OpenSSL
SSL & TLS certificates software
Confidentiality software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$25,000 per year
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Free version
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What is OpenSSL
OpenSSL is an open-source cryptographic toolkit and library that implements SSL/TLS protocols and provides command-line utilities for key management, certificate handling, and encryption operations. It is used by software developers, system administrators, and vendors to add TLS to applications and to generate and manage X.509 certificates and private keys. Unlike managed certificate platforms, OpenSSL is typically embedded into software stacks or used as a local tool rather than a hosted service.
Widely adopted TLS library
OpenSSL is broadly used across operating systems, servers, appliances, and embedded software, which makes it a common dependency in enterprise and internet-facing systems. This ubiquity improves interoperability with standard TLS and X.509 certificate workflows. It also means many third-party tools and integrations assume OpenSSL-compatible formats and behaviors.
Full-featured CLI utilities
The openssl command-line tool supports generating CSRs, creating private keys, inspecting certificates, converting between formats (e.g., PEM/DER/PKCS#12), and testing TLS connections. These capabilities help teams troubleshoot certificate chains and protocol negotiation without relying on a hosted console. It is useful in CI/CD pipelines and incident response where scripted cryptographic operations are needed.
Flexible cryptographic primitives
OpenSSL provides APIs for symmetric/asymmetric encryption, hashing, signing, and random number generation in addition to TLS. This allows developers to implement confidentiality and integrity controls beyond web certificates, such as secure storage encryption or signed artifacts. The library approach enables deployment in environments where managed certificate services are not available or not permitted.
Not a certificate management platform
OpenSSL does not provide centralized certificate inventory, automated issuance, renewal orchestration, or policy enforcement typically found in certificate management and managed CA services. Organizations must build or adopt separate tooling for lifecycle management, approvals, and reporting. This can increase operational effort compared with hosted certificate managers.
Steep learning curve
Correct usage requires understanding of TLS, X.509, key formats, and cipher/protocol configuration. Misconfiguration can lead to weak security settings (e.g., legacy protocol enablement, incorrect chain building, or insecure key handling). Teams often need documented standards and guardrails to use it consistently across environments.
Dependency and patching burden
Because OpenSSL is commonly embedded as a library, organizations must track versions across many applications and systems. Security updates require coordinated patching and redeployment, which can be complex in large estates. This differs from managed services where the provider handles much of the underlying platform maintenance.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| OpenSSL (Open-source library) | Free — no cost; licensed under Apache License 2.0 for 3.x (older releases have OpenSSL/SSLeay license) | Source code and binaries available for download from the official OpenSSL site; self-supported by community; FIPS providers and validated modules exist (see license/downloads). |
| Basic Support (OpenSSL Corporation) | $25,000 per year | Essential portal access for small/mid-sized businesses; troubleshooting and maintenance support; Contact Sales. |
| Premium Support (OpenSSL Corporation) | $65,000 per year | Direct maintainer access, FIPS rebranding, extended release support; Contact Sales. |
| Enterprise Support (OpenSSL Corporation) | $175,000 per year | Full coverage across products/subsidiaries, platform expansion, direct access to maintainers for extensive/specialised needs; Contact Sales. |
Seller details
OpenSSL Software Foundation, Inc.
United States (registered non-profit; distributed project)
1998
Non-profit
https://www.openssl.org/
https://x.com/openssl
https://www.linkedin.com/company/openssl-software-foundation/
