When setting up a website, one of the decisions you might face is whether to stick with the free SSL certificate included with your AeroWave hosting plan, or purchase a paid one from a certificate authority. Both options offer encryption, but there are a few key differences depending on what your website needs.

What They Both Offer #

Whether you go with a free or paid SSL, both will:

• Encrypt the connection between your website and visitors
• Display the padlock symbol in the browser
• Help with trust and basic SEO improvements
• Protect login pages, contact forms, and data transfers

For many websites, especially small business sites, portfolios, blogs, and landing pages, that’s more than enough.

What Makes Paid SSL Different? #

A paid SSL certificate may be worth considering if you need:

1. Extended validation (EV) or organisation validation (OV):

These offer more visible indicators of trust (like displaying your company name in the certificate details) and include extra checks during setup to verify your identity. Free SSL certificates only offer domain validation (DV), which simply confirms that you control the domain.

2. Warranty coverage:

Paid SSL certificates often come with warranties (typically thousands of pounds worth) to cover rare situations where encryption fails due to the certificate authority. Free SSLs do not include warranty protection.

3. Custom certificate lifecycles:

Free certificates like Let’s Encrypt are usually valid for 90 days and automatically renew. Paid SSLs may last for 1–2 years, depending on the provider, and can sometimes be managed differently.

4. Wildcard and multi-domain flexibility:

If you want to secure multiple subdomains (e.g. shop.yourdomain.com, blog.yourdomain.com) or several domains in one certificate, paid SSL options typically offer more advanced configuration.

When Free SSL Is the Right Fit #

For most AeroWave customers, the free SSL we provide is the perfect choice. It’s automatically set up, renews on its own, and covers both yourdomain.com and www.yourdomain.com. It’s designed to take the hassle out of securing your website.

If you’re unsure whether you need a paid SSL, our support team is happy to give honest guidance based on your goals.

Need Help Deciding? #

If you need any help or have any questions regarding SSL certificates, reach out to our team who are always happy to help.