Trust signals
SSL Site Seals and Trust Badges: Do They Still Matter?
An SSL site seal shows visitors which certificate authority verified your domain; a TrustedSite badge shows that your site passes daily scans. Here is what each one proves and where it belongs.
What is an SSL site seal?
An SSL site seal is a small badge, supplied by the certificate authority (CA) that issued your SSL certificate, that you place on your website to show the domain has a valid certificate from that CA. Clicking a dynamic seal opens a verification page hosted by the CA, with the domain name, the validation level and the certificate status.
People search for it as an “SSL certificate logo” or “SSL certificate badge”, but a seal is not just an image. A real seal is served by the CA and checks your domain when the page loads. A copied logo image proves nothing and can mislead visitors. Most CAs supply the seal code in your certificate account after issuance; check the product page to see whether a seal is included.
| Badge type | Who supplies it | What it confirms |
|---|---|---|
| CA site seal (static) | The issuing CA | That you bought a certificate from that CA – no live check |
| CA site seal (dynamic) | The issuing CA | Live certificate status and, for OV/EV, the verified organization |
| TrustedSite badge | TrustedSite | That the site passes TrustedSite’s regular security scans |
| Payment or card logos | Payment providers | Accepted payment methods only – not a security check |
Want a badge backed by daily scans?
TrustedSite certification sits in our website security range, next to malware scanning, backups and PCI scanning.
See website security toolsWhat is the difference between an SSL seal and a TrustedSite badge?
An SSL seal vouches for your certificate; a TrustedSite badge vouches for the site itself. The seal confirms that a CA verified domain control (and, for OV or EV, your organization). The TrustedSite badge confirms that the site passed TrustedSite’s recurring scans for issues such as malware.
That difference matters because a valid certificate only encrypts the connection. It says nothing about malware, outdated plugins or a compromised checkout. Our guide to what SSL does not protect explains those gaps in detail.
| SSL site seal | TrustedSite badge | |
|---|---|---|
| Proves | A CA issued a valid certificate for this domain | The site passes regular security scans |
| Based on | Domain control (DV), plus organization checks (OV/EV) | Ongoing scanning of the live site |
| Changes when | The certificate expires, is revoked or replaced | A scan fails or the subscription ends |
| Comes with | Your SSL certificate (CA-dependent) | A TrustedSite plan |
| Best used on | Login, account and checkout pages | Checkout, forms and lead pages |
TrustedSite certification plans
Starter TrustedSite
TrustedSite Standard 2000
- Up to 2,000 visits/month
- Certified Secure seal
- Issue-Free Orders display
$23.99
Full suite TrustedSite
TrustedSite Pro 2000
- Up to 2,000 visits/month
- All TrustedSite trustmarks
- Data Protection + Spam-Free
$306.99
Best value TrustedSite
TrustedSite Premium 2000
- Up to 2,000 visits/month
- Verified Business indicator
- Trusted Reviews display
$55.99
TrustedSite plans come in Standard, Pro and Premium tiers, each available in several traffic sizes. Start with the TrustedSite Standard 2000 product page, then compare the Pro and Premium pages to see what each tier adds.
Do trust seals increase conversions?
There is no reliable, independent public data showing that trust seals increase conversions for a typical website. Published figures come mostly from vendors or small, uncontrolled case studies, so we do not quote them here.
Results also depend on your audience, your brand recognition and where the badge appears. A well-known retailer may see no effect; a new shop asking for card details may see some. The only number that counts is the one you measure on your own site.
Test a trust badge on your own site
Pick one page and one goal
Choose a page with steady traffic, such as checkout or a signup form, and one metric, such as completed orders.
Split your traffic
Use an A/B testing tool so half of visitors see the badge and half do not, during the same period.
Run it long enough
Wait until each version has enough conversions for your testing tool to report a significant result.
Keep or remove it
Keep the badge only if the test shows a clear gain. If it shows nothing, it is still harmless to keep a verified seal.
Where should you place an SSL site seal or trust badge?
Place a trust badge where visitors hand over data: next to the payment button at checkout and beside the submit button on forms. Those are the moments when a visitor hesitates, so that is where a verification signal has a chance to help.
- Checkout: directly below or beside the “Place order” button.
- Forms: signup, quote, donation and contact forms, near the submit button.
- Login pages: where users enter passwords.
- Footer: site-wide, as a low-key signal on every page.
Tip: Load the seal with the code from your CA or TrustedSite account, not a saved image. A dynamic seal keeps its click-through verification page and stops showing as valid when the certificate or scan status changes.
Do SSL site seals still matter in 2026?
They matter less as a browser signal and more as an on-page explanation. Browsers have not shown a green EV address bar since 2019, so the address bar no longer tells visitors which organization runs a site. A seal that links to the CA’s verification page is one of the few visible ways to show that identity.
| Good fit | Pick something else if |
|---|---|
| You sell online or take donations and want to explain who verified you | You expect a seal to replace security work on the site |
| You have an OV or EV certificate whose verified organization is worth showing | Your page is already crowded with badges and logos |
| You can test the badge on checkout or a form | You only want a decorative “secure” logo |
If you still need the certificate behind the seal, compare all SSL certificates by validation level and coverage. For scanning, malware cleanup and TrustedSite plans, browse our website security tools.
Add a verified trust badge
Pair your SSL certificate with TrustedSite certification or other website security tools.
See website security tools