Free SSL vs Paid SSL: What’s the Difference?

That padlock in the browser bar means traffic to your site is encrypted with an SSL/TLS certificate. The good news: every site can have one, and most can have it free.

Free SSL (Let’s Encrypt)

Free certificates encrypt your site exactly as strongly as paid ones. They renew automatically and are perfect for blogs, business sites and most online stores. Visitors see the same secure padlock.

Paid SSL — when it makes sense

• Wildcard certificates covering unlimited subdomains from one cert
• Organisation (OV) or Extended (EV) validation for banks and large brands that want their company name vetted
• Warranty & support backed by the certificate authority

So which do you need?

For 90% of websites, free SSL is all you will ever need — and it is included with your BiswasHost hosting. Step up to a paid certificate only if you need wildcard coverage or formal business validation.