Domain Registrar or Third-Party Providers for SSL Purchasing?

Hey there! If you haven’t read our previous article, SSL Certificates and Why Your Website Needs One, you might not know that SSL Certificates are like security guards for your website. They verify the identity of your website to make sure it's not fraudulent or created as a scam to gain trust from its users, and they ensure that any sensitive information shared between a website and its users is kept private. You can purchase SSL Certificates from two different sources: Domain Registrars and Third-Party Providers.

Domain Registrars are the companies that you purchase your domain name from e.g. www.unmazeonline.com, see our article Domain Name Purchasing Explained for more info about this. Some Domain Registrars also offer SSL Certificates, which makes it easier for you, since you can get everything sorted all in one place.

On the other hand, Third-Party SSL Providers specialise in providing SSL Certificates, and normally have a wide range of options to choose from. The advantage of going with a Third-Party Provider is that they often have better deals, and can offer more features to suit your needs - depending on what your needs are of course.

Basically a Domain Registrar is like hiring a security guard directly, whereas a Third-Party SSL Provider on the other hand, is like hiring a security guard from an agency.

Here are five picks from around the world to give you an idea of who you could go with:

New Zealand
ComodoSSLStore - Offers a range of SSL Certificates and related security solutions

Australia
GlobalSign - Provides SSL Certificates and other digital security products

United States
GoDaddy - A well-known provider offering a variety of SSL Certificates

Europe
DigiCert - Offers SSL Certificates with a focus on strong security and encryption

China
TrustAsia (Sectigo) - Provides SSL Certificates and cybersecurity solutions, with a presence in China

SSL Certificate providers can operate globally, so you could find providers from different regions offering their services internationally. It’s always a good idea to do your research and choose a reputable SSL Provider to purchase from that you feel aligns with your requirements based on your specific security needs, geographical preferences and budget. Pricing can vary depending on things like how many domains you’d like to protect, and what warranty options are offered etc., but they’re typically not too expensive (under $100 per year).

Also, fear not, if for some reason after confirming your purchase you feel like it’s not the right fit for you, you can move onto another one fairly easily - especially since most SSL Providers follow the same industry standards. It’s basically a request from the old provider over to the new provider, then updating some of your website’s configuration settings, doing a little redirect, and voila!

So, in summary, Domain Registrars are a good option if you want everything in one place and don't need any extra bells and whistles, while Third-Party Providers offer more options and flexibility when it comes to SSL Certificates. Unless you know you need the extras, purchasing your SSL Certificate from a Domain Registrar could be your best way forward, but it’s ultimately up to you to make that call.