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Head-to-head · SSL Certificate Providers

Let's Encrypt vs GlobalSign 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
GlobalSign SSL Certificates #3 in SSL Certificate Providers 9.1/10 Paid ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit GlobalSign

Let's Encrypt leads on 1 check, GlobalSign 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 featuresGlobalSign SSL Certificates · 2 of 2

Let's Encrypt scores higher on our rubric for ssl certificate providers: 9.4 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.

Let's Encrypt offers free plan; GlobalSign SSL Certificates doesn't.

Let's Encrypt is the better fit for free, automated TLS for any scale. GlobalSign SSL Certificates is the better fit for buyers needing DV, OV, or EV certificates.

  • Let's Encrypt fits best

    Free, automated TLS for any scale

  • GlobalSign SSL Certificates fits best

    Buyers needing DV, OV, or EV certificates

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Side by side

Feature Let's Encrypt 9.4/10 Visit ↗ GlobalSign SSL Certificates 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 9.1
Ranking #1 in SSL Certificate Providers #3 in SSL Certificate Providers
Best for Free, automated TLS for any scale Buyers needing DV, OV, or EV certificates
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan Not checked yet
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Support Community, Docs Phone, Email, Live chat, Tickets · 24/7
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Let's Encrypt 0/2 · GlobalSign SSL Certificates 2/2
Wildcard certificates Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Multi-domain certificates Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Validation types Not checked yet DV, OV, EV
Maximum SAN domains Not checked yet 100
Issuance speed Not checked yet Minutes
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 DV, OV, and EV certificates, with DV issuance described in minutes
  • Wildcard coverage for DV and OV; multi-domain certificates support up to 100 SANs
  • Unlimited reissues and server licenses, plus a certificate inventory tool
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.
  • Wildcard certificates are not available for EV
  • OV and EV issuance takes longer than DV issuance
  • The certificate shop asks buyers to select a region and currency to view pricing
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 →

GlobalSign SSL Certificates cover website encryption for buyers choosing domain validation (DV), organization validation (OV), or extended validation (EV). The range includes individual and multi-domain options, as well as wildcard…

Read the review →
  1. Let's EncryptSSL Certificate Providers 9.4Free plan
  2. GlobalSign SSL CertificatesSSL Certificate Providers 9.1Paid

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.

  • GlobalSign SSL Certificates — where it wins

    • Offers DV, OV, and EV certificates, with DV issuance described in minutes
    • Wildcard coverage for DV and OV; multi-domain certificates support up to 100 SANs
    • Unlimited reissues and server licenses, plus a certificate inventory tool

    Where it doesn't

    • Wildcard certificates are not available for EV
    • OV and EV issuance takes longer than DV issuance
    • The certificate shop asks buyers to select a region and currency to view pricing

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