SSL Certificates

Compare SSL Certificates

Just as there are a number of different hosting solution options to fit your particular needs, the same can be said about SSL Certificate options. While this may seem to complicate your decision, A2 Hosting simplifies it for you! At A2 Hosting, we make it easy to select, purchase and setup your SSL Certificate. In fact our first option, Let's Encrypt, is the easiest option of all! That's because Let's Encrypt is installed on your domain by default! Let's Encrypt is a free, zero-configuration SSL certificate that is added to your account automatically just for choosing A2 Hosting! Compare SSL Certificate options below!

Free Let's Encrypt SSL Certificate

It may sound too good to be true, but Let's Encrypt is a Certificate Authority providing you with free SSL Certificates for your domain. When you choose A2 Hosting, your Let's Encrypt Certificate is added to your domain automatically absolutely free. Best of all, Let's Encrypt is just as secure as paid SSL alternatives. 

Get Let's Encrypt

Free Shared SSL Certificate

You're most likely looking for a Let's Encrypt SSL Certificate if you're looking for free SSL Hosting. However we do also offer a free SSL Certificate on our shared hosting plans. Our free Shared SSL certificates provide you with a way to encrypt a connection that is not seen by the public. These SSL Certificates will list a domain owned by A2 Hosting in place of a domain that you own. The URL format when using one of these SSLs will look similar to yourusername.wwwsr1.supercp.com.

Are you an A2 Hosting Shared Hosting customer that would like to use a free SSL Certificate? Just submit a support ticket on the My A2 Hosting Customer Portal to request access.

Get Free Shared SSL

Single Site SSL Certificate

While our free Let's Encrypt SSL Certificates work great and are just as secure as other SSL Certificate options, there are a number of advantages in choosing one of our Single Site SSL Certificate options. These advantages include:

• Longer Renewals - Let's Encrypt SSL renewals take place every 90-days as opposed to competing SSL options that are renewed once per year.
• Warranties - Our SSL Single Site Certificate options offer a warranty, as opposed to Let's Encrypt which do not.
• Domain Verification - Your visitors may appreciate knowing that your domain has been verified and you could ultimately see a bump in your conversion rate because of it.
• Site Seals - Offers a site seal for you to display on your site signifying that your site is secured via SSL.
• Easy Setup - Yes, Let's Encrypt is a zero-configuration option. However, we also offer Single Site SSL Certificate options that offer an easy setup.

Get Single Site SSL

Wildcard SSL Certificates

Looking to secure a number of subdomains but concerned about having to buy an SSL Certificate for each one? Our Wildcard SSL Certificates offer the perfect solution! Protect an unlimited number of subdomains with this subdomain option.

Get Wildcard SSL

Advanced SSL Certificates

Our Advanced SSL Certificates offer the most secure options for eCommerce sites:

• Organization Authentication - Gives your visitors the ability to read more information about your organization simply by clicking the SSL bar in their browser.
• Extended Validation - Provides the highest level of trust by turning the browser address bar green when visiting your site.

Get Advanced SSL

---

What Is An SSL Certificate?

For just about any site, you probably need an SSL Certificate. We’ve got your SSL Certificate needs covered! Worried purchasing and installing an SSL certificate will be a headache? Don’t be! You get the right options, at the right price, on an ultra-reliable server. What more could you ask for? How about hosting on our high-performance SwiftServer platform? Our 24/7/365 Guru Crew support staff will be happy to help if you have any questions with our SSL Certificate comparison.  When an SSL Certificate is required, A2 Hosting is your provider.

Secure Socket Layer (SSL) provides safe communication via the internet. SSL Certificates protect sensitive information with encryption techniques when transmitting information between a web server and a web browser. Millions of websites use SSL Certificates on their site to keep their customers' and their visitors' information safe. Your visitors will notice that your site is protected by an SSL Certificate because your website URL will begin with HTTPS as opposed to HTTP. Additional signals of a site being secured by HTTPs is the padlock in the browser bar and a green extended validation bar found in more advanced SSL Certificate options. Some SSL Certificates also offer you a secure site seal for you to publish to signify to your visitors that your website is safe and their information is safe from potential attackers.

Do I Need An SSL Certificate?

SSL certificates are strongly recommended if you have a website that receives or transmit any sensitive information like credit card numbers, license numbers, social security numbers etc. They are also strongly recommended for any pages where a password is submitted. While SSL Certificates especially important in these instances, it has become more evident recently that all sites should actually be SSL protected. That's because many browsers have started to flag sites that are not using the SSL/HTTPS protocol for being unsafe. Protecting your site with an SSL Certificate can prevent you from having this distinction. 

How Does An SSL Certificate Work?

SSL Certificates are granted from a Certificate Authority (CA). The Certificate Authority's job is to verify that the website owner is in fact who they say they are. A business verification may also occur if the site is owned by a business, most likely an eCommerce store. A copy of the SSL Certificate is received once the CA verifies the site owner. The web site owner is then free to install their SSL Certificate on their server for their website.

Once the web server that is hosting your site is accessed by your visitor's browser, an "SSL handshake" takes place. This means the browser and the server have established a key informing each other that it's safe to communicate and the SSL Certificate is in fact valid. Most importantly, your visitors will also know that any information they are transmitting to you, whether it be a password, credit card or social security number, is secure due to your use of the SSL Certificate.