Free AutoSSL covers almost every site. Order a paid certificate only where there is a specific requirement.
WHEN A PAID CERTIFICATE IS WARRANTED
A partner, regulator or payment processor specifically requires organisation-validated or extended-validation certification You need a certificate carrying a financial warranty You need wildcard or multi-domain coverage on terms the free option does not provide
WHEN IT IS NOT
For encryption strength. Free and paid certificates encrypt identically. For the padlock, which looks the same. For SEO. There is no ranking difference. For a dedicated IP, which modern SSL does not require.
ORDERING
From the Client Area, or open a Sales ticket describing the requirement.
VALIDATION
Domain-validated certificates issue quickly. Organisation and extended validation involve checks on your legal entity and take days. Allow time and have your company documentation ready.
AFTER ISSUE
We install it. Note the expiry date, because paid certificates are typically annual and renewed manually, unlike AutoSSL which renews itself. A forgotten expiry produces a sudden security warning on your site.
