Difference between free and paid SSL Certificate-Downside

Yes, there are some downsides to using free SSL. If you are paying for something then it must be better than a free one for sure. So In this blog, we will discuss why you should use paid SSL and Why You should not use a free SSL certificate. We will discuss the difference between free and paid SSL certificate so that you can know whether is worth or not to use paid certificates.

When you get free certificates from your hosting. Many websites share this hosting. The price which included in the initial hosting price. Paid certificates are always going to be unique to one domain. Numerous domains will not have access to them

Paid SSL certificates are valid for longer than free

Most free SSL certificates are only valid for 3 months, which means you’ll often have that nagging concern about the looming renewal date. In contrast, a paid SSL certificate typically lasts for 1 or 2 years, making the renewal process far less burdensome and infrequent.

Domain Validation Certificate

So there are many different types of paid certificates too, but there are three main versions. The first one is domain validation which means you just have to verify that you’re the domain owner to get this type of SSL certificate which you can get for free from the Let’s Encrypt website. There are also higher level certificates and this includes extended validation and organization validation. These certificates require the purchaser to give more validation of their company like a physical address or verification of the legal name of the business. So bank websites are a good example of organizations. That would have these higher level certificates probably the extended validation. Go to a bank’s site and see their real name showcased alongside the lock icon on the secure webpage

So to answer the question like most things the paid version of SSL certificates. It is going to be better than the free version of the certificates. But they probably are not going to offer any additional security for your site. They both have the same level of security so really what you’re paying for. That is for them to look better in a browser like the bank example we just showed.

The Importance of Domain Validation (DV) Certificates

So which SSL certificate do you decide to get for your website security? It is going to depend on what you’re doing on your website. What type of organization you are, and then maybe your budget too. But these days because of the errors that show and the warnings that are showing in browsers. We recommend that every website have at least a domain validation / DV certificate installed on their site.

So we recommend again checking with your hosts to see what kind of SSL certificates they offer. Maybe they have that free version. You can install it to get your domain. Let’s Encrypt.org has gained popularity as a newer organization. Because they offer free SSL certificates and they are the domain validation or DV certificates.

We hope these points and explanations will help you to choose the best one for you.
If you need any help with SSL certificates contact us.