Choosing Between DV, OV, EV, Single Domain, Multi-Domain and Wildcard SSL Certificates

Domain Validation — DV

A DV certificate verifies control of the domain.

It is commonly suitable for websites that need HTTPS without organisation identity checks.

Organisation Validation — OV

An OV certificate verifies domain control and checks details about the organisation applying for the certificate.

Additional business information or documentation may be required.

Extended Validation — EV

An EV certificate involves more extensive checks of the organisation’s identity and the applicant’s authority.

It does not guarantee a special green address bar or prominent company-name display in modern browsers.

Does a Paid Certificate Provide Stronger Encryption?

DV, OV, and EV describe validation levels, not encryption strength. A paid certificate is not automatically more strongly encrypted than a free certificate.

Differences may include identity validation, support, licensing, coverage, and product-specific terms.

Single-Domain, Wildcard, and Multi-Domain Coverage

• Single-Domain: Covers the hostname or hostnames specified by the product. Check whether both the root domain and www are included.

• Wildcard: A name such as *.example.com generally covers one subdomain level, such as shop.example.com. It does not cover store.shop.example.com. Root-domain coverage must also be checked.

• Multi-Domain: Covers multiple explicitly listed names, subject to the certificate’s limits.

Wildcard coverage is a naming feature, not a validation level.

Which Certificate Should I Choose?

Tell our support team which domains you need to secure, where they are hosted, and whether you require organisation validation. We can help you identify a suitable option.