What is the difference between DV, OV, and EV SSL certificates?

DV (Domain Validation) only verifies domain ownership and is issued in minutes. OV (Organization Validation) verifies the business behind the domain, adding trust. EV (Extended Validation) is the strictest — it checks legal, operational, and physical existence. The higher the validation level, the more trust your visitors see.

Which SSL certificate do I need for my website?

For personal blogs and portfolios, a DV certificate is sufficient. Business websites benefit from OV certificates that display the verified company name. E-commerce sites, financial services, and regulated industries should use EV certificates for maximum trust. Use our Certificate Finder above to get a personalized recommendation.

Do I need a wildcard or multi-domain SSL certificate?

A wildcard certificate covers unlimited subdomains under one domain (e.g., *.example.com). A multi-domain (SAN) certificate covers several separate domains (e.g., example.com + example.net). If you only have one domain with no subdomains, a standard single-domain certificate is all you need.

How long does it take to get an SSL certificate?

DV certificates are issued within minutes after domain verification. OV certificates take 1–3 business days for organization verification. EV certificates take 1–5 business days due to extensive legal and operational checks. Preparation — such as having verification documents ready — can speed up OV and EV issuance.

What is an S/MIME email certificate?

An S/MIME (Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) certificate encrypts email contents and digitally signs messages. This proves the sender's identity and ensures emails haven't been tampered with. S/MIME is supported by Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, and other major email clients.

How much does an SSL certificate cost?

SSL certificate prices vary by type. DV certificates start from $2.99/year — the most affordable option. OV certificates are mid-range and suited for businesses. EV certificates cost more due to the extensive verification process. Wildcard and multi-domain certificates cost more than single-domain options. Check our pricing page for current rates.

Can I upgrade my SSL certificate later?

Yes. You can upgrade from DV to OV or EV at any time by purchasing a higher-level certificate and replacing the current one on your server. Most Certificate Authorities allow you to apply remaining validity toward the new certificate. The upgrade process involves completing the appropriate verification for the higher level.

What is a code signing certificate?

A code signing certificate digitally signs software, drivers, and scripts to verify the publisher's identity and ensure the code hasn't been modified. Without code signing, users see 'Unknown Publisher' warnings. Both OV and EV code signing certificates are available — EV provides higher trust and is required for kernel-mode drivers on Windows.

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Which SSL Certificate Do I Need?

Choosing the right SSL certificate doesn't have to be complicated. Our free step-by-step Certificate Finder walks you through a few quick questions about your website, business, and security needs — then recommends the best DV, OV, or EV SSL, wildcard, code signing, or S/MIME certificate in under 60 seconds. No jargon, no guesswork.

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A Step-by-Step Guide to Choosing an SSL Certificate

Selecting the right SSL certificate depends on three factors: what you're securing, how much trust you need to convey, and how many domains or subdomains you manage. Here's the decision framework our Certificate Finder uses.

Domain Validation (DV) certificates verify only that you control the domain. They're issued in minutes with no paperwork, making them ideal for personal websites, blogs, and portfolios. Organization Validation (OV) adds a business identity check — the Certificate Authority verifies your company's legal registration before issuing the certificate. This is the standard choice for business websites, SaaS platforms, and ecommerce stores that want to display their verified organization name.

Extended Validation (EV) is the highest level of assurance. The CA performs legal, operational, and physical verification of the organization. EV certificates are recommended for banking, financial services, large-scale ecommerce, and any site handling sensitive transactions where maximum visitor trust is critical.

Beyond validation level, consider coverage scope. A single-domain certificate covers one hostname. A wildcard certificate (*.example.com) secures unlimited subdomains under one domain. Multi-domain (SAN) certificates cover several distinct domains — useful when managing a portfolio of sites. For email encryption, S/MIME certificates are the standard. For software distribution, code signing certificates remove "unknown publisher" warnings and prove code integrity.

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