Wildcard SSL Certificate? Is it the Cheapest SSL Choice?

It might be true that you have looked into SSL certificates and have discovered this thing called a wildcard SSL. You have, most likely, seen how it could be used to cover several subdomains under the single certificate, which makes it sound very convenient. The next big question strikes you, Is wildcard the cheapest SSL certificate?

It appears to be so, doesn’t t it? One certificate that can cover it all as opposed to purchasing multiple ones. The solution is however, it depends.

Let us follow it step by step and dissect on how  cheapest wildcard SSL  could save you money and in some cases it can cost even more than it should.

So first of all what is a wildcard SSL certificate?

Simply put, wildcard SSL certificate protects a primary domain and all its subdomains; just a single roof that keeps them all secure. As an example, in the case of ownership you may have:

• www.yoursite.com
• blog.yoursite.de
• shop.yoursite.com
• support.yoursite.com

All of them can be covered with a wildcard SSL that will not require the purchase of separate certificates. That small asterisk (^) at the left, i.e. *.yoursite.com makes all the difference, that it is a wildcard, matching any subdomain at that level.

Ah, that will be just an awfully good deal, right?

However, we should put the brakes on and consider the actual question; is it the cost-effective SSL, overall?

Here, then, now comes the truth of the matter. A wildcard SSL will not be the cheapest option when you only have one site but no subdomains. You are basically throwing away your money on what you do not need.

In such a case, a single domain SSL certificate will get the job done perfectly and it is normally way cheaper. It is even free as provided by some web hosts and certificate providers using services such as Let s Encrypt.

Therefore, in that case wildcard would be a waste, not a steal.

However, what happens when you have several subdomains?

Now this is where wildcard began to make more sense, and potentially the less expensive path. Think of attempting to purchase an individual SSL certificate to each of your subdomains. This is very expensive, forget about the inconvenience of carrying all these.

There, a wildcard certificate can indeed make you save money and spare you a bunch of time.

Suppose, a single certificate of SSL costs 20 dollars. With five subdomains, it will be 100 yen a year. You can be dealing with a wildcard SSL that can cost you up to 60 or 80 dollars on the same insurance that is just a single certificate to install and renew.

Therefore, a wildcard certificate is more expensive than a simple single-domain one but tends to reach a lower price when you begin to add subdomains to the picture.

How does it match multi domain SSL?

It is a good question, and is the usual misunderstanding. Trusting your customers with SAN/UCC or multi-domain SSL certificate will enable you to secure absolutely different domain names, such as:

• my site.com
• myapp.co.ke
• www.myblog.org

In that case wildcard is irrelevant, what you require is a multi-domain SSL. Some of the certificates even feature both options, such as a multi-domain wildcard SSL (yes, it exists), but they are also costly and are generally used by big organisations or service providers.

And now to the answer of our initial inquiry. Is it wildcard that is cheapest?

This is another view that is more appropriate:

• In case you have just one site to protect, choose a simple single-domained SSL, it is by far the least expensive one.
• Wild card SSL would be much cheaper than purchasing a number of single certificates in case of a situation where you have many subdomains on a single main domain.
• In case you are in several totally different domains, wildcard will be useless to you, as you will require a multi-domain SSL.

 Still thinking about wildcard?

If you do or intend to have subdomains such as shop.mysite.com, login.mysite.com etc. then ask yourself the following question. In case the response is affirmative, and you desire to manage everything in a single certificate, then wildcard is most likely to be your best bet, and even more cost-efficient over the long run.

Conclusion

Is wildcard SSL certificate the least expensive one, then? Not always. It is quite dependent upon your domain setting. On a basic site you have more than you need. However, when you have to deal with several subdomains, it may be a rather intelligent and economical decision.

Consider the current state of your site arrangement, and consider how you hope it will be set up tomorrow. Wildcard provides flexibility and simplicity all in one; in case you plan to use subdomains.

Finally, not everything cheapest regarding the price. It is all about what brings the best value to you depending on your needs. And, in case of multiple subdomains control, i.e. think of subdomains galore taking control, wildcard perhaps is your super economical savior.