GDPR Compliant SSL/TLS Certificate Authorities — European Alternatives
European certificate authorities — alternatives to Let's Encrypt that keep your web PKI infrastructure under EU jurisdiction with eIDAS-qualified trust services.
Why choose a European ssl/tls certificate authorities?
- Let's Encrypt is operated by ISRG, a US nonprofit subject to the CLOUD Act — US courts can compel certificate revocation
- EU eIDAS 2.0 regulation introduces Qualified Web Authentication Certificates (QWACs) that must be issued by EU-based QTSPs
- Let's Encrypt cannot issue certificates to US-sanctioned entities — an EU CA removes this geopolitical dependency
- Reduce single-point-of-failure risk by diversifying away from one US-based CA that dominates global certificate issuance
Actalis
🇮🇹 Italy, Ponte San PietroEurope's leading ACME certificate authority — free unlimited DV certificates, part of Aruba S.p.A. (Italy's largest hosting provider)
Alternative to: Let's Encrypt
Buypass
🇳🇴 Norway, OsloNorwegian certificate authority with ACME support — transitioning from GoSSL to GoTLS with free and paid tiers
Alternative to: Let's Encrypt
D-Trust
🇩🇪 Germany, BerlinGerman government-backed CA — subsidiary of Bundesdruckerei (Federal Printing Office), the sovereign choice for EU PKI
Alternative to: Let's Encrypt
HARICA
🇬🇷 Greece, AthensGreek academic CA expanding into commercial services — eIDAS-qualified, trusted in all major browsers
Alternative to: Let's Encrypt
Quick Comparison
| Product | Country | Open Source | Free Tier | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actalis | 🇮🇹 Italy | No | Yes | 2002 |
| Buypass | 🇳🇴 Norway | No | Yes | 2001 |
| D-Trust | 🇩🇪 Germany | No | No | 2016 |
| HARICA | 🇬🇷 Greece | No | No | 2011 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best European alternative to Let's Encrypt?
Actalis (Italy) is the closest equivalent — free, unlimited DV certificates via ACME with 90-day validity, just like Let's Encrypt. It's part of Aruba S.p.A., Italy's largest hosting provider.
Are there free European SSL certificates?
Yes — Actalis offers free unlimited DV certificates via ACME. Buypass (Norway) is relaunching free certs via their GoTLS service. HARICA offers free certificates for academic institutions.
Can I use certbot/ACME with European CAs?
Yes — Actalis and Buypass both support the ACME protocol, so you can use certbot, acme.sh, or any standard ACME client. The switch is typically just changing the ACME directory URL.
What are QWACs and why do they matter?
Qualified Web Authentication Certificates (QWACs) are a new type of certificate under EU eIDAS 2.0. They must be issued by EU-based Qualified Trust Service Providers and will be recognised by browsers. They're relevant for organisations needing verified EU-jurisdiction certificates.
Need help migrating?
We're building step-by-step guides for switching from Let's Encrypt to European alternatives. Request a guide and we'll prioritise it.