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Nothing turns a potential customer away from your site faster than if they get a giant warning in their browser saying “this site may not be secure.” Unfortunately, this happens all too often to small business owners who don’t realize the importance of strong website security. One of the easiest ways to prevent this message from appearing on your website is to buy a secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate.
There are multiple types of SSL certificates, including domain validated (DV), organization validation (OV) and extended validation (EV). All of these certificates transform your HTTP to HTTPS. That tiny bit of security is enough to instill trust in site visitors and Google’s ranking algorithms. In addition to boosting your search engine optimization (SEO), an SSL certificate encrypts data you send from your site and data that your site receives.
Forbes Advisor India has analyzed pricing, certificate types, support and more to bring you this ranking of the top SSL certificate services on the market.
Featured Partners
1
Namcheap SSL Certificate
Starting Price
Around $5.99/Year (INR 499) onwards – For 5 year plan
Encryption Level
256-bit or 128-bit encryption
Features
Activate in 4 easy steps and Top-Tier Support
On Namecheap’s secure website
2
SSL.com
Starting Price
Around $3.75 (INR 312.51)/year
Encryption Level
256-bit or 128-bit encryption
Benefits
Super-easy activation
On SSL’s secure website
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The Best SSL Certificate Services to Buy From 2024
- Comodo SSL Store: Best overall
- SSL.com: Best for fast turnaround times
- DigiCert: Best customer support
- Sectigo: Best for e-commerce business
- AlphaSSL: Best for single-site value
- Entrust: Best for multiple websites
- GlobalSign: Best for growing companies
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER
BEST OVERALL SSL CERTIFICATE SERVICE
Comodo SSL Store
4.8
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Lowest price
$7.95 (Around INR 659) per year for DV SSL
Types of SSL
DV, EV, OV
Money-back guarantee
Yes
Lowest price
$7.95 (Around INR 659) per year for DV SSL
Types of SSL
DV, EV, OV
Money-back guarantee
Yes
Why We Picked It
Comodo SSL Store is one of the most popular SSL certificate providers around. It offers a variety of SSL certificates, from DV to Wildcard. Pricing starts at $7.95 around INR 659 per year, if you choose a five-year term, otherwise, a single-year PositiveSSL certificate costs $11.95 around INR 991 per year. For a single-domain EV SSL, it costs $72.18 around INR 5,985 per year, for five years or $92.07 around INR 7,635 per year. It is worth noting that as of May 2023, Comodo SSL Store is a Sectigo-owned company that only sells Sectigo certificates.
The most expensive SSL certificate is $2,351.22 around INR 1,94,973 per year on a five-year term for an enterprise-level EV SSL. This is intended for enterprise clients with multiple domains to manage. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee, and most SSLs come with a warranty of some kind. For example, the multi-domain EV SSL has a $2 million (around INR 165 million) warranty. Plus, you’ll get a free site trust seal to use on a checkout page to ensure users that your site is secure.
Who should use it:
Comodo SSL Store is a good fit for anyone who needs an SSL certificate. It offers every type of SSL certificate available, trust site seals, money-back guarantees and warranties, which is why it’s one of the best SSL certificate services you can use.
Pros & Cons
- Low-cost DV certificates
- Offers multiple types of SSL
- Money-back guarantee
- Generous warranties
- 24/7 live chat, phone & email support
- Best prices require long-term plan
- Up to five days to verify ID
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER
BEST FOR FAST TURNAROUND TIMES
SSL.com
3.3
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Lowest price
$36.75 Around INR 3,047 per year for DV SSL
Types of SSL
DV, OV, EV
Money-back guarantee
Yes
On SSL’s secure website
Lowest price
$36.75 Around INR 3,047 per year for DV SSL
Types of SSL
DV, OV, EV
Money-back guarantee
Yes
Why We Picked It
One of the big players in the SSL certificate services industry is SSL.com. It offers competitive pricing, a money-back guarantee and warranties on all SSL certificates. You pay as little as $36.75 around INR 3,047 per year for five years for a DV SSL or $49 around INR 4,063 for a single year. An OV SSL costs $224.25 around INR 18,597 per year for five years ($299 around INR 24,797 for one year), EV SSLs cost $239.50 around INR 19,862 per year for two years ($299 around INR 24,797 for one year) and a multi-domain SAN is $141.60 per year for five years ($177 around INR 14,678 for one year).
There’s a warranty range from $10,000 to $2 million (around INR 8 lakh to around INR 165 million), so you’re protected from fraudulent use of the certificate. The website is a little confusing, specifically if you are trying to choose an OV SSL. Certificate issuance is fast—most SSLs are a 5-minute wait.
Who should use it:
If you need an SSL certificate quickly, SSL.com can provide it within five minutes, it claims (with EV SSLs as the exception). Also, pricing is competitive.
Pros & Cons
- Money-back guarantee
- $10,000 to $2 million (around INR 8 lakh to around INR 165 million) warranties
- Fast issuance of most SSLs
- 24/7 phone, live chat & email support
- Site trust seals included
- Confusing language on the site
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER
BEST CUSTOMER SUPPORT
DigiCert
3.3
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Lowest price
$269.73 Around INR 22,369 per year for OV SSL
Types of SSL
OV, EV
Money-back guarantee
Yes
Lowest price
$269.73 Around INR 22,369 per year for OV SSL
Types of SSL
OV, EV
Money-back guarantee
Yes
Why We Picked It
DigiCert is a premium SSL certificate service, so it is a pricier choice than most. If you agree to a three-year term, you can pay $269.73 Around INR 22,369 per year for an OV SSL; a one-year term costs $289 around INR 23,967. An EV SSL is $394.17 around INR 32,688 per year for six years, or $430 around INR 35,660 for a single year. We didn’t list DV SSLs because DigiCert doesn’t list them as an option, but DV SSLs are available—you have to sign up first and request it specifically from a company representative.
Multidomain subject alternate names (SANs) are available, but it’s a costly choice: $708 around INR 58,712 per SAN with a basic OV SSL, and as much as $3,980 around INR 3,30,058 each on an EV SSL. Like most of the best SSL certificate services, DigiCert offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. You’ll also get warranty protection from $1.25 million to $2 million around INR 103 million to INR 165 million, depending on whether you choose OV or EV SSL certificates.
Who should use it:
DigiCert has been around for a while, and it’s the parent company of several other known SSL certificate services, so its longevity may make it more trustworthy to you. If priority support from DigiCert is important to you, go with any SSL certificate other than basic to get it.
Pros & Cons
- Multi-domain security for any SSL certificate
- 24/7 phone, live chat & email support
- Priority support for most accounts
- $1.25million to $2 million (around INR 103 million to INR 165 million) warranties
- Money-back guarantee
- Checkout is a bit confusing
- No DV SSL pricing
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER
BEST FOR E-COMMERCE BUSINESSES
Sectigo
3.3
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Lowest price
$66 Around INR 5,473 per year for DV SSL
Money-back guarantee
Yes
Lowest price
$66 Around INR 5,473 per year for DV SSL
Types of SSL
DV, OV, EV
Money-back guarantee
Yes
Why We Picked It
Sectigo offers affordable SSL certificates for any type of business, and its pricing is transparent on its site. For $66 around INR 5,473 per year on a six-year plan, you can get a basic DV SSL, or pay $99 around INR 8,210 for one year. An OV SSL costs $120 around INR 9,951 per year for a six-year plan ($179 around INR 14,844 for one year), and an EV SSL is $174 around INR 14,429 per year for six years or $249 around INR 20,648 for one year.
Multi-domain EV SSLs are as low as $414 around INR 34,331 per year on a six-year contract, which is ideal for online businesses with more than one website to secure. In addition to being a bit of a budget SSL certificate provider, Sectigo also offers industry-standard money-back guarantees and warranties. A DV SSL gets a $500,000 around INR 41 million warranty; an OV SSL has $1 million around INR 82 million warranty; an EV SSL gets a warranty of $1.75 million around INR 145 million.
Who should use it:
Sectigo is less expensive than most SSL certificate services, and its multi-domain EV SSL option is a great choice if you run multiple eCommerce sites. Even if you’re just looking for a DV SSL, Sectigo is a solid, affordable option.
Pros & Cons
- Affordable pricing
- Money-back guarantee
- 24/7 phone, live chat & ticket support
- $500,000 to $1.75 million (around INR 41 million to around INR 145 million) warranties
- One to three days for issuance (DV & OV)
- Lower warranty amount than competitors
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER
BEST FOR SINGLE-SITE VALUE
AlphaSSL
3.3
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Lowest price
$49 Around INR 4,063 per year for DV SSL
Types of SSL
DV
Money-back guarantee
Yes
Lowest price
$49 Around INR 4,063 per year for DV SSL
Types of SSL
DV
Money-back guarantee
Yes
Why We Picked It
AlphaSSL offers a solid value, but you’re out of luck if you need to certify multiple domains. It only offers single-domain SSL certificates. It only offers DV SSL for $49 around INR 4,063 per year, with no discounts for long-term contracts. You can also get a wildcard SSL for $149 around INR 12,356 per year.
Support is only available through a ticket system. The phone numbers on the site are only for sales phone calls. There is a warranty available for all SSL certificates, but AlphaSSL does not publicize the amount. You will have to check with their sales team for concrete information.
Who should use it:
The best use case for an AlphaSSL certificate is if you need a low-cost security solution for a single site (or a site with multiple subdomains) for one year at a time.
Pros & Cons
- Simple checkout process
- Affordable pricing
- Warranties on all SSLs
- Only offers DV SSL
- No discounts for multi-year contract
- No phone or live chat support
- No multi-domain SSLs
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER
BEST FOR MULTIPLE WEBSITES
Entrust
3.3
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Lowest price
$219 Around INR 18,161 per year for OV SSL
Types of SSL
OV, EV
Money-back guarantee
Yes
Lowest price
$219 Around INR 18,161 per year for OV SSL
Types of SSL
OV, EV
Money-back guarantee
Yes
Why We Picked It
Entrust is an SSL certificate provider that works a little differently than most of the best SSL certificate services. It doesn’t offer DV SSL certs, and if you need an EV SSL, you have to get a multi-domain one, which ends up being more expensive. Every SSL certificate gets a $500,000 warranty around INR 41 million, regardless of type of SSL.
You’ll pay $219 around INR 18,161 per year for a standard OV SSL, $429 around INR 35,575 for a multi-domain EV SSL and $799 around INR 66,258 for a wildcard OV SSL. The base price for an EV SSL includes protection for up to two domains, and $139 around INR 11,526 per year for each additional domain (up to 50). If you need SANs, you’ll have to talk to your account executive for pricing. It’s worth noting that support is limited, which is unusual. Support is available nearly 24 hours per day, with the exception of Saturdays and Sundays.
Who should use it:
As long as you don’t need 24/7 access to support or a DV SSL, Entrust could work well for you. It’s a good solution for any business that runs multiple websites.
Pros & Cons
- $500,000 warranty around INR 41 million on all SSLs
- Money-back guarantee
- Phone, live chat & email support
- Not fully transparent pricing
- Limited support hours
- Lower warranty than is standard
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER
BEST FOR GROWING COMPANIES
GlobalSign
3.2
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Lowest price
$249 Around INR 20,650 per year for DV SSL
Types of SSL
DV, OV, EV
Money-back guarantee
Yes
Lowest price
$249 Around INR 20,650 per year for DV SSL
Types of SSL
DV, OV, EV
Money-back guarantee
Yes
Why We Picked It
GlobalSign is targeting enterprise-level businesses that need SSL certification, and it’s reflected in the pricing as well as language on the site. A DV SSL costs $249 around INR 20,650per year, while OV and EV SSL certificates cost $349 and $599 around INR 28,942 and INR 49,675, respectively. These prices are higher than most competitors.
The benefit of choosing GlobalSign is it includes three SANs for free (Outlook Web Access, mail, auto-discover) with each SSL certificate. Additional subdomain protection costs $99 around INR 8,210 each per year. A wildcard SSL costs $949 around INR 78,699 for unlimited subdomains. If you need a multi-domain SSL, you can get that as an add-on for OV or EV certificates for $199 around INR 16,502 each per year. Another benefit is that you can typically get EV SSL issuance in as little as three days.
Who should use it:
GlobalSign tries to make it easy for you to get the SSL certificate you need and add on protection for subdomains or multiple domains, as needed. It’s an ideal choice for companies that expect growth in the future.
Pros & Cons
- Easy checkout process
- Fast issuance of all SSLs
- $10,000 to $1.5 million around INR 8 lakh to around INR 124 million warranties
- Phone & email support
- Support in multiple languages
- Limited support hours
- Expensive SSLs
Forbes Advisor Ratings
COMPANY | Company – Logo | FORBES ADVISOR RATING | FORBES ADVISOR RATING | BEST FOR | LOWEST PRICE | TYPES OF SSL | Learn More CTA text | Learn more CTA below text | View more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Comodo SSL Store | 4.8 | Best Overall SSL Certificate Service | $8.99 (around INR 745) per year for DV SSL | DV, EV, OV | View More | ||||
SSL.com | 3.3 | Best for Fast Turnaround Times | $36.75 (around INR 3,047) per year for DV SSL | DV, OV, EV | View More | ||||
DigiCert | 3.3 | Best Customer Support | $264.92 (around INR 21,971) per year for OV SSL | OV, EV | View More | ||||
Sectigo | 3.3 | Best for E-Commerce Businesses | $66 (around INR 5,473) per year for DV SSL | DV, OV, EV | View More | ||||
AlphaSSL | 3.3 | Best for Single-Site Value | $49 (around INR 4,063) per year for DV SSL | DV | View More | ||||
Entrust | 3.3 | Best for Multiple Websites | $219 (around INR 18,162)per year for OV SSL | OV, EV | View More | ||||
GlobalSign | 3.2 | Best for Growing Companies | $249 (around INR 20,650) per year for DV SSL | DV, OV, EV | View More |
What You Need to Know About SSL Certificates
Most websites include SSL protection because it’s so helpful for SEO and it protects all the data flowing to and from the site. Also, most of the best website builders and web hosting providers offer free SSLs. If you don’t already know which SSL certificate you need, keep reading for an easy explanation.
What Is an SSL Certificate and How Does It Work?
You can think of an SSL certificate as your website’s passport. It helps a browser or web server authenticate a website’s identity so your site is trustworthy (the HTTPS indicates this). It also encrypts data, so any data to or from your site gets scrambled so it’s unreadable by anyone “listening in.”
The Difference Between Types of SSL Certificates
DV SSL
This certificate is the least expensive and least secure of all SSL certificates. All it requires for authentication is verification that the domain is registered to the domain owner (via WHOIS database).
Best for: Personal project websites
OV SSL
There’s much more info to check on an OV SSL, and therefore it’s more secure than a DV SSL. In addition to checking the domain validity, there’s also a check on the organization that owns the domain, plus its address and location.
Best for: Business or non-profit websites
EV SSL
For the strongest protection, there are EV SSL certificates. The validation process checks for the name of the business, address and location. Also, you can find the name of the business in the SSL info window (click on the padlock next to a URL), which is further validation. These certificates also come with the largest monetary warranties.
Best for: E-commerce businesses.
Who Needs an SSL Certificate?
Everyone who owns a website should have an SSL certificate. If your site isn’t protected by an SSL certificate, it gets a “not secure” mark from Google. Plus, if you want any of your content or your site to rank well in search engines, you need that virtual padlock. Most importantly, though, yes you need an SSL certificate to protect your site and its users.
How Do SSL Warranties Work?
We took note of warranties and their values in our reviews of the best SSL certificate services because it’s important to know how well you’re protected should something go wrong. Most SSLs come with a warranty that ensures your certificate will work as intended. For example, if a payment is made on your SSL-protected site and the end-user is a victim of fraud because of an SSL failure, the warranty will pay the fraudulent-related fees.
Featured Partners
1
Namcheap SSL Certificate
Starting Price
Around $5.99/Year (INR 499) onwards – For 5 year plan
Encryption Level
256-bit or 128-bit encryption
Features
Activate in 4 easy steps and Top-Tier Support
On Namecheap’s secure website
Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.
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