About Certbot
Certbot is a free command line tool from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. It sets up HTTPS on a web server by requesting a certificate from Let's Encrypt, and it can renew that certificate later.
What it does
Certbot works with common web servers such as Apache, Nginx and HAProxy, and with panels such as Plesk. The site includes an instruction generator that shows the right commands for your server software and operating system. It is usually run over SSH on a Unix-like server.
Key features
- Free HTTPS certificates from Let's Encrypt
- Renews certificates once it is set up
- Instructions for Apache, Nginx, HAProxy and Plesk
- Command line tool for servers you reach over SSH
- Instruction generator for your server and system
Who it's for
Certbot suits system administrators and web developers who run their own servers and are comfortable on the command line. It is aimed at sites that are already online over HTTP and need to move to HTTPS.
Pricing and good to know
Certbot is free and open source. The site notes that many hosting providers already include HTTPS, so check your host before installing it. It runs on servers you control, and the project is run by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Highlights
- Free HTTPS certificates from Let's Encrypt
- Renews certificates once it is set up
- Instructions for Apache, Nginx, HAProxy and Plesk
- Command line tool for servers you reach over SSH
- Instruction generator for your server and system
