Key Points
- Google-managed SSL certificates for Load Balancing seem likely to be free, ideal for basic needs.
- Certificate Manager has tiered pricing, free for up to 100 certificates, then $0.20 per certificate monthly for 101-2000, and $0.10 for over 2000.
- Self-managed certificates cost what you pay to third-party CAs, with no additional GCP fees.
- Unexpected detail: App Engine and Cloud Run provide free SSL for custom domains, which might surprise users focused on Load Balancing.
GCP SSL Certificate Pricing Overview
GCP provides several ways to secure your applications with SSL certificates, each with different pricing models. Here’s a breakdown for a layman:
Load Balancing Options
- Google-Managed SSL Certificates: These are free and automatically managed by GCP for Load Balancing. They’re great for basic domain validation (DV) needs, supporting multiple hostnames but not wildcards. Check this page for details.
- Self-Managed Certificates: You buy these from a third-party CA (like Let’s Encrypt for free DV or Comodo for paid options). GCP doesn’t charge extra; you only pay the CA. This is flexible, supporting DV, OV, EV, and wildcards.
- Certificate Manager: This service manages certificates centrally, with costs based on usage. It’s free for up to 100 certificates, then $0.20 per month per certificate for 101-2000, and $0.10 for more than 2000. Regional certificates are counted separately. See pricing details.
Other Services
- App Engine and Cloud Run: Both offer free SSL/TLS certificates for custom domains, automatically provisioned. This is a cost-effective surprise for web app hosting.
- Compute Engine Instances: For standalone instances, you manage your own SSL, paying the CA with no extra GCP fees.
- Other Services: Like Cloud Storage, HTTPS is included in standard pricing, no separate SSL cost.
When to Choose What
- Use free Google-managed SSL for Load Balancing if you need basic DV coverage without wildcards.
- Go self-managed for custom needs like OV/EV or wildcards, paying only the CA.
- Consider Certificate Manager for complex setups with many certificates, weighing the costs against management benefits.
Comprehensive Analysis of GCP SSL Certificate Pricing
No doubt, SSL certificates are essential for securing communications, ensuring data encryption and server identity verification.
GCP offers multiple approaches to manage SSL, each with distinct pricing models, catering to various use cases from basic web hosting to complex enterprise setups.
Understanding SSL Certificates on GCP
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates facilitate secure HTTPS connections, crucial for protecting user data and maintaining trust.
On GCP, SSL management varies by service, with options ranging from fully managed free certificates to self-managed solutions requiring third-party purchases.
This analysis will detail pricing, features, and limitations across key services.
Detailed Pricing and Features by Service
Load Balancing SSL Certificate Options
GCP Load Balancing supports three primary methods for SSL certificate management, each with unique pricing and capabilities:
Self-Managed Certificates
Users obtain and manage certificates from third-party Certificate Authorities (CAs), such as Let’s Encrypt (free DV) or Comodo (paid options including OV, EV, wildcards).
Pricing: No additional charges from GCP. Costs are solely what the CA charges for the certificate.
Features and Limitations: Offers flexibility with any certificate type (DV, OV, EV, wildcard). Users handle the entire lifecycle, including issuance, renewal, and revocation. Suitable for custom or high-assurance needs.
Use Case: Ideal for scenarios requiring specific validations or wildcards not supported by managed options.
Google-Managed SSL Certificates
These are Domain Validation (DV) certificates automatically obtained and managed by GCP for Load Balancing.
Pricing: Free, with no per-certificate or usage fees.
Features and Limitations: Support multiple hostnames per certificate, automatic renewal by GCP, but do not support wildcard domains or organization validation (OV/EV). Not available for regional external, regional internal, or cross-region internal Application Load Balancers, where self-managed or Certificate Manager options are required.
Use Case: Cost-effective for basic SSL needs with multiple domains, especially for global external HTTPS Load Balancers.
Certificate Manager
A centralized service for managing both Google-managed and self-managed certificates across GCP, integrable with Load Balancing and other services.
Pricing:
- Global certificates: Free for 0-100, $0.20 per month per certificate for 101-2000, $0.10 per month per certificate for over 2000.
- Regional certificates: Billed at the same rates, counted and tiered separately from global certificates.
- Additional charges for mutual TLS (mTLS) connections: Standard tier at $0.09 per million connections (RSA up to 4096 bits, ECDSA P-256, up to 10 intermediate certificates, chain length up to 5, up to 10 trust anchors); Advanced tier at $0.45 per million connections (RSA over 4096 bits, ECDSA P-256, P-384, up to 100 intermediate certificates, chain length up to 10, up to 100 trust anchors). Non-mTLS connections incur no additional charges.
Features and Limitations: Offers automated issuance and renewal, support for certificates from Google’s public CA or imported third-party CAs, and centralized management across projects and regions. Suitable for complex environments with many certificates.
Use Case: Beneficial for enterprises needing robust certificate management, especially with over 100 certificates, despite the costs.
App Engine and Cloud Run SSL Provisions
Both App Engine and Cloud Run, GCP’s managed platforms for web applications and containerized services, provide automatic SSL/TLS encryption for custom domains.
Pricing: Free, with no additional charges for SSL/TLS certificate provisioning.
Features and Limitations: Certificates are automatically issued and managed by GCP, ensuring seamless HTTPS for mapped domains. Limited to the platforms’ scope, not applicable for standalone instances.
Use Case: Ideal for developers deploying web apps or services on these platforms, offering cost-free SSL without management overhead.
Compute Engine Instances SSL Management
For standalone Compute Engine virtual machine instances, SSL certificates must be managed manually, as there is no built-in managed SSL service outside Load Balancing.
Pricing: No additional cost from GCP. Users pay for certificates from third-party CAs, such as Let’s Encrypt for free DV options or paid CAs for OV/EV.
Features and Limitations: Full control over certificate type and lifecycle, but requires manual installation and management on the instance. Suitable for scenarios where Load Balancing is not used.
Use Case: Appropriate for single-instance web servers needing HTTPS, especially cost-sensitive setups using free CAs like Let’s Encrypt.
Other GCP Services and SSL
- Services like Cloud Storage offer HTTPS access included in their standard pricing, with no separate SSL certificate costs. For example, serving files over HTTPS from Cloud Storage buckets incurs no additional fees beyond storage and egress costs.
- Other network services, such as Cloud VPN, use IPsec and do not involve SSL/TLS, thus no relevant pricing for SSL.
Read also: Latest Digicert SSL Certificate Pricing
Comparative Analysis and Decision Guidance
To assist in choosing the right option, consider the following table summarizing key aspects:
| Option | Cost | Best For | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google-Managed (Load Balancing) | Free | Basic DV SSL, multiple hostnames | No wildcards, no OV/EV, regional limits |
| Self-Managed (Load Balancing) | CA cost only, no GCP fee | Custom needs (OV/EV, wildcards) | Manual management |
| Certificate Manager | Free (0-100), then tiered ($0.20-$0.10) | Complex setups, many certificates | Additional cost for scale |
| App Engine/Cloud Run SSL | Free | Web apps on these platforms | Limited to platform scope |
| Compute Engine Self-Managed | CA cost only, no GCP fee | Standalone instances | Manual management, no GCP automation |
- Cost-Effectiveness: For basic needs, Google-managed SSL certificates in Load Balancing are the most cost-effective, being free with automatic management. App Engine and Cloud Run also offer free SSL, surprising for users focused on Load Balancing, enhancing cost savings for web app deployments.
- Flexibility and Control: Self-managed certificates provide the most flexibility, supporting any certificate type, but at the cost of manual management. Certificate Manager adds cost for advanced features, suitable for enterprises with extensive certificate needs.
- Unexpected Detail: The free SSL provisions in App Engine and Cloud Run might be unexpected for users primarily researching Load Balancing, offering a broader perspective on GCP’s cost-free SSL options.
Practical Considerations and Recommendations
- For Small to Medium Deployments: Leverage free Google-managed SSL certificates for Load Balancing or use App Engine/Cloud Run for web apps, minimizing costs.
- For Advanced Needs: Opt for self-managed certificates when requiring OV/EV or wildcards, paying only CA fees. Consider Certificate Manager if managing over 100 certificates, balancing cost against management benefits.
- For Compute Engine Instances: Use free CAs like Let’s Encrypt for cost-effective SSL, managing manually to avoid additional expenses.
Conclusion
GCP’s SSL certificate pricing is diverse, offering free options for basic needs through Google-managed certificates and App Engine/Cloud Run, while providing flexible paid options via self-managed certificates and Certificate Manager for advanced scenarios. Users should assess their specific requirements, such as certificate type, number, and management complexity, to choose the most cost-effective and suitable option. Always refer to official GCP documentation for the latest pricing, as rates may change.
