Choose the right SSL certificate

Before you start

• The exact domain or subdomain the certificate must cover
• Knowing where your domain’s DNS is hosted

Applies to: GeoTrust Simple SSL, GeoTrust RapidSSL Wildcard, GeoTrust Extended SSL, Cloud Hosting, WordPress Cloud, Managed WordPress.

The four options

Commercial certificates are third-party products, so the 30-day money-back guarantee does not cover them. See the Terms of service.

Steps

1. Start with the free certificate

   If your domain uses FoxFolio Cloud nameservers and nobody has asked you for a specific certificate, the free SSL is enough. See Turn on the free SSL certificate.

2. Check where DNS lives

   If your DNS must stay with another provider, the free wildcard certificate cannot be issued. Simple SSL works without FoxFolio Cloud nameservers.

3. Count the addresses

   For one address, such as shop.yourdomain.ca, choose Simple SSL. For many subdomains at one level, such as shop. and portal., choose RapidSSL Wildcard.

4. Check identity requirements

   If a partner, payment provider or policy requires your organization to be validated, choose Extended SSL and have your legal business details ready.

5. Order and validate

   Buy the certificate from the SSL Certificates page, then follow Order and validate a commercial SSL certificate.

Troubleshooting and common mistakes

You bought a wildcard certificate but need a.b.yourdomain.ca.

A wildcard covers one level of subdomain only. Contact support before ordering another certificate.

A vendor says your site “needs a paid SSL”.

Ask what they require: usually it is HTTPS, which the free certificate provides, or organization validation, which only Extended SSL provides.

Related guides

• Turn on the free SSL certificate included with hostingEligible FoxFolio Cloud hosting includes a free wildcard SSL certificate that covers your domain and its subdomains and renews itself. It needs your domain to use FoxFolio Cloud nameservers, ns1.stackdns.com to ns4.stackdns.com. If it is not already on, open SSL/TLS in the control panel and choose Activate Free SSL; allow up to 30 minutes for it to take effect.
• Order and validate a commercial SSL certificateBefore ordering, make sure admin@yourdomain can receive mail, as a mailbox or a forwarder. After payment, the certificate authority emails that address, usually within 30 minutes. Approve the request and the certificate is installed on your hosting, usually within about an hour. Extended SSL also includes extra organization checks, and the certificate authority contacts you by email with instructions.
• Refunds and the 30-day money-back guaranteeIf a FoxFolio Cloud hosting service is not right for you, tell FoxFolio Cloud within 30 days of the date the set-up was confirmed and you are refunded what you paid for that service, one refund per customer. The guarantee covers hosting only. Domain registrations, renewals and transfers, and third-party products such as commercial SSL certificates and paid licences, are not refundable under it.