When it comes to securing your website and protecting sensitive user data, an SSL certificate is essential. An SSL certificate, or Secure Sockets Layer certificate, is a digital certificate that authenticates the identity of a website and encrypts data sent to and from the site.
While there are a variety of SSL certificate options available, one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is whether to go with a free or paid certificate. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between free and paid SSL certificates and help you decide which is best for your website.
Free SSL Certificates
Free SSL certificates, also known as “Let’s Encrypt” certificates, are issued by the non-profit organization Let’s Encrypt. These certificates are typically valid for 90 days and can be easily renewed. They are a great option for small websites or personal blogs that don’t handle sensitive user data. However, there are a few limitations to be aware of:
- Limited validation: Free SSL certificates are typically only domain-validated, which means they only verify that you own the domain. They do not provide the same level of identity validation as paid certificates.
- Limited warranty: Free SSL certificates typically come with a minimal warranty, which means that if something goes wrong and the certificate is mis-issued, the liability to the relying party is limited.
- Limited customer support: If you run into any issues with your free SSL certificate, you may have limited options for customer support.
Paid SSL Certificates
Paid SSL certificates, also known as “commercial SSL certificates,” are issued by trusted certificate authorities (CA) like Comodo, GlobalSign, DigiCert, and SSL.com. These certificates come with a variety of features and benefits, including:
- Extended validation: Paid SSL certificates are typically issued with an extended warranty, which provides a higher level of identity validation and can increase trust in your website.
- Higher warranty: Paid SSL certificates typically come with a higher warranty, which means that if something goes wrong and the certificate is mis-issued, the liability to the relying party is higher.
- Better customer support: If you run into any issues with your paid SSL certificate, you’ll have access to dedicated customer support and assistance.
- Branding: Paid SSL certificates can be branded with the organization’s name, which helps users to identify the website as trustworthy.
- Longevity: Paid SSL Certificates are typically issued for one to two years, so you won’t have to worry about renewing them as frequently as free certificates.
SSL.COM
One of the best options for purchasing paid SSL certificates is SSL.com. They are a well-known and respected certificate authority that offers a wide range of SSL certificates for businesses of all sizes. They offer various types of SSL Certificates like Single Domain, Multi-domain, Wildcard, and even Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificates. Their certificates come with a robust warranty and include 24/7 customer support. Additionally, their process for certificate issuance is simple and user-friendly, and they offer a variety of tools and resources to help customers easily manage and maintain their SSL certificates.
Which Is Best for Your Website?
Ultimately, the decision between a free and paid SSL certificate will depend on the specific needs of your website. If you’re running a small personal blog or website that doesn’t handle sensitive user data, a free SSL certificate may be all you need. However, if you’re running a larger website that handles sensitive user data, such as an e-commerce site, a paid SSL certificate with extended validation and a higher warranty may be a better choice.
In any case, it is essential to remember that an SSL certificate is an important aspect of website security, and it should not be overlooked. Having an SSL certificate in place will not only keep your website secure but also improve the trust of your website visitors, which is important for any online business.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while free SSL certificates can be a great option for small websites and blogs, paid SSL certificates to offer a higher level of security and trust. Before making a decision, it’s important to consider the specific needs of your website and the level of security and trust that you want to provide to your users. One of the best options for purchasing paid SSL certificates is SSL.com, they offer a wide range of SSL Certificates, a full warranty, and 24/7 customer support. They also have a user-friendly process for certificate issuance and a variety of tools and resources to help customers easily manage and maintain their SSL certificates.