SSL or Secure Sockets Layer is a security mechanism that establishes a private connection between the browser and the web server. This secured connection is also known as Transport Layer Security and used to send password, payments and other information securely and privately. Initially it was used by online stores to receive payments through encrypted gateways. Later Google was pushing SSL as a factor to decide the ranking position of a website in the search results. Combining together with SEO and security, SSL has become the utmost important for any website nowadays.
How to Get SSL Certificate for Your Website?
Many companies sell premium SSL certificates and you need to contact them for purchasing, installing and configuring it on your site’s server. There are also free and open-source resources available to get a certificate for your site. Paid hosting companies like SiteGround offers free SSL for all hosting plans making it easy for the users. Other free hosting companies like Wix and Weebly also offer free SSL certificates.
If you are searching for getting a free SSL for your site, then here are six certificate providers you can consider.
1. Let’s Encrypt
Let’s Encrypt is a free, automated and open-source SSL certificate authority. Most of the premium and free hosting companies basically offer free SSL certificates using Let’s Encrypt. If you have a Shell or SSH access to your server then you can directly generate the SSL certificate and install it using ACME protocol. Otherwise, you should ask your hosting company to do this for you.
2. Cloudflare
Cloudflare is basically a security and content delivery network (CDN) provider. As SSL is enforced as a security measure, it makes sense for the popular security company to offer is for free to the users. You can create an account with Cloudflare and enable SSL for free.
3. SSL For Free
SSL For Free uses Let’s Encrypt’s ACME client and generate certificates for your site. You can add up to 100 subdomains or domains in a single certificate.
4. Zero SSL
ZeroSSL is an extension to get Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates for Perl client.
5. Comodo SSL – 90 Days Trial
Comodo is a digital certificate authority issues SSL and other digital certificates to secure your site. It is a premium certificate issued for users, but you can get a free certificate on trial basis for 90 days.
6. Open SSL
OpenSSL is an open-source toolkit for SSL and TLS protocols. It is distributed under Apache-style license for free usage for commercial and non-commercial purposes.
Final Words
As mentioned, Let’s Encrypt is the most popular free option offered through hosting companies. If that is not working for you, then try other options which may need support from your hosting company for setting up.
