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Head-to-head · SSL Certificate Providers

Let's Encrypt vs DigiCert TLS/SSL Certificates

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Let's Encrypt #1 in SSL Certificate Providers 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 2 features Visit Let's Encrypt
DigiCert TLS/SSL Certificates #2 in SSL Certificate Providers 9.2/10 Paid ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit DigiCert

Let's Encrypt leads on 1 check, DigiCert TLS/SSL Certificates on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreLet's Encrypt · 9.4/10
  • Free planonly Let's Encrypt
  • Most featuresDigiCert TLS/SSL Certificates · 2 of 2

Let's Encrypt scores higher on our rubric for ssl certificate providers: 9.4 against 9.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #2.

Let's Encrypt offers free plan; DigiCert TLS/SSL Certificates doesn't.

Let's Encrypt is the better fit for free, automated TLS for any scale. DigiCert TLS/SSL Certificates is the better fit for organizations needing OV/EV and broad coverage.

  • Let's Encrypt fits best

    Free, automated TLS for any scale

  • DigiCert TLS/SSL Certificates fits best

    Organizations needing OV/EV and broad coverage

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Let's Encrypt 9.4/10 Visit ↗ DigiCert TLS/SSL Certificates 9.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 9.2
Ranking #1 in SSL Certificate Providers #2 in SSL Certificate Providers
Best for Free, automated TLS for any scale Organizations needing OV/EV and broad coverage
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan —
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Support Community, Docs Phone
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Let's Encrypt 0/2 · DigiCert TLS/SSL Certificates 2/2
Wildcard certificates Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Multi-domain certificates Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Validation types Not checked yet OV, EV
Maximum SAN domains Not checked yet Not checked yet
Issuance speed Not checked yet Hours
Maximum validity Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Automates certificate issuance and renewal through ACME.
  • Supports HTTP-01, DNS-01, and TLS-ALPN-01 validation.
  • Provides production and staging endpoints plus API revocation.
  • Offers OV and EV certificates for single-domain and multi-domain use
  • Supports SAN configurations up to 250 names and eligible wildcard options
  • Includes ACME automation and CertCentral certificate management
Cons
  • Issuance requires an ACME client or hosting provider.
  • Certificates are domain-validated rather than paid-provider validation options.
  • Support is through documentation and community channels.
  • Secure Site features are limited to higher-tier plans
  • The listed standard support is 24x5
  • Wildcard certificates are available only on eligible products
Our verdict

Let's Encrypt is a nonprofit certificate authority that issues free, publicly trusted TLS certificates for websites. Website operators, hosting providers, and developers can use it to enable HTTPS with domain-validated certificates. It is…

Read the review →

DigiCert TLS/SSL Certificates provide encryption for website and server connections, with organization validation (OV) and extended validation (EV) options. Single-domain, multi-domain SAN configurations of up to 250 names, and wildcard…

Read the review →
  1. Let's EncryptSSL Certificate Providers 9.4Free plan
  2. DigiCert TLS/SSL CertificatesSSL Certificate Providers 9.2Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Let's Encrypt — where it wins

    • Automates certificate issuance and renewal through ACME.
    • Supports HTTP-01, DNS-01, and TLS-ALPN-01 validation.
    • Provides production and staging endpoints plus API revocation.

    Where it doesn't

    • Issuance requires an ACME client or hosting provider.
    • Certificates are domain-validated rather than paid-provider validation options.
    • Support is through documentation and community channels.

  • DigiCert TLS/SSL Certificates — where it wins

    • Offers OV and EV certificates for single-domain and multi-domain use
    • Supports SAN configurations up to 250 names and eligible wildcard options
    • Includes ACME automation and CertCentral certificate management

    Where it doesn't

    • Secure Site features are limited to higher-tier plans
    • The listed standard support is 24x5
    • Wildcard certificates are available only on eligible products

More comparisons

All SSL certificate providers comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update