{"id":16029,"date":"2026-09-11T18:22:33","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T17:22:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T18:22:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T17:22:33","slug":"what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Let&#8217;s Encrypt and How to Use It"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_87 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#What_Is_Lets_Encrypt_and_How_to_Use_It_for_Your_Website\" >What Is Let&#8217;s Encrypt and How to Use It for Your Website<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#What_Is_Lets_Encrypt\" >What Is Let&#8217;s Encrypt?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#Why_Is_an_SSL_Certificate_Important\" >Why Is an SSL Certificate Important?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#Security_and_Data_Encryption\" >Security and Data Encryption<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#Trust_and_Credibility\" >Trust and Credibility<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#SEO_Benefits\" >SEO Benefits<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#How_Does_Lets_Encrypt_Work\" >How Does Let&#8217;s Encrypt Work?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#Domain_Validation_DV\" >Domain Validation (DV)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#Certificate_Renewal\" >Certificate Renewal<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#How_to_Use_Lets_Encrypt_on_Your_Hosting_Account\" >How to Use Let&#8217;s Encrypt on Your Hosting Account<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#Check_Whether_Your_Host_Supports_Lets_Encrypt\" >Check Whether Your Host Supports Let&#8217;s Encrypt<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#Installing_Lets_Encrypt_via_cPanel\" >Installing Let&#8217;s Encrypt via cPanel<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#Installing_Lets_Encrypt_Manually_Using_Certbot\" >Installing Let&#8217;s Encrypt Manually Using Certbot<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#Verifying_Your_SSL_Certificate\" >Verifying Your SSL Certificate<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#Common_Issues_with_Lets_Encrypt_Hosting\" >Common Issues with Let&#8217;s Encrypt Hosting<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#Rate_Limits\" >Rate Limits<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#Wildcard_Certificates\" >Wildcard Certificates<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#Is_Lets_Encrypt_Right_for_You\" >Is Let&#8217;s Encrypt Right for You?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/what-is-lets-encrypt-and-how-to-use-it\/#Final_Thoughts\" >Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><html><br \/>\n<body><\/p>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Lets_Encrypt_and_How_to_Use_It_for_Your_Website\"><\/span>What Is Let&#8217;s Encrypt and How to Use It for Your Website<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>If you have ever built a website or managed a hosting account, you have likely come across the term SSL certificate. These certificates are essential for securing your website, protecting user data, and boosting your search engine rankings. Traditionally, obtaining an SSL certificate meant paying a third-party provider and going through a lengthy verification process. That all changed when Let&#8217;s Encrypt arrived on the scene. In this guide, we will explore everything you need to know about Let&#8217;s Encrypt hosting, how it works, and how you can use it to secure your website without spending a penny.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Lets_Encrypt\"><\/span>What Is Let&#8217;s Encrypt?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Let&#8217;s Encrypt is a free, automated, and open certificate authority (CA) launched in 2016 by the Internet Security Research Group (ISRG). Its primary mission is to make encrypted connections across the internet the standard by providing SSL\/TLS certificates at no cost to website owners. Before Let&#8217;s Encrypt, SSL certificates could cost anywhere from a few pounds to hundreds of pounds per year, making HTTPS adoption a financial barrier for smaller websites and individual developers.<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s Encrypt changed the landscape entirely. By automating the certificate issuance and renewal process, it removed both the financial and technical hurdles that previously prevented many website owners from securing their sites. Today, Let&#8217;s Encrypt has issued billions of certificates and is trusted by all major browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Is_an_SSL_Certificate_Important\"><\/span>Why Is an SSL Certificate Important?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Before diving deeper into Let&#8217;s Encrypt hosting, it is worth understanding why SSL certificates matter in the first place.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Security_and_Data_Encryption\"><\/span>Security and Data Encryption<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>An SSL certificate encrypts the data transferred between a user&#8217;s browser and your web server. This means that sensitive information such as login credentials, payment details, and personal data cannot be intercepted by malicious third parties. Without HTTPS, your visitors are exposed to potential man-in-the-middle attacks.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Trust_and_Credibility\"><\/span>Trust and Credibility<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Modern browsers display a padlock icon in the address bar when a website uses HTTPS. Conversely, sites without SSL certificates are often flagged as &#8220;Not Secure,&#8221; which can deter visitors and damage your reputation. Users are far more likely to trust and engage with a website that clearly displays security indicators.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"SEO_Benefits\"><\/span>SEO Benefits<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Google confirmed back in 2014 that HTTPS is a ranking signal. While it may not be the most significant factor in your overall SEO strategy, having a secure website does give you a slight edge over competitors who have not yet made the switch. For website owners focused on Let&#8217;s Encrypt hosting as part of their broader digital strategy, this is an added bonus worth noting.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Does_Lets_Encrypt_Work\"><\/span>How Does Let&#8217;s Encrypt Work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Let&#8217;s Encrypt uses a protocol called ACME (Automated Certificate Management Environment) to verify that you own the domain for which you are requesting a certificate. This verification process is carried out automatically without any human interaction, which is what makes Let&#8217;s Encrypt so efficient.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Domain_Validation_DV\"><\/span>Domain Validation (DV)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Let&#8217;s Encrypt issues Domain Validated certificates, which confirm that the person requesting the certificate controls the domain in question. It does not verify the identity of the organisation behind the website. For most personal websites, blogs, and small business sites, DV certificates are perfectly adequate. If you require Organisation Validated (OV) or Extended Validation (EV) certificates, you will need to look at paid certificate authorities.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Certificate_Renewal\"><\/span>Certificate Renewal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>One of the notable aspects of Let&#8217;s Encrypt certificates is that they expire after 90 days. This shorter lifespan is intentional, as it encourages automation and reduces the risk associated with compromised certificates. Most hosting providers that support Let&#8217;s Encrypt will automatically renew your certificate before it expires, so you rarely need to manage this process manually.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Use_Lets_Encrypt_on_Your_Hosting_Account\"><\/span>How to Use Let&#8217;s Encrypt on Your Hosting Account<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The good news is that using Let&#8217;s Encrypt hosting has never been easier, particularly if your web host already supports it. Here is a step-by-step overview of how to get started.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Check_Whether_Your_Host_Supports_Lets_Encrypt\"><\/span>Check Whether Your Host Supports Let&#8217;s Encrypt<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The first step is to find out whether your current hosting provider supports Let&#8217;s Encrypt. Many popular hosting control panels, including cPanel and Plesk, have built-in Let&#8217;s Encrypt integration. If your host does not support it natively, you may need to consider switching to one that does, or explore manual installation options.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Installing_Lets_Encrypt_via_cPanel\"><\/span>Installing Let&#8217;s Encrypt via cPanel<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If your hosting account uses cPanel, installing a Let&#8217;s Encrypt certificate is straightforward. Log in to your cPanel dashboard and look for the &#8220;SSL\/TLS&#8221; section. Many cPanel installations include an AutoSSL feature that automatically provisions Let&#8217;s Encrypt certificates for all domains on your account. Simply enable AutoSSL, select Let&#8217;s Encrypt as your certificate provider, and the system will handle the rest.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Installing_Lets_Encrypt_Manually_Using_Certbot\"><\/span>Installing Let&#8217;s Encrypt Manually Using Certbot<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For those managing their own VPS or dedicated server, Certbot is the recommended client for obtaining and renewing Let&#8217;s Encrypt certificates. Certbot is a free, open-source tool that automates the process entirely. To install Certbot on an Ubuntu server running Apache, you would run the following commands in your terminal:<\/p>\n<p><code>sudo apt update<\/code><br \/>\n<code>sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache<\/code><br \/>\n<code>sudo certbot --apache<\/code><\/p>\n<p>Certbot will then guide you through the process, ask you to confirm your domain name, and automatically configure your server to use HTTPS. It will also set up a cron job to handle automatic renewals, so you never have to worry about your certificate expiring unexpectedly.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Verifying_Your_SSL_Certificate\"><\/span>Verifying Your SSL Certificate<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Once your certificate has been installed, you should verify that it is working correctly. Visit your website using <code>https:\/\/<\/code> in the address bar and check for the padlock icon. You can also use free online tools such as SSL Labs&#8217; SSL Test to get a detailed report on your certificate&#8217;s configuration and security rating.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Issues_with_Lets_Encrypt_Hosting\"><\/span>Common Issues with Let&#8217;s Encrypt Hosting<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While Let&#8217;s Encrypt is generally reliable, there are a few common issues that users encounter.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rate_Limits\"><\/span>Rate Limits<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Let&#8217;s Encrypt imposes rate limits on certificate issuance to prevent abuse. If you are frequently requesting certificates for the same domain, you may hit these limits. This is rarely an issue for standard website owners but can affect developers working in staging environments.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wildcard_Certificates\"><\/span>Wildcard Certificates<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Let&#8217;s Encrypt does support wildcard certificates (e.g., *.yourdomain.co.uk), but obtaining them requires DNS validation rather than the simpler HTTP validation method. This adds a layer of complexity, particularly if your DNS provider does not support automated DNS challenges.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Lets_Encrypt_Right_for_You\"><\/span>Is Let&#8217;s Encrypt Right for You?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>For the vast majority of website owners, Let&#8217;s Encrypt is an excellent choice. It is free, widely trusted, and straightforward to set up, especially when combined with a hosting provider that offers native support. If you are running a personal blog, a small business website, or an e-commerce store that does not require extended validation, Let&#8217;s Encrypt hosting is more than sufficient to meet your security needs.<\/p>\n<p>For further reading on web hosting best practices and how to get the most out of your hosting environment, visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\" target=\"_blank\">DA Manager blog<\/a>, where you will find a wealth of resources to help you manage and grow your online presence.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Thoughts\"><\/span>Final Thoughts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Let&#8217;s Encrypt has genuinely democratised website security. By removing the cost barrier and automating the technical process, it has made HTTPS accessible to everyone, from hobbyist bloggers to growing businesses. If your website is still running on HTTP, there is no good reason to delay making the switch. With Let&#8217;s Encrypt hosting available through most modern hosting providers, securing your site is now quicker and easier than ever before. Take the step today and give your visitors the secure, trustworthy experience they deserve.<\/p>\n<p><\/body><br \/>\n<\/html><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What Is Let&#8217;s Encrypt and How to Use It for Your Website<\/p>\n<p>If you have ever built a website or managed a hosting account, you have likely come across the term SSL certificate. These certificates are essential for securing your website, protecting user data, and boosting your search engine rankings<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mbp_gutenberg_autopost":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[147],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-general"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16029","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16029"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16029\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16029"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/da-manager.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}