About Let's Encrypt
Let's Encrypt is a free certificate authority that issues TLS certificates for websites. It is run by the nonprofit Internet Security Research Group and is used by a very large number of sites.
What it does
A certificate proves to visitors that your site is who it says it is, and it lets browsers connect over HTTPS. Let's Encrypt issues these certificates at no cost, and an automated client can renew them before they expire. You prove that you control the domain, then the certificate is installed on your server.
Key features
- Free TLS certificates for domains
- Automated issuance and renewal with ACME clients
- Support for many web servers and hosting setups
- Documentation and a community help forum
- Donations and sponsorships fund the service
Who it's for
Website owners, system administrators and developers who need HTTPS without buying a certificate. It is a good fit for personal sites, small businesses and internal services that need a valid certificate.
Pricing and good to know
The certificates are free, and the service is supported by donations and sponsors. You need to control the domain and run an ACME client on a server that can answer the validation challenge. Certificate lifetimes are short, so automatic renewal should be set up from the start. Check the documentation for the latest lifetime rules.
Highlights
- Free TLS certificates for your domains
- Automatic renewal through ACME clients
- Works with many web servers and hosts
- Help documentation and community forum
