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Certbot

Free#25 of 31 in Certificate Management Software

Certbot: A free, self-hosted choice for automating HTTPS on Apache and nginx. Ranked #25 of 31 in Certificate Management Software by our editors (6.8/10); pricing: Free plan; best for developers automating HTTPS on common web servers.

6.8/10Editor score
Visit Certbot
Certbot6.8 Visit Certbot

At a glance

  • Editor score
    6.8 / 10
  • Pricing
    Free plan
  • Best for
    Developers automating HTTPS on common web servers
  • Free plan
    Yes
  • Paid from
    None
  • Certificate discovery
    No
  • Facts checked
    20 Sep 2026
Certbot screenshot

  • Where it wins

    • Free, open-source command-line software for HTTPS certificate management
    • Automatic renewal with deployment hooks for follow-up actions
    • Supports multiple validation methods and ACME-compatible certificate authorities

  • Where it doesn't

    • Runs on individual servers rather than providing centralized certificate inventory
    • Command-line workflows may require server administration experience
    • Web-server installation support is focused on Apache and nginx

Our verdict on Certbot

Certbot is a free, open-source command-line tool from the Electronic Frontier Foundation for obtaining and managing domain-validated HTTPS/TLS certificates. It is designed for developers and administrators who manage individual web servers and want to automate certificate issuance, renewal, deployment, revocation, and deletion. Certbot runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with support for Apache and nginx installation workflows. It primarily works with Let’s Encrypt but also supports other ACME-compatible certificate authorities.

Its strongest fit is automation around certificate lifecycle tasks. Domain authentication can use DNS, HTTP, webroot, standalone, or manual methods, giving administrators options for different server and domain configurations. Automatic renewal can be followed by deployment hooks, while RSA and ECDSA private keys are supported. Integrations with Apache, nginx, Docker, and DNS providers further support common web-server environments. These capabilities make Certbot a practical choice for teams that want direct control over certificate operations without adopting a paid management service.

Certbot’s scope is narrower than a centralized certificate management platform. It is administered directly on individual web servers and does not provide certificate discovery or a centralized inventory. That makes it better suited to developers and administrators managing known server environments than to organizations seeking a consolidated view across many systems. Choose Certbot for self-hosted HTTPS automation, flexible ACME validation, and common Apache or nginx deployments; choose another product when centralized certificate oversight is a primary requirement.

Certbot pricing

Plans Free planFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.
See plans on certbot.eff.org

Certbot fact sheet

Free planYes
Paid fromNone
Certificate discoveryNo
Automatic renewalYes
Deployment automationYes
Revocation workflowsYes
Certificate typesTls
CA integrationsYes
DeploymentSelf-hosted
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux
SupportDocs, Community
Built forSolo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate)
Integrations5 integrations: Let’s Encrypt, Apache, nginx, Docker, DNS providers
PricingFree plan
Websitecertbot.eff.org
Facts checked20 Sep 2026

Certbot integrations

Certbot lists 5 integrations on its own site.

  • Let’s Encrypt
  • Apache
  • nginx
  • Docker
  • DNS providers

Alternatives to Certbot

See all Certbot alternatives →

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Featured on iTechGuides

Featured on iTechGuides — Certbot 6.8/10

Certbot is listed in our Certificate Management Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Guides on certificate management software

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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