Here's a simple breakdown of Single, Multiple, and Wildcard SSL certificates, and how to choose the best one for your website:
1. Single SSL Certificate
- What it is: A Single SSL certificate secures just one domain. For example, if you have a website called `example.com`, the certificate will only protect `example.com`.
- Use it when: You have only one website or domain that you need to secure.
Example: You only want to secure `www.example.com`.
2. Multiple SSL Certificate
- What it is: A Multiple SSL certificate, also called a Multi-domain or SAN (Subject Alternative Name) certificate, secures multiple different domains with just one certificate.
- You own several websites with different domain names and want to protect them all with one certificate.
Example: You have `example.com`, `example.net`, and `example.org` and want to secure them all under one SSL.
3. Wildcard SSL Certificate
- A Wildcard SSL certificate secures one main domain and all its subdomains. Subdomains are like sections of your main website, such as `blog.example.com` or `store.example.com`.
- You have one website with lots of subdomains that need to be protected.
Example: You want to secure `example.com`, `blog.example.com`, `store.example.com`, etc.
Which one is best for your website?
- If you only have one website/domain, go with a Single SSL.
- If you have multiple websites/domains, choose a Multiple SSL.
- If you have subdomains (like blog, store, etc.) under the same main domain, a Wildcard SSL is the best option.
Each type of SSL certificate provides the same level of security, but the choice depends on how many domains or subdomains you need to protect.