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 and most online shops. The free SSL included with Hostnali hosting is DV; it 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 suppliers bidding for tenders.
- 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.co.tz).
- Multi-domain (SAN) certificates cover several different domains, for example your .co.tz and .com.
- Paid certificates come with a warranty from the certificate authority.
What OV and EV need from you
Your company registration documents (for example your BRELA registration), 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 goes faster.
Compare prices on SSL certificates, or read do I need to pay for SSL?