DV certificates prove only that you control the domain, OV certificates also verify your organization, and EV certificates involve the most thorough vetting. All three give the same encryption, and most websites need only the free DV certificate.

Domain Validation (DV)

DV certificates verify domain ownership only. They're the fastest to issue (minutes) and most affordable - Let's Encrypt provides them for free. Best for: personal sites, blogs, small businesses. This is the type HostBarrel provisions automatically for all sites.

Organization Validation (OV)

OV certificates verify both domain ownership and the organization behind it. The CA checks business registration documents. Issuance takes 1-3 days. Best for: business websites, e-commerce sites.

Extended Validation (EV)

EV certificates require thorough vetting of the organization. They used to display the company name in a green address bar, though modern browsers have moved away from this. Best for: banks, large e-commerce, government sites.

Which Do You Need?

For most websites, a free DV certificate (included with all HostBarrel plans) provides the same encryption strength as paid certificates. Upgrade to OV or EV only if your industry requires it - our SSL certificates page lists the paid options.

Wildcard SSL

A wildcard certificate secures your main domain plus all subdomains (e.g., *.yourdomain.com). Useful if you run multiple subdomains like blog, shop, and app.