The Comprehensive SSL Certificate Price Comparison: DV, OV, and EV Costs for 2026

Have you noticed that little padlock icon in your browser’s address bar? That’s an SSL certificate doing its job. Without one, your website shows scary “Not Secure” warnings that send visitors running.

Google doesn’t mess around with website security anymore. Sites without SSL certificates get penalized in search rankings, which means less traffic and fewer customers for you.Understanding Your SSL Certificate Price Options

You’ve got three main types of SSL certificates to choose from. Each one offers different levels of trust and comes with its own ssl certificate price range.

The secret is matching your security needs with your budget. Let’s break down what you’re actually paying for.

Domain Validated (DV): The Most Affordable SSL Certificate Price

DV certificates are the speed demons of the SSL world. We can get you secured in just minutes because the validation only checks if you own the domain.

Think of DV as your basic security lock. It encrypts data between your server and visitors’ browsers without any fancy bells and whistles.

Perfect For These Websites

• Personal blogs and portfolios
• Small business landing pages
• Informational sites without payment processing
• Startup projects on tight budgets

Truehost DV Pricing That Won’t Break Your Bank

At Truehost, we offer the AskSSL Starter DV certificate starting at just $4.99 per year. You get industry-standard encryption without the premium price tag.

This domain validation certificate requires only proof of domain ownership and gets issued within minutes. We’ve automated the whole process to make your life easier.

Want to secure all your subdomains? Our DV Wildcard option starts at $79.99/year, covering everything from blog.yoursite.com to shop.yoursite.com.

How DV Prices Stack Up Across Providers

The market offers DV certificates from free (Let’s Encrypt) up to around $25 per year. Here’s what you’ll find:

• Free options: Let’s Encrypt (renewable every 90 days)
• Budget paid: Sectigo PositiveSSL at $4.99-$16/year
• Premium DV: Up to $25/year from name-brand providers

We partner with trusted certificate authorities like Sectigo to bring you rock-bottom prices. You get the same encryption as expensive certificates but save money for other business needs.

Organization Validated (OV): The Middle Ground SSL Certificate Price

OV certificates step things up a notch. Beyond checking domain ownership, the certificate authority verifies your actual business exists and is legitimate.

Organization validation authenticates not just your server, but your company’s legal information. This builds real trust with customers who check certificate details.

Who Should Choose OV Certificates

Your business probably needs OV if you’re:

1. Running an e-commerce store
2. Managing a corporate website
3. Handling customer accounts and data
4. Operating B2B services
5. Building credibility in competitive markets

Truehost’s OV SSL Certificate Price

We provide Sectigo InstantSSL starting at $36.80 per year. That’s organization-level validation at prices that make sense for growing businesses.

The validation process takes just 1-2 business days, so you won’t wait around forever. Our team helps with installation completely free—a service other providers charge $89+ for.

Market Comparison for OV Certificates

The ssl certificate price for OV validation varies widely:

Provider	OV Certificate	Annual Price	Validation Time
Truehost	Sectigo InstantSSL	$36.80	1-2 business days
DigiCert	Standard OV	$209-$230	1-2 business days
GoDaddy	OV SSL	$149.99	3-5 business days
Namecheap	PositiveSSL OV	$47.88	2-3 business days

You’re looking at $30 to $150 yearly for most OV certificates. Premium brands like DigiCert charge more but don’t necessarily give you better encryption.

We sell certificates from the same trusted authorities at reseller prices. Your customers see the exact same trust indicators.

Extended Validation (EV): Maximum Trust, Premium SSL Certificate Price

EV certificates put your business through the wringer—in a good way. This is the highest ranked and most expensive validation type, displaying your verified company name right in the browser.

The certificate authority digs deep into your company records. They verify legal existence, physical address, phone numbers, and operational status through government databases.

When EV Makes Business Sense

Don’t waste money on EV unless you need it:

• Banks and financial institutions
• Large e-commerce platforms processing thousands of transactions
• Healthcare providers handling sensitive patient data
• Government agencies
• Any business where maximum trust equals more revenue

Truehost EV SSL Certificate Price

Our Sectigo PositiveSSL EV starts at $123.20 per year (KES 16,632). That’s the strongest validation available without the eye-watering prices from other providers.

The verification process takes 1-5 business days and includes priority validation support. You’ll work directly with validation experts who move things along quickly.

EV Pricing Across the Industry

Here’s where things get expensive with other providers:

• Budget EV: $70-$150/year (uncommon)
• Standard EV: DigiCert Basic EV at $344/year
• Premium EV: DigiCert Secure Site EV at $995/year
• Enterprise EV: DigiCert Secure Site Pro EV at $1,495/year

We save you hundreds compared to buying directly from premium brands. Same validation process, same trust indicators, way better price.

Complete SSL Certificate Price Comparison Table

Feature	DV (Domain Validation)	OV (Organization Validation)	EV (Extended Validation)
Trust Level	Basic encryption only	Business identity verified	Maximum trust with company name display
Issuance Speed	Minutes	1-3 business days	3-5 business days
Truehost Price	From $4.99/yr	From $36.80/yr	From $123.20/yr
Market Average	$5-$25/yr	$30-$150/yr	$70-$599+/yr
Best For	Blogs, portfolios, basic sites	Corporate sites, e-commerce	Banking, high-volume e-commerce
Validation Required	Domain ownership only	Domain + business documents	Full legal, physical, operational vetting
Warranty Amount	$10,000-$50,000	$250,000-$1.25M	$1.5M-$2M

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What Actually Affects Your SSL Certificate Price?

Wildcard and Multi-Domain Options

Standard certificates cover one domain. Wildcard certificates secure unlimited subdomains under that domain.

Running multiple sites or services? Wildcard certificates consolidate security management instead of buying separate certificates for mail.yoursite.com, shop.yoursite.com, and blog.yoursite.com.

Multi-domain (SAN) certificates let you secure completely different domains—like yourcompany.com, yourcompany.net, and yourcompany.org—under one certificate.

Truehost wildcard pricing:

• DV Wildcard: $79.99/year
• OV Wildcard: Custom pricing
• EV Multi-domain: Contact for quote

Warranty and Insurance Coverage

Higher-priced certificates include bigger warranties. Sectigo PositiveSSL comes with a $50,000 warranty, while DigiCert Basic OV includes $1.25 million.

These warranties protect you if the certificate authority screws up. In reality, CA errors are incredibly rare.

Certificate Authority Brand Recognition

You’ll pay more for DigiCert and similar premium brands. But here’s the thing—encryption strength is identical across all certificates meeting industry standards.

We partner with global SSL providers like Sectigo (formerly Comodo) to offer certificates from established authorities at reseller prices. Your visitors get the same trust signals.

The Truehost Difference: Free Installation Support

Most providers either charge for installation or leave you hanging with documentation. We include free installation for every SSL certificate.

Our team handles the technical stuff if you need help. That alone saves you $50-$150 compared to paid installation services elsewhere.

Smart Shopping: Choosing the Right SSL Certificate Price Point

Start With Your Website Type

Don’t overspend on features you won’t use. A personal blog doesn’t need EV validation showing a company name, you probably don’t have one.

E-commerce sites handling payments should go OV minimum. Customers checking your certificate details expect to see verified business information.

Consider Your Growth Plans

Planning to add subdomains later? Buy the wildcard now. Switching certificates mid-year is a pain.

Scaling to multiple domains? Start with multi-domain SAN certificates from the beginning.

Calculate Total Cost of Ownership

That cheap ssl certificate price might not include:

1. Renewal fees (often higher than first-year rates)
2. Installation services
3. Support for validation problems
4. Additional domains or subdomains

We keep pricing straightforward at Truehost. No hidden fees or surprise renewal prices.

Free SSL: Is It Really Free?

Let’s Encrypt provides free SSL certificates renewable every 90 days. Perfect for hobby projects and testing.

The catch? You’re managing renewals yourself. Miss one renewal and your site goes back to showing security warnings.

Paid certificates from Truehost run 12 months with renewal reminders. We handle the headaches.

Why Choose Truehost for Your SSL Certificate Price and Service

We understand the UK market and price our services for local businesses. International providers don’t get that.

Real Support When You Need It

Ever tried getting help from a chatbot at 2 AM when your certificate installation fails? We’ve been there.

Our support team knows SSL inside and out. Call us, email us, chat with us—we’ll get you sorted.

Package Deals That Save Money

Hosting your website with us? Free SSL certificates come with our hosting packages. You might not need to buy a separate certificate at all.

Bundle domain registration, hosting, and SSL for the best overall value.

Getting Started: Your SSL Certificate Price Action Plan

1. Assess your needs: What type of site are you running?
2. Choose validation level: DV for basic, OV for business, EV for maximum trust
3. Check domain count: Single, wildcard, or multi-domain?
4. Compare total costs: Include installation and support
5. Review renewal pricing: Avoid surprise costs

Ready to secure your website? Browse our SSL certificate options at Truehost and get started today. Our team is standing by to help you choose the right certificate and get it installed quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions About SSL Certificate Price

Q: Can I upgrade from DV to OV later? A: Yes, but you’ll need to purchase a new certificate and go through validation again. Start with the right level from day one.

Q: Do SSL certificates affect website speed? A: Modern SSL adds negligible overhead. The SEO benefits far outweigh any tiny performance impact.

Q: What happens if my certificate expires? A: Browsers show big scary warnings and visitors can’t access your site. We send renewal reminders to prevent this.

Q: Are expensive certificates more secure? A: No. Encryption strength is identical. You’re paying for validation level and warranty amount.

Q: Can I transfer my SSL certificate to another host? A: Yes, SSL certificates are portable. You’ll need to reinstall it on the new server.

Final Thoughts on SSL Certificate Price in 2026

Don’t pay for trust signals you don’t need. A simple blog doesn’t require EV validation showing a registered company name.

But don’t skimp on security where it matters. E-commerce and corporate sites need proper validation to build customer confidence.

We’ve made our mission at Truehost simple: provide the cheapest SSL certificates in Kenya without sacrificing quality or support. You get certificates from globally recognized authorities at prices that make sense for African businesses.

The ssl certificate price you pay should reflect your actual security needs, nothing more, nothing less. Start with our DV certificates at $4.99/year and upgrade as your business grows.

Take action now: Visit Truehost SSL Certificates to find your perfect security solution. Free installation included with every purchase.