Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenSSL VS SSL For Free

Compare OpenSSL VS SSL For Free and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

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 …

SSL For Free logo SSL For Free

Free SSL Certificate issued in less than a minute.
  • OpenSSL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-14
  • SSL For Free Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-25

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.

SSL For Free features and specs

  • Free of Cost
    SSL For Free provides SSL certificates at no cost, allowing businesses and websites to secure their data without additional expenses.
  • User-friendly Interface
    The website offers an easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for users with minimal technical knowledge to obtain and install SSL certificates.
  • Automated Certificate Management
    SSL For Free supports automated certificate issuance and renewal, which simplifies the process of maintaining up-to-date SSL certificates.
  • Compatibility
    The service supports widely recognized Let's Encrypt certificates, ensuring compatibility with most web browsers and enhancing visitor trust.
  • Improved Security
    By providing SSL certificates, SSL For Free helps improve website security through HTTPS encryption, protecting user data during transmission.

Possible disadvantages of SSL For Free

  • Limited Features
    Compared to paid SSL certificate providers, SSL For Free may offer fewer features and options, such as extended validation or wildcard certificates.
  • Shorter Certificate Lifespan
    SSL For Free certificates usually have a shorter validity period (90 days) compared to some paid certificates, requiring more frequent renewals.
  • Potential for Manual Setup
    In some cases, users may need to manually set up and configure their SSL certificates, which could be complex for those without technical knowledge.
  • Dependency on Let's Encrypt
    As SSL For Free relies on Let's Encrypt for certificate issuance, any changes or limitations to Let's Encrypt's policies may directly affect the service.
  • No Extended Validation
    SSL For Free does not offer extended validation certificates that provide a higher level of trust and display a green bar in browsers.

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

SSL For Free videos

How to get SSL For Free - Trusted SSL certificate for your website

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenSSL and SSL For Free)
Development Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Security & Privacy
0 0%
100% 100
Javascript UI Libraries
100 100%
0% 0
SSL Certificates
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare OpenSSL and SSL For Free

OpenSSL Reviews

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SSL For Free Reviews

  1. dan bernden
    Same company as ZeroSSL

    this is just ZERO SSL with another name

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenSSL should be more popular than SSL For Free. 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: about 3 years ago

SSL For Free mentions (1)

  • setting up site on cloudflare (for ssl), trying to connect to node apps on other ports
    I needed an SSL cert for my db hosted on the same server. I was dicking w cloudflare at first but then I ended up just getting a different set of certs from sslforfree.com. That has been working. But that makes me wonder, if I should just get rid of cloudflare and use those certs directly on the server? Or do I need a cert for every port I want to access? I tested out this route but wasn't able to get it... Source: about 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenSSL and SSL For Free, you can also consider the following products

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

Digicert - Encryption & Authentication

React Native - A framework for building native apps with React

COMODO SSL - Buy your Comodo SSL certificates directly from the No.1 Certificate Authority powered by Sectigo (formerly Comodo CA). Fast service with 24/7 support. Over 20 years of SSL Certificate Authority!

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

NetworkSolutions - Launch your site with domains, website design, hosting, and online marketing with Network Solutions. We make bringing your site or eCommerce store to life easy — and fun!