NGN
KES - Kenya
ZAR - South Africa
USD - International
Short answer
All three encrypt your website in the same way. The difference is what the certificate authority checks: DV (domain validation) checks only that you control the domain, OV (organisation validation) also checks that your company is real, and EV (extended validation) adds the strictest company checks. Most websites only need DV, and the free SSL on Hostnali hosting is DV.
Side by side
| DV | OV | EV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Checks | Domain control | Domain + company | Domain + full company vetting |
| Issued | Usually within minutes | Once the company checks pass | Once the full vetting passes |
| Company name in certificate | No | Yes | Yes |
| Padlock in the browser | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Typical use | Websites, blogs, shops | Company sites, portals | Banks, payments, large brands |
Which one do you need?
- DV: business websites, blogs, most online shops. The free SSL included with Hostnali hosting is DV, installs itself and renews automatically.
- OV: when customers or partners need proof that the company behind the site is real, for example login portals, B2B services or government suppliers.
- EV: organisations handling payments or sensitive data that want the highest level of company verification.
Other things to compare
- Wildcard certificates cover all subdomains (*.yourdomain.com.ng).
- Multi-domain (SAN) certificates cover several different domains.
- Paid certificates come with a warranty from the certificate authority.
What OV and EV need from you
Company registration documents, a business phone number that can be verified, and a contact person who can answer the certificate authority’s checks. Have them ready and approval is faster.
Compare prices on SSL certificates, or read do I need to pay for SSL?