Overview
Buypass SSL is the SSL certificate product line of the Buypass Group. Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Norway, Buypass is one of Northern Europe's longest-standing IT enterprises. Buypass SSL specializes in free DV SSL certificate services with fully automated ACME-based issuance and renewal, making it one of the very few entirely free public CA options alongside Let's Encrypt.
Unlike other free CAs, Buypass SSL is operated by a Norwegian government-backed certificate authority. Its root certificates are pre-installed in Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, with over 500,000 certificates issued annually. Buypass SSL's SSL certificate product line is positioned around "simple, free, automated" — ideal for individual developers and small businesses who want HTTPS encryption without subscription costs.
Key Strengths
- Completely Free, Longer Validity: Buypass SSL's free DV certificates last 180 days — twice as long as Let's Encrypt's 90-day validity. For manually managed small sites, this halves the renewal frequency. Certificate issuance is fully automated and completes within minutes with no human review.
- ACME Protocol Automation: Native ACME protocol support with full compatibility for Certbot, acme.sh, and other mainstream ACME clients. Developers can integrate automated issuance and renewal into CI/CD pipelines for zero-touch HTTPS certificate lifecycle management.
- Government-Backed CA Trust: Buypass operates Norway's government-recognized electronic identity system (Buypass ID), and its CA operations undergo government-grade compliance audits. Root certificates are pre-installed in all major browsers, ensuring no untrusted certificate warnings.
- Zero-Cost SSL Onboarding: No account registration, no credit card required — certificates are obtainable directly via ACME clients. For personal blogs, open-source project pages, and temporary demonstration environments, Buypass SSL offers a completely free HTTPS solution with longer validity periods.
Product Ecosystem
Buypass Go SSL
Buypass SSL's core product — a free DV SSL certificate for individuals and developers. 180-day validity, single-domain validation only (no wildcard or multi-domain SAN support), with fully automated ACME-based enrollment, deployment, and renewal. Ideal for personal blogs, test environments, and static sites.
ACME Automation Interface
Buypass SSL provides a standard ACME protocol endpoint compatible with all major ACME clients. Developers can integrate certificate lifecycle management with deployment workflows for fully automated certificate operations. Buypass's ACME endpoint requires no account registration, lowering the barrier to automation.
Limitations
- DV-Only Validation: Buypass SSL offers Domain Validation (DV) certificates exclusively, with no OV or EV options. For commercial websites, e-commerce platforms, and financial services that need to display organizational identity, Buypass SSL cannot meet verification requirements — consider Sectigo SSL for commercial certificate solutions.
- No Chinese Support: The management panel and documentation are available in English and Norwegian only, with no Chinese-language interface. Chinese users may face language barriers during setup, and ACME validation endpoints may experience unstable connectivity in some Chinese network environments.
- 180-Day Validity Still Requires Maintenance: While longer than Let's Encrypt's 90 days, 180 days is still short compared to paid certificates offering 1-2 year terms. Automated renewal setup is mandatory — manual operators risk forgetting to renew.
- Limited Product Range: Only single-domain DV certificates are offered — no wildcard, multi-domain (SAN/UCC), or code signing certificates. Users with multiple domains must apply for and manage separate certificates for each domain.
Use Cases
| Scenario | Rating | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Personal blogs & small sites | ★★★★★ | Free DV cert, 180-day validity, ACME automation — zero cost, zero barrier |
| Dev & test environments | ★★★★★ | Fast issuance for CI/CD pipelines, ephemeral environments, internal tools |
| Open-source project pages | ★★★★★ | Free HTTPS for project documentation sites and GitHub Pages |
| Enterprise commercial sites | ★★☆☆☆ | No OV/EV support — choose DigiCert or Sectigo commercial certs instead |
| E-commerce & finance platforms | ★☆☆☆☆ | No organization validation or green address bar, unsuitable for transactions |
Pricing
| Product | Price | Validity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buypass Go SSL (DV) | Free | 180 days | ACME auto-renewal, single domain only |
| Wildcard Certificate | Not available | — | Buypass SSL does not offer wildcard products |
| OV/EV Certificates | Not available | — | DV validation only |
Buypass's main brand also offers Buypass ID and eIDAS digital signature products. See Buypass main brand documentation for details.
FAQ
What is the main difference between Buypass SSL and Let's Encrypt?
Both offer free DV SSL certificates with ACME support. Key differences: Buypass SSL certificates have 180-day validity (vs Let's Encrypt's 90 days), but Buypass SSL only supports single-domain certificates — no wildcard option. Buypass SSL issuance speed may also be slower in some regions.
Does Buypass SSL support wildcard certificates?
No. Buypass SSL's free certificates are limited to single-domain DV validation only. For multi-subdomain protection, consider Let's Encrypt's wildcard certificates or paid commercial options.
How do I automate Buypass SSL certificate renewal?
Use any standard ACME client (Certbot, acme.sh, Lego) configured with Buypass's ACME endpoint (https://acme.buypass.com/acme/v1). Set up a cron job or systemd timer to ensure renewal completes before certificate expiry.
How well does Buypass SSL work in mainland China?
Buypass root certificates are trusted in mainland Chinese browsers. However, Buypass has no server nodes in China, and ACME validation requests may experience latency or timeouts. Chinese users are advised to choose CAs with local presence.
What is the relationship between Buypass SSL and the Buypass Group?
Buypass SSL is the SSL certificate product line of the Buypass Group. The Buypass Group also operates Norway's government electronic identity system (Buypass ID) and eIDAS-compliant digital signature services. See Buypass main brand documentation for a full overview.