SSL Certificate: What It Is and How to Get One
Compiled and fact-checked from cited sources, reviewed by our editorial team.
When a website address shows https:// with a padlock icon next to it, that site has an SSL certificate. An SSL certificate is a digital file that encrypts the data moving between a site and its visitors and verifies the site’s identity. Today it is practically mandatory: browsers flag sites without one as “Not secure,” and Google treats HTTPS as a ranking signal. The good news is that for most sites SSL is now free and takes just a few minutes to set up. This guide explains what an SSL certificate is, its types, free vs paid options, how to get and install one, and how to check and renew it, step by step.
What is an SSL certificate?
An SSL certificate is a small data file installed on a web server that does two jobs[1]:
- Encryption: It encrypts the traffic between the site and the visitor’s browser, so anyone intercepting the connection (for example on public Wi-Fi) cannot read passwords, card numbers, or form data.
- Authentication: It proves that the domain really belongs to the person or organization it claims to, backed by the signature of a Certificate Authority (CA).
The certificate carries the site’s public key and identity details, while the matching private key is kept secret on the server. When the certificate is active, the address changes from http:// to https:// and a padlock appears in the browser.
"SSL or TLS?" The certificates in use today actually run on TLS (Transport Layer Security), the successor to SSL. The industry simply kept the old habit of saying "SSL certificate" - in practice the two terms mean the same thing.
Why do you need an SSL certificate?
- Security: Passwords, payments, and personal data are encrypted in transit.
- Browser warning: Without SSL, Chrome and Firefox mark the site as “Not secure,” and visitors leave.
- SEO: Google uses HTTPS as one of its ranking signals.
- Trust: The padlock and https signal professionalism and give visitors confidence.
Types of SSL certificate
Certificates differ not in encryption strength but in how deeply your identity is validated. The encryption is the same across all of them; what changes is how much the CA verifies you[3]:
- ValidatesDomain ownership only
- SpeedMinutes, automated; enough for ~95% of sites
- ValidatesDomain + business identity
- SpeedDays; corporate and regulated sectors
- ValidatesDeepest: legal existence + authority
- SpeedDays; banks and large organizations
- Wildcard*.example.com - all subdomains
- SANSeveral different domains on one cert
Free or paid?
- Free (Let’s Encrypt): The non-profit Let’s Encrypt issues free DV certificates and renews them automatically over the ACME protocol. Most hosting supports it, and it is more than enough for a blog, portfolio, or small-business site.[2]
- Paid (from a CA): People who need OV/EV validation, a warranty/insurance, priority support, or specific compliance requirements buy a paid certificate (for example from DigiCert, Sectigo, or GlobalSign). Pricing ranges from near-free for a simple DV to hundreds of dollars a year for EV.
Key point: A free DV certificate from Let's Encrypt provides the same 256-bit encryption strength as an expensive EV certificate. The price buys a higher level of identity validation and extra services, not stronger encryption.
How to get an SSL certificate (3 ways)
- Through your hosting panel (easiest - the right choice for most people): If you use shared hosting, you probably have cPanel or Plesk. In cPanel, open Security → SSL/TLS Status, tick your domains, and click Run AutoSSL. Most providers install a free Let’s Encrypt certificate automatically within a day.[4]
- Let’s Encrypt + Certbot (your own server/VPS): If you manage your own server, run the Certbot tool; it obtains, installs, and auto-renews the certificate before it expires.[6]
- Buying from a CA (for OV/EV): Generate a CSR (Certificate Signing Request), send it to the CA, complete the validation steps, download the certificate, and install it on your server.
How to install (upload) a purchased certificate
If you bought a paid certificate, in cPanel go to Security → SSL/TLS → Manage SSL Sites, paste the certificate and, if required, the private key, then click Install Certificate.[4] With Let’s Encrypt there is nothing to download or upload - the panel or Certbot handles everything automatically.
How to check / verify an SSL certificate
You can confirm that your certificate is actually active and valid in two ways:
- In the browser: Click the padlock icon in the address bar; if the certificate is valid you will see “connection is secure” and the certificate details. The address should start with https://.
- With an online tool: Enter your domain into a tool like SSL Labs’ SSL Test; it reports the certificate’s validity, expiry date, chain integrity, and an overall security grade.[5]
Renewal: SSL is not valid forever
Certificates have a validity period. Let’s Encrypt is valid for 90 days and renews automatically; commercial certificates usually last longer (though the industry keeps shortening the maximum lifetime). If you use AutoSSL/ACME, renewal is automatic; with a manual certificate, if you do not renew before it expires, the browser shows visitors a “certificate expired” warning.
Quick summary
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What it is | A server file that encrypts the connection + verifies identity |
| How to spot it | https:// + padlock icon |
| Types | DV (common), OV, EV, Wildcard/SAN |
| Free option | Let’s Encrypt (DV), auto-renewing |
| Easiest way to get one | Hosting panel → cPanel AutoSSL |
| Install | Panel automatically, or upload via Manage SSL Sites |
| Checking | Browser padlock + SSL Labs SSL Test |
| Renewal | ACME/AutoSSL automatic; Let’s Encrypt every 90 days |
Frequently asked questions
What is an SSL certificate? An SSL certificate is a digital file installed on a web server that encrypts the connection between the site and its visitors and verifies the site’s identity with a certificate authority’s signature. When it is active, the site address begins with https:// and a padlock icon appears in the browser.
Are SSL and TLS the same thing? The certificates used today run on TLS, the successor to SSL, but the industry still habitually calls them “SSL certificates.” In practice the two terms refer to the same function.
How do I get an SSL certificate? The easiest way is to install a free Let’s Encrypt certificate from your hosting panel (in cPanel: SSL/TLS Status → Run AutoSSL). On your own server you can use Certbot, and for business needs you can buy an OV/EV certificate from a CA.
Is a free SSL certificate safe? Yes. Free DV certificates like Let’s Encrypt provide the same 256-bit encryption strength as expensive EV certificates. The price buys a higher level of identity validation and extras like warranties and support, not stronger encryption.
How much does an SSL certificate cost? Simple DV certificates are free (Let’s Encrypt) or very low cost; OV sits in the middle; EV certificates can run to hundreds of dollars a year. For most sites a free DV certificate is enough.
How do I check or verify an SSL certificate? Click the padlock icon in the browser’s address bar to see the certificate details, or enter your domain into an online tool like SSL Labs’ SSL Test to check validity, expiry date, and security grade.
How do I install an SSL certificate? In a hosting panel, AutoSSL usually installs it automatically. To install a certificate you purchased, in cPanel go to Security → SSL/TLS → Manage SSL Sites, add the certificate and private key, and click Install Certificate.
How often is an SSL certificate renewed? Let’s Encrypt certificates are valid for 90 days and usually renew automatically; commercial certificates can last longer. Without automatic renewal (ACME/AutoSSL) you must renew manually before expiry, or the browser will show an expiry warning.
Sources
- Cloudflare - What Is an SSL Certificate? https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/ssl/what-is-an-ssl-certificate/
- Let’s Encrypt - FAQ / Free Certificates. https://letsencrypt.org/docs/faq/
- DigiCert - TLS/SSL Certificates (Types). https://www.digicert.com/tls-ssl/tls-ssl-certificates
- GoDaddy - Install an SSL using AutoSSL on cPanel. https://www.godaddy.com/help/install-an-ssl-using-autossl-on-my-web-hosting-cpanel-41641
- Qualys SSL Labs - SSL Server Test. https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/
- Certbot (EFF) - Automatic Let’s Encrypt setup. https://certbot.eff.org/