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Head-to-head · SSL Certificate Providers

Let's Encrypt vs GeoTrust

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check 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
GeoTrust #5 in SSL Certificate Providers 8.9/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 2 features Visit GeoTrust

Let's Encrypt leads on 0 checks, GeoTrust on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check 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

Let's Encrypt scores higher on our rubric for ssl certificate providers: 9.4 against 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #5.

Let's Encrypt is the better fit for free, automated TLS for any scale. GeoTrust is the better fit for teams managing certificates across many servers.

  • Let's Encrypt fits best

    Free, automated TLS for any scale

  • GeoTrust fits best

    Teams managing certificates across many servers

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 ↗ GeoTrust 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.9
Ranking #1 in SSL Certificate Providers #5 in SSL Certificate Providers
Best for Free, automated TLS for any scale Teams managing certificates across many servers
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan $2/site/mo
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Support Community, Docs Email, Live chat, Phone · 24/7
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Let's Encrypt 0/2 · GeoTrust 0/2
Wildcard certificates Not checked yet Not checked yet
Multi-domain certificates Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Validation types Not checked yet Not checked yet
Maximum SAN domains Not checked yet Not checked yet
Issuance speed Not checked yet Not checked yet
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.
  • Automates certificate installation and renewal, with expiration monitoring
  • Monitors websites 24/7 and detects 110+ SSL issues
  • Scans Linux and Windows servers for vulnerabilities
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.
  • Published certificate offering emphasizes TLS rather than validation variety
  • Some listed products are marked as coming soon
  • Vulnerability Manager plans are listed for up to 49 servers
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 →

GeoTrust, a DigiCert certificate brand, offers the GeoTrust Horizon platform for website and server security. It brings SSL/TLS certificate issuance together with lifecycle management, automatic installation and renewal, monitoring, and…

Read the review →
  1. Let's EncryptSSL Certificate Providers 9.4Free plan
  2. GeoTrustSSL Certificate Providers 8.9Paid

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.

  • GeoTrust — where it wins

    • Automates certificate installation and renewal, with expiration monitoring
    • Monitors websites 24/7 and detects 110+ SSL issues
    • Scans Linux and Windows servers for vulnerabilities

    Where it doesn't

    • Published certificate offering emphasizes TLS rather than validation variety
    • Some listed products are marked as coming soon
    • Vulnerability Manager plans are listed for up to 49 servers

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