{"id":1804,"date":"2024-01-21T17:35:36","date_gmt":"2024-01-21T12:05:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/?p=1804"},"modified":"2024-01-21T18:21:06","modified_gmt":"2024-01-21T12:51:06","slug":"free-vs-paid-ssl-what-is-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/free-vs-paid-ssl-what-is-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Free SSL vs. Paid SSL. What Is the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>SSL certificates have long become essential for any website, ensuring data encryption and search engine visibility. But with so many options available, getting the best certificate for your site can be tricky. You must decide on the validation type and extra features and choose between paid or free alternatives.<\/p>\n<p>This article covers free SSL vs paid SSL certificates in great detail, helping you understand the similarities and differences between the two options.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/free-vs-paid-ssl-what-is-the-difference\/#What_is_an_SSL_Certificate\" >What is an SSL Certificate?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/free-vs-paid-ssl-what-is-the-difference\/#Free_SSL_Certificates\" >Free SSL Certificates<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/free-vs-paid-ssl-what-is-the-difference\/#Paid_SSL_Certificates\" >Paid SSL Certificates<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/free-vs-paid-ssl-what-is-the-difference\/#Domain_Validated_DV_SSL\" >Domain Validated (DV) SSL<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/free-vs-paid-ssl-what-is-the-difference\/#Organization_Validated_OV_SSL\" >Organization Validated (OV) SSL<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/free-vs-paid-ssl-what-is-the-difference\/#Extended_Validation_EV_SSL\" >Extended Validation (EV) SSL<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/free-vs-paid-ssl-what-is-the-difference\/#SSL_free_vs_paid_Pros_and_cons\" >SSL free vs paid: Pros and cons<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/free-vs-paid-ssl-what-is-the-difference\/#Free_SSL_Certificates-2\" >Free SSL Certificates<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/free-vs-paid-ssl-what-is-the-difference\/#Pros\" >Pros<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/free-vs-paid-ssl-what-is-the-difference\/#Cons\" >Cons<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/free-vs-paid-ssl-what-is-the-difference\/#Paid_SSL_Certificates-2\" >Paid SSL Certificates<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/free-vs-paid-ssl-what-is-the-difference\/#Pros-2\" >Pros<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/free-vs-paid-ssl-what-is-the-difference\/#Cons-2\" >Cons<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/free-vs-paid-ssl-what-is-the-difference\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_an_SSL_Certificate\"><\/span>What is an SSL Certificate?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Uutom9gh0ec\/Xg7S_k6JV2I\/AAAAAAAAC6w\/fDwTFC_bZXYjsCwRG8flWKE3mZNkuiP6ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/ssl%2Bcertificate.png\" width=\"458\" height=\"401\" \/><\/p>\n<p>An SSL Certificate secures sensitive information such as credit card numbers, passwords, and other personal details. An SSL certificate also helps to ensure the authenticity of a website by verifying its ownership.<\/p>\n<p>The main benefit of an SSL certificate is that it provides encryption for data transmitted over the internet, making it more difficult for malicious actors to intercept or access this information. This ensures that any data sent from your visitors\u2019 computers to your web server remains private and secure. SSL certificates can also foster confidence in customers by indicating that your website takes their safety seriously.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Free_SSL_Certificates\"><\/span>Free SSL Certificates<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Domain Validation SSL only \u2013 <\/strong>As we\u2019ve defined free SSL, it\u2019s only limited to domain validation (DV). This is ideal for small websites and blogs that don\u2019t need data collection from their website visitors. These websites only require a basic level of authentication.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Limited Use \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Free SSL certificates are suitable for basic blogging websites with no financial data collection, but they\u2019re not ideal for businesses. Dedicated business owners and website owners must go for Organization Validated or Extended Validation certificates instead, to prove their legitimacy.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Short Validity Period \u2013 <\/strong>A basic free SSL certificate issued by a CA can be used up to 30-90 days, and website owners must renew the certificates frequently.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Insubstantial Technical Support \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Since it\u2019s available for free, users cannot expect technical support when trouble comes in. They must rely on forums where other free SSL users gather to provide tips and guidance on how to fix SSL related issues.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ambiguous Level of Trust \u2013 <\/strong>Not all SSL certificates are created equally. Since open-source SSL certificate providers offer these for free, users don\u2019t have the assurance of proper encryption and protection. There were occurrences that free SSL certificates had major issues in the past.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Warranty \u2013 <\/strong>No warranty comes with this option. When data breaches and cyber-attacks happen to the website, the warranty money becomes a last resort to rebuild the company\u2019s website and pay for the data breach penalties that the government mandates. Without the warranty money, the company becomes vulnerable to bankruptcy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Paid_SSL_Certificates\"><\/span>Paid SSL Certificates<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chennaiwebhosting.in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">website<\/a> owner can purchase SSL certificates from Certificate Authorities (CAs) or authorized third-party resellers. It may come in different variants, but Domain Validated (DV) SSL, Organization Validated (OV) SSL, and Extended Validation (EV) SSL are the most purchased types of SSL certificates.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Domain_Validated_DV_SSL\"><\/span>Domain Validated (DV) SSL<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This has the lowest level of validation among the three SSL certificates because it\u2019s only checked against the domain registry. It provides the \u201cS\u201d in the HTTPS connection, and the CA doesn\u2019t require a meticulous vetting process to acquire this certificate. Also, this is compatible with 99.99% web and mobile browsers.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Organization_Validated_OV_SSL\"><\/span>Organization Validated (OV) SSL<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>OV certificates comply with the X.509 RFC standards that show all important information to validate an organization. The CA authenticates the organization\u2019s identity before certificate issuance, which may require a few days of verification.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Extended_Validation_EV_SSL\"><\/span>Extended Validation (EV) SSL<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The CA conducts a strict validation in this type of SSL certificate. Trained professional agents authenticate the business identity using the business registry databases that the governments host.<\/p>\n<p>Different <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thesslstore.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">SSL<\/a> certificates provide a varying degree of trust to website users. Aside from those features, you\u2019ll get the following benefits from paid SSL certificates:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Variety of Choices \u2013 <\/strong>Paid SSL certificates are best used on e-commerce websites, social media websites, and lead generation websites. These websites collect sensitive information from their website users. Paid SSLs have three options: Domain Validated (DV), Organization Validated (OV), and Extended Validation (EV). Each of these has different levels of authentication and Extended Validation SSL is considered the strongest. Aside from the three popular types of SSL certificates, users may also purchase single-domain, wildcard, and multi-domain certificates that provide website security.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Level of Validation \u2013 <\/strong>CAs conduct an intensive validation process to make sure the paid SSL certificates (OV and EV) go to a legitimate, trustworthy owner.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Extended Validity Period \u2013 <\/strong>Paid SSL certificates are valid upto 27 months only. It must be renewed after every validity period to make sure its components are up-to-date and compliant to industry standards.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Technical Support \u2013 <\/strong>The money that a user invested in a paid SSL certificate comes with notable technical support from their CA. They have a committed team of trained technical experts to support the users throughout the certificate\u2019s life cycle. Users may also choose to contact their CA technical support team through email, chat, or call.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Level of Trust \u2013 <\/strong>As we\u2019ve mentioned before, paid SSL certificates come in different variants, namely DV, OV, EV, and many more. Depending on the level, these certificates can show the organization\u2019s name, country, city, and state. Also, the website visitors can see which CA issued the certificate. If the website visitors are still in doubt, they may visit the CA\/B Forum\u2019s list of members for further details.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Another visual indicator that proves a website\u2019s legitimacy is through the \u201chttps\u201d and the \u201cgreen bar\u201d found on the search bar when you access the website.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Valuable Warranty \u2013 <\/strong>Given the level of encryption that CAs promise, users can expect full protection from data breaches. However, if a data breach happens, the user is insured and can receive an amount of US$10K to US$1.5M \u2013 depending on the type of certificate they own. It is the payment for damages that the user lost from the data breach.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"article-main__content\" data-test-id=\"publishing-text-block\">\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"SSL_free_vs_paid_Pros_and_cons\"><\/span><span class=\"font-[700]\">SSL free vs paid: Pros and cons<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.clickssl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/free-ssl-vs-paid-ssl-certificate.jpg\" alt=\"https:\/\/www.clickssl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/free-ssl-vs-paid-ssl-certificate.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-main__content\" data-test-id=\"publishing-text-block\">\n<p><span class=\"\">Below is a summary of the pros and cons of free SSL vs paid SSL<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-main__content\" data-test-id=\"publishing-text-block\">\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Free_SSL_Certificates-2\"><\/span><span class=\"font-[700]\">Free SSL Certificates<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-main__content\" data-test-id=\"publishing-text-block\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pros\"><\/span><span class=\"font-[700]\">Pros<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-main__content\" data-test-id=\"publishing-text-block\">\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"\">Cost-efficiency: Requires no financial investment. They\u2019re ideal for website owners with tight budgets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"\">Encryption:\u00a0Free SSL certificates provide the same level of encryption as their paid counterparts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"\">Quick setup:\u00a0Obtaining and installing a free SSL certificate is usually a straightforward process, and some providers even offer automation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"\">Basic security:\u00a0This is good for personal blogs, small websites, or non-profit organizations that don\u2019t handle sensitive data.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-main__content\" data-test-id=\"publishing-text-block\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cons\"><\/span><span class=\"font-[700]\">Cons<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-main__content\" data-test-id=\"publishing-text-block\">\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"\">Limited validation: Free SSL certificates often provide only Domain Validation (DV), which verifies domain ownership but not the identity of the website owner or organization.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"\">Short validity period:\u00a0Free SSL certificates typically have shorter lifespans, often requiring renewal every 90 days.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"\">No warranty:\u00a0Free versions do not come with a warranty, leaving you without financial protection in case of security breaches.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"\">Lack of trust indicators:\u00a0Free certificates may lack visual trust indicators like a green address bar or business name in the certificate.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"\">Limited support: Technical support for free SSL certificates can be minimal, making troubleshooting more challenging.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-main__content\" data-test-id=\"publishing-text-block\">\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Paid_SSL_Certificates-2\"><\/span><span class=\"font-[700]\">Paid SSL Certificates<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-main__content\" data-test-id=\"publishing-text-block\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pros-2\"><\/span><span class=\"font-[700]\">Pros<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-main__content\" data-test-id=\"publishing-text-block\">\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"\">obust validation: Paid SSL certificates offer various levels of validation, including Domain Validation (DV), Organization Validation (OV), and Extended Validation (EV), providing a higher level of trust and authentication.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"\">Extended features:\u00a0Paid certificates often come with advanced features such as vulnerability assessments, daily malware scanning, and reputation monitoring, enhancing your website\u2019s security.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"\">Warranty:\u00a0Paid SSL certificates typically include a warranty that covers financial losses in the event of a security breach, providing added peace of mind.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"\">Extended validity:\u00a0Paid certificates have longer validity periods, reducing the frequency of certificate renewals and associated administrative tasks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"\">Dedicated support:\u00a0Paid SSL providers usually offer dedicated customer support, ensuring prompt assistance in case of issues.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-main__content\" data-test-id=\"publishing-text-block\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cons-2\"><\/span><span class=\"font-[700]\">Cons<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-main__content\" data-test-id=\"publishing-text-block\">\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"\">Cost:\u00a0The primary and perhaps the only drawback of paid SSL certificates is the cost, which can vary depending on the level of validation and features included. For basic personal websites or blogs, the added features and cost of a paid SSL certificate may be unnecessary.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"\">Complex setup:\u00a0Setting up and configuring paid SSL certificates may require more time and technical expertise compared to their free counterparts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"h-conclusion\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Free and Paid SSL certificates differ significantly in their technical aspects. While both provide the same encryption strength and perform the same function, Paid SSL certs offer extra features like \u2013 organization and extended validation, 24\/7 customer support, a more extended lifespan, and a warranty covering financial losses due to SSL-related issues.<\/p>\n<p>Choosing between free and paid SSL certificates depends on individual needs. For greater security, customer support, and trust-building features, opting for a Paid SSL certificate from a trusted CA is recommended.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-main__content\" data-test-id=\"publishing-text-block\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SSL certificates have long become essential for any website, ensuring data encryption and search engine visibility. But with so many options available, getting the best certificate for your site can be tricky. You must decide on the validation type and extra features and choose between paid or free alternatives. This article covers free SSL vs [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1810,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[121],"tags":[120],"class_list":["post-1804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-free-ssl-vs-paid-ssl","tag-ssl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1804"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1804\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1814,"href":"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1804\/revisions\/1814"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1810"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chennaiwebhosting.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}