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SSL/TLS Certificate Costs — Free and Paid Options

Compare certificate fees and management costs when choosing between free and paid certificates.

CertOne1 min read

Cost is an important factor in certificate selection. This article considers both certificate fees and operational expenses.

1. Free certificate costs​

1. Certificate fees​

  • Let's Encrypt: free issuance
  • CertOne: free Let's Encrypt issuance; renewal and other services may consume credits
  • Cloud providers: some free options

2. Management costs​

  • Automated tools: low
  • Manual management: moderate

3. Total cost​

For many websites, free certificates can keep direct certificate costs close to zero, although management still requires resources.

2. Paid certificate costs​

1. Certificate fees​

  • DV certificates: RMB 500–2,000 per year in the original comparison
  • OV certificates: RMB 1,000–5,000 per year in the original comparison
  • EV certificates: RMB 3,000–15,000 per year in the original comparison

2. Management costs​

  • Certificate management: moderate
  • Renewal administration: moderate

3. Total cost​

Total cost includes certificate fees and management expenses.

3. Cost comparison​

1. Small websites​

Free certificates are usually more economical.

2. Medium-sized websites​

Choose according to your requirements.

3. Large organizations​

Paid certificates may be needed for specific identity or support requirements.

Conclusion​

Free certificates are an economical choice for many websites. Consider paid certificates when their additional features address a specific requirement.