What Is SSL? How to Get HTTPS for Free

In this guide: What is SSL and how do you get HTTPS for free? Learn what SSL certificates do, the types available, how to install free SSL, and how to fix mixed content.

If your website shows “Not secure” in the address bar, you’re losing visitors’ trust — and possibly sales and rankings. The fix is an SSL certificate, and for most websites it’s completely free.

What SSL does and why Google cares

SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer / Transport Layer Security) encrypts data traveling between a visitor’s browser and your server. When it’s active, your site loads over HTTPS and browsers show a secure connection indicator.

Without SSL, data like passwords, contact form messages, and payment details can be intercepted on unsafe networks.

Why it matters:

• Trust: browsers label non-HTTPS pages as “Not secure,” especially on pages with forms.
• SEO: Google has used HTTPS as a ranking signal for years.
• Features: modern web features, including HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 in browsers, require HTTPS.
• Payments: payment processors require it.
• Referral data: HTTPS preserves more accurate referrer data in analytics.

(Technically, “SSL” has been replaced by TLS, but everyone still calls them SSL certificates.)

Types of SSL certificates

By validation level:

• Domain Validated (DV): verifies you control the domain. Issued in minutes. Perfect for blogs, business sites, and most stores. Free options like Let’s Encrypt are DV.
• Organization Validated (OV): also verifies the organization’s identity. Used by some businesses that want extra verification details in the certificate.
• Extended Validation (EV): the strictest checks. Browsers no longer show special green company names in the address bar, so EV’s visible advantage has faded.

By coverage:

• Single domain: covers one domain (and usually www).
• Wildcard: covers all subdomains (*.yourdomain.com).
• Multi-domain (SAN): covers several different domains in one certificate.

For most websites, a free DV certificate offers the same encryption strength as a paid one.

Installing free SSL from your host

Most hosts include free SSL through Let’s Encrypt or their own certificate authority partner:

1. Make sure your domain points to your hosting (DNS must resolve first).
2. Open your control panel and find “SSL,” “Security,” or “SSL/TLS Status.”
3. Select your domain (and www) and click Install or Activate.
4. Wait a few minutes for issuance.
5. Confirm auto-renewal is enabled — Let’s Encrypt certificates are short-lived and renew automatically.

Using Cloudflare? It can provide SSL at the edge. Set the SSL mode to Full (strict) and install a certificate on your origin server too, for end-to-end encryption.

Forcing HTTPS and fixing mixed content

Installing SSL isn’t the last step. You must make sure everyone uses HTTPS.

Force HTTPS:

• Many hosts have a “Force HTTPS” toggle.
• In WordPress, update both URLs in Settings → General to https://.
• Or add a 301 redirect rule in .htaccess (Apache/LiteSpeed) or your server config.

Fix mixed content:
Mixed content happens when an HTTPS page loads images, scripts, or styles over HTTP. Browsers may block them or show warnings.

• Use a search-and-replace tool (or plugin) to update http://yourdomain.com to https://yourdomain.com in the database. Back up first!
• Check your theme settings, widgets, and custom code for hard-coded HTTP URLs.
• Use browser DevTools (Console tab) to find remaining insecure resources.

Update external tools: change your site URL in Google Search Console (add the HTTPS property), Analytics, social profiles, and email signatures.

Checking your SSL is working

• Look for the secure indicator in the browser address bar.
• Click it to view certificate details and expiry date.
• Run your domain through an online SSL checker or a detailed SSL server test to verify the configuration and certificate chain.
• Visit http://yourdomain.com and confirm it redirects to https://.
• Set a calendar reminder or uptime-monitor alert for certificate expiry, just in case auto-renewal fails.

FAQ

Is free SSL less secure than paid SSL?
No. Encryption strength is the same. Paid certificates add validation levels, warranties, or support.

Will switching to HTTPS hurt my SEO?
Not if you use 301 redirects properly. Short-term fluctuations can happen, but HTTPS is the standard.

Further reading: OWASP Top 10 web security risks

Key Takeaways: What Is SSL

• SSL encrypts data and enables HTTPS, which builds trust and helps SEO.
• Free DV certificates are enough for most websites.
• Install via your host, force HTTPS, and fix mixed content.
• Verify with an SSL checker and make sure auto-renewal works.