A certificate authority you've never heard of and one you have offer identical encryption — what actually differs between the options below is validation depth and coverage. If you're unsure which type fits your situation, our DV vs OV vs EV and Wildcard vs Multi-Domain guides walk through the decision in more depth than a product page can.
Confirms only that you control the domain — no company paperwork, typically issued within minutes. The right choice for a personal site, blog, or small business site that doesn't need to visibly prove its legal identity to visitors. See our guide to DV, OV, and EV Certificates for the full comparison.
Adds verification of your business's legal existence on top of domain control, giving visitors slightly more assurance than a basic DV certificate. A reasonable middle ground for a business site that wants some identity verification without the cost and paperwork of full EV validation.
A Unified Communications Certificate covers several unrelated domains and subdomains under one certificate without requiring Extended Validation — originally built for Microsoft Exchange and Office Communications Server, but useful anytime you need one certificate spanning multiple distinct hostnames. Sits between a single-domain certificate and the EV UCC option: broader coverage, without EV's added cost and validation time.
Combines Extended Validation's thorough identity checks with coverage for several unrelated domains or subdomains under one certificate — common for organizations running Exchange, Office Communications Server, or a handful of distinct branded properties. The most comprehensive certificate type here, reserved for cases with a genuine business or compliance need for both EV and multi-domain coverage.
A single wildcard certificate covers a domain and every one of its first-level subdomains — blog.yourdomain.com, shop.yourdomain.com, mail.yourdomain.com — with one purchase and one renewal date. It's the practical choice once you're managing more than two or three subdomains, since it replaces what would otherwise be a separate certificate for each one.
Certificate links on this page are affiliate links — if you purchase through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never affects which products we describe or how. Full detail in our disclaimer.
Loading comments…