Paid SSL certificates are usually quite expensive. If you’ve just started a blog or are creating a handicrafts website, here’s how to install free SSL certificate .
Did you know that Google displays all websites that do not rely on SSL as “unsafe”. This means that if you do not use an SSL certificate on your website, you will lose the trust of customers.
Since an SSL certificate helps protect your website data, it is actually a requirement to accept online payments.
Fortunately, there are several ways to get a free SSL certificate to reduce the cost of your website. In this article, we’ll show you how to easily get a free SSL certificate for your WordPress site and set it up yourself.
We will also cover the following topics :
- What is an SSL certificate ?
- Why do you need an SSL certificate for your WordPress site ?
- How an SSL certificate works to keep information secure ?
- How much do SSL certificates cost ?
- How can you get a free SSL certificate ?
- How to install a free SSL certificate in WordPress
What is SSL ?
SSL stands for the Secure Sockets Layer. It is an internet protocol to secure the transfer of data between the user’s browser and the site he visits.
Each internet user transmits information when visiting websites. This information is often sensitive such as payment details, credit card information, or login credentials.
Using the regular HTTP protocol means that hackers can penetrate this information. This is where SSL or HTTPS comes in.
Websites need an SSL certificate issued by one of the recognized certification bodies. This certificate was verified and marked in the address bar of the user’s browser with a lock mark and HTTPS instead of HTTP.
Do I need an SSL certificate for my WordPress website ?
It is recommended to use the SSL / HTTPS protocol for all websites on the internet. However, it is absolutely required for all websites that collect user information such as login details, payment information, credit cards and more.
If you are running an e-commerce store, a membership site, or asking users to log in, you need to get an SSL certificate right away.
Most online payment services require that your website uses SSL / HTTPs before you can receive payments.
Apart from security, an SSL certificate also creates a positive impression of your brand among users. Google also recommends using SSL, and research shows that SSL-enabled websites rank slightly higher in search results.
Last but not least, if your website does not use an SSL certificate, Google Chrome will show users that your website is not secure.
This code affects the image of your brand and the user’s trust in your website.
How does an SSL certificate work ?
Now that we have clarified what SSL is and why it is important,you may be wondering how does an SSL certificate actually work
SSL protects information by encrypting data transmission between the user’s browser and the website.
When a user visits an SSL / HTTPs website, his Browser first checks the validity of the SSL certificate of the site.
If everything is checked, the browser will use the public key of the website to encrypt the data. This data is then sent back to the intended server (website) where it is decrypted using the public key and the private secret key.
How much do SSL certificates cost ?
The cost of SSL certificates varies from one CA to another. Their prices can range from 50-200 dollars per year. Some providers offer additional services with their certificates which may also affect the cost of your SSL certificate.
If you are going to buy an SSL certificate , we recommend using Domain.com . It is one of the largest domain name registration services in the world, and it offers the best deal on SSL certificates.
They offer simple SSL certificate plans starting at USD 35.99 per year, and come with a USD 10,000 security guarantee along with a TrustLogo website stamp. After purchasing an SSL certificate, you can ask the hosting provider to install it for you.
But before doing this, you should check to see if you can get an SSL certificate for free.
If you prefer written instructions, Keep Reading.
How can I get an SSL certificate for free ?
Many website owners are reluctant to use SSL because of the additional cost. This left many small websites vulnerable to data and information theft.
A non-profit project called Let’s Encrypt decided to fix this by creating a free certificate authority.
The purpose of this CA is to make it easier for website owners to get a free SSL certificate. The internet becomes a safer place if more and more websites start using SSL.
Facebook Shopify, Google, Shopify and other major companies supported the project due to the importance of the project WordPress.com and many other companies.
The challenge is that installing a free SSL certificate by Let’s Encrypt for a novice user is quite difficult because it requires knowledge of the code and knowledge of server systems.
Fortunately, all the best WordPress hosting companies now offer a free SSL certificate with all their hosting plans (some of them use Let’s Encrypt).
Choosing one of these providers will save you the hassle of installing a free SSL certificate yourself.
Here are the Top WordPress hosting companies that offer a free SSL certificate with their hosting plans.
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Bluehost
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SiteGround
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HostGator
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WPEngine
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GreenGeeks
If you are already using one of these companies, you can run a free SSL certificate from the hosting dashboard. Just log in to the cPanel control panel of your hosting account and scroll down to the “security”section.
Bluehost users will find the free SSL option by visiting “my sites “” manage site page. From here, you can switch to the Security tab and turn on the free SSL certificate for your website.
Depending on your hosting company, the web hosting control panel may look different from the screenshot above. If you are having trouble selecting the free SSL option, you can ask your hosting provider to enable it for you.
If your web hosting company does not offer SSL for free .
Installing a free SSL certificate and setting up WordPress
Once you have enabled your free SSL certificate, you will need to set up WordPress to start using HTTPS instead of HTTP in all your URL addresses.
The easiest way to do this is to install and activate the Really Simple SSL plugin on your website. For more details, see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugins .
Upon activation, the extension will check to see if your SSL certificate is enabled. After that, the HTTP to HTTPS redirection will be turned on and your website settings will be changed to start using SSL / HTTPs.
To make your website completely secure, you need to make sure that the عناوين addresses of your website are loaded using the HTTPS protocol. The Really Simple SSL extension does this automatically by fixing the عناوين addresses when the page loads.
Even if a single URL address continues to be loaded using the insecure HTTP protocol, browsers will treat the entire website as completely insecure.
To fix these URL addresses, you will need to use a browser scan tool to find them and then replace them with the correct URL addresses for HTTPs. For more information on this matter .
The Really Simple SSL extension makes it very easy to set up a free SSL certificate in WordPress. That’s why we recommend it to all beginners.
However, it catches unsafe addresses when loading the page, which increases the loading time of your page a little.
That is why advanced users who are interested in WordPress speed use the manual method of setting up their own free SSL certificate.
We hope this article helped you learn how to get a free SSL certificate for your WordPress site.