Free SSL
Free SSL certificates on every plan
Every Limitless Hosting plan includes free SSL certificates, which put your website on HTTPS. HTTPS encrypts the connection between a visitor and your site, shows the padlock in the browser and is expected by search engines and customers alike. You do not pay extra, and you can use it on every domain you host.
What SSL does
How HTTPS protects a visit
- Visitor connectsTheir browser asks for your site
- Certificate shownYour site proves who it is
- Encryption agreedA private connection is set up
- Page deliveredData cannot be read on the way
Why you want it
Four reasons HTTPS is not optional
Protects data
Contact forms, logins and payments cannot be read in transit.
Builds trust
Browsers warn visitors about sites without HTTPS.
Search signal
Google treats HTTPS as a light ranking signal and shows HTTPS pages by default.
Newer web features
Many browser features and modern protocols only work on HTTPS.
Switch to HTTPS
Moving a site to HTTPS without trouble
Turn on the certificate
Enable SSL for your domain in the control panel.
Update your site address
In WordPress, change your site and home addresses to the HTTPS version.
Redirect old links
Send all HTTP addresses to HTTPS with a permanent redirect.
Fix mixed content
Make sure images and scripts load over HTTPS so the padlock stays clean.
Tell search engines
Update your sitemap and check Google Search Console for the HTTPS version.
Problems and fixes
Common SSL problems
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| A "not secure" warning | No certificate, or the site still loads over HTTP | Enable SSL and redirect to HTTPS |
| A broken padlock | Mixed content: some files load over HTTP | Change those links to HTTPS |
| A certificate name error | The certificate does not match the domain | Check you used the right domain and wait for DNS to settle |
| Redirect loop | Conflicting redirect rules | Remove duplicate rules or plugins that redirect |
Going deeper
How SSL certificates work
An SSL certificate is a small file that proves your site is who it says it is and lets the browser and your server agree a private key. The technical name for the modern protocol is TLS, but everyone still says SSL.
When a certificate is valid, the browser shows a padlock and the address starts with https. When a certificate is missing, expired or mismatched, the browser warns visitors, and many of them leave.
Certificates expire, so they need renewing. On our plans the free certificates are managed for you, which removes the most common cause of sudden warnings.
For search
HTTPS and your Google results
Google has used HTTPS as a light ranking signal for years, and Chrome marks plain HTTP pages as not secure. The practical effect is that a site without HTTPS loses trust before anyone reads it.
When you move to HTTPS, use permanent redirects from every old HTTP address, update internal links and your sitemap, and add the HTTPS version in Google Search Console. Done properly, the move should not hurt your rankings.
- Redirect every HTTP address to the HTTPS equivalent with a 301
- Update canonical tags and the sitemap to the HTTPS addresses
- Fix images, scripts and fonts that still load over HTTP
- Check the Search Console report for the HTTPS version after a week
Checks
How to confirm your certificate is healthy
Open your site in a browser and click the padlock beside the address. It shows who the certificate was issued to and when it expires. If the name does not match your domain, or the date has passed, something needs attention.
Also test the version of your domain without www and the version with it. Both should load over HTTPS, and one should redirect to the other, so search engines see a single address for each page. If one of them shows a warning, tell our live chat.
HTTPS included, nothing to buy
Free SSL comes with every plan from 84p a month (£10.03 billed yearly).
FAQ
Common questions
Is SSL really free?
Yes. Free SSL certificates are included on every plan.
Does SSL improve rankings?
HTTPS is a light signal. The bigger benefits are trust, security and avoiding browser warnings.
Do I need SSL for a small site?
Yes. Browsers warn about pages without it, and even a contact form should be encrypted.
Does it work on every domain I host?
Yes. You can use SSL on the domains and addon domains in your account.
Keep reading
Related pages
Put your site on HTTPS today
Free SSL on every plan, with a 15-day money-back guarantee.