Certbot vs Let's Encrypt
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Certbot and Let's Encrypt.
Certbot ACME client for Let's Encrypt automation | Let's Encrypt Free SSL certificates for everyone | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 4.6 (52 reviews)✓ | 3.9 (254 reviews) |
| Pricing model | free | free |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Best for | System administrators who want automated Let's Encrypt certificate management on Linux servers | Every developer and business that needs SSL — the baseline choice for free automated HTTPS |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | free tieropen source | free tieropen source |
| Visit Certbot → | Visit Let's Encrypt → | |
Certbot
Pros
- + Official EFF-maintained ACME client
- + Nginx and Apache plugins for automated config
- + Free and open source
Cons
- - Requires Linux server access
- - Some server configurations need manual adjustment
Let's Encrypt
Pros
- + Completely free SSL for any domain
- + Automatic renewal via ACME protocol
- + Non-profit — trusted by browsers globally
Cons
- - 90-day certificate validity requires automation
- - No Extended Validation (EV) certs available
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