SSL certificates
Which SSL certificate do you need?
Every website should use HTTPS, and for many a free certificate is enough. Here's what each type of certificate checks and when it's worth paying for one.
Is free SSL enough?
For most small websites, yes. A free certificate gives you HTTPS and the padlock, and our hosting plans include one. Consider a paid certificate if you need:
- Your organisation verified: OV and EV certificates check your business as well as the domain.
- Many subdomains on one certificate: a wildcard covers them all.
- A certificate required by a customer or contract: some ask for a particular validation level.
What the validation levels mean
All three levels encrypt traffic. The difference is what the issuer checks before issuing the certificate: DV checks that you control the domain, OV also checks your organisation, and EV makes the fullest checks.
Not sure your site is set up properly? Try our free Security Checker.
Frequently asked questions
Often not. A free certificate gives your site HTTPS and encrypts its traffic. A paid one can add checks on your business, a wildcard option or a certificate from a commercial brand.
Not for encrypting traffic, as a free DV certificate gives you HTTPS too. The main differences are how much the issuer checks about you and what the certificate covers.
No. Major browsers stopped showing the green address bar, so visitors won't see that difference. Your organisation's verified details are still in the certificate.
One domain and all its subdomains at one level, such as shop.example.co.uk and blog.example.co.uk.