The best place to buy an SSL certificate for your website in 2024

In today’s world, security is at the heart of everything we do. Whether you’re at an airport, or in a store, safety has quickly become a vital factor into everyday life. This is because people like to feel safe. They like to feel safe about the places they go, products they purchase, and also websites they visit. When discussing security in terms of the internet, there are three letters that everyone should know. These three letters are SSL. And if you don’t know what SSL certificates are, then you will almost certainly know the small padlock that displays in the top left of your browser.

From a consumer perspective, SSL may not be a top concern. However, making sure that your website looks safe and secure can be all the difference when bringing in customers. Although, you may find yourself wondering how to obtain an SSL certificate, the pricing and other details about them. We’ve done the research for you to find the best SSL certificates available, and if you’re still about confused about the whole premise, we’ll briefly explain what SSL is and the importance of SSL certificates for websites.

What is an SSL certificate?

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. An SSL certificate is a small file that works to establish secure connections between a websites sever and the users browser. When this connection has been achieved, it ensures that any and all data transferred between your website and your visitors is private and confidential.

This information includes personal details such as your name, address and even things like card and payment credentials. The easiest way to think of it is like a tunnel. If you are sending something without using the tunnel, it’s easy for anyone to intercept and take. However, if something is enclosed in a tunnel then it can safely be transferred from A to B without any interceptions. In this metaphor, your SSL certificate is the tunnel.

For a more detailed look at what SSL certificates are, check out this article.

Why are SSL certificates important?

You may be wondering if you actually need an SSL certificate, or if they are just an optional extension. The truth is that they are one of the most important parts of any website. Without one, you are putting yours and your clients data at risk to hackers and cybercriminals. It is so important that there are multiple ways to identify whether or not a website does indeed have SSL.

The first is in your websites URL. If your URL reads http://yourwebsitename.com then your website is unsafe. However, a secure site will be seen as https://yourwebsitename.com. Can you notice the difference? The first URL is missing the ‘S’ in HTTPS. In this instance, the S stands for secure, showing to customers when a website is and isn’t safe to visit.

Furthermore, most browsers will display a padlock (usually found in the top left, next to the URL). If you didn’t already guess, the locked padlock represents a safe website. If you don’t have an active SSL Certificate, then your browser will pick up on this and display a message stating that your website is unsafe. For those websites with SSL, your customers have the option to view your SSL certificate on your website, giving them peace of mind that their data is safe on your website.

Now that you understand the vitality of SSL certificates, you’ll be feeling one of two things: you’ll either feel relieved that you made the smart choice to purchase a certificate when you launched your website, or you will be wondering how and where to get your hands on one.

There are may websites offering SSL, so we’ve scoured the internet, investigating the pros and cons of the biggest SSL sellers to identify the best place that to purchase an SSL certificate.

The 5 Top places to purchase an SSL Certificate

1 – The Elite Web Co.

Taking the top spot on our list is The Elite Web Co., who offer the best SSL certificates available on today’s market, at the most competitive prices. From just $67.99
$41.38, you’ll find SSL certificates that are perfect for any and all websites. One of the many great things about Elite’s range is that the certificates don’t only help with security, they are also beneficial for SEO purposes as they are proven to boost Google Rankings when used.

The process is easy to set up and install. However, if you need help or don’t have spare time to manage your own SSL certificate, they also offer a managed SSL service. This allows you to kick back and relax as you leave the installation and management of your certificate to their professionals. 

All of Elite’s certificates come packed with great features. This includes Strong SHA-2 and 2048-bit encryption, free access to their SSL checker and Malware checker, as well as unlimited servers and reissues. Another great bonus is that all SSL certificates come with access to Elite’s award-winning support team, meaning that you can access help for any of your SSL-related queries 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

2 – GoDaddy

Another great contender in the SSL game are GoDaddy. GoDaddy are rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, so you can feel secure when purchasing from them. However, we noticed that both Elite and GoDaddy offer the same products, and this is because they’re official partners. This means that any plan offered by GoDaddy will have the same level of quality as Elite’s. However, Elite offers far more competitive prices than GoDaddy, but both are great companies to go for!

3 – The SSL Store

The SSL Store is a slightly different website to the others on this list. The website itself doesn’t sell you an SSL certificate. Instead, the act as a search engine of all the SSL certificates available online, and will help you find a certificate that best fits your website. You’re able to filter between what kind of SSL certificate you require, and then find a specific certificate from a third party company that is suitable for you. 

4 – Comodo

Comodo are a company who are managed by the SSL Store. They have sold over 100 million SSL certificates to a worldwide customer base, and whilst the other hosting companies on our list, they specialize in SSL. They have a vast array of products which span a price range offering both basic SSL, and premium. 

5 – GeoTrust

GeoTrust sell products in three different web areas: SSL certificates, Signing Services and SSL for enterprises. One thing we’ve noticed about GeoTrust is their interesting pricing. They offer different levels of certificates, much like the other companies on this list. However, their pricing is far more competitive and cheaper with the more expensive plans, meaning that the lower-end ones felt expensive for what they are. This makes GeoTrust a miss if you need something small. However, if you’re interested in higher end SSL certificates, they could be a good choice for you. 

Summary

Choosing the right SSL certificate is important for your website’s success and safety. It’s important to consider budget, your websites size, and what you wish to gain out of your certificate. Most of the companies online will do the basic job, but the ones above go above and beyond in order to provide you with great options for your SSL certificate.