| Generate CSRs, submit requests, validate via email or files |
Certificate Issuance |
One-time setup; ACME client handles everything automatically |
| Repeated manual approvals for every renewal |
Domain Validation |
Automated HTTP-01 or DNS-01 validation |
| Upload and configure certificates by hand |
Installation |
Automatically installs certificates on your server |
| Track expiration dates and renew manually |
Renewal Process |
Auto-renews and re-installs before expiry |
| High, missed renewals cause outages and warnings |
Risk of Downtime |
Near-zero, continuous automated renewal |
| Exponential workload as domains grow |
Effort at Scale |
Easily scales to hundreds or thousands of certs |
| Requires renewals every few months manually |
Adaptation to 47-Day Lifespans |
Fully automated, no impact from shorter lifespans |
| High, human mistakes during issuance/install |
Error Rate |
Minimal, machine-driven, repeatable workflows |
| Per-certificate fees and surprise reissue costs |
Cost Predictability |
Flat-rate per-domain pricing |
| High, constant monitoring and ticket handling |
Operational Overhead |
Low, set once and forget |