The Bottom Line
- Price
- Free, no paid tier. Compare plans
Key facts
- mkcert is a tool for creating locally-trusted development certificates
- It generates TLS certificates for localhost without complex setup
- Completely free and open-source
Pros
- Local SSL certificates
- Easy to use
- No configuration
- Cross-platform
- Good for dev
Cons
- Dev only
- Security considerations
- Limited features
- Manual renewal
- Niche tool
What is mkcert?
Available on: macOS, Linux, Windows
Ratings Across the Web
mkcert holds an aggregate rating of 3.9 out of 5 from 148 reviews across G2, last checked August 19, 2026.
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
- Local certificates
- Development
- Trusted locally
- Simple
- Cross-platform
- Open source
Pricing
mkcert is completely free to use with no hidden costs.
Is mkcert worth the price?
mkcert is entirely free and open-source, making its pricing exceptionally fair and generous.
There are no paid tiers, offering full functionality at no cost. This is ideal for individual developers, small teams, and open-source projects looking for a simple, trusted local SSL solution.
mkcert by the numbers
| Metric | mkcert | Peer median | Position (1 is best) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | 46% have one | n/a |
| Listed as an alternative to | 3 tools | 2 | #277 of 739 (joint) |
| User rating | 3.9/5 (across the web, 148 ratings) | 4.5/5 | #279 of 308 (joint) tools with 20+ reviews |
Listed as an alternative to: #277 on 2026-10-16 to #277 on 2026-11-05 (rank among 739 tools, 1 is best).
Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. All Security data · How we compute this. Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position.
Cite this: Toolradar, “mkcert by the numbers”, Nov 2026.
Reviews
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mkcert FAQ
How does mkcert simplify using HTTPS during local development?
Which teams would benefit most from using mkcert?
How is mkcert priced?
What kind of limitations should users be aware of when considering mkcert?
Can mkcert be used across different operating systems?
How does mkcert compare to a tool like Hanko for development certificates?
Source: mkcert.dev