CertWatch vs TrustLayer: a different kind of COI tool

When it comes to tracking certificates of insurance (COIs), CertWatch and TrustLayer are built for different customers and take very different paths to get started. A COI is a document from a vendor's insurance agent or carrier that proves the coverage your contract requires is actually in force. Both tools exist to keep that document current -- the difference is who they're built for and how you sign up.

Enterprise sales process vs. self-serve signup

TrustLayer targets mid-market and enterprise companies -- typically businesses managing 50 or more vendors -- and doesn't publish pricing on its site. Getting a quote means booking a demo and going through a sales conversation, which is standard for platforms built around dedicated account management and custom implementation. CertWatch skips that step: pricing is published up front, and you can sign up and start tracking certificates the same day, no call required.

Pricing: published and flat-rate vs. custom quote

CertWatch's pricing is flat-rate and posted on the site: free for up to 5 tracked certificates, $29/mo for up to 25, $79/mo for up to 100, or $199/mo for unlimited, with a 14-day free trial. TrustLayer's pricing isn't public -- it scales with vendor volume and is quoted after a sales call, which is typical for tools built around enterprise features like custom integrations and dedicated onboarding. If you're managing a few dozen to a couple hundred vendors, a published flat monthly fee is usually easier to budget for than a custom quote sized for a much larger vendor program.

  • CertWatch: free (up to 5 certificates), $29/mo (up to 25), $79/mo (up to 100), $199/mo (unlimited) — published pricing, 14-day free trial, no sales call
  • TrustLayer: custom pricing based on vendor volume, quoted after a demo — built for mid-market and enterprise vendor programs

Features and functionality

Both platforms automate certificate tracking and renewal follow-up. TrustLayer leans into enterprise-grade risk management features: deeper integrations, dedicated onboarding, and tools built for a compliance team managing a large, complex vendor program. CertWatch is deliberately simpler: add a vendor's name, their agent's email, and the renewal date, and CertWatch takes over the watching and the follow-up from there. Neither the vendor nor their agent needs an account on either platform.

If you don't have hundreds of vendors or a compliance team, you probably don't need an enterprise sales process just to get certificate tracking working. CertWatch is built for businesses with a few dozen to a few hundred vendors who just want renewal dates watched and agents chased automatically, without a demo call or a custom contract.

Which one fits your business

If you're running a large, complex vendor program and need deep integrations or dedicated account support, TrustLayer's enterprise approach may be worth the sales process. If you're a smaller business that just needs COI renewal dates watched and agents followed up with automatically, CertWatch gets you there the same day, at a flat monthly rate you already know before you sign up.