Instructions for Installing an SSL Certificate on Your WordPress Website
In today's digital age, ensuring the security and integrity of your WordPress site is paramount. One essential aspect of this is the use of an SSL certificate. This article will guide you through the process of securing your WordPress site with an SSL certificate.
Choosing the Right SSL Certificate
There are three main options to obtain an SSL certificate: through a hosting provider, from Let's Encrypt, or from Certificate Authorities (CAs) like Sectigo or DigiCert.
Hosting Provider SSL Certificates
Many hosting providers include free Domain Validation (DV) SSL certificates (often from Let's Encrypt) as part of their service. These are easy to activate via your hosting control panel with automated setup and renewal, making them ideal for most blogs, small businesses, and personal sites.
Let's Encrypt SSL Certificates
Let's Encrypt offers free DV certificates that encrypt your site and display the padlock icon in browsers. You can obtain these certificates using ACME clients such as certbot or through many hosting providers. Let’s Encrypt also supports wildcard certificates for securing multiple subdomains, though their setup can be more complex.
Certificate Authorities (CAs) SSL Certificates
If your site requires higher trust levels—such as for established businesses or e-commerce—consider purchasing certificates from trusted Certificate Authorities.
- Organization Validation (OV) certificates verify your business identity, taking 1–3 days to issue and costing about $60–$120 per year.
- Extended Validation (EV) certificates involve extensive checks, cost €235–€590 annually, and historically showed the company name in the browser, although modern browsers display this less prominently.
- You can also buy wildcard certificates to cover subdomains from providers like GoDaddy, GlobalSign, or Comodo.
Steps to Secure Your WordPress Site with an SSL Certificate
1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard
Once you've obtained your SSL certificate, log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Implement HTTP to HTTPS Redirects
To enforce HTTPS throughout your site, edit your .htaccess file (for Apache servers) or your server configuration (for Nginx servers) to redirect all HTTP requests to HTTPS.
- For Apache:
- For Nginx:
3. Update WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL)
Navigate to Settings > General. Update WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) from to .
4. Inspect and Update Theme and Plugin Sources
Inspect the source code of your theme and plugins and update any HTTP links to HTTPS. Use a plugin like Better Search Replace to search your WordPress database for and replace it with .
5. Use SSL Tools to Check Installation
Use tools like Qualys SSL Labs to check your certificate's installation and ensure it meets the necessary security standards.
6. Monitor Your Site for SSL-related Warnings or Errors
Regularly monitor your site for SSL-related warnings or errors and stay proactive in addressing any issues that arise. Consult your hosting provider if you're unsure how to correct SSL-related issues.
Wrapping Up
For most WordPress sites, a free DV certificate from your hosting provider or Let's Encrypt is sufficient, offering encryption, trust (padlock), and SEO benefits with minimal hassle. If you need stronger business validation or want the certificate to explicitly display company information, consider purchasing OV or EV certificates from trusted Certificate Authorities. Always ensure your SSL certificate supports automatic renewal and HTTPS redirection to avoid downtime or security warnings.
For a secure, professional website design, check out WPZOOM's premium WordPress themes. Dive deeper into best practices for securing your WordPress site with the Essential WordPress Security Guide.
In the pursuit of enhanced security and integrity for businesses operating online, the use of SSL certificates on WordPress sites is highly recommended, helping to secure the environment and ensure the trustworthiness of the site. For small businesses, blogs, and personal sites, free Domain Validation (DV) SSL certificates from hosting providers or Let's Encrypt offer a quick and cost-effective solution, providing encryption, a trust symbol (the padlock), and SEO benefits. However, for established businesses or e-commerce platforms that require higher trust levels, Certificate Authorities (CAs) like Sectigo or DigiCert offer Organization Validation (OV) and Extended Validation (EV) certificates, which provide stronger business validation and can explicitly display company information.
