Every site needs SSL in 2026 — browsers flag HTTP pages and Google ranks HTTPS higher. But "which certificate" splits into a free vs paid decision most businesses get wrong.
Free DV (Let's Encrypt)
Right for 95% of sites: same encryption strength as paid certs, auto-issued, auto-renewed. On RoboHost it's included and automatic — there's literally nothing to configure.
When premium SSL earns its price
- OV certificates ($40-80/yr) — verify your business identity; worth it for B2B and enterprise credibility
- EV certificates — highest assurance for finance, legal, and enterprise procurement requirements
- Wildcard — one cert for unlimited subdomains when you run many properties
The 2026 shortcut
Start free. Upgrade to OV when a procurement questionnaire or a partner asks for organizational validation — it's the only tier that puts your verified company name on the certificate.
Automation matters more than the cert
Most SSL outages are expired cert incidents, not encryption failures. Pick a platform where issuance and renewal are automatic — ours renews ~30 days out, every time.