What is SSL and do you need it for your website?
The short answer
SSL encrypts the connection between visitor and website and puts the padlock in the browser. Every site needs it today. Browsers flag sites without SSL as not secure, and Google counts it in rankings. Any good provider includes it for free.
In detail
An SSL certificate (technically TLS) encrypts the traffic between your visitor's browser and your server. Without it, anyone along the way can read what is submitted. That matters the moment people enter anything. Think of a contact form, a password or payment details. Browsers also show warnings on sites without SSL. That alone scares visitors away.
SSL has been free for years. Thanks to Let’s Encrypt every provider can issue certificates at no cost. Every provider in our shortlist does so as standard. Paying extra for a basic certificate is no longer needed.
After activation, make sure your whole site runs on https. The old http address should redirect automatically. In modern hosting panels and WordPress plugins that is a single checkbox.