Most sites need the free one. We will say which do not.
A free certificate encrypts exactly as strongly as one costing two hundred pounds. What you pay for is identity verification and warranty cover, and only some organisations genuinely need either. Every hosting plan here includes SSL that renews itself, and this page exists to help you decide whether you need anything more.
Which certificate do you actually need?
Certificate sales rely heavily on people not knowing the difference. Find your situation below and take the answer at face value — in four of these six cases the honest answer is the free one.
A blog, portfolio or brochure site
Free SSLNobody is entering payment details or sensitive data. Encryption is what you need, and the free certificate provides exactly the same encryption as any paid one.
A store using Stripe, PayPal or a hosted gateway
Free SSLCard details go straight to the payment provider and never touch your server. A paid certificate adds nothing to the security of that transaction.
A business whose insurer or client asks for warranty cover
DV or OVThe warranty is the product here. It is a commercial instrument rather than a technical one, and free certificates carry none.
An organisation wanting its legal name in the certificate
OVOrganisation validation confirms your company actually exists and is who it claims to be. A curious visitor can see that in the certificate detail.
Finance, healthcare or regulated procurement
EVSome procurement policies simply require extended validation. When that is the case the requirement is contractual, not something to argue with.
Many subdomains under one name
WildcardA wildcard covers every subdomain at once, which is simpler than issuing dozens of certificates — though free certificates can also be issued per subdomain automatically.
What each level actually gives you
Encryption strength is identical across all four. What changes is how thoroughly the issuer checks who you are, how long that takes, and what they will pay out if their verification proves wrong.
- Domain validated
Free SSLIncluded
Automatically issued and renewed on every hosting plan.
- Issued in
- Within minutes
- Warranty
- None
- Covers
- One domain and its www
- Same encryption strength as paid certificates
- Renews itself every 90 days
- Trusted by every modern browser
- No configuration needed
Included
See hosting plans - Domain validated
DV Certificate
A paid certificate with a warranty, for when a policy requires one.
- Issued in
- Within an hour
- Warranty
- Up to $10,000
- Covers
- One domain, or a wildcard
- Site seal for your footer
- Warranty backing from the issuer
- Wildcard option for subdomains
- One-year and two-year terms
Rs 4,999/yr
Order - Organisation validated
OV Certificate
Your registered company name appears in the certificate detail.
- Issued in
- 1 to 3 working days
- Warranty
- Up to $250,000
- Covers
- One domain, multi-domain option
- Company identity verified by the issuer
- Visible organisation details
- Higher warranty cover
- Multi-domain SAN option
Rs 18,999/yr
Order - Extended validation
EV Certificate
The most thorough vetting available, for finance and regulated sectors.
- Issued in
- 3 to 7 working days
- Warranty
- Up to $1,750,000
- Covers
- One domain, multi-domain option
- Full legal and operational verification
- Highest available warranty
- Often required by procurement policies
- Multi-domain SAN option
Rs 44,999/yr
Order
Prices in PKR, per year, exclusive of applicable taxes. Installation is free on any HostElevate hosting plan, and we will install a certificate bought elsewhere too.
Straight answers about SSL
Certificates are sold on confusion more than most products. These are the honest versions.
Sizing a server is easier with someone who has done it before. Tell us what you are running and we will suggest a size — including a smaller one, if that is the honest answer.
Ask before you buy