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Head-to-head · SSL Certificate Providers

Let's Encrypt vs GoDaddy 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
GoDaddy SSL Certificates #4 in SSL Certificate Providers 9.0/10 Paid ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit GoDaddy

Let's Encrypt leads on 1 check, GoDaddy 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 featuresGoDaddy SSL Certificates · 2 of 2

Let's Encrypt scores higher on our rubric for ssl certificate providers: 9.4 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #4.

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

Let's Encrypt is the better fit for free, automated TLS for any scale. GoDaddy SSL Certificates is the better fit for buyers wanting managed installation options.

  • Let's Encrypt fits best

    Free, automated TLS for any scale

  • GoDaddy SSL Certificates fits best

    Buyers wanting managed installation options

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 ↗ GoDaddy SSL Certificates 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 9.0
Ranking #1 in SSL Certificate Providers #4 in SSL Certificate Providers
Best for Free, automated TLS for any scale Buyers wanting managed installation options
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan —
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Support Community, Docs Phone · 24/7
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Let's Encrypt 0/2 · GoDaddy 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 1_year
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.
  • DV, OV, and EV certificates with single-site, wildcard, and multi-domain choices
  • Installation options range from self-service to fully managed maintenance
  • 24/7 phone support, trust seals, and monitoring alerts on certain plans
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.
  • No standalone free SSL certificate plan
  • Platform coverage is limited to web deployments
  • Self-installation leaves certificate maintenance to the buyer
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 →

GoDaddy SSL Certificates serve website owners and organizations that need TLS certificates with different validation levels and coverage options. The catalog includes Domain Validation, Organization Validation, and Extended Validation…

Read the review →
  1. Let's EncryptSSL Certificate Providers 9.4Free plan
  2. GoDaddy SSL CertificatesSSL Certificate Providers 9.0Paid

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.

  • GoDaddy SSL Certificates — where it wins

    • DV, OV, and EV certificates with single-site, wildcard, and multi-domain choices
    • Installation options range from self-service to fully managed maintenance
    • 24/7 phone support, trust seals, and monitoring alerts on certain plans

    Where it doesn't

    • No standalone free SSL certificate plan
    • Platform coverage is limited to web deployments
    • Self-installation leaves certificate maintenance to the buyer

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