When comparing Let's Encrypt vs PrivacyTools.io, the Slant community recommends PrivacyTools.io for most people. In the question“What are the best resources on personal data privacy and security?” PrivacyTools.io is ranked 2nd while Let's Encrypt is ranked 8th. The most important reason people chose PrivacyTools.io is:
Many people who are not very tech-savvy are still interested in improving their online privacy & security. The creators of PrivacyTools.io have taken great strides towards making this complex topic accessible to the "average" person. They also provide direct links to the tools they recommend.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Non-Profit
Lets Encrypt is a non-profit organization sponsored by EFF, Linux Foundation, and other major donors. Removing profit as a motive means their focus is security, stability, and open source, not their bank account.
Pro Free
Certs from LetsEncrypt are free, always, not just as a short-term trial.
Pro Automated
It is fairly straightforward to totally automate certificates and renewals such that you never have to worry about the dreaded "certificate expired" error. There are numerous open-source implementations of clients to fit many situations.
Pro Very easy and quick to add dozens of domains and sub-domains.
Pro Clear, easy to understand explanations
Many people who are not very tech-savvy are still interested in improving their online privacy & security. The creators of PrivacyTools.io have taken great strides towards making this complex topic accessible to the "average" person. They also provide direct links to the tools they recommend.
Pro Promotes long-term competitive products
Not all of the recommended tools only focus on privacy, many of them are also very easy to use and integrate with software you may already utilize.
Pro Ad-free
"No Ads, No Google Analytics, No Affiliates, No Cross-Site Requests" - PrivacyTools.IO
Pro Free software supporters
Pro Licensed under WTFPL
WTFPL is a very lax free software license. Their whole website it licensed under it, and they promote debate.
Pro Amazing Reddit community
They are very active Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/privacytoolsIO/
Cons
Con 90 days
Certs currently are only issued for 90 days at a time. The expectation is that users will automate renewal so that this is not an issue.
Con Domain-Verified only
Only class 1 certificates are available (the kind others charge $10 or more for). Lets Encrypt does not do Extended Validation or EV certs, nor does it offer insurance or the other features traditional vendors offer. How much of a con this is depends very much on how much you value those services.
Con Bad recommendations
ProtonMail, Firefox, DuckDuckGo, Signal, and Ubuntu just to name a few.