Buy the SSL certificate that matches your website coverage.

SSL certificate vs wildcard vs SAN

Single-site SSL is the simplest choice when one website or hostname needs its own certificate.

Wildcard SSL is useful when you need eligible subdomains under the same base domain.

SAN / multi-domain SSL is designed for multiple specified names or domains in one certificate or managed service, depending on the product.

Read our Wildcard SSL vs SAN SSL guide if the coverage decision is not obvious.

Do you need to buy SSL separately?

Not always. Many modern hosting products include SSL, and free automated certificate authorities such as Let’s Encrypt provide domain-validated certificates. A paid commercial certificate can still make sense when you need a particular coverage model, managed installation, support, warranty or certificate product.

Check the hosting plan first. Buying a second certificate for coverage you already have usually adds cost without solving a new requirement.

How much does an SSL certificate cost?

There is no useful single SSL price because single-site, wildcard, multi-site and managed products solve different problems. Compare the live price together with:

• the number and type of hostnames covered;
• validation type;
• whether installation/maintenance is included;
• the billing term and renewal price;
• reissue/support terms;
• any warranty or service features listed in the current product.

Our SSL certificate cost guide explains the pricing decision without relying on a stale static price table.

SSL does not replace website security

HTTPS encrypts data in transit. It does not scan a WordPress site for malware, remove malicious files, patch vulnerable plugins or restore deleted content. If those are your concerns, compare Website Security and Website Backup separately.

What to verify before checkout

• List the exact domain names and subdomains that must be protected.
• Check whether the hosting platform already includes SSL.
• Confirm whether you need a self-installed certificate or a managed SSL service.
• Verify that the selected certificate/service supports the hosting environment where it will be used.
• Review the billing term, amount due and renewal information in the live cart.

Frequently asked questions

What is an SSL certificate?

An SSL/TLS certificate is part of enabling HTTPS. It lets browsers establish an encrypted connection and validate the certificate subject according to the certificate’s validation model.

Should I buy a wildcard certificate?

Choose wildcard coverage when the product’s scope matches multiple eligible subdomains under one base domain. Use SAN/multi-domain coverage when the hostnames do not fit the wildcard model.

Does a paid SSL certificate use stronger encryption than a free certificate?

Price alone does not determine encryption strength. Paid products can differ in validation, service, warranty, support and coverage rather than simply using “stronger” HTTPS.

Does SSL guarantee higher Google rankings?

No. HTTPS is an important security standard, but buying a certificate is not a shortcut to rankings. Search performance depends on many technical, content and authority factors.

Need a signing certificate instead of website SSL?

Website SSL protects web traffic. Software-signing certificates solve a different problem. If you publish applications or drivers, compare the current Code Signing Certificate and Driver Signing Certificate options rather than buying a website TLS certificate for the wrong use case.