What is Wildcard SSL Certificate?
Wildcard SSL certificate is a type of SSL certificate that protects a main domain name and an unlimited number of subdomains connected to it with a single certificate. The certificate is issued in the format *.domain.com.
Wildcard SSL Protected Domain Name Examples
*.example.com certificate protects the following domains:
www.example.commail.example.comblog.example.comshop.example.comapi.example.com- And more... (unlimited)
How Does Wildcard SSL Work?
Important Technical Details
- Single level scope:
*.example.comprotects only first-level subdomains - Main domain included: Also retains main domain
example.com - Unlimited subdomains: You can add as many subdomains as you want.
- No need for the same server: You can also use it on different servers.
Wildcard SSL vs Single Domain SSL vs Multi-Domain SSL
| Feature | Single Domain SSL | Wildcard SSL | Multi-Domain SSL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | 1 domain | Main domain + unlimited subdomains | Multiple different domains |
| Flexibility | Low | High (for subdomains) | High (for different domains) |
| Cost/Domain | Fixed | Very low per subdomain | Medium per domain |
Advantages of Wildcard SSL Certificate
💰 Cost Savings
Instead of purchasing separate SSLs for 10 subdomains, a single Wildcard SSL can provide noticeable cost savings
⚡ Easy Management
One certificate, one renewal date, one installation.
🚀 Fast Scaling
You do not need to purchase a certificate when you open a new subdomain.
🔒 Same Strong Encryption
Wildcard SSL offers the same 256-bit encryption strength as single-domain SSL.
When to Use Wildcard SSL?
- Large number of subdomains: If you have 3+ subdomains
- SaaS platforms:If you assign subdomains to each customer
- Development environments:dev, staging, test environments
- Large web projects: If the blog, store, API, panel are in separate subdomains
Wildcard SSL Installation Process
- Creating CSR:
*.alanadi.comCreate CSR with Common Name - Certificate purchase: Select appropriate Wildcard SSL from DATASSL
- Domain verification: Verification by email, DNS or HTTP
- Certificate installation: Install the certificate on your servers
- Test: Check HTTPS on all subdomains
Check out our Wildcard SSL certificates and start protecting all your subdomains
