#10 in Secrets & Key ManagementUpdated 2026-08

Let's Encrypt

by Let's Encrypt · Free, automated TLS certificates from a nonprofit Certificate Authority

36.6 — BenchRank score out of 100

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Overview

Let's Encrypt is a Certificate Authority that issues free TLS certificates so websites can enable HTTPS. Certificates are obtained through ACME clients, and you must demonstrate control over the domain before one is issued. It is a project of the nonprofit Internet Security Research Group (ISRG), funded by donations and sponsorship.

Best for: Website operators who want free TLS certificates and can automate issuance and renewal.
Pricing: Certificates are free; the page shows no prices and asks for donations and corporate sponsorship instead.

Strengths and trade-offs

Strengths

Certificates are free; no paid tier is shown
Issuance is automated through ACME clients
Run by ISRG, a nonprofit, funded by donations and sponsors
Stated to serve more than 700M websites

Trade-offs

You must demonstrate control of the domain to get a certificate
Requires setting up an ACME client rather than a one-off purchase
Help is pointed at a community forum; no paid support is mentioned
Continued free service depends on donations and corporate sponsorship

How this score is made up

Each dimension is scored out of 100 and combined into the headline score using fixed weights.

MCP support: 0 out of 100
API quality: 20 out of 100
Documentation: 60 out of 100
Agent friendliness: 51 out of 100
Customer sentiment: 80 out of 100
Changelog: 0 out of 100
Marketing site structure: 45 out of 100
Operational trust: 65 out of 100

Measured, but not part of the score

Useful to know, but not a mark for or against the product — so these do not affect the ranking.

Openness: 85 out of 100
Maintenance: 100 out of 100

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