Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenSSL VS LibreSSL

Compare OpenSSL VS LibreSSL and see what are their differences

OpenSSL logo OpenSSL

OpenSSL is a free and open source software cryptography library that implements both the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols, which are primarily used to provide secure communications between web browsers and …

LibreSSL logo LibreSSL

LibreSSL is a version of the TLS/crypto stack forked from OpenSSL in 2014, with goals of...
  • OpenSSL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-14
  • LibreSSL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-10-19

OpenSSL features and specs

  • Open Source
    OpenSSL is open-source software, which means it is freely available and can be reviewed, modified, and improved by anyone.
  • Widely Used
    OpenSSL is one of the most widely used libraries for SSL and TLS protocols, ensuring high compatibility and support across different platforms and applications.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    OpenSSL provides extensive documentation and resources that can help users understand and implement its features effectively.
  • Regular Updates
    The OpenSSL project is actively maintained, receiving regular updates and patches to address security vulnerabilities and improve functionality.
  • Community Support
    A large community of developers and users contribute to forums, mailing lists, and other discussion platforms, providing support and sharing knowledge.
  • Flexible and Powerful
    OpenSSL offers a wide range of cryptographic functions and protocols, making it a versatile tool for various security requirements.

Possible disadvantages of OpenSSL

  • Complexity
    OpenSSL can be complex to configure and use, particularly for beginners or those without a deep understanding of cryptographic principles.
  • Security Vulnerabilities
    Despite regular updates, OpenSSL has had several high-profile security vulnerabilities in the past, such as Heartbleed, which can have broad implications.
  • Performance Overhead
    Depending on the implementation and configuration, using OpenSSL can introduce performance overhead, impacting the speed and efficiency of applications.
  • Limited User-Friendly Tools
    While OpenSSL is powerful, it lacks user-friendly tools and interfaces, making it harder for less technical users to operate.
  • Documentation Quality
    Though comprehensive, some users find the OpenSSL documentation to be dense and difficult to navigate, which can make troubleshooting and implementation challenging.

LibreSSL features and specs

No features have been listed yet.

Analysis of OpenSSL

Overall verdict

  • Yes, OpenSSL is generally considered a reliable and secure option for secure communications. However, like any software, it requires proper configuration and regular updates to maintain its security posture.

Why this product is good

  • OpenSSL is an open-source cryptographic library widely used for implementing secure communications over networks using the SSL and TLS protocols. It is considered good because of its extensive feature set, constant updates, and widespread adoption across different platforms. The project benefits from a large community of contributors who regularly update and patch the software, ensuring it stays secure and robust.

Recommended for

  • Web servers requiring SSL/TLS support for secure HTTP (HTTPS) connections
  • Developers needing cryptographic functions for applications
  • Embedded systems requiring small footprint security solutions
  • Network applications that require secure data transmission

OpenSSL videos

Das Kommando "enc" in OpenSSL

More videos:

  • Review - OpenSSL and FIPS... They Are Back Together!
  • Review - OpenSSL After Heartbleed by Rich Salz & Tim Hudson, OpenSSL

LibreSSL videos

How to Migrate from OpenSSL to LibreSSL on Gentoo Linux

More videos:

  • Review - LibreSSL by Ted Unangst
  • Review - LibreSSL with Bob Beck

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenSSL and LibreSSL)
Development Tools
95 95%
5% 5
JavaScript Framework
0 0%
100% 100
Javascript UI Libraries
Libraries And Widgets
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using OpenSSL and LibreSSL. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenSSL should be more popular than LibreSSL. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OpenSSL mentions (2)

  • Why does Baserow need my personal data so I can run open source?
    Baserow uses open source like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenSSL and can use it without handing over data to openssl.org. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Creating private key help
    Noob here; I'm looking at openssl.org Two commands are listed; "openssl-genrsa" and "openssl genrsa" (No hyphen). Source: over 3 years ago

LibreSSL mentions (1)

  • Forth question, http requests?
    Use libtls for HTTPS: libretls which is a layer on openssl, or use libressl. Source: over 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenSSL and LibreSSL, you can also consider the following products

jQuery - The Write Less, Do More, JavaScript Library.

wolfSSL - wolfSSL (formerly CyaSSL) is a small, fast, portable implementation of TLS/SSL for embedded devices...

React Native - A framework for building native apps with React

GnuTLS - GnuTLS (the GNU Transport Layer Security Library) is a free software implementation of the SSL, TLS...

Babel - Babel is a compiler for writing next generation JavaScript.

mbed TLS - mbed TLS . PolarSSL . Easy to use SSL library in C . Embedded . Open source . Readable source code . Tested . Well-documented ✓