SSL Certificates
Free Let's Encrypt SSL on every hosting plan. When is free SSL enough, and when do you need a paid certificate? A short guide.
The padlock in the address bar means the connection between your visitor and your site is encrypted. Without it the browser shows a “not secure” warning, which is reason enough for a customer to close the page before filling in your form. Search engines also prefer https sites.
Free SSL: enough for most sites
Every site on our Linux hosting and Designer plans includes free Let’s Encrypt SSL. It is installed automatically and renews itself before it expires.
For a company website, a blog, or a site with a booking or contact form, free SSL is enough.
When do you need a paid certificate?
- You want your organisation verified (OV/EV). The issuer checks that your company exists, and your company name appears in the certificate details.
- A bank, payment provider or corporate client requires it.
- You want one certificate for many subdomains (wildcard) and manage your sites on your own server.
Not sure which you need? Ask us before ordering. We won’t sell you a certificate you don’t need.
The padlock isn’t everything
SSL encrypts the connection; it doesn’t protect the site itself. An outdated WordPress plugin or a weak admin password can still get your site hacked, padlock or not. Keep plugins updated and use strong passwords and, where possible, two-factor authentication for admin accounts.