Lets Encrypt vs OpenFGA: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Lets Encrypt and OpenFGA side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Lets Encrypt
Free automated SSL/TLS certificates
Best for you if:
- • You want free SSL certificates
OpenFGA
Fine-grained authorization inspired by Google's Zanzibar, built for scalability and flexibility.
Best for you if:
- • You want highly scalable and performant for authorization checks
| At a Glance | Lets Encrypt | OpenFGA |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free 100% free |
Category | Security Developer Tools | Security Identity & Access |
Rating | 4.8/5 G2 4.8 20 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Certificates valid for only 90 days | n/a |
Choose Lets Encrypt or OpenFGA?
Choose Lets Encrypt if
- You want free SSL certificates
- You want automated renewal
Choose OpenFGA if
- You want highly scalable and performant for authorization checks
- You want flexible modeling language supports various access control paradigms
In-Depth Analysis
Lets Encrypt
Free automated SSL/TLS certificates
Let's Encrypt offers an exceptionally fair and generous pricing model, as it is entirely free.
Watch out
Certificates valid for only 90 days
Strengths
- Pro: Free SSL certificates
- Pro: Automated renewal
- Pro: Wide support
- Pro: Open source
- Pro: Industry standard
Weaknesses
- Con: 90-day certificates
- Con: No wildcard easy
- Con: Setup complexity
- Con: Rate limits
- Con: No warranty
Key features
OpenFGA
Fine-grained authorization inspired by Google's Zanzibar, built for scalability and flexibility.
OpenFGA's pricing is exceptionally generous, as it is entirely free.
Strengths
- Pro: Highly scalable and performant for authorization checks.
- Pro: Flexible modeling language supports various access control paradigms.
- Pro: Open-source and backed by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF).
- Pro: Easy integration with existing applications via SDKs.
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires Docker for quick local setup, which might be an initial barrier for some.
- Con: New users may need to learn the specific modeling language and concepts.
Key features
Plans and prices: Lets Encrypt vs OpenFGA
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Lets Encrypt |
| letsencrypt.org read Sep 29, 2026 |
| OpenFGA |
| openfga.dev read Oct 8, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Lets Encrypt pricing and OpenFGA pricing.
Key Takeaways
Lets Encrypt
- Choose if you want free automated SSL/TLS certificates
OpenFGA
- Choose if you want fine-grained authorization inspired by Google's Zanzibar, built for scalability and flexibility
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only Lets Encrypt has a published user rating (4.8/5 from 20 reviews); OpenFGA has none we can show.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Lets Encrypt and OpenFGA compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only Lets Encrypt has a published user rating (4.8/5 from 20 reviews); OpenFGA has none we can show. Both have a free plan.
What are Lets Encrypt and OpenFGA used for?
Lets Encrypt: Free automated SSL/TLS certificates. OpenFGA: Fine-grained authorization inspired by Google's Zanzibar, built for scalability and flexibility.
What does Lets Encrypt cost vs OpenFGA?
Lets Encrypt is free. OpenFGA is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 8, 2026.
What's the main difference between Lets Encrypt and OpenFGA?
Lets Encrypt's main strength: free SSL certificates. OpenFGA's main strength: highly scalable and performant for authorization checks.