Is Qualys SSL Labs actually free?
How these scores work
Yes — the industry-standard free test of a website's HTTPS setup: paste a domain, wait a couple of minutes, get a letter grade with a full breakdown of certificate, protocol, and configuration issues.
This exact analysis inside a paid security assessment bills at consulting rates; here it's the free sample.
What you get free
- A full TLS/SSL configuration analysis with a letter grade
- Certificate, protocol, and cipher detail
- Known-vulnerability checks
- No account, no fee
In practice: the definitive free answer to 'is our HTTPS actually configured right' — the grade your IT provider should be able to explain.
Drawbacks
- Takes a few minutes per scan
- Deeply technical output past the letter grade
- Results can appear on a public recent-scans board unless you tick the hide option
What the free tier actually gives you
| Card required | No |
| Free plan or trial | No account needed |
| Their branding | No |
| Export your work | Limited |
| Commercial use | Allowed |
| Time limit | None |
Same questions, same order, for every listing in Business — so you can compare them side by side. Deliberately no exact allowances: those change monthly, the shape of the limit doesn't.
Free facts
| Verdict | Truly Free |
| Card required | No |
| Auto-bills | — |
| Account | None needed |
| Limits | One domain per scan; a few minutes per test |
| The real cost | Nothing. It's a security company's calling card — the honest kind. |
The catch
It is a security firm demonstrating competence by giving the diagnosis away. The scan is slow and deeply technical — and the letter grade is the lingua franca of TLS quality.
The smart play
- Tick 'Do not show results on the boards' before scanning if the domain is sensitive
- Anything below an A is a to-do for whoever runs your server
- Re-test after certificate renewals — that's when configurations quietly regress
Common questions
Does Qualys SSL Labs require a credit card?
What are the limits of Qualys SSL Labs's free plan?
How do I use Qualys SSL Labs without paying?
What does Qualys SSL Labs really cost?
Why is Qualys SSL Labs free?
Is Qualys SSL Labs still free?
More info — tap to expand
Why Qualys gives this away
Reading the grade honestly
Last checked: August 2026site-wide date · Verdict: Truly Free — no card, no account wall, no meaningful catch. use it and go.
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