Differences between an EV and DV certificate

This guide explains the main differences between EV and DV certificates.

EV SSL certificates: for companies

The Sectigo EV SSL certificate can only be issued to companies registered on the commercial register or with the chamber of commerce. It ensures your clients the highest level of trust and offers unique advantages in addition to including the benefits of a DV certificate:

• Your company name in the navigation bar (find out more)
• Padlock in the navigation bar
• Dynamic secure site seal
• Validation of your domain name
• Manual authentication of the details and identity of your company
• Guarantee of up to $1750,000.00 for end users
• Support 7/7

Activation of an EV SSL certificate can take up to 24 hours and requires certain actions on your part.

DV SSL certificates: for companies and individuals

The Sectigo DV certificate is open to both individuals and companies. It does not include some of the advantages mentioned above, but it does offer extra benefits compared to free Let's Encrypt SSL certificates:

• Dynamic secure site seal
• Validation of your domain name
• Guarantee of up to $10000.00 for end users
• Support 7/7

DV SSL certificates are activated immediately.

And 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 authentication of the details and authenticity of your company (EV)
• Guarantee for end users in the event of fraud (EV/DV)
• Support in the event of questions

In short, Let's Encrypt certificates ensure encryption of communications between your users and your site, but do offer cybernauts the guarantee that they are on a legitimate site the identity of which has been authenticated by a certification body.