You can install free SSL on both cPanel & Plesk control panels.
This method works on every hosting like GoDaddy, HostGator, Linux, Windows, etc.
The best part?
You will get the SSL Certificate from Let’s Encrypt free of charge at the very same instance.
A lot of people ask me – Is SSL Free?. I tell them yes it is completely free provided you generate it with Let’s Encrypt. Let’s Encrypt is a open source SSL Certificate Authority (CA) that promises to provide Free SSL certificates in a standardized, API accessible and non-commercial way.
These SSL provides the following benefits:
The process of generating SSL is quite easy. There is a good website called SSL For Free which interacts with Let’s Encrypt servers from APIs and create your certificate instantly.
Step 1: Head over to this website and enter your domain name in the text box and then click the Create Free SSL Certificate button.
Download these files and save it in your PC for the time being, you will be using these files soon.
So, connect with your domain using FileZilla Client FTP software. Go inside the public_html directory, and create a new directory named “.well-known”.
Next, create a new directory named acme-challenge under the “.well-known” directory.
Finally upload the 2 downloaded files from your local pc to this acme-challenge directory.
Step 4: In the same page, click the Download SSL Certificate button and you will be taken to the next page where you will be provided the Let’s Encrypt Certificate files in plain text.These files are:
Congrats! You have successfully created the SSL Certificate. Now I will tell how to install it on your cPanel or Plesk panel.
So try opening the links to these 2 uploaded files on your browser. If your browser does not display them as text then you have to do the necessary settings.
If you are using cPanel then add the following code in your .htaccess file:
<Files [^.]+>
ForceType text/plain
</FilesMatch>
If you are using Plesk panel then add the below code to your web.config file:
<system.webServer>
<staticContent>
<mimeMap fileExtension="." mimeType="text/plain" />
</staticContent>
</system.webServer>
The above code will force extension less files to be served as plain text in the browser.
Now you will taken to the Manage SSL page. Here you have to select the domain (to which this certificate will be installed), and paste the Certificate: (CRT), Private Key (KEY) and Certificate Authority Bundle: (CABUNDLE) which already are created in the before steps.
Check the below image where I have shown this thing:
Finally click the Install Certificate button.
The SSL Certificate will be installed in few seconds and you will now be able to open your website in https mode.
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off [OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www. [NC]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(?:www.)?(.+)$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^ https://%1%{REQUEST_URI} [L,NE,R=301]
You will reach the ‘SSL/TLS Certificates’ page. In this page click the Add SSL/TLS Certificate button.
You will not reach a new page where you can add your SSL Certificate.
Here, on the Certificate name field, give your certificate any name of your choice, and simply copy and paste the Certificate: (CRT), Private Key (KEY) and Certificate Authority Bundle: (CABUNDLE) which already are created in the above steps.
Finally click the ‘Upload Certificate’ button, check the below image which explain this:
Your SSL certificate will be added and you can see it as shown by the below image:
Now you have to apply this SSL Certificate to your domain. Do so, by going to Plesk, and click the Hosting Settings icon.
Next, under the ‘Security’ heading, check the below 2 options:
1. SSL/TLS support
2. Permanent SEO-safe 301 redirect from HTTP to HTTPS
And also select the Certificate name.
Finally, in the end click the ‘OK’ button.
The SSL Certificate will be installed and you will now be able to open your websites in ‘https’ mode.
The code to add to your web.config file is:
<system.webServer>
<rewrite>
<rules>
<rule name="HTTPS force" enabled="true" stopProcessing="true">
<match url="(.*)" />
<conditions>
<add input="{HTTPS}" pattern="^OFF$" />
</conditions>
<action type="Redirect" url="https://{HTTP_HOST}{REQUEST_URI}" redirectType="Permanent" />
</rule>
</rules>
</rewrite>
</system.webServer>
I hope you like this tutorial on manual installing of Free SSL Certificate on your domain. If your friends every ask you the same question – Is SSL Free?. Then simply point them to this tutorial.
Hi there, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you
get a lot of spam comments? If so how do you stop it, any plugin or anything you can advise? I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any support is very much appreciated.
I use Cloudflare to stop spams. I have written an article on it, check it – https://www.yogihosting.com/what-is-cloudflare-and-why-to-use-it-in-your-website/