An SSL certificate, free Let's Encrypt or paid?
An SSL certificate is responsible for the "padlock" and https:// next to the site address. It encrypts the connection between the visitor and the server so nobody along the way can eavesdrop on or alter the data. Today it is the standard: without it, browsers scare visitors with a "not secure" message and Google lowers rankings. The most common question is: free certificate or paid? The short answer: for most business sites a free one is entirely enough. Below we explain why, how to enable it step by step and when it is really worth paying.
What Let's Encrypt is and why it is free
Let's Encrypt is a certificate authority run by a non-profit (the Internet Security Research Group), backed by, among others, big tech companies. Its goal is for the entire connection on the internet to be encrypted, which is why it issues certificates free and automatically. They are trusted by all popular browsers exactly the same as paid certificates. "Free" here does not mean "worse" or "makeshift", it is the same level of encryption used by millions of sites worldwide.
Free versus paid, the key differences
To dispel the main myth: both encrypt identically. A paid one does not protect "more strongly". The difference is in the type of verification and the extras, not in the security of the connection.
Free (Let's Encrypt):
- The same encryption as paid, the same padlock in the browser.
- Domain validation (DV): confirms the certificate belongs to the domain owner.
- Renews automatically, hands-off.
- Cost: 0, included in the price with most hosts.
Paid:
- The same encryption (not stronger), but with extras from the issuer.
- Can confirm company details (OV/EV), a financial guarantee, cover many subdomains (wildcard).
- Usually requires manual ordering and renewal.
- Cost: from a few dozen zloty a year upwards.
How to enable free SSL step by step
On most hosts it takes literally a moment and requires no technical knowledge:
- Log in to your hosting panel (cPanel, DirectAdmin or your hosting company's panel).
- Find the "SSL/TLS", "SSL certificates" or simply "Let's Encrypt" section.
- Select your domain and click "Install" or "Generate" a Let's Encrypt certificate.
- Make sure automatic renewal is enabled (usually it is by default).
- Enable forcing HTTPS (redirect from
http://tohttps://), so the whole site loads over an encrypted connection. - Check the padlock and whether there is no "mixed content" warning.
On WordPress, after issuing the certificate set the site address to https:// in the settings, and if the padlock is crossed out after the change, use a plugin that forces HTTPS and fixes mixed content. On your own server (VPS) a tool like Certbot issues and renews the certificate.
Is free SSL less secure?
No. The level of encryption is identical, a paid certificate does not encrypt "more strongly". The difference lies in the type of verification and the issuer's extras, not in the security of the connection itself. The only real "minus" of a free certificate is a shorter validity period (a few weeks), but since it renews automatically, in daily use you will not notice it at all, as long as renewal is configured correctly.
Hosting with free SSL
When choosing hosting, treat free SSL as the standard, not a perk worth paying extra for. Practically every sensible host in Poland offers Let's Encrypt in the price today. How to check before buying? Look in the service description for "free SSL certificate" or "Let's Encrypt", or ask support directly whether the certificate is included and renews automatically. If a seller tries to charge separately for a "security certificate" when it is an ordinary domain certificate, you are most often paying for something you get free elsewhere.
When a paid one is worth considering
Paid certificates do not encrypt "better", but they offer extras that have value in certain situations:
- A certificate with organisation validation (OV/EV): shows that a verified company stands behind the site; can matter for large shops and trust institutions.
- A financial guarantee and support from the issuer.
- A wildcard certificate, convenient with many subdomains.
For a small or medium business, a free certificate with automatic renewal is cheap, reliable and hands-off. A paid one makes sense when you need a specific extra, not a "better padlock".
Most important: not letting it expire
The biggest problem with certificates is not the free/paid choice, but a missed expiry date. An expired certificate = a warning across the whole site and fleeing customers. That is why automatic renewal and deadline monitoring are crucial.
Not sure how long your certificate and domain are valid for? You can check in seconds with our free SSL & domain expiry tool, it shows how many days are left and whether an expiry date is approaching.
Frequently asked questions
Is a free SSL certificate safe?
Yes. Free Let's Encrypt provides exactly the same encryption as a paid certificate and is equally trusted by browsers. "Free" does not mean weaker protection.
How long is a Let's Encrypt certificate valid?
Shorter than paid ones, usually about 90 days, but it renews automatically in the background. Configured well, it simply never expires, without your involvement.
Is free SSL enough for an online shop?
For most small and medium shops, yes, fully. The encryption of payments and customer data is identical. Consider a paid one (OV/EV) only for a large shop, where you additionally want to show verified company details in the certificate.
Which host gives free SSL?
The vast majority of hosts in Poland include Let's Encrypt in the price and enable it with a single click or automatically. Before buying, check the service description for "free SSL / Let's Encrypt" or ask support.
How does free SSL differ from paid?
Not in the level of encryption, which is the same. A paid one can additionally confirm company details, cover many subdomains (wildcard) and provide the issuer's financial guarantee. In return, the free one renews itself and costs nothing.
We will set it up and keep watch
We configure the certificate (usually free with auto-renewal), force HTTPS across the whole site and monitor the expiry date so it never catches you out.
Have a certificate problem or a "not secure" warning? Reach out.