The top 10 hosting with free SSL: secure your site without paying extra.

The top 10 hosting with free SSL: secure your site without paying extra

The internet has changed. What used to be a technical feature for banking websites is now a requirement for every single site, big or small. We are talking about having a secure connection, known as HTTPS, which is activated by an SSL certificate.

Contents

The top 10 hosting with free SSL: secure your site without paying extra
- What is free SSL?
Essential criteria: evaluating secure certificate hosting
3. The top 10 hosting providers with free ssl (in-depth reviews)
4. Deep dive: why let’s encrypt is the industry standard
- Validation levels explained
- Hosting integration excellence
5. Choosing your secure host (transactional guide)
6. Conclusion and final recommendation
- Our final recommendation

If your website lacks a secure certificate, visitors see an unsettling “Not Secure” warning in their browser. Google also penalizes unsecured sites in search rankings, meaning fewer people will find you. In short, security is no longer a luxury; it is the absolute baseline for trust, credibility, and success online.

This comprehensive guide reviews the top 10 hosting with free ssl providers. We focus on companies that offer high-quality, automatic security at zero cost, ensuring you make a future-proof choice that saves you money and headaches.

What is free SSL?

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It is a digital certificate that encrypts the connection between a user’s browser and your website’s server. This makes sure sensitive data—like passwords, personal details, or credit card numbers—is transferred safely.

Years ago, SSL certificates cost hundreds of dollars annually. Today, thanks primarily to non-profit organizations like Let’s Encrypt, the highest-quality security is often provided for free. The crucial difference between a premium paid SSL and a reliable free option (like Let’s Encrypt) is usually just the level of validation, which we will detail later. For 99% of small businesses and personal blogs, the free options from the hosts listed here are more than enough.

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Here is what you can expect to find:

The criteria we used to rank these providers.
Detailed reviews of the top providers who offer top 10 free SSL hosting solutions.
A guide on how to pick the perfect host based on your project size.

Essential criteria: evaluating secure certificate hosting

At HostingClerk, we do not just look at the price tag when reviewing hosting solutions. When it comes to security, automatic integration, performance, and transparency are just as important as the monthly bill.

We established a rigid methodology to create this definitive list. If a host made the cut, they excelled in all the following areas.

2.1. Automatic integration and renewal

The absolute worst thing is having your website security expire because you forgot to renew a certificate. The highest-ranking hosts make SSL setup effortless.

A top-tier host must deploy the SSL certificate automatically the moment you point your domain to their servers. Even more critically, the certificate must auto-renew itself, often 30 days before expiration, without any user intervention. This seamless process is crucial for truly secure free certificate hosting. If the host makes you download, upload, or manually install anything, they did not make this list.

2.2. Quality of free SSL

Not all free certificates are equal, though most modern certificates are excellent. We prioritize providers offering the best hosting with Let’s Encrypt due to its universal recognition, reliability, and security standards.

Let’s Encrypt is the industry leader for Domain Validated (DV) certificates. Every major browser—Chrome, Firefox, Safari—trusts certificates issued by this authority. When you see a host offering “free SSL,” we ensure it comes from an established, trusted Certificate Authority (CA) like Let’s Encrypt or similar Sectigo offerings.

2.3. Speed and uptime

Security cannot come at the cost of performance. Encryption adds a tiny layer of processing time, but modern hosting technology completely negates this. We evaluated hosts based on features that boost speed alongside security:

HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 support: Modern protocols that improve how encrypted data is delivered.
SSD storage: Solid-state drives deliver content faster than older hard drives.
CDN integration: A content delivery network speeds up global access to your site.
Guaranteed Uptime: Top hosts offer 99.9% or better uptime guarantees.

2.4. Value and price transparency

We understand that most buyers are looking for the best deal. We demand clear communication on pricing. It is a common industry tactic to offer a very low introductory rate and then increase the renewal price dramatically.

For every host listed below, we state the heavily discounted introductory price alongside the full, non-negotiable renewal price. This ensures there are no surprises when your first term ends.

3. The top 10 hosting providers with free ssl (in-depth reviews)

This section contains the essential resource for anyone ready to secure their website today. This is where you will find detailed ssl included hosting reviews to guide your transactional decision.

3.1. Provider 1: SiteGround

USP/Best For: Best overall choice for managed WordPress hosting, speed, and premium support.

SiteGround is consistently ranked among the elite, especially for WordPress users. They built their platform on Google Cloud infrastructure, guaranteeing fast global load times. Their security features are deep and automatically managed.

Free SSL Details: They offer unlimited free Let’s Encrypt certificates on all domains and subdomains. Installation is instant, and renewal is 100% automated via their Site Tools control panel.
Security Stack Beyond SSL: Their custom security platform features a proprietary Web Application Firewall (WAF) that is updated daily, advanced AI anti-bot systems to block brute-force attacks, and real-time security monitoring. They also provide free daily backups.
Performance Metrics: They use UltraFast PHP setup, managed caching (Memcached and static), and offer multiple server locations across four continents.
Pricing Callout:
- StartUp Plan Introductory Price (36 months): $2.99/month
- Standard Renewal Price: $14.99/month

3.2. Provider 2: Bluehost

USP/Best For: Official recommendation by WordPress and ideal for beginners seeking a simple, unified dashboard.

Bluehost is one of the world’s largest hosting companies and is famed for its beginner-friendly interface. When you install WordPress, the site is secured instantly.

Free SSL Details: Bluehost includes a free SSL certificate (Let’s Encrypt) with every domain on all plans. It activates automatically when you point the domain to the server and handles auto-renewal seamlessly.
Security Stack Beyond SSL: Key security features include resource protection, complimentary CodeGuard Basic backups, and integrated DDoS protection. Their automated tools detect and block malware instantly.
Performance Metrics: They offer standard SSD drives across all shared plans and a free Cloudflare CDN integration for improved global delivery.
Pricing Callout:
- Basic Plan Introductory Price (36 months): $2.95/month
- Standard Renewal Price: $11.99/month

3.3. Provider 3: Hostinger

USP/Best For: Best budget option for shared hosting without compromising speed or security.

Hostinger provides extreme value by offering premium features—like speed and a robust dashboard—at the lowest entry price points in the industry.

Free SSL Details: All shared, VPS, and cloud plans include a lifetime free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt. The certificates are activated via the hPanel (Hostinger’s custom control panel) with a single click and renew automatically.
Security Stack Beyond SSL: Every account includes weekly automated backups, advanced security modules (mod_security), and Cloudflare protection integrated at the server level.
Performance Metrics: They use Litespeed web servers, which are significantly faster than Apache, and include LSCache for WordPress for rapid page loading.
Pricing Callout:
- Premium Shared Introductory Price (48 months): $2.99/month
- Standard Renewal Price: $6.99/month

3.4. Provider 4: A2 Hosting

USP/Best For: Extreme performance and developer-friendly features, especially their “Turbo” speed options.

A2 Hosting is known for prioritizing speed above all else. They promise up to 20x faster page loads than competitors on their high-tier plans, making them a great choice for growing traffic.

Free SSL Details: A2 is a long-time advocate for free security, including unlimited free standard SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt on all hosting plans, including shared.
Security Stack Beyond SSL: They include a free “HackScan” protection service, which runs 24/7 malware monitoring. They also provide server rewind backups and specialized DDoS defense.
Performance Metrics: Their Turbo servers (available on specific plans) offer more resources, fewer users per server, and advanced caching configurations.
Pricing Callout:
- Startup Plan Introductory Price (36 months): $2.99/month
- Standard Renewal Price: $11.99/month

3.5. Provider 5: DreamHost

USP/Best For: Best for reliability, privacy, and their lengthy 97-day money-back guarantee.

DreamHost is one of the few hosts to offer a massive 97-day guarantee, signaling strong confidence in their product. They are also known for strong security standards and developer tools.

Free SSL Details: They provide a free, pre-installed Let’s Encrypt certificate on all domains hosted. This applies to subdomains too, and installation is instant upon domain setup.
Security Stack Beyond SSL: They include multi-factor authentication, robust server-level security that protects against common vulnerabilities, and comprehensive domain privacy protection.
Performance Metrics: They utilize standard SSD storage and offer an optimized environment for high-traffic sites with built-in server-side caching.
Pricing Callout:
- Shared Starter Introductory Price (36 months): $2.59/month
- Standard Renewal Price: $7.99/month

3.6. Provider 6: GreenGeeks

USP/Best For: Eco-friendly hosting that matches high-performance with carbon neutrality.

GreenGeeks is a standout choice for users who prioritize sustainability. They put back three times the power they consume into the grid in the form of renewable energy, all while providing excellent speed.

Free SSL Details: Every single plan, even the entry-level shared tier, includes a free Wildcard SSL certificate. This is a superior type of free certificate that secures both your main domain and all subdomains instantly.
Security Stack Beyond SSL: GreenGeeks includes advanced security tooling, nightly automated backups, proactive security patching, and comprehensive real-time protection and monitoring.
Performance Metrics: They use Litespeed servers for improved speed, specialized caching technology, and built-in scalability to handle traffic surges smoothly.
Pricing Callout:
- Lite Plan Introductory Price (36 months): $2.95/month
- Standard Renewal Price: $11.95/month

3.7. Provider 7: WP Engine

USP/Best For: Premium managed hosting specifically for WordPress, offering white-glove security and support.

If you run a demanding WordPress site or e-commerce store and want maximum security and zero-hassle management, WP Engine is the top choice. While pricier, the value in performance and dedicated security is unmatched.

Free SSL Details: WP Engine integrates free Let’s Encrypt certificates directly into the user’s control panel (Portal). They handle the deployment, management, and forced HTTPS redirect automatically for optimal security.
Security Stack Beyond SSL: Features include a proprietary firewall (WAF), geo-target protection, automated core WordPress updates, and zero tolerance for malware—they guarantee to fix your site if it gets hacked, free of charge.
Performance Metrics: Built on high-performance cloud infrastructure with advanced caching layers and global server locations optimized exclusively for WordPress.
Pricing Callout:
- Startup Plan Introductory Price (Annual): $20.00/month (Includes 4 months free)
- Standard Renewal Price: $25.00/month

3.8. Provider 8: InMotion Hosting

USP/Best For: Excellent scalable hosting options, strong US-based technical support, and superior free migration services.

InMotion Hosting is known for its reliability and commitment to customer service. They offer robust plans suitable for small businesses looking for room to grow.

Free SSL Details: InMotion includes free, automatic SSL on all hosting packages, powered by a trusted authority. The installation process is integrated into their cPanel interface, making management simple.
Security Stack Beyond SSL: They offer free proprietary security measures including advanced DDoS protection, hack and malware protection, and automated remote backup services on specific plans.
Performance Metrics: They use NVMe SSD storage, which is faster than standard SSDs, and offer max speed zones for US customers (East and West coast data centers).
Pricing Callout:
- Core Plan Introductory Price (36 months): $2.29/month
- Standard Renewal Price: $9.99/month

3.9. Provider 9: Liquid Web

USP/Best For: High-end cloud and VPS hosting for mission-critical sites requiring maximum control and security performance.

Liquid Web is perfect for those who have outgrown shared hosting. They focus on providing fully managed servers, meaning they handle all the security and maintenance while you focus on your business.

Free SSL Details: They provide free SSL certificates (usually Sectigo or Let’s Encrypt, depending on the server type) that are installed by their “Heroic Support” team or automatically provisioned upon setup.
Security Stack Beyond SSL: This provider offers an extensive security suite, including dedicated firewalls, integrated protection against DDoS attacks, and server hardening techniques to minimize vulnerability exposure.
Performance Metrics: They guarantee 100% network uptime (very rare) and utilize premium cloud infrastructure with specialized configurations for high-volume database operations.
Pricing Callout:
- Managed VPS Introductory Price (First month): $20.00/month
- Standard Renewal Price: $59.00/month

3.10. Provider 10: Namecheap

USP/Best For: Domain registration integration and excellent bundled security features at a very low cost.

While known primarily for domain names, Namecheap provides competent and extremely affordable shared hosting that bundles security and privacy features that others charge for.

Free SSL Details: Namecheap provides free SSL certificates for the first year on their entry-level plans. After the first year, renewal is offered at a very competitive rate, though they also support free manual Let’s Encrypt integration.
Security Stack Beyond SSL: All plans include integrated DDoS defense, specialized server shielding, and their private DNS feature, which helps protect your domain from attacks.
Performance Metrics: They offer high-speed solid-state drives (SSDs) and a reliable infrastructure with a 100% uptime guarantee for all VPS and dedicated plans.
Pricing Callout:
- Stellar Plan Introductory Price (12 months): $1.98/month
- Standard Renewal Price: $4.48/month

4. Deep dive: why let’s encrypt is the industry standard

When reviewing providers, we repeatedly highlighted the inclusion of Let’s Encrypt. We want to ensure you are fully confident that this “free” security solution is robust and professional.

Let’s Encrypt is not some fly-by-night service; it is an open, non-profit Certificate Authority (CA) created by the Internet Security Research Group (ISRG). It is supported by major industry players like Google, Mozilla, and Cisco. Its goal is simple: to make the entire web encrypted.

Validation levels explained

SSL certificates are categorized by how deeply they validate the identity of the certificate owner.

DV (Domain Validation): This is what Let’s Encrypt provides. The CA simply verifies that you control the domain name (e.g., through email confirmation or DNS records). This is sufficient for 99% of small-to-medium sites, blogs, and standard e-commerce shops. It gives you the green padlock and HTTPS, which is all Google requires.
OV/EV (Organization/Extended Validation): These are paid certificates. They require the CA to manually verify your business entity, legal documents, and physical address. They are used primarily by large financial institutions, government sites, or massive corporations that need the highest visible trust indicators. For most users, paying for OV or EV validation is often unnecessary overkill.

Hosting integration excellence

The reason these hosts rank highly is not just that they offer Let’s Encrypt, but because their technical setup is flawless. They exemplify the best hosting with lets encrypt due to their control panel integration.

In providers like SiteGround or Hostinger, the automated tools within their custom control panels (or cPanel) manage the entire lifecycle: certificate issuance, deployment across the server, and automatic renewal every 90 days. You literally never have to touch it. This automation is what makes the free option so incredibly reliable and secure.

5. Choosing your secure host (transactional guide)

Now that you have seen the top 10 providers offering secure free certificate hosting, it is time to align the features with your specific needs. Your project size and goals will determine which host gives you the best return on investment.

Scenario 1: the budget-conscious beginner

If you are launching a personal blog, small portfolio, or testing a new business idea, your priority is low cost and extreme ease of use.

Recommendation: Hostinger or DreamHost.
Why: They offer the lowest renewal rates after the introductory period while still providing high-speed servers (Litespeed in Hostinger’s case) and instant, automated SSL setup. You get the required security without paying more than a few dollars a month.

Scenario 2: the growing business/e-commerce site

If you plan to process payments, manage customer data, or expect serious traffic growth, you need robust firewalls, managed backups, and strong performance guarantees.

Recommendation: SiteGround or WP Engine.
Why: SiteGround offers a superior proprietary WAF and highly optimized Google Cloud infrastructure. For maximum peace of mind, WP Engine’s dedicated environment and malware guarantee are essential, even at the higher price point. If you plan to process payments, manage customer data, or expect serious traffic growth, you need robust firewalls, managed backups, and strong performance guarantees. You need robust firewalls, managed backups, and strong performance guarantees.

Scenario 3: the developer/agency

You need efficient tools for deploying multiple client sites rapidly. Multi-domain management, rapid SSL deployment tools, and staging environments are key.

Recommendation: A2 Hosting or Liquid Web.
Why: A2 Hosting offers the performance and developer tools necessary for fast deployments. Liquid Web (VPS/Cloud) provides the API access and server control required to manage dozens of demanding, high-performance projects easily.

Comparison table: top 5 providers

Provider	Starting Price (Intro)	Renewal Price	Uptime Guarantee	Free SSL Provider	Money-Back Guarantee Length
SiteGround	$2.99/month	$14.99/month	99.9%	Let’s Encrypt	30 Days
Bluehost	$2.95/month	$11.99/month	99.9%	Let’s Encrypt	30 Days
Hostinger	$2.99/month	$6.99/month	99.9%	Let’s Encrypt	30 Days
A2 Hosting	$2.99/month	$11.99/month	99.9%	Let’s Encrypt	Anytime Pro-Rated
DreamHost	$2.59/month	$7.99/month	100%	Let’s Encrypt	97 Days

6. Conclusion and final recommendation

The days of paying extra for basic website security are long gone. Every reputable hosting provider today recognizes the absolute necessity of encryption. By choosing any of the providers in our top 10 hosting with free ssl list, you are ensuring your site is secured, trusted by browsers, and supported by modern standards.

Using secure free certificate hosting is a non-negotiable step in the modern internet era. It protects your visitors, boosts your search engine visibility, and ensures you look professional.

Our final recommendation

While all providers on this list are excellent, SiteGround stands out as the best overall choice for most users. They couple automatic, trusted security with top-tier speed and unparalleled customer support, making them the safest bet for beginners and growing businesses alike.

Do not wait another day to secure your website. The low introductory prices listed here are special deals provided to new customers. Click through now to lock in your special discounted rate and launch your website with instant, built-in security.

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