Free SSL and Paid SSL – What’s the Difference?

Imagine you’re having a private conversation in a crowded room, and you want to make sure no one else listens in. SSL is like a special language that only you and the person you’re speaking to understand. If someone tries to eavesdrop, all they’d hear is rubbish!

In more technical terms, SSL stands for “Secure Sockets Layer.” When you have an SSL on your website, it keeps information shared between your website and its visitors private and secure. This is especially important if you’re running a business website where customers might be entering personal details or making payments.

You can tell a website is using SSL when you see “https” (instead of just “http”) at the beginning of the web address or when you see a little padlock symbol in the address bar. Having SSL not only keeps your website’s data safe but also makes your customers feel confident and trust your site more. So, it’s like having a secret, secure handshake with each visitor to your website!

As the name suggests, free SSL certificates come at no cost to the website owner. Hosting providers, like smarthost.ie, often offer free SSL certificates as part of their hosting packages. The certificate authority typically checks free certificates by validating the domain. This means they just confirm if the requester owns the domain.

Pros of a Free SSL Certificate

• Cost-Effective: Perfect for personal websites or startups working with a tight budget.
• Ease of Setup: Usually, hosting providers offer easy integration and setup for free SSL certificates.
• Basic Security: They encrypt SSL certificates to ensure a secure connection between the user and the web server.

Cons of Free SSL certificate

• Limited Validation: Free SSL certificates usually offer only domain validation, which might not be enough for e-commerce websites or larger businesses.
• Shorter Validity Period: They often come with a shorter validity period and require frequent renewals.
• Lack of Additional Features: Features like daily malware scanning, trust site seal, or extended validation are typically not part of the free package.

• Nature of Website: For personal websites or blogs where no sensitive information is exchanged, a free SSL certificate might suffice. However, for e-commerce websites where online payments are involved, a paid SSL is recommended.
• Budget: If you’re on a tight budget, starting with a free SSL and then transitioning to a paid one as your business grows can be a strategy.
• Customer Trust: Paid SSL certificates, especially EV ones, come with visible indicators like the green bar or trust seal, which can boost customer confidence.
• Technical Support: If you’re not technically inclined or want the assurance of support, opting for a paid SSL is wise.

From a technical standpoint, both free and paid SSL certificates function on the same foundational principle: they use asymmetric encryption to establish a secure connection between the web server and the client’s browser. Both types can activate the padlock symbol and HTTPS protocol in web browsers, ensuring encrypted communication.

Validation Levels

The primary technical differences often lie in the validation levels and features offered. Free SSL certificates, such as those from Let’s Encrypt, typically provide only domain validation (DV), which verifies the ownership of the domain. Paid SSL certificates, on the other hand, can offer organisation validation (OV) and extended validation (EV).

Domain Validation (DV)

Domain Validation is the most basic form of SSL certificate validation. The Certificate Authority (CA) checks only the ownership of the domain to ensure that the person requesting the certificate has control over the domain.

Use Cases: Ideal for personal blogs, informational websites, or any platform where transactions or exchange of sensitive data are not a primary concern.

Organisation Validation (OV)

Organisation Validation offers a higher level of assurance compared to DV. In addition to verifying domain ownership, the CA also checks certain details about the organisation, such as its name, location, and existence.

Use Cases: Suitable for business websites, e-commerce platforms, and any site where a moderate level of trust is required.

Extended Validation (EV)

Extended Validation is the highest form of SSL certificate validation. The CA conducts a rigorous and comprehensive vetting process, ensuring the legitimacy and identity of the business.

Use Cases: Best for large-scale businesses, e-commerce websites, financial institutions, or any platform that handles sensitive user data and requires the highest level of user trust.

Additional Features and Benefits

Additionally, paid SSL certificates might come with extra features like:

• Wildcard Support

  This allows the certificate to secure subdomains under a primary domain.

• Warranty

  Some certificates offer warranties against potential security breaches.

• Technical Support

  Many paid SSL providers offer dedicated technical support to address any issues.

• Trust Seals

  These are visual indicators that can be added to a site to show it’s secured by a trusted certificate authority.

Whether choosing a free or paid SSL certificate, it’s essential to consider the technical features and validation levels to ensure optimal security and trustworthiness for website visitors.