AdminKit vs Qualys SSL Labs
Qualys SSL Labs performs, in its own words, "a deep analysis of the configuration of any SSL web server on the public Internet" (ssllabs.com/ssltest/, read 2026-10-29), grading it A+ through F (or T for a trust problem) across certificate chain, protocol, cipher and handshake-simulation detail; AdminKit's SSL/TLS check is a faster, single-handshake read of the certificate and negotiated protocol/cipher, and this page says plainly that SSL Labs goes deeper rather than implying AdminKit matches it.
What each tool actually checks today
Qualys SSL Labs’ SSL Server Test, read 2026-10-29, describes itself as performing “a deep analysis of the configuration of any SSL web server on the public Internet.” A sample report (ssllabs.com/ssltest/analyze.html, read 2026-10-29) shows a certificate section with subject, alternative names, fingerprints, validity dates, key details, issuer, signature algorithm, Extended Validation and Certificate Transparency status, OCSP/CRL revocation info, DNS CAA records, and trust status checked against multiple trust stores across several certificates in the chain — plus, per the tool’s own recent result listing, an overall letter grade from A+ down to F, with a separate “T” grade for a trust problem. It is free, with no account requirement stated on its own pages, and operated by Qualys, Inc.
AdminKit’s SSL/TLS check runs a single, live TLS handshake to the hostname you enter and reports what that one connection actually negotiated: the certificate’s subject, issuer, SAN coverage and expiry (counted down in days, with a self-signed flag), plus the protocol version and cipher suite the server and AdminKit’s client agreed on for that handshake. It does not enumerate every protocol or cipher the server might also accept, does not independently validate the full chain against a root store, and does not produce a letter grade.
The honest angle
AdminKit is not claiming to match SSL Labs’ depth. SSL Labs’ deep chain validation, protocol/cipher enumeration and handshake simulation represent years of accumulated test logic that a single-handshake check does not replicate, and this page says so plainly rather than implying parity. What AdminKit’s check adds is speed and breadth in a different sense: one hostname, one quick result, shown next to AdminKit’s HTTP security headers, DNS and mail-authentication checks in a single report, rather than a dedicated deep-dive tool used on its own.
If what you need is a full TLS configuration audit — every supported protocol and cipher, chain validation, a shareable letter grade — SSL Labs is the established, free tool for that job and AdminKit’s check is not a substitute. If what you need is “is this certificate about to expire, and what did this one connection negotiate” as part of a broader quick check, that’s what AdminKit’s SSL/TLS check is for. See how to read a TLS/SSL certificate check result for what the fields in a certificate chain mean either way.
Trademarks belong to their respective owners; AdminKit is not affiliated.
| Feature | AdminKit | Qualys SSL Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Free, no account required | ✓ | ✓ |
| Live TLS handshake against the hostname you enter | ✓ | ✓ |
| Certificate expiry date shown | ✓ | ✓ |
| Overall letter grade (A+ to F) | — | ✓ |
| Full certificate-chain validation across multiple trust stores | — | ✓ |
| Enumerates every protocol/cipher the server is willing to accept (not just what one handshake negotiates) | One handshake only, by design | ✓ |
| Client handshake simulation (e.g. older browsers, specific clients) | — | ✓ |
| Combined report alongside HTTP headers, DNS, MX and other checks | ✓ | — |
AdminKit vs Qualys SSL Labs
Overall letter grade (A+ to F)
Full certificate-chain validation across multiple trust stores
Enumerates every protocol/cipher the server is willing to accept (not just what one handshake negotiates)
Client handshake simulation (e.g. older browsers, specific clients)
Combined report alongside HTTP headers, DNS, MX and other checks
Last checked
Sources: Qualys SSL Labs — SSL Server Test, Qualys SSL Labs — SSL Server Test, certificate detail view
Frequently asked questions
Is AdminKit's SSL/TLS check as thorough as SSL Labs?
No, and this page doesn't claim otherwise. Qualys SSL Labs' own test page performs a deep configuration analysis that includes full certificate-chain validation across multiple trust stores, protocol and cipher enumeration, and client handshake simulations, with an A+-to-F letter grade. AdminKit's check runs one TLS handshake and reports what that single connection negotiated — a fast yes/no/expiry-and-protocol read, not a full server audit.
Is Qualys SSL Labs' test free?
Yes, based on current evidence: SSL Labs' own test page describes itself as a free online service with no account requirement stated. AdminKit's SSL/TLS check is also free with no account required.
Why would I use AdminKit's check instead of SSL Labs?
If you need a full configuration audit with a letter grade, chain validation and handshake simulation, SSL Labs is the deeper, established tool for that. AdminKit's check is for a quick, no-frills read of a certificate's expiry and the negotiated protocol/cipher, often alongside AdminKit's other checks (HTTP headers, DNS, MX) in one report, not as a substitute for SSL Labs' depth.
Does this page use Qualys's or SSL Labs' logo or brand assets?
No. This page refers to Qualys SSL Labs by name only (nominative use) to describe and compare a publicly available tool. AdminKit is not affiliated with or endorsed by Qualys, Inc.
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