Let’s Encrypt Drops SSL Certificates Expiry Emails: Are You Prepared?

If you run a website, especially one secured with a Free SSL Certificate, chances you are using Let’s Encrypt. They’re the game changers who made SSL certificates free and easy for everyone. However, as of June 4, 2025, a small change is coming that might catch some people off guard if they’re not paying attention. 

Let’s Encrypt has announced that they’re officially ending expiration notification emails. That’s right, no more “Your certificate is about to expire” emails in your inbox. But here’s the thing, it’s a really good move. And it’s not as scary as it sounds if you know what to do next. 

What’s Changing? 

Since the early days, Let’s Encrypt has sent emails to users letting them know when a certificate was about to expire. That helped a lot of people stay on top of renewals. But starting June 4, 2025, they’re pulling the plug on that feature. No more reminder emails. 

And before you panic, it’s for four very smart reasons. 

Why Is Let’s Encrypt Doing This? 

Most People Have Automated Renewals Now 

Let’s Encrypt was designed with automation in mind from day one. And it worked. Today, millions of websites use automated tools like Certbot, Caddy, and built-in integrations from hosting providers to handle certificate renewal behind the scenes.

If you’ve already got that set up, you never needed those reminder emails anyway. This move reflects the fact that most of us have already outgrown manual reminders.  

It Saves Serious Money 

Sending millions of emails every month isn’t cheap. According to Let’s Encrypt, expiration reminders cost them tens of thousands of dollars per year. 

That’s a lot of money for a nonprofit organisation, money that could be used to improve security infrastructure, develop new features, or expand global reach. They’re choosing to cut the cost and focus resources where they really matter. 

Less Complexity 

Adding additional parts to your infrastructure can lead to more problems. Let’s Encrypt sees the broad picture when it makes these decisions.

When adding new options, they want to keep things simple so that their system is easy to take care of and remains efficient. Removing just the email system now can benefit their company by avoiding problems and saving time in the long run. 

It Offers Better Privacy 

This is what grabs my attention. To send expiration notices, Let’s Encrypt kept a large database of email addresses. Even the most responsible businesses face a privacy risk because of this issue. Turning off the email notifications allows them to delete your private data. In our data-focused world, this is a great achievement. 

So, What Should You Do Now? 

Don’t wait until the last minute to act. Here’s your new action plan: 

Step 1: Check If You Already Have Auto-Renewal Set Up 

If you’re using a modern web host (like Cloudflare, Netlify, Vercel, or even cPanel-based shared hosting), they probably renew your certificates automatically. 

Double-check this. If it’s automated, you’re good to go. You don’t need email reminders at all. 

Step 2: Set Up a Certificate Monitoring Tool 

If you’re managing SSL manually or just want extra peace of mind, use a third-party monitoring service. 

Here are some recommendations: 

• Red Sift Certificates Lite – Free for up to 250 certificates 

• Sectigo Certificate Manager

• DigiCert Trust Lifecycle Manager

These tools monitor your certificates and can send alerts before they expire. 

Step 3: Stay Informed  

While you won’t get expiration notices anymore, Let’s Encrypt still offers opt-in newsletters and updates. You can subscribe to get tech updates, policy changes, and important news from the Internet Security Research Group (ISRG), the nonprofit behind Let’s Encrypt. 

This Is a Good Move 

Let’s Encrypt isn’t just cutting a feature. They’re levelling up. They’re making a strategic move that supports their mission: creating a more secure, privacy-respecting, fully encrypted web. Now they’re just tightening the screws, optimizing their system, and doubling down on what matters. And let’s be honest: 

If you’re still relying on emails to manually renew SSL certs in 2025, it’s probably time to upgrade your workflow anyway. 

Conclusion  

Here’s what you need to remember: 

• Yes, Let’s Encrypt is ending expiration emails. 

• No, it’s not a big deal if you automate or use a monitoring tool. 

• Yes, it’s a smart move that saves money, improves privacy, and makes the system stronger for everyone. 

If you haven’t automated your certificate renewal yet, now’s the perfect time to do it. Manual setups are risky. One missed email could mean downtime, lost traffic, and trust issues with your users. 

Your Next Step? 

Move to a powerful certificate management tool like Sectigo Certificate Manager or DigiCert Trust Lifecycle Manager. These platforms handle renewals, monitoring, and expiration alerts all automatically. You’ll save time, reduce human error, and keep your site secure 24/7. 

Still confused about choosing the best tool for you? Contact our PKI experts and share your requirements.