SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates are essential tools for ensuring the security and privacy of websites. They help to encrypt the data that is transferred between the server and the user’s web browser, ensuring that sensitive information such as credit card numbers, usernames, and passwords are protected from prying eyes. Any website URL that starts with HTTPS:// (notice the s) as opposed to HTTP://(no S) is secured by an SSL certificate, indicated by a padlock icon in the browser’s address bar.
Today, having an SSL certificate on a website is a must. If you don’t, visitors are most likely to leave your website, the web browser will raise warnings about the authenticity and safety of your website, and if you are concerned about Search Engine Optimization (SEO), then your ranking will severely be affected.
Luckily SSL certificates are very accessible today than they were 5 years ago. That’s because website owners have two options: free and paid. While both options offer secure encryption for websites, there are some key differences between the two that website owners should be aware of.
Free SSL Certificates
Free SSL certificates are typically offered by non-profit Certificate Authorities (CAs) like Let’s Encrypt. Key characteristics include:
- Validation Level: Primarily Domain Validated (DV). This means the CA only verifies that the website owner has control over the domain name (e.g., by responding to an email, changing a DNS record, or uploading a file). It does not verify the identity of the organization or individual behind the website. For many personal websites, blogs, and small businesses, DV is sufficient.
- Cost: Free.
- Trust Indicator: Provides the standard padlock icon in the browser, indicating an encrypted connection.
- Lifespan & Renewal: Often have short validity periods (e.g., 90 days for Let’s Encrypt). They rely heavily on automated tools (like Certbot or built-in hosting panel features) for frequent, automatic renewal.
- Wildcard/Multi-Domain: Options for securing subdomains (wildcard) or multiple different domains (SAN) are usually available.
- Support: Generally relies on community forums and documentation; dedicated customer support is typically not offered.
- Warranty: Usually do not come with a monetary warranty.
The main advantage of free SSL certificates is their accessibility and cost-effectiveness. However, the lack of organizational verification might not be suitable for businesses that need to establish a higher level of trust (like e-commerce or financial sites).
Paid SSL Certificates
Paid SSL certificates are offered by commercial CAs like DigiCert, Globalsign, Sectigo (formerly Comodo), GoDaddy, etc. They offer different types and levels of validation:
- Validation Levels:
- Domain Validated (DV): Similar to free certificates, only domain control is verified. Paid DV certs often come with support or longer lifespans than free ones.
- Organization Validated (OV): The CA verifies both domain control AND the legitimacy of the organization requesting the certificate (checking business registration documents, etc.). This provides a higher level of trust than DV as it confirms the website is run by a verified legal entity. Clicking the padlock icon in the browser typically reveals the verified organization’s name.
- Extended Validation (EV): This involves the most rigorous vetting process, where the CA performs a thorough background check on the organization according to strict industry guidelines. While EV certificates used to trigger a prominent green bar or company name display directly in the browser’s address bar, modern browsers no longer provide this unique visual cue. The primary trust signal remains the padlock icon, but clicking it reveals more detailed, verified company information than OV or DV certificates, offering the highest level of assurance about the organization’s identity. EV certificates aim to provide maximum user confidence and protection against sophisticated phishing attempts.
- Cost: Varies significantly depending on the validation level (DV < OV < EV), provider, and features (wildcard, multi-domain). Costs can range from under ten dollars to several hundred dollars per year. For instance, an EV SSL certificate from Globalsign might start around $199/year.
- Trust Indicators: All provide the padlock icon. OV and EV provide additional verified company details when the padlock is clicked by the user.
- Lifespan & Renewal: Typically offered with longer validity periods (e.g., 1 year). Renewal processes might be more manual compared to the automated systems often used for free certificates.
- Wildcard/Multi-Domain: Widely available, often with varying price points.
- Support: Generally offer dedicated customer support for installation, troubleshooting, and renewals.
- Warranty: Often include a monetary warranty. This warranty typically protects the *end-user* (your website visitor) up to a certain amount if they suffer financial loss due to a negligent mis-issuance of the certificate by the CA, rather than protecting the website owner directly.
Paid certificates, especially OV and EV, are often preferred by businesses, e-commerce stores, financial institutions, and organizations handling sensitive user data due to the higher level of trust they establish through organizational vetting. However, the cost can be a significant factor.
Check Your Website’s SSL Certificate Health
Is your SSL certificate valid, correctly installed, and up-to-date? Don’t guess! Use the free Sitemonki SSL Checker to get an instant report on your certificate’s status, expiration date, and configuration.
Which One is Right for You?
The choice between free and paid SSL certificates depends on your specific needs:
- Choose Free (DV) if: You run a personal blog, a small informational website, or a site not handling highly sensitive transactions, and primarily need basic encryption (the padlock) and SEO benefits. You are comfortable with automated renewals or managing them frequently.
- Choose Paid (OV) if: You run a business or organization, handle user logins or transactions, and want to provide users with greater assurance about your company’s legitimacy beyond basic domain validation. The verified company name visible in the certificate details adds credibility.
- Choose Paid (EV) if: You are a larger enterprise, financial institution, or major e-commerce site where maximizing user trust and demonstrating the highest level of identity verification is critical, even though the unique address bar visual is gone.
In summary, both free and paid SSL certificates provide essential encryption. Free DV certificates are excellent for basic needs, while paid OV and EV certificates offer increasing levels of organizational vetting and trust signals, along with support and potentially warranties, but at a cost. Evaluate your website’s purpose, the sensitivity of the data handled, and your budget to make the right decision.