In 2021, it was predicted that more than half of all internet traffic would be encrypted. Today’s technology has created a new age where government surveillance and cyber threats are almost impossible to escape without the proper security precautions. Therefore, every website’s security should be a key focus. Added security increases search rankings and develop confidence with visitors, from tiny personal blogs to multinational ecommerce sites. Start with an SSL certificate if you want to safeguard your website quickly and easily. What is the difference between an SSL certificate and a digital certificate? The “secure sockets layer” (SSL) is an acronym for “secure sockets layer.” It’s an internet protocol that encrypts data sent between a website and a visitor’s web browser. SSLs are often used to secure login passwords, credit card information, and other sensitive data. On average, SSL certificates may cost anything from $50 to $200 per year. However, there is no need to pay such high fees. I’ll teach you how to acquire an SSL for free as someone who has owned and maintained hundreds of websites during my career.
When getting a free SSL certificate, what to expect?
Signing up for a Bluehost web hosting package is the easiest method to receive a free SSL certificate. All of their hosting plans include a free SSL certificate, which can be installed in three easy steps:
- Bluehost is a great place to start.
- But, first, create an account and choose a hosting package.
- Activate the SSL certificate
The Good
Obtaining an SSL certificate is, for the most part, simple. Many web hosting companies provide a free SSL certificate as part of their package. You’ll need web hosting anyhow, so getting a hosting package and SSL from the same company makes sense. In many circumstances, you may not even need to pick the SSL certificate as an add-on. The certificate will be included in the hosting plan by default. With entry-level web hosting, you can receive an SSL certificate for free. The majority of new websites use shared web hosting. These plans are affordable and offer sufficient resources to support fresh new websites. You may still receive an SSL certificate for free with these low-cost hosting services. There are several respectable web hosting companies on the market today. As a result, you won’t have to look hard to discover one that will provide you with a free SSL. I’ll show you my preferred choice in a moment (Bluehost).
The Bad
A few more procedures are required to get a free SSL certificate. It’s not a simple one-click operation. Before receiving an SSL certificate, new website owners must first purchase a domain and locate a web hosting provider. Another consideration is using a CMS (content management system) or a site builder. Some of these additional measures will be costly. You’ll also have to pay for web hosting, which isn’t free. However, just because you have an SSL certificate does not imply it is active. As a result, you may need to take an extra step or two to enable your SSL. It may take a few hours to activate once it has been installed. It’s a poor idea to launch a website without an SSL certificate. In addition to exposing your visitors to possible risks and hackers, specific web browsers go out of their way to warn them that the site is insecure. People will get scared and quit your site if they notice this next to your URL. I try to stay away from websites that aren’t safe. I’m not the only one that thinks like way. When visitors encounter a “not secure” message, 50.8 percent of consumers exit the site immediately. A further 23.8 percent of visitors said that they would not provide any personal information on these sites. Bluehost is, without a doubt, the most respectable and trustworthy web hosting service available today. It’s a simple and cost-effective solution for new websites to get a hosting package and an SSL certificate. Bluehost appeals to me since it provides an all-in-one solution for new website development. A free SSL certificate and a free domain are included in all hosting plans.
Everyone can find a hosting solution with them. Bluehost has you covered whether you’re searching for a low-cost entry-level package, a managed solution, WordPress hosting, or ecommerce web hosting. Before diving into the free SSL, take a moment to evaluate your hosting requirements. As you go through the course, this will make the process much easier. Here’s a quick rundown of Bluehost’s hosting options to help you choose the best one for your website.
Steps to get an SSL certificate:
Step 1: Hosting that is shared.
Shared hosting will be the ideal solution for new websites. These plans are inexpensive, yet they nevertheless meet the demands of low-traffic websites. You’ll be sharing server resources with other websites, which might result in slower loading times and poor performance. However, most new sites, particularly smaller sites, and personal blogs, may get away with it. If you don’t anticipate a lot of website visitors shortly, there’s no need to spend a lot of money on anything more complicated than a shared hosting package. Bluehost’s shared plans provide a free CDN and a one-year domain name in addition to a free SSL certificate.
- Hosting on a Virtual Private Server
Bluehost’s VPS (virtual private server) options are optimized for high-performance websites. This is a step up from shared hosting, with a higher price tag to match. Your site’s resources are assured with VPS hosting. While you’ll still be sharing a server with other websites, your “virtual” server will have dedicated resources. VPS hosting is a good alternative for sites that will get a lot of traffic right away. Advanced users will appreciate capabilities such as optional root access.
- Dedicated Servers
Dedicated hosting is the pinnacle of the web hosting food chain. You may hire a whole server dedicated to your website and not share it with anybody else. Premium performance comes with these bundles but at a premium price. Because most of you will not need a dedicated hosting plan, I won’t detail how it works. However, they are often reserved for high-traffic websites or those that desire total control over their hosting environment.
- Hosting for WordPress
Bluehost offers hosting services that include a pre-installed WordPress installation. These plans are prevalent since they are one of just three web hosting companies recommended explicitly by WordPress. They also provide fully managed WordPress hosting, which is a good choice for developing websites with many visitors. Even the most basic managed hosting package can handle up to 50,000 monthly visits. Bluehost also offers WooCommerce-optimized ecommerce plans. These plans are ideal for creating an online shop using WordPress and the WooCommerce plugin.
Step 2: Create an account and choose a hosting plan.
Now that you’ve learned about Bluehost’s many hosting plans, it’s time to choose one that’s perfect for you. For the sake of this guide, I’ll use a shared hosting package since most of you will be in the same situation as me. Here’s a basic rundown of the boxes that are shared:
These options all include a free SSL certificate. To proceed, click “Select” after you’ve settled on a bundle.
- Create a Domain Name
After you’ve chosen a plan, you’ll be invited to set up your domain. Depending on your specific scenario, you have the choice of either establishing a new environment or utilizing one you currently own.
This is a relatively self-explanatory statement. If you’ve already bought a domain somewhere else, type it in here. If you don’t already have a domain name, you may look for one available and purchase it straight from Bluehost. Another reason Bluehost is enticing to novice website owners is that when you start a website with them, you’ll receive a domain for free for the first year. You may skip this step and set up your domain later if you aren’t ready yet. Even if you neglect this step, you’ll still be eligible for a free domain credit from Bluehost if you sign up for one. I’ll choose the option at the bottom of the page and create my domain later since this lesson is about acquiring an SSL certificate.
- Make a User Account
You will be prompted to register and establish an account with Bluehost. You’ll need to submit some basic information about yourself or your company to proceed.
Among the details are:
- Name (first and last)
- Name of the company (optional)
- Address
- Number to call
- Contact information through email
Filling out this form is about as simple as it gets, and it shouldn’t take more than a minute.
- Select Your Plan’s Terms
Sign up for a 36-month plan and pay in advance to receive the lowest deal. Bluehost also has 24-month and 12-month hosting options available. I’m all about getting the most outstanding deal. Therefore I suggest going with the most extended contract. However, regardless of the term duration, the plans remain affordable. So please don’t give it too much thought.
As you can see, your bundle includes a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate. To access this function, you don’t need to tick any boxes or install any add-ons. Bluehost will provide you with a handful of further upsells as you complete the purchase. SEO tools and SiteLock Security are two examples. You can do without the SEO tools, but SiteLock is a popular choice for enhanced protection. Malware detection, weekly scan reports, automated malware eradication, file-level scanning, and Google blocklist monitoring are covered here. You’ll need these features in the future, so it’s a good idea to purchase them now.
- Please provide payment information.
The last step in establishing an account is to pay for your Bluehost plan. Input your credit card information or pay using PayPal.
A 30-day money-back guarantee backs Bluehost programs. So, if you cancel within the first 30 days, you’ll get a full refund. This warranty does not apply to add-on items such as domain names that have been bought. Your plan will automatically renew at the usual cost when the term ends. Another reason I advocate signing a lengthier contract is because of this. After the first term, you won’t be able to take advantage of these cheap introductory rates.
Step 3: Enable SSL protection.
After you’ve joined up, double-check that the SSL is turned on. Most of the time, the SSL will be issued to your website and installed on the domains in your account automatically. However, some Bluehost customers may need to activate the SSL certificate manually. So, whether you purchased your domain from Bluehost or a third-party supplier, make sure the SSL is turned on. This may be done simply using your Bluehost control panel.
- From your Bluehost dashboard, go to the “My Sites” menu.
After you’ve signed into Bluehost, go to the “My Sites” section. You’ll see all choices presented here if you have numerous sites hosted in the same account. Next, select the area you wish to enable SSL and click the “Manage Site” button.
- From the “Security” tab, enable the free SSL certificate.
You’ll need to go to the “Security” option from here. This is located at the top of the screen. Then, on this page, look for the “Security Certificate” section. In this section, you’ll notice a “Free SSL Certificate.”
There’s nothing further you need to do if the certificate is enabled (as stated above). This is because the SSL certificate has already been set up. If it isn’t already active, flip the free SSL certificate to the “on” position. The SSL certificate might take a few hours to install and activate once switched on entirely. Don’t worry if your site still says “not secure” after enabling SSL. Also, keep a watch on your email for the following several hours. In some instances, Bluehost may ask you to complete a task before proceeding. If required, clear instructions will be given to you through email. If you ever wish to deactivate the SSL, repeat the instructions above and flip the slider to the “Off” position.
Frequently Asked Question
Which free SSL is best?
A: Shopify has a few free SSL options. We recommend going with the cheapest option and seeing if it works for you before upgrading later on.
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