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Let's Encrypt vs OpenSSL: What are the differences?
Let's Encrypt and OpenSSL are two widely used tools in the field of web security. Let's explore the key differences between them.
Certificate Authority vs Library: Let's Encrypt is primarily a certificate authority that provides free SSL/TLS certificates, whereas OpenSSL is a software library that provides cryptographic functions and protocols.
Policies and Trust: Let's Encrypt follows a strict set of policies and practices defined by the CA/Browser Forum to ensure the trustworthiness of its certificates. OpenSSL, on the other hand, is a more flexible tool that allows the creation and manipulation of cryptographic keys and certificates without enforcing specific trust policies.
Automation and Renewal: Let's Encrypt promotes the automation of certificate issuance and renewal through its ACME protocol, which enables seamless integration with various web servers and operating systems. OpenSSL does not provide built-in automation mechanisms, and the renewal process must be managed manually.
Pricing: Let's Encrypt provides its SSL/TLS certificates free of charge, making it an attractive option for organizations with limited budgets. OpenSSL, being a software library, is also free but requires the implementation and management of the necessary infrastructure.
Community Support and Development: Let's Encrypt has a large and active community that provides support, updates, and improvements to the service. OpenSSL also has a dedicated community but is primarily maintained by the OpenSSL Software Foundation, which consists of a smaller group of developers.
Validation Types: Let's Encrypt supports domain validation, which verifies control over the domain by checking DNS records or through HTTP-based challenges. OpenSSL can generate certificates with various validation types, including domain, organization, and extended validation, providing more customization options.
In summary, Let's Encrypt is a certificate authority focused on providing free SSL/TLS certificates with automated issuance and renewal, while OpenSSL is a versatile software library for cryptographic functions with broader flexibility but requires manual management and does not offer certificate authority services.
Pros of Let's Encrypt
- Open Source SSL48
- Simple setup32
- Free9
- Microservices9
- Easy ssl certificates0