// hosting explained
Free SSL vs paid SSL certificates: is a $40-240 certificate worth it?
Your host probably sells SSL certificates next to the free one it already gives you. Using HostGator's own comparison table, here's what the extra money buys.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Free and paid certificates use the same encryption: HostGator's table lists 2048-bit signatures and 256-bit encryption for all four.
- Paid certificates add a site seal, a warranty and, for OV/EV, a check of your company.
- Browsers stopped showing a special address bar for EV certificates years ago.
- Most blogs, shops and business sites are fine with free SSL.
HostGator's four options
| Certificate | Price | Covers | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free (Let's Encrypt) | $0 | Unlimited domains and subdomains | $0 |
| Single Domain | $39.96/yr | 1 domain | $10,000 |
| Wildcard | $239.88/yr | 1 domain + subdomains | $10,000 |
| EV | $239.88/yr | 1 domain or subdomain | $1.75M |
What the warranty actually covers
An SSL warranty pays out if the certificate authority makes a mistake when issuing a certificate and a visitor loses money because of it. It does not cover a hacked site, a data breach or downtime. Claims are rare, which is why the figures can be so large.
Who should pay for SSL
- Companies that must prove their legal identity on the certificate itself (some banks, government suppliers, regulated industries): OV or EV.
- Setups where free certificates can't be automated, such as some legacy servers or appliances.
- Everyone else: use the free certificate and turn on automatic renewal. If you need subdomains covered, free Let's Encrypt certificates already handle that on most hosts.
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