TL;DR
Free SSL certificates are great for getting started with HTTPS, but they often come with limitations compared to paid options. These include shorter validity periods requiring more frequent renewal, less comprehensive validation, and potentially limited support. For basic websites or blogs, they’re usually fine. But for e-commerce or sites handling sensitive data, a paid certificate is generally recommended.
Understanding the Differences
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates encrypt communication between your website and visitors’ browsers. Free SSL certificates have become widely available thanks to projects like Let’s Encrypt. However, there are technical differences you need to be aware of.
Technical Disadvantages of Free SSL Certificates
- Shorter Validity Periods:
- Most free certificates (like those from Let’s Encrypt) only last 90 days. This means you need to renew them every three months, automatically or manually.
- While automation is possible, it adds complexity to your server setup and requires monitoring. If renewal fails, your site will display security warnings again.
- Validation Levels:
- Free certificates typically offer Domain Validation (DV) only. This confirms you control the domain name but doesn’t verify your organisation’s identity.
- Paid certificates can include Organisation Validation (OV) or Extended Validation (EV). OV verifies business details, and EV provides the highest level of trust with a green address bar in browsers.
- Support:
- Free certificate authorities generally offer community support through forums or documentation. You won’t get dedicated phone or email support like you would with paid certificates.
- Troubleshooting issues can take longer if you rely on community assistance.
- Browser Compatibility (Rare):
- Very old browsers might have limited compatibility with certain free certificate chains, but this is increasingly rare.
- ACME Client Configuration:
- You’ll need to use an ACME client (like Certbot) to request and install the certificates. This requires some technical knowledge of your server environment.
- Example using Certbot on a Debian/Ubuntu system:
sudo apt update sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx - Wildcard Certificate Limitations:
- While Let’s Encrypt now supports wildcard certificates, they have stricter rate limits and require DNS record validation. This is more complex than standard DV certificates.
Mitigating the Disadvantages
- Automate Renewal: Use tools like Certbot with cron jobs or systemd timers to automatically renew your certificates before they expire.
# Example crontab entry (renew twice a day) 0 0,12 * * * /usr/bin/certbot renew --quiet - Monitoring: Set up monitoring alerts to notify you if certificate renewal fails. Tools like UptimeRobot can check your SSL status.
- Consider Paid Certificates for Sensitive Data: If you handle financial information, personal data, or require a high level of trust, invest in an OV or EV certificate from a reputable Certificate Authority (CA).
When are Free SSL certificates sufficient?
- Personal blogs and websites.
- Testing environments.
- Websites where security requirements aren’t critical.