This guide explains the main differences between an EV and a DV certificate.

SSL EV certificates: for businesses

The Sectigo EV SSL certificate can only be issued to companies registered in an official registry.

It provides the highest level of trust for your customers and offers unique benefits in addition to the benefits of a DV certificate:

• lock in the navigation bar
• dynamic secure site seal
• validation of your domain name
• manual authentication of your company's details and identity
• guarantee of up to $1,750,000 for end users
• 24/7 support

Activating an EV SSL certificate can take up to 24 hours and will require action on your part.

DV SSL certificates: for businesses and individuals

The Sectigo DV certificate is available to individuals and companies. It does not include some of the benefits mentioned above, but it offers additional benefits compared to the free SSL certificates from Let's Encrypt:

• dynamic secure site seal
• validation of your domain name
• guarantee of up to $10,000 for end users
• 7/7 support

Activating a DV SSL certificate is immediate.

What about Let's Encrypt certificates?

A free Let's Encrypt certificate guarantees the same level of encryption as an EV or DV certificate. However, Let's Encrypt certificates do not offer the following benefits:

• manual validation of your company's details and authenticity (EV)
• guarantee for end users in case of fraud (EV/DV)
• support if you have any questions

In summary, Let's Encrypt certificates ensure the encryption of communications between your users and your site, but they do not guarantee to internet users that they are on a legitimate site whose identity has been authenticated by a certification authority.