Secure Socket Layers or SSL is the encryption that guarantees the security in a website, thus, a free SSL certificate would mean that you are not required to pay for the security it provides. The cryptic information can only be decoded by your browser and secured server.
An SSL certificate would mean that all the information between the browser and server is encrypted; hidden from the public eye. A third party would not be allowed to access and decipher important personal information such as credit card and checking account numbers, Social Security numbers and home addresses. To prove its authenticity, SSL certificates have to confirmed and validated to assure the sender and the receiver.
Free SSL certificate does not provide the same level of security as a paid SSL certificate. Though there are many available free certificates that can offer simple verification of the domain name of the sender, there are still many drawbacks in having them.
Do not trust a free SSL certificate when it pops up on a site. Though they may have some good in them, these free certificates are made to look like malicious websites. Their professed reliability factor is lower because they run slower. Though it is not recommended to use free SSL certificate for secured payments, it could be considered safer than having someone steal credit card information in a store. Another downside is that these free certificates more often than not come with unwelcomed bulk of internet applications that the user finds useless.
If you want great security, chose paid SSL certificates. They check the domain name and related telephone numbers, confirm the authority the individual offering the transaction, and verify the physical reality of a company. Only the most expensive certificates that are sold can give higher level of thorough background check of corporations.
The following would categorize a better SSL certificate service provider:
- Resolves issues quickly
- presents a seal in order to assure customers that the site is secure
- gives vulnerability evaluations to avoid hacking
- averts blacklisting by search engine whenever a malware is seen on a website
- has sensible refund policies
- serves warranties
The firm that issues a free certificate has a revocation list which can invalidate the certificate when it cannot be trusted. Failure to trust occurs when the browser invalidates the entire string of certificates from a firm that issued a free certificate that is no longer trusted. Because of this reasoning, some free certificates can be considered as trustworthy
The major question is: How much protection do you need to run a profitable online business?
If the information presented in your website is trivial and not worth stealing, then, a free SSL that offers minimal protection will work for you. But if you have large volume sales, a high-level SSL certificate will pay for itself once you consider savings you have from the possible damages a low-level certificate might cost you like fake credit card use, identity theft (electronically stealing customer information) and other forms of online hoax that can definitely ruin your online business.
Jake is a hardware and networking consultant who also owns couple of websites. He usually recommends his clients to have a ssl certificates to ensure security for their Websites. 
Prateek
