How to Get an SSL Certificate (Free or Paid) for WordPress in 2025

Key highlights 

• Understand what an SSL certificate is, how it works and why learning how to get SSL certificate is essential for securing user data. 
• Explore the types of SSL certificates available so you can decide how to get SSL certificate that best fits your website’s security needs. 
• Learn how to get SSL certificate on WordPress using step-by-step methods that require little to no technical knowledge. 
• Know how Bluehost makes it easier to get started by offering free SSL certificates and a hassle-free setup experience. 
• Discover solutions to common SSL errors so you can confidently troubleshoot issues after figuring out how to get SSL certificate for your site.

Introduction 

Ever notice the little padlock icon next to a website’s URL? That tiny symbol carries a lot of weight—it tells you the site is secure. For any website owner today, having that padlock isn’t just nice to have—it’s absolutely necessary. 

An SSL certificate is what makes that possible. It encrypts your website’s connection and protects sensitive information like passwords, credit card details and user data. But if you’re wondering how to get SSL certificate for your site—this guide is for you. 

We’ll explain everything step-by-step, from understanding what SSL really does to setting it up and troubleshooting common issues.  

Let’s get your site secure the right way. 

What is an SSL certificate? 

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital file that encrypts the connection between a user’s browser and your website’s server. It helps protect sensitive information like passwords, credit card details and personal data from being intercepted by cybercriminals. 

SSL certificates activate the HTTPS protocol and display a padlock icon in the browser’s address bar. This shows visitors that your website connection is secure. As of early 2025, according to a research by BuiltWith, over 299 million SSL certificates are in use globally, with the United States leading in adoption. 

Websites without an SSL certificate often trigger warnings in popular browsers like Google Chrome, labeling the site as “Not Secure.” That can scare off potential customers and hurt your credibility. 

Also read: What You Need to Know About SSL Certificates 

What are the different types of SSL certificates? 

There are several types of SSL certificates and choosing the right one depends on your website’s needs.  

Before we learn about how to get SSL certificate, let’s learn about the different types, as each one offers a different level of validation and domain security: 

Type	Validation level	Best for	Avg cost	Example
Domain Validated (DV)	Basic domain ownership validation	Personal websites, blogs and WordPress sites	$0 – $50/year	[yourblog].com
Organization Validated (OV)	Domain + organization identity check	Business websites	$50 – $200/year	[yourcompany].com
Extended Validation (EV)	Extended, thorough identity verification	eCommerce sites, financial institutions	$100 – $300/year	Shows company name in browser address bar
Wildcard	Domain (or org) + subdomain coverage	Sites with multiple subdomains	$50 – $300/year	[example].com, [store.example].com, etc
Multi-Domain (SAN)	Validates multiple domains	Businesses managing multiple websites	$100 – $500/year	[example].com, [example].net

1. Domain Validated (DV) SSL certificate 

A Domain Validated SSL certificate confirms ownership of the domain and is issued quickly, making it ideal for blogs and personal WordPress websites. 

2. Organization Validated (OV) SSL certificate 

An Organization-Validated SSL certificate verifies both the domain name and the organization’s identity, making it suitable for business websites. 

3. Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate 

An Extended Validation SSL certificate provides the highest level of trust by displaying the company name in the browser’s address bar. This is best for eCommerce and financial platforms. 

4. Wildcard SSL certificate 

A Wildcard SSL certificate secures your main domain and all of its subdomains, such as [example].com and store.[example].com. 

5. Multi-Domain (SAN) SSL certificate 

A Multi-Domain SSL certificate secures multiple domains under a single certificate, making it ideal for businesses managing several websites. 

Knowing the right type helps you decide how to get SSL certificate that aligns with your site’s technical requirements and goals 

Pro tip: If your website needs to secure subdomains or multiple URLs, consider using a wildcard or multi-domain SSL certificate. This offers convenience and cost efficiency—especially when evaluating how much does an SSL certificate cost for larger setups. 

How does an SSL certificate work? 

An SSL certificate uses encryption to create a secure connection between a visitor’s browser and your web server. 

Here’s how it functions step-by-step: 

1. When a visitor accesses your site, their browser requests a secure connection. 
2. Your web server responds by presenting its SSL certificate. 
3. The browser verifies the certificate’s authenticity through a trusted certificate authority. 
4. Once verified, the browser and server exchange public and private keys to encrypt the session. 
5. All data transferred during the session—such as login info or payment details—is encrypted.

In simple terms, an SSL certificate uses a combination of a public key and a private key to encrypt sensitive data and keep it safe from prying eyes. 

This is how Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology builds trust and safeguards your WordPress site or any other kind of website. Understanding how it works is the first step in knowing how to get SSL certificate that protects your site properly. 

Also read: What is Website Security – How to Protect Your Site  

Why do you need an SSL certificate for your WordPress website? 

If you run a WordPress website, securing it with an SSL certificate is more than a good practice—it’s a necessity.  

SSL plays a crucial role in your site’s success, from protecting user data to maintaining trust and SEO rankings. 

1. Protects sensitive data 

Your WordPress site likely handles private user information—like emails, passwords or payment details. Without encryption, that data is vulnerable to theft. 

An SSL certificate helps encrypt all the data that flows between your website and your visitors’ browsers. This makes it unreadable to anyone who tries to intercept it.  

This is especially important for HTTPS websites that handle transactions or collect customer information. 

2. Prevents “Not Secure” warnings 

Modern browsers like Google Chrome alert users when a site doesn’t have an SSL certificate. These Not Secure warnings can damage your site’s credibility and cause visitors to leave before they even explore your content. 

Once you install an SSL certificate and activate HTTPS, those warnings disappear. Instead, users will see the reassuring padlock icon in the browser’s address bar, signaling that your site is protected. A 2024 study by Baymard Institute revealed that 18% of U.S. online shoppers abandon carts due to “security concerns”. Displaying HTTPS and a valid SSL certificate builds trust at checkout. 

Bonus: Many users now avoid sites without that padlock—so having SSL helps boost engagement and trust. 

3. Protects against cyber threats 

Hackers often target websites with weak security. Without SSL, your WordPress website is more exposed to data breaches, phishing attempts and cyber threats. 

SSL certificates act as a frontline defense by encrypting sensitive data, verifying your identity through a trusted certificate authority and securing your entire website connection. 

By installing SSL, you’re taking a proactive step to protect your WordPress site, your users and your brand reputation. 

Also read: Free SSL vs Paid SSL Certificate: Which is Best for Your Business? 

How to get an SSL certificate on WordPress? 

Getting an SSL certificate on WordPress is simpler than you think. Whether your host offers it for free or you need to install it yourself. If you run a WordPress website, installing an SSL certificate is a key step to ensuring its security, trust and SEO readiness.  

Thankfully, WordPress makes it easy—especially if you follow the correct method based on your technical comfort level and hosting setup. 

Let’s walk through the whole process of how to get SSL certificate WordPress users can install easily, even without a tech background. 

1. Check if your hosting plan includes a free SSL certificate 

Many web hosting companies now include free SSL certificates as part of their hosting packages. If you’re unsure, log in to your web hosting control panel and look under your domain settings or SSL settings. 

Look for mentions like: 

• “Free Let’s Encrypt SSL” 
• “Free SSL included” 
• “Activate SSL”

Most shared hosting providers offer Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates, which are domain-validated and ideal for basic websites. 

If you see an ‘Install’ or ‘Activate’ button next to SSL, go ahead and enable it. 

2. Install an SSL certificate manually (if not pre-installed) 

If your host doesn’t offer a built-in SSL or you want to install your own SSL certificate, you’ll need to: 

• Purchase an SSL certificate from a certificate authority 
• Generate a private key and certificate signing request (CSR) 
• Upload these to your server or hosting dashboard 
• Point your domain to the updated SSL configuration

This method may involve configuring your web server (like Apache or Nginx) directly and is best suited for advanced users or custom setups. 

3. Use the plugin method: Really Simple SSL plugin 

If the certificate is installed but your WordPress site still shows errors or doesn’t fully redirect to HTTPS, the Really Simple SSL plugin can help. This is one of the easiest ways to ensure all your traffic is encrypted and redirected correctly, and it’s widely recommended for WordPress SSL setups. 

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard 

• Go to ‘Plugins‘ > ‘Add New‘ 

• Search for ‘Really Simple SSL‘ 

• Click ‘Install‘, then ‘Activate‘ 

• Follow the plugin prompts to enable full site-wide SSL

This plugin method automatically detects your SSL certificate, updates your WordPress site URLs, fixes mixed content and enables a full HTTPS redirect. 

Also read: Website Security 101: Easy Steps to Protect Your Site from Cyber Threats  

4. Update your WordPress and site settings 

To complete the installation: 

• Go to ‘Settings‘ > ‘General‘ in your dashboard 

• Update your ‘WordPress Address (URL)‘ and ‘Site Address (URL)‘ from http:// to https:// 

• Save changes

This ensures your WordPress site uses secure URLs across all pages and internal links. 

5. Force HTTPS and fix mixed content warnings 

Even with SSL active, some browsers might show warnings if your site loads insecure elements (like images, scripts or stylesheets over HTTP).  

To fix this: 

• Use Really Simple SSL’s “Mixed Content Fixer” tool 
• Replace old http:// links manually in your content 
• Run a search-and-replace plugin to update links in your database

This ensures visitors get a clean, secure connection without any Not Secure flags. 

6. Verify your SSL installation 

Once everything’s set up: 

• Visit your site in Google Chrome or any major browser 
• Look for the padlock icon in the address bar 
• Use tools like SSL Labs or SSL Checker to confirm your certificate is installed correctly

By following these steps, you’ll have a fully functional, SSL-secured WordPress website. This will keep user data safe and boosts trust with both visitors and search engines. 

Also read: How to Get a Free SSL Certificate for WordPress Website in 2025 

How to get an SSL certificate with Bluehost? 

Setting up an SSL certificate on your WordPress website is incredibly simple when you host with Bluehost. All of our web hosting services—from shared plans to WordPress hosting—include free SSL certificates.  

Here’s how you can enable and manage yours: 

A step-by-step guide to activate your free SSL certificate with Bluehost 

This method works perfectly for anyone searching for how to get SSL certificate WordPress websites need to run securely. Follow this detailed step-by-step guide to install and activate SSL on your site: 

• Log in to your ‘Bluehost Account Manager‘ 

Head over to the Bluehost login page and sign in to your hosting account. 

• Click ‘Websites‘ in the navigation menu 

On the left side of the dashboard, click on the ‘Websites’ tab. This is where all your hosted domains and WordPress installations are listed. 

• Locate your website 

Go to the My Sites section and find the specific WordPress site you want to secure with SSL. 

• Click the ‘Manage‘ button 

Next to your selected site, click Manage to access its site settings. Here, you’ll find your SSL settings and security tools. 

• Open the Security tab 

In the management dashboard, click on the ‘Security tab’. This section controls features like SSL certification, backups and more. 

• Enable Free SSL 

Under the Security Certificate section, toggle the Free SSL option ON. Bluehost will now begin installing the SSL certificate automatically. 

• Alternative activation method 

You can also check your site’s SSL status under ‘Account Manager’> ‘SSL/TLS’. If the SSL is not yet enabled, click the Activate button next to your domain. 

• Wait for activation 

SSL activation typically takes a few hours. Once the process is complete, your site will display https:// and users will see a padlock icon in the browser’s address bar. 

• Verify your SSL installation 

To confirm that your SSL certificate is installed, visit your website in a browser. You can also use online tools like SSL Checker to verify the status. 

• Ensure HTTPS is enforced in WordPress 

Log in to your WordPress dashboard, go to ‘Settings’ > ‘General’, update the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) fields to include https:// instead of http:// 

• Set up a redirect to force HTTPS 

To redirect all site traffic to HTTPS: Use a plugin like Really Simple SSL, Or configure your .htaccess file (advanced option) 

This step (as stated before) ensures users always land on the secure version of your site. 

• Clear your cache and test the website

Clear your browser cache, reload your website and make sure the padlock icon is visible and there are no mixed content warnings 

That’s it! Your SSL certificate is now fully active, and your WordPress website is running over a secure, encrypted connection. 

How does Bluehost help with SSL certificates? 

With Bluehost SSL setup is seamless. You get a built-in SSL dashboard, HTTPS redirect support and 24/7 guidance from hosting experts—so even first-time users can launch secure WordPress sites confidently. 

From the moment you sign up, we handle the technical setup in the background, protecting your site without you having to lift a finger. 

Here’s how we support you: 

• Free SSL certificates from the start: All hosting plans come with free SSL certificates for every domain, issued by leading certificate authorities like Let’s Encrypt. 
• Built-in SSL tools: Our user-friendly web hosting control panel allows you to view and manage your certificate anytime. Everything is under the SSL/TLS section, which is clearly labeled and easy to use. 
• No manual installation required: Once your domain is connected, the SSL certificate is automatically installed and linked to your site. It typically activates within hours, ensuring a secure connection for visitors. 
• SEO and trust benefits: Your visitors will see the padlock icon in their browser’s address bar, giving them confidence in your site. Search engines also prioritize HTTPS websites, giving you a visibility edge. 
• Advanced options available: For businesses or eCommerce sites, Bluehost supports upgraded SSL certification—like OV and EV certificates—for added brand authority and encryption.

Our goal is simple: take the stress out of SSL so your site stays safe without slowing you down. 

Why choose Bluehost WordPress hosting? 

If you’re building a WordPress website, Bluehost offers more than just hosting—we offer a fully integrated platform designed for speed, simplicity and WordPress website security. 

Here’s why our WordPress hosting stands out: 

• Made for WordPress: Bluehost is one of only a few providers officially recommended by WordPress.org. Our platform is built specifically to support WordPress websites, so you get faster load times, better compatibility and fewer headaches. 
• Security-first hosting: In addition to free SSL certificates, we include security features like automated daily backups, malware detection and HTTPS redirect support. You don’t have to install multiple plugins to feel protected. 
• Performance that grows with you: From personal blogs to large online stores, our plans offer scalable resources, SSD storage and global CDN support to keep your site fast and accessible. 
• Beginner-friendly dashboard: Our customized WordPress dashboard includes guided setup, theme suggestions, pre-installed plugins like Really Simple SSL and built-in SSL settings for full control. 
• 24/7 expert WordPress support: Our support team is available around the clock to help with plugins, updates, troubleshooting and more—especially if you’re new to WordPress.

Bluehost WordPress hosting combines ease of use with expert-level performance, giving you everything you need to build, launch and grow a secure WordPress site—right out of the box.  

Explore Bluehost WordPress hosting and get everything required to build a secure, high-performing WordPress website. 

Troubleshooting SSL certificate installation 

Running into issues after installing SSL certificates on your WordPress site? If you’re experiencing issues even after you’ve figured out how to get SSL certificate installed, here are the common fixes. 

These common problems and quick fixes can help you ensure a proper setup and maintain a secure HTTPS connection for your visitors: 

1. SSL not activating properly: Double-check the SSL option in your hosting dashboard. Sometimes the toggle remains off by default or the certificate is still pending validation. 
2. SSL status says active, but site still shows HTTP: Clear your browser cache and check the site in other web browsers. SSL propagation might take a few hours depending on your internet provider and DNS cache. 
3. Mixed content warnings on HTTPS pages: This happens when parts of your site still load over HTTP. Use a plugin like Really Simple SSL (the free version works well) to detect and rewrite these insecure links. This also helps fix layout shifts and broken resources. 
4. Padlock icon missing despite SSL being enabled: Inspect the site using browser developer tools. Update embedded images, fonts or scripts that are still linked via HTTP. This is critical for maintaining a consistent HTTPS connection. 
5. “Not Secure” warning even after SSL setup: Ensure both the ‘WordPress Address’ and ‘Site Address’ fields under ‘Settings’> ‘General’ use https://. Enabling a site-wide HTTPS redirect helps eliminate this issue. 
6. Redirect loop or “Too many redirects” error: Review your .htaccess file for conflicting rules. Avoid duplicate https redirects from plugins and server-level configurations. 
7. Free SSL not showing up in dashboard: If your free SSL certificate isn’t appearing, check with your hosting support. Some providers require you to activate the free SSL manually through the SSL/TLS section. 
8. Using self-signed certificates: Be cautious, as self-signed certificates are not trusted by most browsers and can display warnings. For public sites, always use SSL issued by a trusted certificate authority. 
9. SSL not showing in search results: If your site was indexed before SSL setup, it may still appear as HTTP in search results. Submit your HTTPS version to Google Search Console and request indexing for updated visibility. 
10. Issue persists across multiple pages: Check if the problem is isolated or affects other pages, product listings or blog categories. Inconsistent behavior often signals theme-level or plugin conflicts.

Still stuck? Contact your web hosting company’s support team. At Bluehost, our experts are available 24/7 to help resolve SSL certificate issues—whether you’re using our free SSL or managing your own SSL certificate. 

Also read: How To Fix the “HTTPS Not Secure” Message in Chrome 

Final thoughts 

Securing your website is essential, and getting started has never been easier. SSL certificates protect user data, boost trust and improve your presence in search engines. 

Today, most top hosts offer free SSL certificates as part of their plans, removing the cost and complexity. If you’re using WordPress, choosing a host that supports automatic SSL certificate setup makes a big difference. 

Bluehost includes free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates, auto-installed with all hosting plans. From the moment your domain is live, SSL is enabled, managed and renewed automatically—no tech setup needed. You can also manage or upgrade your SSL certification easily as your needs grow. 

Whether you’re just learning how to get SSL certificate or searching for how to get SSL certificate WordPress sites can rely on, Bluehost simplifies the journey. 

Ready to launch a secure WordPress site? Explore Bluehost WordPress hosting now! 

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