Written by Adding an SSL certificate to your website? Honestly, it’s a no-brainer. It’s all about security, SEO, and a bunch of other benefits that make your site better (and safer) for everyone who visits. Without one, your site’s kinda like a sitting duck for malware and data leaks. Not great, right?
Back in 2023, around 82.9% of websites had SSL certificates. That’s up from just 18.5% five years before, according to Certera. Everyone’s catching on—so you might as well too.
Now, when you’re picking an SSL provider, you’ll come across tons of options. But really, two big players stand out: ZeroSSL and Let’s Encrypt. I’ll break down what each one offers, compare their features, and help you decide which one makes the most sense for you.
Quick Comparison Between ZeroSSL and Let’s Encrypt
| Performance Metrics | ZeroSSL | Let’s Encrypt |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate Issuance | Multiple options: Website interface, ACME Automation, REST API | Easy-to-use interface. Primarily through tools using the ACME protocol, no direct issuance from the website |
| User Interface | Easy to use for issuing and managing certificates | Mainly through ACME |
| Limits and Restrictions | Depends on issuing channel | Unlimited issuance and renewal, with rate limits |
| Compatibility and Integration | Compatible with many servers using different ACME clients | Widely compatible, extensive ACME integration |
| SEO Considerations | Positive impact on SEO rankings | Positively influences SEO, well-known |
| Security Considerations | Meets industry standards for security | High-security standards |
| Customer Support | Paid plans offer direct support, plus thorough documentation | Community forums, extensive docs |
| Domain Verification | DNS, File Upload | DNS, File Upload, Email |
| Documentation for Troubleshooting | Detailed guides for setup | Comprehensive troubleshooting guides |
| Website | https://letsencrypt.org/ | https://zerossl.com/ |
What’s an SSL Certificate?
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a digital certificate that does two things: it proves your website is legit and creates an encrypted link between the server and the user’s browser. It’s like having a secret code that only the two of you know, making sure nobody can eavesdrop on your private info.
SSL certificates are what make that little padlock appear in your browser bar. It turns “http://” into “https://”, giving users some peace of mind that they’re browsing safely. And that’s really important these days, especially with so many bad actors out there trying to snatch people’s data.
Overview of ZeroSSL
ZeroSSL’s pretty user-friendly. They started in 2016 with the mission to make privacy a standard thing for everyone. They offer SSL certificates that can be valid for either 90 days or a full year, and they also support wildcards and multiple domains, which is super convenient.
They’re known for their easy interface, ACME automation, and a whole bunch of other features, including SSL monitoring. Plus, you can get started for free, which is awesome if you just want to test the waters. And, because most hosting providers work with ZeroSSL, setup’s a breeze.
Key Features of ZeroSSL
- SSL validity from 90 days to 1 year.
- Use for multiple domains.
- Wildcard encryption available.
- Easy 1-step validation.
- Offers ACME automation.
- Built-in SSL monitoring and management.
Overview of Let’s Encrypt
Let’s Encrypt, run by the Internet Security Research Group (ISRG), is a non-profit. It launched back in 2016 with a simple goal: to make the web more secure by encouraging the use of HTTPS. And it’s safe to say they’ve succeeded—it’s now the world’s biggest certificate authority, securing over 300 million websites.
Like ZeroSSL, Let’s Encrypt offers domain-validated certificates that are valid for 90 days. Renewals can be automated, which is really nice if you’re managing multiple domains. And it uses the ACME protocol, which is pretty much the standard these days.
Key Features of Let’s Encrypt
- Completely free for everyone.
- Uses the latest TLS tech for security.
- Transparent—certificates are public.
- Built on open standards.
- Trusted by all major browsers.
ZeroSSL vs Let’s Encrypt: A Detailed Comparison
Certificate Issuance and Renewal Process
- ZeroSSL: You can use their website to manage and get certificates, and the verification process is super easy. Plus, they have ACME automation to make renewals even simpler.
- Let’s Encrypt: You’ll need a third-party tool to get certificates, as they don’t issue them directly on the website. But they’ve got great documentation to help you get set up.
User Interface and Experience
- ZeroSSL: The interface is straightforward and great for both issuing and managing certificates.
- Let’s Encrypt: Management’s mostly done via ACME, which works well but lacks some of the bells and whistles of a dedicated dashboard.
Limits and Restrictions
- Let’s Encrypt: There’s basically no limit—50 certificates per domain each week, which is more than enough for most people.
- ZeroSSL: If you’re on a free plan, you can get three 90-day certificates, but paid plans let you do a lot more, with unlimited certificates.
Compatibility and Integration
Both are highly compatible with many servers, but ZeroSSL gives you a bit more flexibility if you’re looking to integrate with various platforms.
SEO Considerations
SSL certificates are good for SEO no matter which one you use. Google loves secure websites, so either option is great from an SEO perspective.
Customer Support
- ZeroSSL: If you’re on a paid plan, you get direct customer support, which is handy.
- Let’s Encrypt: You’ll mostly rely on forums and community help, which can be hit or miss.
Integration with CDNs
Both of these work really well with Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) to improve speed and security.
Pro Tip: If you use CloudFlare CDN, you will automatically receive a free SSL certificate for life. So you have not used ZeroSSL or Let’s Encrypt certificate.
Security Considerations
ZeroSSL offers SSL certificates that follow all the standard security protocols you’d expect. So, when you go with ZeroSSL, you know you’re covered—they stick to all the usual precautions to keep your site secure.
Let’s Encrypt, on the other hand, also meets high safety standards. And the good thing? All major browsers accept and trust their certificates without any hiccups.
At the end of the day, both ZeroSSL and Let’s Encrypt put security first. Their certificates are built to meet industry standards and are trusted across the board by all major browsers.
Comprehensive Documentation for Troubleshooting
Both ZeroSSL and Let’s Encrypt make sure you have access to plenty of documentation when you need help.
ZeroSSL gives you recommendations and lots of details to get started with setting up SSL certificates. They’ve got guides to help sort out any challenges you might run into along the way (which is pretty helpful, honestly).
Let’s Encrypt, on the other hand, offers extensive documentation too, with guidelines and plenty of information to get you through the setup process.
Both sets of documentation are aimed at helping you troubleshoot any issues that pop up during the process, so you’re not left wondering what went wrong.
ZeroSSL & Let’s Encrypt Pros and Cons
Here are some pros and cons of these tools, which you might find useful.
ZeroSSL Pros
- Simple, easy-to-use interface.
- Three-month free trial.
- Great customer support (with paid plans).
ZeroSSL Cons
- Some people find it pricey.
- Installation can be tricky at times.
- Limited automation compared to Let’s Encrypt.
Let’s Encrypt Pros
- Free certificates.
- Frequent updates to improve services.
- Simple installation (if you know your way around a server).
Let’s Encrypt Cons
- Certificates are only valid for 90 days, so you have to renew more often.
- Limited support—you’re mostly on your own.
Pricing- Plans of ZeroSSL & Let’s Encrypt
ZeroSSL offers a range of plans, from a free option to a more customized enterprise package. Let’s Encrypt is always free, though some hosting providers might charge for using it.
If you’re looking for another option, NameCheap is also great, and I’ve personally used it for over five years. It’s cheaper, easy to set up, and works well for most businesses.
ZeroSSL Pricing and Plans
ZeroSSL offers four different bundles to choose from. The cheapest option is ‘free,’ while the most expensive one includes adjustable pricing for commercial users.
Here’s an overview of the plans:
- Basic: Free of charge, provides 3 certificates with 1-year validity each.
- Premium: Costs $50/month for 10 certificates of 1-year validity each.
- Business: It costs $100/month and provides 25 certificates with a 1-year validity each.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing with unlimited 1-year certificates along with all-inclusive features.
Let’s Encrypt Pricing and Plans
Let’s Encrypt does not charge for certificates because it is a non-profit organization. However, to cover operating costs, they keep the option of becoming a donor or sponsoring them open.
Hosting providers that use Let’s Encrypt as an SSL provider may charge a little for their coverage, but it doesn’t come from Let’s Encrypt.
Recommendation:
If you do not want to use or buy SSL from ZeroSSL or Let us Encrypt, NameCheap is a great option for all types of businesses. I have been using NameCheap SSL for a longer time—almost 5 years. The step-by-step installation process is very easy, and the cost is much cheaper compared to other providers.
Which SSL is the Best?
It really depends on what you need. If you want something user-friendly and easy to set up with a free trial, ZeroSSL’s the way to go. But if you want a non-profit, well-known authority with lots of documentation and community support, then Let’s Encrypt is a solid pick.
Either way, both are great for making sure your site’s secure, so you can’t really go wrong.
