When is free SSL enough?
Free DV SSL is enough for many company sites, blogs, landing pages and small shops that need HTTPS encryption and automatic renewals.
ZeroSSL/Sectigo and Let's Encrypt
Both paths issue DV certificates after domain control validation. ZeroSSL works in a Sectigo-backed ecosystem, while Let's Encrypt is a public CA built around ACME automation.
When should you buy SSL?
A commercial certificate is useful when you need OV/EV organization validation, wildcard, multi-domain/SAN or formal certificate support.