SSL certificate cost: when free is enough and when to pay

Most websites need nothing more than a free certificate. Paid ones verify the organisation behind the site, not the encryption.

We.Inc is free to start, no credit card. AI building from $20/mo.

How much does an SSL certificate cost?

A basic SSL certificate is free: Let's Encrypt issues them at no cost, Cloudflare includes one on every plan including Free, and hosts such as Bluehost and Namecheap include free certificates with hosting. Paid certificates on October 28, 2026 started at $110 a year for a Sectigo single-domain DV certificate and ran from $372 to $2,244 for 12 months of DigiCert's OV and EV certificates.

The encryption is the same; what you pay for is the identity check on your organisation, warranty and support.

SSL certificate prices on each issuer's or host's own page (October 28, 2026)

PriceValidation
Let's EncryptFreeDomain (DV)
Cloudflare Universal SSLFree on all plansDomain (DV)
Included with hosting (Bluehost, Namecheap, IONOS)Included in the planDomain (DV)
Sectigo single-domain DVFrom $110 a yearDomain (DV)
DigiCert Basic OV$372 for 12 monthsOrganisation (OV)
DigiCert Secure Site Pro EV$2,244 for 12 monthsExtended (EV)

Prices as listed on each issuer's or host's own page on October 28, 2026, in US dollars. DigiCert prices are its 12-month subscription totals. Confirm on the issuer's page before you buy.

Pros and cons

Free certificate (Let's Encrypt, Cloudflare, your host)

Best for: Almost every business site, blog and store

Price: Free; checked Oct 28, 2026

Pros: Same encryption and padlock as paid DV; Renews automatically on most hosts

Cons: No organisation check; No warranty or vendor support

Paid OV or EV certificate

Best for: Organisations whose policies or customers require a verified company identity

Price: Sectigo DV from $110 a year; DigiCert $372 to $2,244 for 12 months; checked Oct 28, 2026

Pros: Issuer verifies the organisation; Warranty and support from the issuer

Cons: Browsers show the same padlock as a free certificate; Manual renewal and validation paperwork

We.Inc

Best for: People who want to describe a site or web app in plain English and have AI build it

Price: Free plan: up to 3 template sites on a we.inc address, no AI. AI building from $20/mo (Starter, 250 credits). Pro $50/mo, Max $99/mo.

Pros: Describe what you want in chat and AI builds a full, editable site or app; Edit by clicking on the page, by asking in chat, or in a real code editor; Export the React and TypeScript code to GitHub, so you are never locked in; Unlimited sites on paid plans, custom domains from Starter

Cons: The free plan is templates only; AI building needs a paid plan; Newer platform with a smaller app marketplace than the big names; Store features are simpler than a dedicated ecommerce platform

DV, OV and EV in plain terms

A domain-validated (DV) certificate proves you control the domain. That is what free certificates are, and it is what nearly all websites use. Organisation-validated (OV) and extended-validation (EV) certificates add a check of the legal company behind the domain. Browsers today show the same padlock for all three, so visitors rarely see the difference.

What hosts and builders include

Bluehost lists free Let's Encrypt SSL on all shared plans. Namecheap's shared hosting page said its plans come with 50 free standard SSL certificates for one year, set up automatically. IONOS hosting includes a DV wildcard certificate. Hosted website builders, We.Inc included, set up SSL for your domain automatically, so there is nothing to buy.

When paying makes sense

Pay for OV or EV when a bank, partner or procurement policy requires a verified organisation on the certificate, or when you need vendor support and a warranty. Otherwise a paid DV certificate buys nothing a free one does not.

Where We.Inc fits: the free plan publishes up to 3 template sites on a we.inc address, with no AI and no custom domain, and needs no credit card. AI building, where you describe the site and it is written for you, starts at $20 a month (Starter, 250 credits); Pro is $50 and Max is $99.

Who wrote this and how

We.Inc makes a competing website builder, so read this with that in mind. Every price on this page comes from the vendor's own pricing page on the date shown, with a link to it. We say where the other option is the better choice, and we do not publish scores for tests we have not run.

Start from a template

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Is an SSL certificate free?

A domain-validated certificate is: Let's Encrypt and Cloudflare issue them free, and most hosts and website builders include one.

How much does a paid SSL certificate cost per year?

From $110 a year for a Sectigo single-domain DV certificate, and $372 to $2,244 for 12 months of DigiCert OV and EV certificates, as listed on October 28, 2026.

Is a paid SSL certificate more secure?

No. The encryption is the same. A paid OV or EV certificate adds a check of the organisation behind the site, plus support and a warranty.

Do I need to buy SSL for my website builder site?

Usually not. Hosted builders and most hosts set up a free certificate for your domain automatically.

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