Multi-Domain SSL certificate for your website
Several websites aren't a reason to buy several certificates. A Multi-Domain SSL certificate from Leneex protects different domain names with a single file, including domains in different TLDs, for example.com and.eu. You order the certificate, validate each domain, and install it on your servers. Our support team will help with the setup across multiple sites.
- Trusted by browsers: 99%+ compatibility
- HTTPS supports your search rankings
- Customer data sealed with encryption
- Free installation
Three Reasons to Choose Multi-Domain SSL certificate
Order Multi-Domain SSL certificate for website
One certificate for several different domains and domain zones.
Several company domains under one vetted organization.
Extended vetting across several domains of an online store.
Four steps to your Multi-Domain SSL certificate
Write down all the names you need to protect and check them against your plan's limit. For subdomains of a single domain, Wildcard is a better fit.
Enter your domains and pay for the order. Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted, and legal entities can pay by invoice.
Each domain gets its own validation method: email, DNS, or a file on the site. The certificate is issued once all domains are confirmed.
Installing a Multi-Domain SSL certificate is possible on several servers at once if your sites are hosted separately: you install the certificate and the key. Support will help with virtual hosts and tell you what to update after a reissue.
Questions about Multi-Domain (SAN)
How many domains fit into one certificate, how the name list is changed and how SAN differs from Wildcard.
The base package includes a set number of domain names, and additional ones are purchased separately. The exact number is listed on the page of the plan you choose.
Yes, a single certificate can list domains from different TLDs. Each name is validated separately.
Each name gets its own validation method: email, DNS, or a file. The certificate is issued once all domains are confirmed.
Yes, the set of names is changed through a reissue, with an additional charge for the added domains. The new certificate replaces the old one.
Yes, one Multi-Domain SSL certificate for a website and its private key can be installed on several servers. Keep in mind that after a reissue, the certificate has to be updated on each of them. Transfer the private key only over a secure channel and restrict access to it: if it leaks, you'll need to reissue the certificate and revoke the old one.
Support will help you configure the certificate on a web server that hosts several virtual hosts.
Renewal is priced based on the current set of domains.
Question 01
How many domains are included in a Multi-Domain SSL certificate?
The base package includes a set number of domain names, and additional ones are purchased separately. The exact number is listed on the page of the plan you choose.
Multi-Domain SSL is a certificate that protects not one but several different domain names within a single certificate file. Technically, this became possible thanks to an extension of the X.509 standard called Subject Alternative Name (SAN). The SAN field lists all the names the certificate protects. Modern browsers check the SAN, not the Common Name.
What Is a Multi-Domain SSL Certificate
Put simply, instead of buying five separate certificates for five different sites, you buy one Multi-Domain certificate and list all the domains you need in it.
A visitor's browser sees a secure connection equally well no matter which of these domains they land on. It's important not to confuse domains with subdomains. Domains are entirely different addresses.
And this is where the distinctive strength of a Multi-Domain SSL certificate shows: it can bring completely unrelated names under one protection.
How Multi-Domain Differs from a Wildcard Certificate
When choosing a certificate for your site, the key is not to confuse a multi-domain SSL certificate with Wildcard, because they are fundamentally different tools. A Wildcard certificate protects one main domain and any number of its first-level subdomains.
For example, *.example.com automatically covers shop.example.com, blog.example.com, mail.example.com, and any other first-level subdomain under example.com. But if you also have example.net, a Wildcard certificate won't protect it; that's a different domain.
A Multi-Domain SSL certificate for a website is designed from the start for different domains, not for subdomains of one root name. Although modern Multi-Domain certificates often let you list subdomains as separate SAN entries too, their strength lies in diversity: example.com, example.net, and shop-example.org can all be protected by the same certificate.
There is also a hybrid option, the Multi-Domain Wildcard certificate, which combines both approaches: it protects several root domains and, within each of them, all subdomains through a wildcard entry. It is the most flexible option, but also the most expensive.
The main differences between the two certificate types are summarized in the table:
Parameter | Multi-Domain | Wildcard |
|---|---|---|
What it protects | Several independent domains, including ones in different TLDs | All first-level subdomains of one domain |
Example | example.com, example.org, shop.example.net | shop.example.com, blog.example.com, api.example.com |
Validation | Each name is validated separately: by email, DNS record, or file | The domain is validated through DNS |
New name | Added by reissuing the certificate | A new first-level subdomain is covered without a reissue |
When to choose it | Several projects on different domains | One project with a large number of subdomains |
Validation Levels for Multi-Domain Certificates
If you've decided to buy a Multi-Domain SSL certificate, you need to know the available validation levels. Overall, everything here is standard. The options are:
Domain Validation (DV): the simplest and fastest option;
Organization Validation (OV): the authority additionally verifies the legal existence of the company that owns the domains;
Extended Validation (EV): the strictest level of validation, confirming legal status, physical address, and the applicant's authority.
A Multi-Domain certificate can be issued at any of these levels. Choose the validation level based on the nature of your project, not just on the presence of SAN fields.
When You Really Need Multi-Domain
Let's look at specific scenarios where this kind of certificate saves time and money. The price of a Multi-Domain SSL certificate is justified when a business needs to protect several domains at once. Here are a few typical scenarios.
A Company with Several Product Sites
A business runs separate sites for different products or brands: a main corporate site, a landing page for a promotion, and a store on another domain. One Multi-Domain certificate covers all of these addresses. There's no need to manage several separate certificates and track their renewal dates individually.
Agencies and Hosting Providers
For agencies and hosting providers, Multi-Domain suits their own domains and services: one certificate, one renewal cycle, fewer points where something can go wrong. It's better not to combine different clients' domains in one certificate.
Projects with different domain zones for different countries. For example, an online store uses shop.com for an international audience and shop.de for the German market. One purchase protects both without duplicating settings.
Mail Servers and Internal Services
Companies often have several mail servers or internal services on different domains at once. For mail, the certificate must contain the name clients use to connect to the server, for example mail.example.com. If there are several such names, Multi-Domain simplifies the setup.
Advantages of Buying a Multi-Domain Certificate
The advantages include:
Time saved on administration. One certificate instead of several means one renewal date.
One installation procedure. Less chance of forgetting to update one of your addresses on time.
Budget savings. It's often cheaper than buying separate certificates for each domain, especially at the OV and EV validation levels, where the cost of validation is higher.
If you have one main domain with many subdomains, take a look at Wildcard. If you have several fundamentally different domain names that it makes sense to manage together, Multi-Domain will be a convenient and cost-effective solution.
That will make it much easier to choose a certificate based on your real needs, not just its price. You can place your order on the Leneex website. If you have any questions, contact our support team.