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RapidSSL VS Let's Encrypt

Compare RapidSSL VS Let's Encrypt and see what are their differences

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RapidSSL logo RapidSSL

Buy, switch and resell RapidSSL Certificates. Wildcard SSL Certificates also available from the leading data security software provider at low-cost.

Let's Encrypt logo Let's Encrypt

Let’s Encrypt is a free, automated, and open certificate authority brought to you by the Internet Security Research Group (ISRG).
  • RapidSSL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-08
  • Let's Encrypt Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12

RapidSSL features and specs

  • Affordability
    RapidSSL certificates are generally priced lower than many competitors, making them an attractive option for small businesses and individuals seeking cost-effective SSL solutions.
  • Ease of Installation
    RapidSSL offers straightforward installation processes, making these certificates user-friendly for those who may not have extensive technical expertise.
  • Fast Issuance
    The issuance process for RapidSSL is quick, often completed within minutes, which means minimal waiting time to secure a website.
  • Compatibility
    RapidSSL certificates boast high compatibility with most browsers and devices, ensuring a seamless experience for end-users accessing the site.

Possible disadvantages of RapidSSL

  • Limited Features
    RapidSSL primarily offers basic SSL certificates, which may lack advanced security features and customization options available in higher-tier certificates.
  • Brand Recognition
    Compared to some premium SSL providers, RapidSSL might lack the same level of brand recognition and trust, particularly among users familiar with more established certificate authorities.
  • No Extended Validation (EV) Option
    RapidSSL does not offer Extended Validation certificates, which provide an additional layer of validation and display the company name in the URL bar for increased trust.
  • Support Limitations
    Support options may be limited compared to higher-priced competitors, potentially impacting the availability of assistance for more complex issues.

Let's Encrypt features and specs

  • Free of Charge
    Let's Encrypt provides SSL/TLS certificates at no cost, making it an economical choice for individuals and businesses.
  • Automated Certificate Issuance and Renewal
    The process of obtaining and renewing certificates can be automated using the ACME protocol, reducing manual intervention and administrative overhead.
  • Ease of Use
    Let's Encrypt simplifies the process of enabling HTTPS for websites, even for users with limited technical expertise.
  • Security
    Let's Encrypt certificates provide strong encryption, improving the security of data transmitted between clients and servers.
  • Widely Recognized
    Certificates issued by Let's Encrypt are trusted by all major web browsers and operating systems.
  • Promotes Secure Web Practices
    By making SSL/TLS certificates freely available, Let's Encrypt encourages more websites to adopt HTTPS, contributing to a more secure internet.

Possible disadvantages of Let's Encrypt

  • Short Duration of Certificates
    Let's Encrypt certificates are valid for only 90 days, requiring more frequent renewals compared to traditional certificate authorities.
  • Limited Support Options
    Let's Encrypt relies on community support and documentation, and does not offer dedicated customer support for troubleshooting and assistance.
  • No Extended Validation (EV) Certificates
    Let's Encrypt does not issue Extended Validation (EV) certificates, which provide additional verification and a higher level of trust for business websites.
  • Potential for Misuse
    Since certificates are issued for free and with minimal validation, there is a risk that cybercriminals might use them for phishing or other malicious activities.
  • No Wildcard Certificates for Multi-Level Subdomains
    While Let's Encrypt supports wildcard certificates for single-level subdomains, it doesn't support them for nested subdomains (e.g., *.sub.example.com).
  • Reliance on Third-Party Tools for Automation
    Users may need to rely on third-party tools or scripts for automation, which could introduce additional complexity or security risks.

Analysis of Let's Encrypt

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Let's Encrypt is a good choice for many website owners looking to implement HTTPS. It is trusted by major web browsers and has gained a strong reputation for reliability and ease of use.

Why this product is good

  • Let's Encrypt is widely considered a good option for SSL/TLS certificates because it provides free, automated, and open certificate issuance, which makes it accessible and convenient for website owners to secure their domains. It's designed to eliminate the complexity and costs typically associated with obtaining and renewing SSL certificates. Its easy integration with various web server software and support for automated renewals via the Certbot tool further enhances its appeal.

Recommended for

    Let's Encrypt is recommended for small to medium-sized websites, blogs, personal projects, non-commercial sites, and anyone looking to quickly and easily obtain SSL/TLS certificates without incurring costs. Larger enterprises or businesses with specific security and compliance requirements might need additional features provided by commercial certificate authorities.

RapidSSL videos

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How to Order a RapidSSL Certificate - ServerTastic

Let's Encrypt videos

No Let's Encrypt videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to RapidSSL and Let's Encrypt)

RapidSSL

Let's Encrypt

Domain Name Registrar
34 34%
Domain Name Registrar
66% 66
Security & Privacy
4 4%
Security & Privacy
96% 96
Domain Names
100 100%
Domain Names
0% 0
Identity And Access Management
0 0%
Identity And Access Management
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using RapidSSL and Let's Encrypt. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Let's Encrypt seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 339 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.

RapidSSL mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of RapidSSL yet. Tracking of RapidSSL recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Let's Encrypt mentions (339)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing RapidSSL and Let's Encrypt, you can also consider the following products

GeoTrust SSL - The SSL Store™ offers 70% Off On GeoTrust SSL Certificates, including Free Site Seal. Buy GeoTrust CA SSL and get 256 bit encryption web security now.

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 …

Ensighten - Ensighten provides enterprise tag management solutions that enable businesses manage their websites more effectively.

AWS Certificate Manager - AWS Certificate Manager from Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Namecheap SSL Certificates - Namecheap SSL Certificates act as a third-party verification for a website’s security.

Certbot - Automatically enable HTTPS on your website with EFF's Certbot, deploying Let's Encrypt certificates.

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