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What is a Wildcard SSL Certificate? | Secure Unlimited Subdomains | Wikicert
Learn what a Wildcard SSL Certificate is, how it works, which subdomains it protects, and when it's the best choice for growing businesses.
A Wildcard SSL secures:
Example:
example.com
├── www.example.com
├── shop.example.com
├── blog.example.com
├── mail.example.com
└── api.example.com
A single Wildcard SSL certificate protects all of these first-level subdomains.
…and any future first-level subdomains you create.
The certificate uses an asterisk (*) to represent every possible first-level subdomain.
Example:
*.example.com
The * acts as a wildcard, meaning one certificate covers every first-level subdomain automatically.
A Wildcard SSL protects:
✔ support.example.com
✔ shop.example.com
✔ mail.example.com
✔ login.example.com
✔ api.example.com
✔ anything.example.com
A standard Wildcard SSL does not protect second-level subdomains.
Example:
secure.shop.example.com
This would require another certificate or a Multi-Domain solution depending on your infrastructure.
Instead of buying separate SSL certificates every time a developer creates another subdomain, a Wildcard SSL keeps everything protected from day one.
Benefits include:
✔ Easier certificate management
✔ Lower long-term cost
✔ Unlimited first-level subdomains
✔ Faster deployment
✔ Less administration
✔ Ideal for growing businesses
Wildcard certificates are ideal for businesses that use multiple services under one domain.
Common examples include:
SaaS platforms
Hosting providers
Digital agencies
Universities
Enterprise companies
Ecommerce businesses
Internal company portals
Customer dashboards
API services
Wildcard SSL certificates are commonly available with:
DV Wildcard – Fast domain validation for developers and websites.
OV Wildcard – Adds verified business identity alongside encryption.
Extended Validation (EV) certificates generally are not issued as Wildcard certificates, because EV requires validating a specific legal entity for each certificate.
The validation depends on the certificate type.
DV Wildcard
Usually issued within minutes after domain ownership is verified.
OV Wildcard
Business verification generally takes between 1–3 business days.
However, with Wikicert's boutique validation specialists, we often help customers complete the entire process in half a day or even faster by preparing documentation correctly and guiding every validation step.
Yes.
Encryption strength is identical to standard SSL certificates.
The main advantage is convenience you secure an unlimited number of subdomains with one certificate while maintaining the same industry-standard encryption.
Yes. A Wildcard SSL protects unlimited first-level subdomains under one domain.
Absolutely.
Any new first-level subdomain is automatically covered without purchasing another certificate.
Yes.
Most Wildcard certificates protect both:
example.com
*.example.com
If you manage several subdomains, a Wildcard SSL is usually far more cost-effective than purchasing individual certificates for each one.
Not sure whether a Single Domain, Wildcard, Multi-Domain, or OV SSL Certificate is the right fit for your website?
Contact Wikicert, and our boutique SSL validation specialists will recommend the most suitable certificate based on your infrastructure, growth plans, and security requirements without any obligation.
