SSL Certificate Types Guide
SSL/TLS certificates come in three validation levels — DV, OV, and EV — each providing different levels of identity verification. Use this guide to choose the right certificate and verify any website's security.
Domain
DV
Domain Validated
- Verifies domain ownership only
- Issued in minutes
- Free via Let's Encrypt
- Shows padlock in browser
Blogs · Personal sites
Organization
OV
Organization Validated
- Verifies company identity
- Business name in certificate
- 1-3 day vetting process
- ~$50–$200/year
Business websites · SaaS
Extended
EV
Extended Validation
- Most rigorous vetting
- Legal entity verification
- 1-2 week process
- ~$150–$800/year
Banks · E-commerce
How to Check a Website's SSL Certificate
1
Look for HTTPS in the address bar
The URL should start with https:// and show a padlock icon. No padlock = no encryption.
2
Click the padlock icon
In Chrome/Firefox, click the padlock to see "Connection is secure" and certificate details.
3
View Certificate Details
Look for: Issued To (organization name for OV/EV), Valid Until date, and Certificate Authority (CA). Check the CA is reputable: DigiCert, Comodo, Let's Encrypt, GlobalSign.
4
Check expiry date
SSL certificates expire. If a site shows a warning, the cert may be expired — don't enter sensitive data.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | DV | OV | EV |
|---|---|---|---|
| HTTPS padlock | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Domain ownership verified | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Business identity verified | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Legal existence verified | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Free options available | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Typical issuance time | Minutes | 1-3 days | 1-2 weeks |