How Much Does an SSL Certificate Cost?

An SSL certificate is something that every modern website needs to have because it shows visitors that your site is safe and secure. That means visitors can be confident in the knowledge that their financial transactions are safe from harm. While an SSL certificate is certainly important, there are many different kinds to choose from and you may not know which one is right for you. You may also be wondering how much does an SSL certificate cost? Lucky for you, you’re in the right place to find out! 

You’re also in the right place if you want to get an SSL certificate for your website because we are experts at installing SSL certificates at On The Map Marketing. That means any website we work on is as safe and secure as a safe locked inside of a bank vault that is located inside of a fallout bunker. So, keep reading to learn all that you need to know about SSL certificates.

What is an SSL Certificate?

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer and it basically allows secure connections from the webserver to the browser. Once an SSL certificate has been installed onto a web server, it will initiate a secure session with web browsers. That means any connections between the browser and the server will be safe and secure. When an SSL certificate has been installed, the URL of a site will change from HTTP to HTTPS; the S stands for secure so visitors know that their data will be safe. 

SSL certificates are typically used on e-commerce sites where financial transactions take place but nowadays even social media sites use SSL certificates to secure the personal information of their millions of visitors.

Why Are SSL Certificates Important?

Security is of course the main reason why an SSL certificate is important but it can have other positive effects on your website as well. Once users know that your site is secure, they will feel confident about using it, which can both increase and maintain traffic to your site. Search engines tend to favor secure websites with SSL certificates so they can also help to increase your rankings. 

That can increase the visibility of your site and help to attract new customers. That means SSL certificates give your website security and lets people know about that security so they will feel confident and secure when they visit and use your site.

What Are The Different Kinds of SSL Certificates?

So how much does an SSL certificate cost? It depends on the type of certificate that you use. There are three different kinds of SSL certificates and the one that is right for you depends on the type of website that you are running.

Domain Validated (DV) Certificates

These are the most basic types of certificates and they have the lowest level of security. They can be issued quickly and are so named because the only necessary action is to verify that you own the domain to which the certificate is issued. DV certificates are best used on personal websites where security is not an issue. In other words, websites where visitors do not input any personal information and where no financial transactions take place.

Organization Validated (OV) Certificates

OV certificates look similar to DV certificates in that they are both represented by a grey padlock in the URL window on Google Chrome. They are more expensive than DV certificates and require the verification of both the domain and the identity of the organization. Organization is the keyword here because OV certificates are best suited for organizations that do not collect any sensitive information from their customers. OV certificates are best suited for businesses that want to maintain control of who issues certificates on the website.

Extended Validated (EV) Certificates

These are the most secure types of certificates and therefore the most expensive. As with OV certificates, the domain ownership as well as personal and organizational information needs to be verified. EV SSL certificates are indicated by a green padlock in the URL bar of the Google Chrome browser. 

They are best suited for e-commerce sites where financial transactions take place because they let users know that their personal information will be kept safe and secure. The green padlock gives visitors reassurance that it is safe to conduct business on the site because it has the highest possible security.

What is the cost of an SSL Certificate?

If you have an e-commerce site, then naturally you will want the highest level of security available, which is the EV certificate. On The Map Marketing offers an SSL certificate at $175 per year, which is among the most competitive prices you can find. It is also a very small price to pay considering the suite of features that come with it. 

Additionally, you and your customers never have to worry about bad actors breaching your site and stealing any data. More security means more customers, so contact On The Map Marketing and get your site certified with the absolute highest level of security for a reasonable price.