HostRite Cloud Hosting Offers Free SSL Certificates
Free SSL Certificates With Let’s Encrypt
Secure websites should not require paying extra to provide visitors with an encrypted connection.
HostRite Cloud Hosting offers Free SSL Certificates powered by Let’s Encrypt for websites hosted on our compatible hosting services.
For everyday website owners, SSL is what helps turn a normal http website address into a secure https connection. It encrypts information traveling between a visitor’s browser and the website, helping prevent that information from being easily read or altered while it is moving across the Internet.
HostRite makes this protection available through the Hepsia Control Panel, including our cloud hosting plans and compatible VPS and dedicated server configurations that use Hepsia.
There is no need to buy an SSL certificate simply because you want a secure HTTPS connection. Let’s Encrypt is a publicly trusted, nonprofit-operated Certificate Authority specifically designed to make SSL/TLS certificates free and easier to automate. Let’s Encrypt
What Is a Free SSL Certificate?
An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that allows a website to establish an encrypted HTTPS connection with a visitor’s browser.
You will often still hear these certificates called SSL certificates, although modern secure web connections actually use the newer TLS — Transport Layer Security — protocol. The familiar term “SSL certificate” remains widely used throughout the hosting industry.
When SSL/TLS is properly installed, visitors can access a website using an address beginning with:
https://
instead of:
http://
The important part happens behind the scenes.
The visitor’s browser and the website server establish an encrypted connection. Information traveling between them is protected against ordinary interception while in transit.
That is important for virtually every modern website, not just online stores.
Login credentials, contact forms, customer information, WordPress administration sessions, account information, and other website traffic can all benefit from HTTPS.
HostRite Uses Let’s Encrypt for Free SSL Certificates
HostRite’s Free SSL Certificates are powered by Let’s Encrypt.
Let’s Encrypt is a free, automated, and open Certificate Authority operated for the public benefit by the nonprofit Internet Security Research Group, or ISRG. Its purpose is to provide the digital certificates websites need to enable HTTPS without charging website owners for the certificates. Let’s Encrypt
This is an important distinction.
A free Let’s Encrypt certificate is not simply a homemade or unsigned certificate that browsers do not recognize.
Let’s Encrypt operates a public Certificate Authority and issues publicly trusted certificates according to established industry requirements. Its current Certificate Policy and Certification Practice Statement says its public-key infrastructure conforms to the CA/Browser Forum requirements governing publicly trusted certificates. Let’s Encrypt
That makes Let’s Encrypt an excellent fit for HostRite’s goal of providing straightforward, affordable website hosting.
How Does Let’s Encrypt Work?
The process sounds complicated when described technically, but the basic idea is straightforward.
Before Let’s Encrypt issues a certificate for a domain, it needs evidence that the requesting server or account actually controls that domain.
Let’s Encrypt accomplishes this through an automated standard called ACME, short for Automated Certificate Management Environment.
First, the ACME software communicates with Let’s Encrypt and proves control of the domain.
Once that validation succeeds, the software can request a certificate for the domain. Let’s Encrypt verifies the request and, when everything checks out, issues the certificate.
That certificate can then be used by the web server to establish secure HTTPS connections.
The same automated system can handle future certificate renewal. Let’s Encrypt
For HostRite Cloud Hosting clients, the important takeaway is much simpler:
Free SSL Certificates
Additionally, you do not need to understand the ACME protocol to benefit from Free SSL Certificates.
The technology is designed specifically to automate much of the certificate-management process.
Why Domain Validation Matters
Let’s Encrypt cannot simply issue a trusted certificate to anyone who asks for one.
The requesting party has to demonstrate control over the domain.
This helps prevent someone from requesting a legitimate certificate for a website they do not control.
Let’s Encrypt’s ACME process performs domain validation before certificate issuance. Its documentation also explains that validation is performed from multiple network perspectives to make certain attacks against the validation process significantly more difficult. Let’s Encrypt
After successful validation, the Certificate Authority can issue the certificate.
The process is repeated when a new certificate is required for renewal.
Are Let’s Encrypt Free SSL Certificates Secure?
Yes. Let’s Encrypt certificates provide real, publicly trusted SSL/TLS encryption.
“Free” describes the price of the certificate. It does not mean the encryption is intentionally weakened because the certificate costs nothing.
Let’s Encrypt is operated by ISRG as a public Certificate Authority, and its PKI operates under the industry requirements applicable to publicly trusted certificates. Let’s Encrypt
A properly configured Let’s Encrypt certificate allows a browser and server to establish an encrypted HTTPS connection just as expected from a publicly trusted SSL/TLS certificate.
Let’s Encrypt also uses Certificate Transparency. Certificates are submitted to public Certificate Transparency logs, helping make certificate issuance visible and auditable. Let’s Encrypt
There is an important limitation to understand, however.
An SSL certificate secures the connection. It does not certify that every website is trustworthy, malware-free, professionally operated, or safe to purchase from.
HTTPS means the connection to the authenticated domain is encrypted. It should not be treated as a complete website-security system.
Free SSL Does Not Mean Reduced Encryption
There is sometimes a misconception that an expensive SSL certificate must automatically provide stronger encryption than a free certificate.
Price alone does not determine the strength of the encrypted HTTPS connection.
Let’s Encrypt provides Domain Validation certificates, commonly called DV certificates. The purpose is to validate control of a domain and enable trusted HTTPS.
Some commercial certificate products may provide different validation services, warranties, support arrangements, or other business-oriented features.
Those differences should not be confused with the basic ability of a Let’s Encrypt certificate to establish a properly encrypted HTTPS connection.
For the typical website owner who needs trusted HTTPS, Let’s Encrypt provides a practical solution without adding another certificate charge.
Why Let’s Encrypt Uses Automation
One of the reasons Let’s Encrypt has had such a large impact on the web is automation.
Traditionally, acquiring and maintaining SSL certificates could involve creating certificate requests, proving ownership, downloading certificate files, installing them on a server, and remembering to renew them before expiration.
Let’s Encrypt was designed around a different model.
Its ACME protocol allows server software to communicate directly with the Certificate Authority. Once authorized for a domain, the ACME client can request, renew, and revoke certificates through an automated process. Let’s Encrypt
That makes free certificates practical on a very large scale.
Automation also reduces one of the most common SSL problems: forgetting that a certificate needs renewal.
Shorter Certificate Lifetimes Can Actually Improve Security
SSL certificates are not intended to last forever.
Short certificate lifetimes limit how long a compromised or incorrectly issued certificate can remain useful. They also encourage automated renewal instead of depending on website owners to remember a manual renewal process.
Let’s Encrypt has historically emphasized these two advantages when explaining its shorter certificate model: limiting the potential damage from compromised keys or mis-issuance and making automated certificate management the normal way to operate HTTPS. Let’s Encrypt
For website owners, automation is the important part.
Instead of treating SSL renewal as something that should require repeated manual work, the system is designed around obtaining replacement certificates automatically.
Free SSL Certificates on HostRite Shared Cloud Hosting
HostRite’s shared cloud hosting platform uses the Hepsia Control Panel, making free SSL convenient for ordinary websites.
Our shared hosting lineup currently includes:
| HostRite Plan | Free Let’s Encrypt SSL | Hepsia Control Panel |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | Yes | Included |
| EconomyPlus | Yes | Included |
| Business | Yes | Included |
| Executive | Yes | Included |
HostRite’s cloud platform also supports SSL certificates on shared IP addresses. This means customers do not need to purchase a dedicated IP address merely to use SSL for a normal website. HostRite’s current plan documentation confirms shared SSL IP support across its shared hosting platform. HostRite
This is particularly useful for customers hosting smaller websites, WordPress sites, blogs, business websites, and other projects where buying a dedicated IP solely for HTTPS would add unnecessary expense.
Free SSL Certificates With HostRite VPS Hosting
HostRite also makes Free SSL Certificates available for compatible VPS hosting environments using the Hepsia Control Panel.
This distinction is important because a VPS provides considerably more configuration flexibility than a standard cloud hosting account.
A VPS can use different operating systems, software, and control-panel configurations. Therefore, the HostRite free SSL experience described in this article specifically applies to HostRite VPS hosting configured with Hepsia.
For a Hepsia-based VPS, customers can take advantage of the same basic Let’s Encrypt approach: trusted HTTPS certificates without purchasing a separate SSL certificate for each ordinary website.
That can become especially valuable when a VPS hosts multiple websites.
Free SSL Certificates on HostRite Dedicated Servers
The same principle extends to HostRite Dedicated Servers running the Hepsia Control Panel.
A dedicated server gives a customer an entire physical server environment. HostRite offers several operating-system and control-panel choices for dedicated servers, including Hepsia. HostRite’s current dedicated-server documentation lists Hepsia as a $0-per-month control-panel option on compatible Debian configurations. HostRite
When a HostRite Dedicated Server is configured with Hepsia, Free SSL Certificates powered by Let’s Encrypt are available for hosted websites.
This can be particularly valuable on a dedicated server hosting many domains because the customer does not need to purchase a basic SSL certificate separately for every website simply to provide HTTPS.
The important requirement is the Hepsia configuration.
A dedicated server configured with a different control panel or custom server stack can have different SSL-management procedures.
Why HostRite Provides Free SSL Certificates
HTTPS is no longer something that should be considered an optional luxury for only large websites or online stores.
People expect secure connections.
WordPress administrators need secure login sessions. Business websites may collect information through contact forms. Membership websites handle user credentials. Online stores process customer activity. Even a simple informational website benefits from protecting the connection between the visitor and the server.
Making Free SSL Certificates available removes an unnecessary barrier to using HTTPS.
There is no reason a small website should have to remain on an unencrypted connection simply because the owner does not want to purchase a commercial SSL certificate.
Does SSL Protect Credit Cards and Passwords?
SSL/TLS encryption helps protect sensitive information while it travels between the visitor and the website server.
That can include passwords, form submissions, personal information, and other data sent through a website.
However, SSL cannot protect information after it reaches an insecure application or database.
For example, HTTPS does not repair a vulnerable WordPress plugin, remove malware, create secure passwords, patch outdated software, or prevent an administrator from accidentally exposing information.
SSL is therefore an essential layer of website security rather than the entire security system.
A secure website still requires software updates, strong passwords, appropriate permissions, backups, malware protection, and responsible administration.
Does a Let’s Encrypt Certificate Prove a Business Is Legitimate?
No.
This is another important distinction.
A Let’s Encrypt certificate proves control of the domain according to the Certificate Authority’s validation process. It allows the website to establish a trusted encrypted connection.
It does not perform an investigation into whether the company behind the website is reputable.
A malicious website can potentially use HTTPS just as a legitimate website can.
Visitors should therefore never treat the padlock or HTTPS address as proof that a company, offer, download, or message is trustworthy.
The security benefit is encryption and domain authentication, not a guarantee about everything the website owner does.
Free SSL Is Especially Useful for WordPress
WordPress websites are an excellent example of why HTTPS matters.
WordPress administrators regularly sign into /wp-admin, where usernames, passwords, cookies, and administrative activity are involved.
Using HTTPS helps protect communication between the administrator’s browser and the hosting server.
It also means visitors can browse the public website through an encrypted connection.
Because HostRite’s hosting platform supports WordPress alongside free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates, customers can build a WordPress website without treating basic HTTPS as an extra paid upgrade.
Moving a Website From HTTP to HTTPS
Installing an SSL certificate is an important part of enabling HTTPS, but an existing website may also need some configuration changes.
Older websites can contain links to images, scripts, stylesheets, or other resources that explicitly use http://.
When the main page uses HTTPS but some resources still load through HTTP, browsers may report mixed content.
WordPress websites may also need their site URLs updated appropriately.
Website owners should therefore check the site after enabling SSL and confirm that pages, images, forms, scripts, and administrative areas load correctly through HTTPS.
The certificate creates the secure connection. The website itself should also be configured to consistently use that secure connection.
What Happens When a Let’s Encrypt Certificate Needs Renewal?
Certificate renewal is one of the areas where Let’s Encrypt’s automated design is especially helpful.
A replacement certificate is essentially obtained by going through the issuance process again. The ACME client demonstrates authorization and requests a new certificate. Let’s Encrypt describes renewal requests as new certificate applications. Let’s Encrypt
In an automated hosting environment, customers should not have to treat SSL renewal like an annual shopping event.
The objective is for certificate management to happen routinely in the background.
This is one of the major advantages of combining Let’s Encrypt with a hosting control panel such as Hepsia.
Free SSL Certificates Make Secure Hosting Simpler
Website security can become complicated very quickly.
SSL does not have to be.
HostRite’s approach is straightforward: customers using compatible Hepsia-based hosting can secure their websites with Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates without paying an additional certificate fee.
That includes HostRite’s shared cloud hosting plans as well as compatible VPS hosting and Dedicated Servers using the Hepsia Control Panel.
Let’s Encrypt handles the trusted certificate infrastructure. Hepsia provides the hosting-management environment. HostRite brings the pieces together as part of the hosting service.
For customers, the result is simpler:
Host your website. Enable HTTPS. Keep the connection encrypted. And don’t pay extra simply for a basic trusted SSL certificate.
Free SSL Certificates FAQ
Question: Does HostRite Cloud Hosting offer free SSL certificates?
Answer: Yes. HostRite provides free SSL certificates powered by Let’s Encrypt for compatible hosting services using the Hepsia Control Panel.
Question: Which HostRite shared hosting plans include free SSL?
Answer: HostRite’s Economy, EconomyPlus, Business, and Executive cloud hosting plans can use free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates.
Question: Are free SSL certificates available with HostRite VPS hosting?
Answer: Yes. They are available for compatible HostRite VPS hosting configured with the Hepsia Control Panel.
Question: Are free SSL certificates available on HostRite Dedicated Servers?
Answer: Yes. Compatible HostRite Dedicated Servers using Hepsia can use free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates.
Question: What is Let’s Encrypt?
Answer: Let’s Encrypt is a free, automated, open Certificate Authority operated by the nonprofit Internet Security Research Group. It issues publicly trusted certificates that websites can use to enable HTTPS. Let’s Encrypt
Question: Are Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates really secure?
Answer: Yes. They are publicly trusted SSL/TLS certificates and provide encrypted HTTPS connections when properly configured. Let’s Encrypt’s public-key infrastructure operates under the industry requirements for publicly trusted certificates. Let’s Encrypt
Question: Is a free certificate weaker because it costs nothing?
Answer: No. The fact that Let’s Encrypt does not charge for certificates does not mean it deliberately provides weaker HTTPS encryption. It is a nonprofit service designed to make HTTPS broadly available.
Question: Does SSL completely secure my website?
Answer: No. SSL/TLS protects information traveling between the browser and server. Website software still needs to be kept updated and protected with good passwords, sensible permissions, backups, and other security measures.
Question: Do I need a dedicated IP address to use free SSL on HostRite shared hosting?
Answer: Normally, no. HostRite’s cloud hosting platform supports SSL certificates on shared SSL IP addresses. HostRite
Question: Does HTTPS prove a website or business is trustworthy?
Answer: No. HTTPS indicates that the connection is encrypted and that domain control was validated for certificate issuance. It does not guarantee that the website owner or business is trustworthy.
Question: Can I use free SSL with WordPress?
Answer: Yes. WordPress websites can use HTTPS with a Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate, including the public website and administrative login.
Question: Does Let’s Encrypt support automatic certificate management?
Answer: Yes. Automation is one of the core principles behind Let’s Encrypt. Its ACME protocol is designed to automate certificate issuance, renewal, and related certificate-management tasks. Let’s Encrypt
Question: Why does HostRite offer free SSL?
Answer: HTTPS has become a basic part of operating a modern website. Providing free Let’s Encrypt certificates makes it easier for HostRite customers to encrypt website connections without adding a separate certificate purchase to the cost of hosting.
