Which SSL certificate do I need? DV, OV, EV and Wildcard compared
Free SSL or a paid certificate? We explain the differences between DV, OV, EV and Wildcard certificates and when each type of SSL certificate is worthwhile.
Without an SSL certificate, browsers show your website as “not secure”, and forms transmit data unencrypted. A certificate is therefore essential today. But which one do you need? The answer depends on how much verification and trust your website should signal.
The four certificate types
| Type | What is verified? | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| DV – Domain Validation | only control over the domain | blogs, company websites, most projects |
| OV – Organization Validation | domain and existence of the company | company portals, client areas |
| EV – Extended Validation | comprehensive verification of the company | banks, insurers, large shops |
| Wildcard | covers all subdomains of one level | many subdomains, e.g. shop., clients., app. |
Is a free certificate enough?
For most websites, yes. Free certificates are DV certificates and encrypt just as strongly as paid ones. In all HostOn web hosting packages, they are issued and renewed automatically.
When is a validated certificate worthwhile?
- You want to show the verified company name in the certificate (OV, EV).
- A customer, partner or tender requires a validated certificate.
- You need a longer warranty or insurance from the issuer.
- You run many subdomains and want a single certificate (Wildcard).
Same encryption, different verification
Important to know: the technical encryption is equally strong for all types. The difference lies in the identity verification and in which details appear in the certificate.
Tip: After switching to HTTPS, redirect all requests from http:// to https:// with a 301 redirect and update internal links – otherwise the browser reports “mixed content”.
Frequently asked questions on this topic
No. The encryption is identical. Free certificates only verify the domain (DV); validated certificates also verify the identity of the company.
Yes. A Wildcard certificate for *.your-company.ch protects all first-level subdomains as well as your-company.ch itself.
DV certificates are usually issued within minutes. For OV and EV, the certificate authority verifies the company; this usually takes a few working days.
Yes. Browsers mark pages without HTTPS as not secure, contact forms would transmit data unencrypted, and search engines prefer HTTPS pages.
