SSL Certificate Checker

What is an SSL certificate?

An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that encrypts the connection between a visitor’s browser and your website’s server. When a site has a valid SSL certificate, the URL starts with https:// and most browsers display a padlock icon in the address bar. Without one, browsers will warn visitors that the site is “not secure,” which damages trust and can hurt your search rankings.

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, though the technology has since been replaced by TLS (Transport Layer Security). The terms are still used interchangeably in practice.

How to use this tool

Our SSL Checker lets you verify the certificate status of any website in seconds. There are two check modes available.

The quick SSL check runs directly in your browser and instantly tells you whether a site has a valid SSL certificate. It confirms the connection is secure and shows the basic certificate status. Use this for a fast yes or no answer.

Detailed Certificate Info

The detailed check runs a deeper analysis and returns the full certificate information, including the domain the certificate was issued to, the certificate authority that issued it, the valid from and valid until dates, the number of days remaining before expiration, the TLS protocol version in use, and the cipher suite. Use this when you need to verify specific certificate details or troubleshoot an issue.

What do the results mean?

If the certificate is valid, you will see an A+ grade along with the full certificate details. This means the site has a properly configured SSL certificate that has not expired, is issued by a trusted authority, and matches the domain.

If issues are found, you will see an F grade with a list of problems detected. Common issues include expired certificates, self signed certificates that browsers do not trust, domain name mismatches where the certificate was issued for a different domain, incomplete certificate chains, and weak encryption protocols.

Why SSL matters

SSL is no longer optional for any website. Here is why it matters.

Security. SSL encrypts data transmitted between the visitor and your server. Without it, sensitive information like login credentials, contact form submissions, and payment details can be intercepted by third parties.

SEO. Google has used HTTPS as a ranking signal since 2014. Sites without SSL are at a disadvantage in search results compared to secure alternatives.

Trust. Modern browsers display prominent “Not Secure” warnings on sites without SSL. Visitors are far less likely to engage with a site that triggers a security warning, especially if they are asked to enter any personal information.

Compliance. If you collect any personal data from European visitors, GDPR requires appropriate technical measures to protect that data. SSL encryption is considered a baseline requirement.

Types of SSL certificates

There are three main types of SSL certificates, each with a different level of validation.

Domain Validated (DV) is the most basic type. The certificate authority verifies that you control the domain, and the certificate is issued within minutes. DV certificates are free from providers like Let’s Encrypt and are included with most hosting plans. They are sufficient for blogs, personal sites, and small business websites.

Organisation Validated (OV) requires the certificate authority to verify your organisation’s identity. This takes longer to issue but provides a higher level of trust. OV certificates are suited for business websites that want to demonstrate legitimacy.

Extended Validation (EV) is the highest level of validation. The certificate authority performs a thorough background check on the organisation. EV certificates used to display the company name in the browser’s address bar, though most browsers have phased this out. They are primarily used by financial institutions and large enterprises.

Wildcard certificates cover a domain and all its subdomains (for example, *.example.com). They are useful if you run multiple subdomains like shop.example.com, blog.example.com, and app.example.com.

How to get a free SSL certificate

Most modern hosting providers include free SSL certificates with their plans. The most common options are:

Let’s Encrypt is the most widely used free certificate authority. It provides DV certificates that auto renew every 90 days. Most hosting control panels support Let’s Encrypt with one click installation.

Cloudflare SSL is available through the free Cloudflare CDN plan. Cloudflare provides a shared SSL certificate that encrypts traffic between visitors and Cloudflare’s edge servers. For full end to end encryption, you also need a certificate on your origin server.

Hosting provider SSL is included free with plans from providers like Hostinger, SiteGround, Hetzner, and IONOS. These are typically Let’s Encrypt certificates managed automatically by the hosting platform.

SSL best practices

Once your certificate is installed, follow these best practices to keep your site secure:

Enable auto renewal. Let’s Encrypt certificates expire every 90 days. Make sure automatic renewal is configured so your certificate does not lapse unexpectedly.

Use TLS 1.2 or higher. Older protocols like TLS 1.0 and 1.1 have known vulnerabilities and are no longer supported by modern browsers. Configure your server to only accept TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3 connections.

Force HTTPS redirects. Make sure all HTTP requests are redirected to HTTPS so visitors always use the secure version of your site. This can be done through your hosting control panel, .htaccess, or Nginx configuration.

Enable HSTS. HTTP Strict Transport Security tells browsers to only connect to your site over HTTPS. This prevents downgrade attacks and ensures secure connections even if a visitor types http:// in the address bar.

Monitor expiration dates. Use this tool periodically to check your certificate’s remaining validity. Set a reminder for 30 days before expiration as a safety net, even if auto renewal is configured.