Kubernetes add-on for certificates
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Tracked since2025
0 reviews trackedThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Free, no paid tier
Biggest pro
Kubernetes cert automation
Biggest con
Kubernetes only
TL;DR - cert-manager
- cert-manager is a Kubernetes add-on that automates TLS certificate management
- It issues and renews certificates from Let's Encrypt and other issuers automatically
- Completely free and open-source
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups
What is cert-manager?
cert-manager automates TLS certificate management for Kubernetes. Request certificates from Let's Encrypt or other CAs, and cert-manager handles issuance, renewal, and secret management automatically.
Annotations on Ingress resources trigger certificate creation. Renewal happens before expiration. Multiple issuers support different CAs.
Kubernetes operators consider cert-manager essential infrastructure for automated certificate lifecycle management.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Kubernetes cert automation
- Let's Encrypt integration
- Multiple issuers
- Active development
- CNCF project
Cons
- Kubernetes only
- Learning curve
- Debugging complex
- Documentation dense
- Configuration tricky
Key Features
Certificate managementKubernetes nativeLet's EncryptAuto-renewalMultiple issuersOpen source
Pricing Plans
Most Popular
Open Source
Free
Self-hosted
- K8s certificates
- Let's Encrypt
- Auto-renewal
- Apache 2.0
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cert-manager FAQ
Is cert-manager free?
Yes, cert-manager is free and open source. Apache 2.0 license. CNCF project.
What is cert-manager?
cert-manager automates TLS certificates in Kubernetes. Works with Let's Encrypt and other CAs. Essential for K8s HTTPS.
How does cert-manager work?
Define Certificate resources, cert-manager handles the rest. Automatic renewal, multiple issuers. Set it and forget it.
cert-manager vs manual certificates?
cert-manager automates everything. Manual requires renewal tracking. No reason not to use cert-manager in K8s.
Source: cert-manager.io