Single Domain Certificate vs Wildcard Certificate

Developers should use Single Domain Certificates when securing a single website or application with a specific domain, as they are cost-effective and straightforward to implement for simple use cases meets developers should use wildcard certificates when managing multiple subdomains under a single domain, as it reduces administrative overhead and costs compared to purchasing separate certificates for each subdomain. Here's our take.

Single Domain Certificate

Nice Pick

Developers should use Single Domain Certificates when securing a single website or application with a specific domain, as they are cost-effective and straightforward to implement for simple use cases

Pros

• They are ideal for personal blogs, small business sites, or internal tools that don't require coverage for multiple domains or subdomains
• Related to: ssl-tls, https

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Wildcard Certificate

Developers should use wildcard certificates when managing multiple subdomains under a single domain, as it reduces administrative overhead and costs compared to purchasing separate certificates for each subdomain

Pros

• It is particularly useful for scalable web applications, development environments, or corporate intranets where subdomains are dynamically created or frequently updated
• Related to: ssl-tls, public-key-infrastructure

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Single Domain Certificate if: You want they are ideal for personal blogs, small business sites, or internal tools that don't require coverage for multiple domains or subdomains and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Wildcard Certificate if: You prioritize it is particularly useful for scalable web applications, development environments, or corporate intranets where subdomains are dynamically created or frequently updated over what Single Domain Certificate offers.

The Bottom Line

Single Domain Certificate wins

Developers should use Single Domain Certificates when securing a single website or application with a specific domain, as they are cost-effective and straightforward to implement for simple use cases