Free SSL vs paid SSL compared
Free SSL and paid domain-validation SSL both put a trusted padlock on the site. The money is for the name on the certificate, the hostnames it covers, and whether the issuer publishes a warranty.
| Factor | Free SSL | Paid SSL |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | Same trusted TLS padlock | Same trusted TLS padlock |
| Validation | Domain only | Domain, organization, or extended |
| Company name in the certificate | No | Yes, on organization and extended validation |
| Certificate file lifetime | 90 days for Let's Encrypt | At most 200 days when issued on or after 15 March 2026 |
| WebJi price, before 18% GST | Included with hosting | ₹1,800/year for one domain; ₹7,500/year for a wildcard |
| Warranty on WebJi's price list | None stated | No rupee figure stated |
The amounts in the table are WebJi prices read on 30 October 2026, before 18% GST. A one-year invoice is the billing term. It is not how long the certificate file stays valid.
What encryption free SSL and paid SSL share
A browser runs the same TLS handshake for a trusted free certificate and a trusted paid certificate. Paying does not raise the encryption strength. SSH is the remote login protocol on port 22. It is not the certificate browsers use for HTTPS.
A self-signed file is free too, and browsers warn on it because no public certificate authority signed it. Let's Encrypt is free and publicly trusted. That is the certificate included on WebJi hosting.
How DV, OV and EV change free and paid SSL
Domain validation checks that you control the hostname. It does not check that a company exists. Every free public certificate stops at that check.
Organization validation checks the legal entity and can place that name in the certificate. Extended validation repeats the identity check against stricter records. Today's browsers do not paint a green company name in the address bar. The name appears when a visitor opens the certificate.
- Domain validation proves control of the hostname only.
- Organization validation can add the legal name to the certificate.
- Extended validation uses a stricter identity check, with the same TLS.
How long free SSL lasts compared with paid SSL
Let's Encrypt certificates last 90 days and are built to renew on the server. A public certificate issued on or after 15 March 2026 may run at most 200 days, paid or free, under CA/Browser Forum ballot SC-081v3. Issuers no longer sell the old multi-year file.
WebJi bills Sectigo Positive SSL at ₹1,800 a year and the wildcard at ₹7,500 a year, before 18% GST. If renewal does not run, the padlock drops on the expiry date. Open the site and confirm the certificate is still bound to this hostname.
What warranty and support paid SSL adds
Let's Encrypt publishes no relying-party warranty. Paid issuers often publish one. WebJi's price list does not state a rupee warranty, so none is quoted here.
Help with a certificate on WebJi hosting, free or paid, is email at support@webji.services, in Hindi and English, with an average first reply under 60 minutes. The office number is not a support line. The free issuer's own help is community documentation.
When a wildcard or multi-domain SSL is the paid choice
One certificate usually covers the bare domain and www. A wildcard SSL certificate covers the subdomains of that one domain, such as shop.example.com and mail.example.com. Let's Encrypt can issue a wildcard after a DNS check. WebJi's paid wildcard is ₹7,500 a year before 18% GST.
A multi-domain certificate lists several different domain names on one file. That is a different product from a wildcard. Code signing, ₹7,200 a year on the same list, signs software. It does not create the website padlock.
Does free SSL rank the same as paid SSL?
Google treats a valid HTTPS connection as a light ranking signal. It does not rank a paid certificate above a free one. An expired file, a name mismatch, or an image, stylesheet or script still loaded over http:// breaks the padlock either way.
Which websites should stay on free SSL
Stay on the free certificate for a blog, a brochure, or a portfolio that only needs the padlock. Buy paid SSL when the certificate must name the company, when you want the paid wildcard, or when a bank or client asks for organization validation.
Do not buy a paid domain-validation certificate just to get stronger encryption. The handshake matches the free one. Read the live SSL certificate prices before you pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is free SSL as safe as a paid certificate?
For the encryption, yes. A trusted free certificate and a trusted paid domain-validation certificate use the same TLS. Paid SSL adds organization or extended validation, which names the company. A free certificate never does that.
What is Let's Encrypt and do browsers trust it?
Let's Encrypt is a public certificate authority. It issues free domain-validation certificates, usually for 90 days. Browsers trust those certificates. They do not trust a self-signed file you create on the server.
When does a business actually need paid SSL?
Buy paid SSL when the certificate should name the legal entity, when you want WebJi's Sectigo wildcard at ₹7,500 a year, or when a partner requires organization validation. A brochure site on WebJi hosting can keep the included free certificate.
What is the difference between DV, OV and EV certificates?
Domain validation proves you control the name. Organization validation adds a check of the legal entity and can show that name. Extended validation uses a stricter identity check. Encryption can be the same on all three.
Does free SSL affect SEO the same as paid?
Yes. Search engines look for working HTTPS, not for a receipt. An expired or mismatched certificate hurts a free certificate and a paid certificate the same way.
Do I need a wildcard SSL certificate for subdomains?
You need a certificate that covers those hostnames. A wildcard covers every subdomain of one domain. Let's Encrypt can issue one after a DNS check. WebJi sells the Sectigo wildcard at ₹7,500 a year before 18% GST.
Why do people say SSL is no longer used?
The old SSL protocol versions are retired, and browsers speak TLS. People still say SSL certificate for the file that turns on HTTPS. That file can be free or paid.
How much should you pay for an SSL certificate?
On 30 October 2026, before 18% GST, WebJi lists Sectigo Positive SSL at ₹1,800 a year for one domain and the wildcard at ₹7,500 a year. Hosting already includes a free certificate. You are not paying for a stronger padlock.