🌐 Beyond Let’s Encrypt: an overview of the best alternatives for SSL/TLS

Thanks to Let’s Encrypt HTTPS has become the standard for the entire internet. This project made it possible for any site administrator to get a free SSL certificate in just a few commands. But other players have appeared on the market, offering more convenience, integrations, and flexibility.

If you want to try something besides Let’s Encrypt — below is an overview of the most reliable and popular alternatives.

1. ZeroSSL — same automation, but with a friendly interface

ZeroSSL (Austria) — the main competitor to Let’s Encrypt. It is fully compatible with the same ACME protocol, but emphasizes convenience.

What ZeroSSL offers

• Full ACME compatibility. You can use the same clients — for example, acme.sh or certbot.
• Free 90-day certificates. Still free, including Wildcard domains (*.example.com).
• Simple web interface. With Let’s Encrypt everything is done via the console, while ZeroSSL offers a clear panel where you can create and download a certificate manually.
• Paid plans. There are annual certificates and renewal monitoring — convenient for businesses.

ZeroSSL — the best choice if you want to keep automation but also have the ability to manage certificates via a web panel.

2. SSL.com — from free certificates to enterprise level

SSL.com — a commercial certificate authority that also supports ACME.

What’s available

• Free DV certificates for 90 days. A great option for test or small projects.
• Upgrade to OV/EV certificates. You can start with the free option and then move to company-validated certificates.
• Compatibility with popular ACME clients.

SSL.com — a compromise between a free solution and enterprise infrastructure. Everything in one ecosystem.

3. Amazon Certificate Manager (ACM) — if you’re on AWS

ACM doesn’t compete directly with Let’s Encrypt, but is ideal for those already working in the AWS cloud.

Advantages of ACM

• Certificates are free. No limits on duration or quantity.
• Full automation. Renewal happens automatically, without scripts or cron jobs.
• Integration with AWS services: Elastic Load Balancer, CloudFront, API Gateway, and more.

If your site or service runs on AWS, ACM is the best solution: fast, free, and headache-free.

4. Cloudflare Universal SSL — protection via proxy

Cloudflare — a CDN and security service that automatically issues free SSL certificates to all users.

How it works

• Universal SSL. Certificates are issued by Cloudflare and protect the connection between the user and their servers.

• Proxy mode. Cloudflare itself encrypts the traffic, acting as an intermediary between the user and your server.

• Flexible modes:

  • Flexible: SSL only to Cloudflare.
  • Full: SSL both to Cloudflare and from Cloudflare to your server.
  • Full (Strict): Full encryption with verification of a valid certificate on the server.

Cloudflare does not use ACME directly, but allows you to set up SSL without installing anything on the server. This is an ideal option if you already use Cloudflare as a CDN.

5. Free SSL Space — certificate aggregator

Free SSL Space (freessl.org) — a platform that simplifies obtaining free certificates, including via ZeroSSL and other CAs.

Features

• Various domain validation methods. Both manual and automatic options are supported.
• API for developers. You can automate the certificate issuance process.
• Validity — 90 days. Same as other free solutions.

Suitable for those who want to obtain certificates via API or test different CAs without registering with each of them.

✅ Summary

💡 Conclusion

Let’s Encrypt permanently changed the internet by making HTTPS the default standard. But if you need additional features, easier management, or cloud integration — try the alternatives:

• ZeroSSL — for those who want more control.
• ACM — if you live in AWS.
• Cloudflare — if you already use a CDN.
• SSL.com — if you plan to move to enterprise level.

All these services help keep sites secure, support automation, and save administrators from manual routine.