The Free Certificate Revolution

Let's Encrypt's launch in 2016 fundamentally changed SSL certificate economics by providing free Domain Validated certificates to anyone who needed them. This nonprofit initiative, backed by major technology companies, removed cost as a barrier to basic web security. With over 300 million active certificates, Let's Encrypt has become the world's largest Certificate Authority, forcing the entire industry to adapt to a new reality where basic encryption is free.

Beyond Let's Encrypt, other providers have joined the free certificate movement. Cloudflare offers free SSL certificates for domains using their CDN services. Many hosting providers now include free SSL certificates (usually Let's Encrypt) as part of their hosting packages. Cloud platforms like AWS Certificate Manager provide free certificates for use within their ecosystems. This abundance of free options means cost is no longer a valid excuse for any website to remain unencrypted.

However, free certificates come with important limitations to consider. They're typically limited to Domain Validation only, providing no organizational verification. Certificate lifetimes are often shorter (90 days for Let's Encrypt), requiring more frequent renewal. Support is usually limited to community forums and documentation rather than direct assistance. While these limitations are acceptable for many use cases, understanding them helps make informed decisions about when free certificates suffice and when paid options provide necessary value.