate (CMC)
|
As low as 647 £/y | -10% off MSRP | — |
|
1 year public usage of the logo needed
|
Add to cart |
SSL.com – Verified Mark Certificate (VMC)
|
As low as 846 £/y | -10% off MSRP | — |
|
Trade Mark registration needed
|
Add to cart |
VMC vs CMC: Which BIMI Certificate Is Right for You?
| Topic | VMC | CMC |
| Full Name | Verified Mark Certificate | Common Mark Certificate |
| Best For | Brands with trademarked logos | Brands with eligible prior-use logos |
| Trademark required | Yes | No |
| Gmail verified Checkmark | Yes | No |
| Validation Level | More rigorous (Extended Validation) | More accessible |
| Best Next Step | Explore VMC | Explore CMC |
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Google’s BIMI documentation says a VMC or CMC is required, recommends VMC when possible, and notes that Gmail shows the verified checkmark for senders verified with a VMC. The BIMI Group also describes VMC as the more rigorous route and CMC as the simpler, lower-complexity alternative.
Verified Mark Certificates (VMC)
A VMC is the strongest BIMI certificate path for brands with a registered trademark. It is designed for organizations that want the highest validation standard and the strongest visual trust signal in supported inboxes. In Gmail, the verified checkmark is tied to VMC. Google also recommends using a VMC whenever possible for the most secure BIMI setup.
Key points
- Best for trademark-backed logos
- Strongest validation route
- Supports the Gmail verified checkmark
- Best fit for brands with mature legal and brand governance
Common Mark Certificates (CMC)
A CMC is the more flexible BIMI certificate path for brands that do not have a registered trademark but can prove legitimate use of their logo for at least 1 year. The BIMI Group describes CMC as a more accessible, lower-complexity option designed to reduce cost and effort while still validating logo authenticity. Google supports CMC for BIMI, but the Gmail verified checkmark remains tied to VMC.
Key points
- Best for eligible non-trademarked logos
- More accessible path to BIMI
- Lower complexity than VMC
- Useful for brands not ready for trademark-based validation
Why it matters
Trust at first sight
Your brand logo and checkmark appear directly in Gmail, Apple Mail, Yahoo and more. Customers instantly know it’s really you. A BIMI certificate helps turn authentication into a visible signal. Instead of relying on sender name alone, recipients can see a validated brand logo in supported inboxes. BIMI is designed to enable brand-controlled logos in supporting email clients, and it works on top of DMARC authentication.
Protection Against Fraud
Phishing attempts drop because impostors can’t fake a verified logo. Your customers stay safer, and your brand stays stronger. BIMI itself does not validate your logo rights. That is the role of the VMC or CMC, which cryptographically asserts that an independent authority has validated your rights to the mark used in the BIMI record.
Better Commercial Readiness
Emails with visible logos stand out, increasing open rates and reinforcing brand presence. The right certificate path helps marketing, CRM, legal and technical teams align faster. It reduces uncertainty at purchase time and helps brands move more efficiently from evaluation to rollout.
BIMI as the Foundation
BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) is the standard that enables your logo to appear in inboxes. CMC and VMC are the certificates that make BIMI possible. Without BIMI, your logo won’t display. BIMI is the framework behind both VMC and CMC. It connects email authentication, hosted brand assets and logo validation into one inbox-level experience. To support BIMI, Google requires DMARC with enforcement, a compliant SVG logo, a compatible public web server and a BIMI TXT record that references the right assets.
- Certificates do not work without BIMI requirements in place
- DMARC must be set to quarantine or reject, with pct at 100 for BIMI support in Google’s documentation.
- Logo files must be BIMI-compatible SVG
- Hosted assets and DNS records must be correctly published
Why Bimimi
Bimimi helps brands make the right certificate decision before they commit. Instead of forcing you to figure out VMC versus CMC, provider choice, readiness requirements and rollout steps alone, we help you understand the right path and move forward with more confidence.
- Compare VMC and CMC clearly
- Choose the right path before purchase
- Understand readiness before rollout
- Move faster toward the right provider and product page
One place to compare, qualify and launch your BIMI certificate.
BIMI Certificate FAQ
What is the difference between a VMC and a CMC?
A VMC is the more rigorous certificate path and requires a trademarked logo. A CMC is a more accessible alternative for eligible logos that are not trademarked.
Which BIMI certificate should I choose?
Choose a VMC if your logo is trademarked and you want the strongest trust signal. Choose a CMC if your logo is not trademarked but qualifies through prior use.
Do I need DMARC before buying a BIMI certificate?
Yes. Google says BIMI requires DMARC, and for support the DMARC policy must use enforcement values rather than p=none.
Does every BIMI certificate show the Gmail verified checkmark?
No. Google indicates that the Gmail verified checkmark is shown for senders verified with a VMC.
Should I choose a provider first or a certificate type first?
Usually certificate type comes first. Start by deciding whether your brand fits VMC or CMC, then compare providers. Bimimi offers VMC and CMC from all issuing CAs: Digicert, GlobalSign and SSL.com.