Free automated SSL/TLS certificates
Visit WebsiteThe Bottom Line
Best for
Literally every HTTPS-served site in 2026 except those with a specific compliance need for EV certificates. Automation via certbot, Caddy (auto-HTTPS), or a Cloudflare/Vercel-managed certificate is the only sensible setup.
Entry price
Free, no paid tier
Biggest pro
Free SSL certificates
Biggest con
90-day certificates
TL;DR - Lets Encrypt
- Let's Encrypt is a free certificate authority providing SSL/TLS certificates
- It automates the issuance and renewal of HTTPS certificates for any website
- Completely free, run by a non-profit
What Users Say About Lets Encrypt
Let's Encrypt made SSL/TLS certificates free for everyone — 300M+ certificates active in 2026, and it's the default issuer for most automated certificate pipelines. Users cite ACME automation (certbot, caddy, traefik all speak it) as the reason it 'just works'. The 90-day certificate lifetime is polarizing: forces automation (good) but still surprises teams that forget to set up renewal.
Highlights
- 100% free — donate-supported nonprofit operated by ISRG
- ACME protocol is the standard every major cert-management tool speaks
- 90-day certificate lifetime forces good renewal hygiene (automation beats manual)
- Rate limits are generous for most use cases (50 certs/week per registered domain)
- Wildcard certificates supported via DNS-01 challenge
Limitations
- 90-day certificates require automation — manual renewal will bite you
- Rate limits on staging can surprise teams running large test suites
- No EV (Extended Validation) certificates — only DV (Domain Validated)
- Revocation handling via OCSP is slower than commercial CAs
- Certificate transparency logs are public — exposing internal hostname patterns
Best for: Literally every HTTPS-served site in 2026 except those with a specific compliance need for EV certificates. Automation via certbot, Caddy (auto-HTTPS), or a Cloudflare/Vercel-managed certificate is the only sensible setup.
Editorial synthesis from industry coverage, product docs, and early user reports
Editorial policyWhat is Lets Encrypt?
Available on: Web
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free SSL certificates
- Automated renewal
- Wide support
- Open source
- Industry standard
Cons
- 90-day certificates
- No wildcard easy
- Setup complexity
- Rate limits
- No warranty
Ratings Across the Web
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
Pricing Plans
Pricing checked Jul 10, 2026
Free
Free
- 100% free SSL certificates
- Automated certificate issuance
- 90-day certificate validity
- No cost for any domain
- Open source
Reviews
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Lets Encrypt FAQ
How does Let's Encrypt contribute to web security?
Which teams benefit most from using Let's Encrypt?
What kind of automation does Let's Encrypt offer?
How is Let's Encrypt priced?
What are the primary limitations of using Let's Encrypt?
Can Let's Encrypt be compared to Auth0 for security purposes?
Source: letsencrypt.org