RapidSSL
A straightforward domain-validated certificate for a website.
R316.30/ year
View certificate- ✓ Domain control validation
- ✓ Encrypted HTTPS connection
- ✓ One website hostname; confirm exact coverage
THE EVERYDAY
COLLECTION
COLLECTION
HTTPS connectionEncrypted between browser and website
Give every visit
a secure connection.
Protect information as it travels between your website and your visitors. Choose the domain coverage and identity validation your business needs, with certificate options from Coolhost.
Compare SSL certificatesCERTIFICATE MATCHERWhat needs
What needs
to be covered?
Start with the domain names you use. Then choose the level of identity validation.
Start with domain validation
A DV certificate verifies control of the domain. Confirm the exact hostname coverage before ordering.
Compare matching optionsSTART WITH YOUR WEBSITEOne domain, a business identity
One domain, a business identity
or room for subdomains.
GeoTrust True BusinessID
For businesses that need their organisation verified as part of the certificate.
R2,977.97/ year
View certificate- ✓ Domain and organisation checks
- ✓ Prepare business verification details
- ✓ Compare support and product terms
RapidSSL Wildcard
Cover same-level subdomains with one wildcard certificate.
R2,625.55/ year
View certificate- ✓ For names such as shop.example.co.za
- ✓ Domain control validation
- ✓ Confirm apex and hostname coverage
Annual prices. The Coolhost store confirms final charges, validation requirements and certificate coverage before payment.
WHAT ARE YOU VALIDATING?Choose the certificate.
Choose the certificate.
Understand the difference.
Domain validation
Confirms control of the domain. Often issued quickly once the required domain check is completed.
View DV optionsOrganisation validation
Adds verification of the organisation behind the certificate. Prepare accurate business and contact details.
View OV optionsExtended validation
Uses a more detailed organisation-verification process. It does not add a green address bar in modern browsers.
View EV optionsWildcard coverage
Covers subdomains at the specified wildcard level. Confirm apex-domain inclusion and every hostname you need.
View wildcard optionsCERTIFICATES FROM COOLHOST
Compare annual certificate prices.
Verified annual prices from the certificate category pages. Compare domain, organisation, extended-validation and wildcard options below.
DV
RapidSSL
Domain validation for one website.
R316.30/ year
View certificateDV
GeoTrust QuickSSL Premium
Domain validation with automated issuance.
R1,392.07/ year
View certificateOV
GeoTrust True BusinessID
Validate your organisation as well as your domain.
R2,977.97/ year
View certificateOV
DigiCert Secure Site
Organisation-validated certificate.
R7,894.27/ year
View certificateOV
DigiCert Secure Site Pro
Organisation validation with additional product features.
R19,700.44/ year
View certificateEV
GeoTrust True Business ID with EV
Extended validation of your organisation.
R5,092.51/ year
View certificateEV
DigiCert Secure Site EV
Extended-validation certificate for business websites.
R19,700.44/ year
View certificateEV
DigiCert Secure Site Pro EV
Extended validation with additional product features.
R26,414.10/ year
View certificateWILDCARD
RapidSSL Wildcard
Domain-validated coverage for same-level subdomains.
R2,625.55/ year
View certificateWILDCARD
GeoTrust QuickSSL Premium Wildcard
Wildcard domain validation with automated issuance.
R4,916.30/ year
View certificateWILDCARD
GeoTrust True Business ID Wildcard
Organisation-validated wildcard coverage.
R7,911.89/ year
View certificateFinal pricing, tax treatment and coverage terms are confirmed in the store. A multi-year order requires certificate revalidation and reissuance during its term.
HTTPS IS ONE PART OF SECURITYProtect the connection.
Protect the connection.
Look after the website, too.
Encryption in transit
SSL certificates enable HTTPS so information can travel over an encrypted connection. They do not scan website files for malware or prove that every page on a site is safe.
Explore website securityInstallation and renewal
Coolhost’s store describes automated provisioning for eligible domains hosted with the same provider on cPanel, Plesk or DirectAdmin. Confirm compatibility, validation access and renewal requirements for your setup.
WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND HTTPS?A private connection.
A private connection.
In a very public world.
Customers submit contact forms, sign in and check out on the web every day. TLS, the technology commonly sold as SSL, encrypts information while it travels between their browser and your website.
01 / VISITORBrowser
Requests your secure website.
ENCRYPTED CONNECTION
02 / WEBSITEYour server
Presents a certificate for the domain.
The browser checks the certificate and establishes an encrypted session. HTTPS protects the connection; it doesn’t replace secure code, malware checks or backups.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT COVERAGEMap the names.
Map the names.
Then choose the certificate.
Write down every hostname customers use before ordering. Your main domain, www version, shop and client portal may not all fit the same certificate.
- A single website
Start with a single-domain certificate and check which exact names the product includes.
- Several subdomains
A wildcard can cover names at one level, such as shop.example.co.za and help.example.co.za. Deeper levels need separate consideration.
- More than one business domain
Ask about multi-domain coverage when you need unrelated domain names. A wildcard for one domain will not automatically cover another.
Get HTTPS
working properly.
Certificate issuance starts with validation. Make sure you can access the required domain email, DNS or hosting files, and have accurate business details ready for OV or EV products.
After installation, test the certificate chain, redirect HTTP to HTTPS and fix mixed-content links. A page can still load old images or scripts over HTTP even when its certificate is installed.
Ask about installationKeep the
connection current.
A purchase term and an individual certificate’s validity are not the same thing. Revalidation and reissuance can be required during a multi-year service term.
Keep renewal contacts current and check expiry alerts. If the domain, hosting server or private key changes, ask whether the certificate needs a reissue before switching.
View certificate termsBEFORE YOU CHOOSE
Frequently asked questions
What information does an SSL certificate protect?+
HTTPS encrypts traffic between the browser and the website, including submitted forms and sign-in details. Data still needs protection after it reaches the application or database.
Does an SSL certificate prove a website is trustworthy?+
A DV certificate proves control of a domain. OV and EV add organisation checks, but a certificate does not guarantee that a business is honest or that its website is free of malware.
Can I move my SSL certificate to another host?+
This depends on the certificate, key access and server setup. Ask about installation or reissuance before moving, then test the destination before changing DNS.
What is mixed content?+
It occurs when an HTTPS page requests some resources over HTTP. Update those image, stylesheet and script URLs and check third-party integrations after enabling HTTPS.
Is SSL enough for an online shop?+
It is an essential part of protecting connections, but a store also needs maintained software, secure account access, appropriate payment integrations and a recovery plan.
Do I need paid SSL if my hosting includes free SSL?+
A free domain-validated certificate can provide HTTPS encryption. A paid certificate may be useful when you need organisation validation, a specific certificate product or different support and coverage arrangements.
Does a wildcard certificate cover everything?+
A wildcard typically covers subdomains at one specified level, such as shop.example.co.za. It does not automatically cover deeper names or unrelated domains. Check the exact hostnames before ordering.
Will SSL guarantee better Google rankings?+
No. HTTPS is a sensible website-security baseline. Useful content, page quality, performance and other search signals still matter; no certificate guarantees a ranking.
Will my certificate last for the whole multi-year order?+
Not necessarily. The paid coverage term and the validity of an individual certificate are different. Certificates must be revalidated and reissued according to the rules and product terms in force.
LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR WEBSITEA little help can
save a lot of guesswork.
Moving an existing site? Choosing your first service? Tell us what you need to do and we’ll help you work through the options.
Talk to Coolhost