Where should I buy an SSL Certificate?

A Google search will help you find various companies willing to sell you an SSL Certificate at all manner of prices, ranging from free to $300+.

Before you buy, you should understand the difference between a Trusted Root (also called a Single Root) and a Chained Root Certificate. The difference usually isn't important to an average site needing a secure login, or even for running a small eCommerce site. Each company (whether root or chained) will have a website filled with "facts" on why their certificates are so much better.

Some companies advertise the speed with which they issue certificates. Others will advertise that they verify each business personally before issuing the certificate and therefore offer a higher level of "trust verification".

Ultimately, you need to answer three questions:

• What warranty do I need with this certificate if the encryption is broken and my site is compromised?
• What level of trust verification do you need to present to your customers?
• Do you need a graphic or button to put on your site showing that you have been "verified"?

The pricing associated with these options can vary from $20/year to $100/year and sometimes higher. Certificates issued with higher warranties may be necessary for a high-volume, well-known site (like Amazon.com). However, if you are reading this because you don't have an IT Staff to handle technical issues like this for you, then chances are good that you only need a basic, cheap SSL certificate.

A Small Orange doesn't issue SSL Certificates. A Small Orange can not provide recommendations on where to purchase, since each website operator's needs are unique.


Back to SSL FAQ
Back to Main