One confusing thing about SSL certificates is how much you should pay for one. Should you go for a more affordable option, like SSL certificates from Namecheap, or should you go for a more expensive one? In other words, is paying more ever worth it? Do you “get what you pay for,” so to speak?
In our very valid personal opinion, no. You don’t get more value with an SSL the more money you pay.
Here’s why.
All SSL certificates are basically the same
That’s not hyperbole or exaggeration; it’s the truth. All SSL certificates on the market currently offer a powerful 256-bit encryption key, which in the simplest terms means that your SSL certificate can’t be hacked, even by the world’s most powerful supercomputer. This is the case no matter how much you pay. If you decide to go for an extortionately priced SSL certificate, how much their marketing tries to convince you.
So if the price isn’t an indication of how good an SSL is, what should you be looking for? Well, that mostly depends on your needs, but you should probably consider the following points:
- Who the partner Certificate Authority (CA) is: Your SSL certificate is only as good as its issuing CA. It’s paramount that it’s a trusted CA and not one with any black marks against it. If you choose a less trusted CA, web browsers may not accept your SSL as legit, rendering it useless. If you go for Namecheap, as mentioned above, that won’t be a problem as the partner CA is Comodo, the world’s leading commercial CA.
- How much help the store provides: If you don’t have much tech know-how, you’ll want to go with a store that offers how-to guides and an attentive customer and tech service who will provide hands-on support should you need it.
- Read the reviews: Whatever you buy, it’s always a good idea to read what people are saying about it before handing over your hard-earned cash. Let other people’s experiences guide whether or not you think a particular SSL store will be a good fit for you.
And that’s it! We’ve explained why price does not reflect an SSL certificate’s quality and what you should look for before choosing where to buy one. Hopefully, this will help you save money and choose an SSL store that fits you well.