OpenPubkey vs PACE Code Signing Platform
OpenPubkey
github.comPACE Code Signing Platform
paceap.comSide by side
| Figure | OpenPubkey | PACE Code Signing Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Code Signing Software | 8.3 (#6) | 7.6 (#15) |
| Purpose | OpenPubkey binds user or workload identities to public keys through OpenID Connect, allowing identities to sign messages or artifacts. | The platform lets software publishers verify that third-party applications and plug-ins come from trusted developers and have not been modified. |
| Support | The project directs feature requests, bug reports, and technical questions to GitHub issues and points users to its OpenSSF Slack channel. | PACE says customers receive full documentation, quality support, and access to its engineering team. |
Plans
PACE Code Signing Platform
- PACE Code Signing PlatformPriced on request
In their own words
OpenPubkey
OpenPubkey binds a user or workload identity established through OpenID Connect to a public key, so the identity can sign messages or artifacts. A PK Token represents control of an OIDC identity and its related private key at a particular time, provided the verifier trusts the identity provider. The project lists Google, Azure/Microsoft, Okta, OneLogin and Keycloak as compatible without changes to those providers; however, its client and verifier currently create and verify tokens from Google for users and GitHub for workloads. Current workload identity use requires GQ signatures. For user identity, they are unnecessary when the PK Token is not public. GQ signatures allow the identity provider’s signature to be stripped from an ID Token while preserving proof of that signature, preventing use against OIDC resource providers. OpenPubkey says it needs no additional certificate authority because the OpenID Provider fulfills that role. Public PK Tokens can reveal claims from an OIDC ID Token, potentially including a name or email address. The project is free under the Apache 2.0 license and is a Linux Foundation project; its repository says it is being prepared for version 1.0. The project directs technical questions to GitHub issues and offers a community Slack channel.
PACE Code Signing Platform
PACE Code Signing Platform has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.