Comodo Essential SSL Wildcard Certificate Benefits
- Unlimited subdomain protection. A single Comodo wildcard certificate covers your primary domain and every first-level subdomain beneath it. Whether you run five subdomains or fifty, you manage one certificate instead of many. Add new subdomains at any time and they’re automatically covered, with no additional purchase or configuration on the certificate side.
- Fast domain validation and issuance. Because this is a DV Essential SSL certificate, there’s no business verification or paperwork involved. You verify ownership of your domain through a simple email or DNS record, and the certificate is issued within minutes. If you need HTTPS on your subdomains quickly, this is one of the fastest paths to get there.
- Strong encryption with modern algorithm support. The certificate provides up to 256-bit encryption with a 2048-bit RSA signature key and supports the SHA-2 hash algorithm. It also supports Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), a detail worth noting for administrators who prefer ECC’s smaller key sizes and faster handshakes over traditional RSA.
- 99.3%+ browser and device compatibility. The Essential Wildcard SSL is recognized by virtually all modern and legacy browsers, mobile devices, and server platforms. Your visitors won’t encounter SSL connection warnings regardless of what browser or device they use.
- Unlimited server licensing and free reissues. Install this Comodo SSL wildcard certificate on as many servers as you need at no extra cost. You can also reissue it at any time throughout the certificate lifespan, which is particularly useful given the current requirement to reissue annually on multi-year subscriptions.
Comodo EssentialSSL Wildcard Specifications
| Certificate Authority | Sectigo (formerly Comodo CA) |
| Validation Type | Domain Validation (DV) |
| Domains Secured | 1 primary domain + unlimited first-level subdomains |
| Issuance Time | 3–5 minutes after DV |
| Encryption Strength | Up to 256-bit |
| Signature Key | 2048-bit RSA |
| Hash Algorithm | SHA-2 (RSA and ECC supported) |
| Browser Compatibility | 99.3%+ |
| Mobile Device Support | 99.3%+ |
| Server Licensing | Unlimited |
| Reissues | Unlimited, free |
| Site Seal | Static Comodo Secure / Sectigo seal |
| Warranty | $10,000 |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 25 days |
| SAN Support | No |
| Wildcard Notation | *.yourdomain.com |
About Sectigo (Formerly Comodo CA)
Comodo CA rebranded to Sectigo in 2018 after being acquired by Francisco Partners. The product names retained their original Comodo branding for continuity, which is why this certificate is still listed as a Comodo EssentialSSL certificate even though Sectigo is the issuing certificate authority. Nothing changed on the technical side: same root certificates, same trust chain, same infrastructure. Sectigo is the world’s largest commercial certificate authority, with over 100 million certificates issued across more than 150 countries.
EssentialSSL Wildcard vs. PositiveSSL Wildcard
These two Sectigo products are the most commonly compared DV wildcard certificates, and for good reason: they’re nearly identical. Both use 256-bit encryption, support the same browsers and devices, include unlimited server licensing, and offer unlimited free reissues. The validation process and issuance time are the same.
The differences come down to two things.
- Warranty: the PositiveSSL Wildcard includes a $50,000 warranty, while the Comodo Essential Wildcard carries a $10,000 warranty.
- Price and brand positioning: despite the lower warranty, the EssentialSSL Wildcard is typically priced slightly higher than the PositiveSSL Wildcard. This reflects Sectigo’s branding strategy rather than any technical distinction.
The EssentialSSL line has historically carried stronger brand recognition among small and medium businesses, and many buyers prefer it for that reason.
If warranty size matters to your use case, the PositiveSSL Wildcard offers more coverage for less. If you value the EssentialSSL brand name or simply prefer this product line, the technical protection you receive is the same.
How to Get the Comodo EssentialSSL Wildcard
After purchasing the certificate, the process involves three steps.
- Generate a CSR (Certificate Signing Request) on your server with *.yourdomain.com as the common name.
- Complete domain validation by responding to an approval email sent to an administrative address on your domain (admin@, webmaster@, hostmaster@, or postmaster@) or by creating a DNS CNAME record. Note that HTTP/file-based validation is not available for wildcard certificates per CA/Browser Forum requirements.
- Once validation is complete, the certificate files are issued within minutes and sent to your email for installation.
If you hold a multi-year subscription, keep in mind that the certificate must be reissued annually to comply with current browser security requirements. Reissues are free and follow the same domain validation process.
