The independent guide to choosing the right SSL certificate

Find the right SSL certificate in 60 seconds.

Compare DV, OV, EV, Wildcard and Multi-Domain certificates by price, validation level and trust. Pick the right one and get set up in minutes — secured by SSL.com.

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5-minute install
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CERTIFICATE WIZARD

Find your match in 60 seconds

Answer a few questions — we'll point you to the right certificate, no guessing needed.

Website HTTPS DV · OV · EV · Wildcard
Code Signing IV · OV · EV
Email & S/MIME
Document Signing
Brand Protection BIMI / VMC
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Compare certificate types

Not all SSL certificates are equal

Choose by your need, budget and required trust level. Every certificate uses the same strong 256-bit encryption.

DV — ENTRY

Domain Validation

Fast, affordable encryption for personal sites and blogs.

  • Single domain
  • Issued in minutes
  • Browser padlock icon
  • 256-bit encryption · Free reissues
from $36 /yr
See Basic SSL →
Payment completed securely on SSL.com
Most popular
WILDCARD

Wildcard SSL

Protect your domain and every subdomain with one certificate.

  • Unlimited subdomains
  • Covers *.yourdomain.com
  • One install to manage
  • Free unlimited reissues · 256-bit
from $299 /yr
See Wildcard SSL →
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EV — HIGHEST TRUST

Extended Validation

Maximum credibility for e-commerce and corporate sites.

  • Company identity verified
  • Highest trust level
  • Full business validation
  • High warranty amount · 256-bit
from $249 /yr
See EV SSL →
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Need something different? View all certificate types →  or  see the full comparison →

Simple process

Three steps to a secure site

No technical expertise required. Choose, verify, install — and you're done.

1

Choose your certificate

Use the wizard above or the comparison table to find the DV, Wildcard, OV or EV certificate that fits your site.

2

Verify your domain

Confirm ownership via email or DNS record. DV certificates are typically ready in under 5 minutes.

3

Install and stay secure

Follow the step-by-step guide and install on your server. Get automatic renewal reminders so you never expire.

Free SSL tools

Check, decode and validate your SSL setup

No signup required — run any of our 7 free tools in seconds.

SSL Certificate Checker

Verify any domain's SSL certificate status, expiry date and chain of trust instantly.

Check a domain →

CSR Generator

Generate a Certificate Signing Request for your domain with the correct fields, in seconds.

Generate CSR →

SSL Decoder

Decode and inspect the contents of any SSL certificate — issuer, validity, SANs and more.

Decode certificate →

View all 7 free SSL tools →

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between DV, OV and EV certificates?
DV (Domain Validation) only verifies domain ownership and is the fastest option — ideal for blogs and personal sites. OV (Organization Validation) also verifies your business details, adding a credibility layer. EV (Extended Validation) is the most thorough — it verifies your company identity and is recommended for e-commerce and financial sites where maximum trust is critical.
What does a Wildcard SSL cover?
A Wildcard SSL secures your main domain and all first-level subdomains under one certificate. For example, one Wildcard for *.yourdomain.com covers blog.yourdomain.com, shop.yourdomain.com and mail.yourdomain.com — including any new subdomains you add later.
Do I need a separate certificate for each domain?
Not necessarily. A Multi-Domain (SAN) certificate lets you cover multiple different domains with a single certificate. If your domains all share a root (like sub1.site.com, sub2.site.com), a Wildcard certificate is usually the smarter choice.
How long does installation take?
DV certificates are typically issued and ready to install within 5 minutes. OV certificates require business verification and may take a few hours to a couple of days. EV certificates can take 1–5 business days due to full company validation.
Where do I make the payment?
After choosing your certificate here, payment and setup are completed securely on SSL.com — a globally trusted Certificate Authority in business since 2002. Your card details are never stored on this site.
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