Comparing Costs: Beyond the Sticker Price

When evaluating free versus paid certificates, the analysis must extend beyond simple price comparisons to consider total cost of ownership. Free certificates obviously win on purchase price, but their 90-day validity requires either manual renewal four times annually or investment in automation infrastructure. Calculate the time cost of manual renewals—if each renewal takes an hour including testing and verification, that's four hours annually per certificate. For organizations managing dozens of certificates, automation becomes essential regardless of certificate source.

Paid certificates typically offer annual or multi-year validity periods, reducing renewal frequency and associated administrative overhead. Multi-year purchases often include significant discounts, with two-year certificates commonly priced at 1.5x annual rates. However, industry trends toward shorter maximum validity periods mean these multi-year purchases now involve annual revalidation and reissuance rather than truly long-lived certificates. Consider whether the pricing advantages outweigh reduced flexibility when needs change.

Hidden costs significantly impact total certificate expenses. Installation support, often included with paid certificates, might cost $50-100 per hour if contracted separately. Certificate reissuance, necessary when adding domains or changing server configurations, may incur fees with some providers while others offer unlimited reissuance. SAN certificates require careful attention to pricing models—some providers charge per additional domain while others include generous domain allowances in base pricing.

Opportunity costs deserve consideration in any certificate decision. A basic DV certificate might save money upfront but could reduce conversion rates compared to an EV certificate for e-commerce sites. Time spent struggling with unsupported free certificates could be invested in revenue-generating activities. Security breaches resulting from expired certificates due to failed manual renewals can result in costs far exceeding any certificate savings. Balance immediate savings against potential long-term costs when making certificate decisions.