SSL Certificate Validation Levels
SSL certificates come in three main validation levels, each offering different levels of identity verification and trust indicators. The choice depends on your website type, business needs, and security requirements.
Domain Validated
Basic validation for domain ownership
Organization Validated
Business identity verification
Extended Validation
Highest trust and validation
Not Sure Which to Choose?
Our SSL experts can help you select the perfect certificate
SSL Consultation
Starting at Free/year
- Expert Analysis
- Custom Recommendations
- Implementation Guidance
Domain Validated (DV) SSL Certificates
DV certificates are the most basic type of SSL certificate, requiring only verification that you control the domain. They're perfect for blogs, portfolios, and informational websites.
Pros
- • Fastest issuance (minutes)
- • Lowest cost option
- • Automatic validation possible
- • Same encryption as other types
- • Perfect for personal websites
Cons
- • No business identity verification
- • Limited trust indicators
- • Not ideal for e-commerce
- • No company information displayed
- • Basic browser indicators only
Best For
- • Personal blogs and portfolios
- • Informational websites
- • Development and testing environments
- • Small business landing pages
- • Non-commercial websites
Organization Validated (OV) SSL Certificates
OV certificates provide a higher level of trust by verifying both domain ownership and organization identity. They display company information in the certificate details.
Pros
- • Business identity verification
- • Company name in certificate
- • Enhanced customer trust
- • Professional appearance
- • Better for business websites
Cons
- • Takes 1-3 business days
- • Requires business documentation
- • Higher cost than DV
- • Manual validation process
- • No green address bar
Best For
- • Business and corporate websites
- • E-commerce sites (moderate trust)
- • Customer-facing applications
- • Professional service providers
- • Organizations requiring identity verification
Ready to Secure Your Business?
Get an OV or EV certificate for enhanced trust
Business SSL Certificate
Starting at $9.99/year
- Organization Validation
- Company Name Display
- Priority Support
Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificates
EV certificates provide the highest level of validation and trust. They require extensive business verification and display your company name prominently in the browser.
Pros
- • Highest level of trust
- • Company name display in certificate
- • Extensive identity verification
- • Best for high-value transactions
- • Maximum customer confidence
Cons
- • Longest validation time (1-2 weeks)
- • Most expensive option
- • Extensive documentation required
- • Manual validation process
- • Overkill for many websites
Best For
- • Financial institutions and banks
- • High-volume e-commerce sites
- • Government websites
- • Sites handling sensitive data
- • Large corporations and enterprises
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | DV | OV | EV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Validation Time | Minutes | 1-3 Days | 1-2 Weeks |
| Domain Verification | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Business Verification | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Company Name Display | ✗ | Certificate Only | Certificate Details |
| Encryption Level | 256-bit | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Browser Trust | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% |
Which Certificate Should You Choose?
Personal or Small Business Website
Choose DV SSL for blogs, portfolios, or informational sites. You get the same encryption level at the lowest cost with instant issuance.
Business or Professional Website
Choose OV SSL if you're a registered business and want to display your company identity to build customer trust.
E-Commerce or Financial Site
Choose EV SSL if you handle sensitive transactions, financial data, or need the highest level of visible trust for your customers.