Why Free SSL With Let’s Encrypt Matters

{
“title”: “Free SSL with Let’s Encrypt on cPanel and DirectAdmin”,
“content”: “

Switching a site from HTTP to HTTPS no longer has to be expensive or complicated. With Let’s Encrypt, you can get a trusted SSL certificate for free and have it renew automatically, as long as your hosting control panel is configured correctly. In this guide, we will walk through, step by step, how to enable free SSL with Let’s Encrypt on both cPanel and DirectAdmin, and how to make sure auto-renew is actually working in the background. We will also look at typical DNS and configuration pitfalls that make certificates fail or stop renewing unexpectedly. As the dchost.com team, we see the same patterns over and over on shared hosting, reseller plans, VPS and dedicated servers, so this article focuses on practical, real-world setups that work reliably instead of one-off manual fixes you will forget about in three months.

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Modern browsers, search engines and users all expect HTTPS by default. If your site is still on plain HTTP, visitors will see a “Not secure” warning in the address bar, and search engines can treat your pages less favorably compared to fully encrypted competitors. At the same time, paying separately for traditional SSL certificates for every domain and subdomain can become a real cost burden, especially if you manage multiple projects, staging sites or client websites.

Let’s Encrypt solves this problem by issuing domain-validated (DV) certificates for free and automating most of the process through the ACME protocol. When you connect Let’s Encrypt with your control panel correctly, your server can request, install and renew certificates without manual intervention. From a hosting perspective, free SSL is now a baseline feature. On dchost.com hosting, VPS and dedicated servers, we design setups so that HTTPS and auto-renew are managed centrally via cPanel AutoSSL or DirectAdmin’s Let’s Encrypt integration instead of leaving you to script everything from scratch.

İçindekiler

1 How Let’s Encrypt and ACME Work (In Plain Language)
2 Pre‑Checklist: Things to Fix Before Issuing Any Certificate
3 Step‑by‑Step: Free SSL and Auto‑Renew on cPanel
4 Step‑by‑Step: Free SSL and Auto‑Renew on DirectAdmin
5 Verifying HTTPS, Auto‑Renew and Common Pitfalls
6 When You Might Still Need a Paid SSL Certificate
7 Wrapping Up: Make HTTPS Something You Never Worry About Again

How Let’s Encrypt and ACME Work (In Plain Language)

To get a certificate from Let’s Encrypt, your server must prove that it really controls a domain. This happens via the ACME (Automatic Certificate Management Environment) protocol. In simple terms:

Your server asks Let’s Encrypt for a certificate for a domain (for example, example.com and www.example.com).

Let’s Encrypt replies with a challenge, such as “place this special file under a specific URL” or “create a specific DNS record”.

If Let’s Encrypt can access that URL or DNS record and see the correct token, it trusts that your server controls the domain and issues the certificate.

Certificates are intentionally short-lived (90 days), so ACME tools run again before expiry to renew them.

On cPanel and DirectAdmin, you rarely deal with raw ACME commands. Instead, the panel includes (or can be extended with) an ACME client which talks to Let’s Encrypt on your behalf. When correctly configured, this same client also schedules automatic renewals, usually through cron or the panel’s own task scheduler. If you want to dive deeper into challenge types and edge cases, our article ACME Challenges Deep Dive: HTTP-01, DNS-01, and TLS-ALPN-01 explains what happens under the hood.

Pre‑Checklist: Things to Fix Before Issuing Any Certificate

Before you click any “Issue SSL” button in cPanel or DirectAdmin, spend a couple of minutes checking the basics. Most Let’s Encrypt failures we see come from small DNS or hosting misconfigurations.

1. Make sure DNS points to the right server

For HTTP-based challenges (the default method in both panels), Let’s Encrypt must be able to reach your site over HTTP on port 80. That means:

The domain’s A (and AAAA, if using IPv6) records must point to this hosting server’s IP.

Propagation should be complete; use tools like dig, nslookup or online DNS checkers to confirm.

If you recently updated nameservers or changed hosting, allow some time for DNS changes to spread.

If you are not sure about DNS records, our guide DNS Records Explained Like a Friend walks through A, AAAA, CNAME and other records with practical examples.

2. Avoid conflicting CAA records (or configure them properly)

CAA records let you restrict which certificate authorities (CAs) are allowed to issue certificates for your domain. They are useful for security, but misconfigured CAA records can silently block Let’s Encrypt. If you have CAA records, make sure at least one of them allows issuance by Let’s Encrypt (for example, issue “letsencrypt.org”). If you do not have any CAA records, most setups are fine and Let’s Encrypt will proceed.

For advanced multi-CA setups, we recommend reading our deep dive into CAA records and multi-CA strategies before you tighten restrictions.

3. Ensure HTTP (port 80) is reachable

Many people try to force HTTPS immediately with redirects that break the validation path. A good rule:

HTTP to HTTPS redirects are good, but they must still allow ACME challenge URLs to be served correctly.

Do not completely block port 80 in the firewall; Let’s Encrypt needs it for HTTP-01 challenges unless you specifically configure DNS-01.

If you are fronting your site with a CDN or reverse proxy, double-check that ACME validation requests actually reach the origin server where cPanel or DirectAdmin is running.

4. Plan your HTTP to HTTPS migration

Issuing a certificate is only half of the job. You still need to redirect users and search engines cleanly to the HTTPS version, fix mixed content and, if needed, enable HSTS. We cover this process step by step in our article Full HTTPS Migration Guide: 301 Redirects, HSTS and Zero-Loss SEO. For now, focus on getting a valid certificate and verifying that HTTPS works for your domain.

Step‑by‑Step: Free SSL and Auto‑Renew on cPanel

The exact screens you see can differ slightly depending on how your hosting provider configures cPanel, but the overall process is similar. On dchost.com servers, AutoSSL is enabled by default on shared and reseller accounts so that domains start getting certificates shortly after DNS is pointed correctly.

1. Check if AutoSSL is enabled in WHM (server admins)

If you are managing your own VPS, dedicated server or colocation machine with WHM:

Go to “SSL/TLS” → “Manage AutoSSL”.

Choose the provider. Many setups use Let’s Encrypt, others use the default cPanel provider. If you want specifically Let’s Encrypt, select it here and accept the terms.

Enable AutoSSL for users or packages as needed.

Optionally run a manual “Run AutoSSL For All Users” to issue certificates immediately.

Once this is configured, cPanel accounts under WHM will automatically receive and renew certificates without extra scripting.

2. Enable AutoSSL for a cPanel account (end users)

If you are using a shared or reseller account and your provider already enables AutoSSL globally, you typically do not need to do anything. To verify:

Search for “SSL” or “SSL/TLS Status” in the search bar.

Open “SSL/TLS Status”. You should see a list of domains and subdomains under your account.

Make sure “Include during AutoSSL” is ticked for the domains you want covered.

Click “Run AutoSSL” if you want to trigger a manual run instead of waiting for the nightly cron.

cPanel will request certificates for eligible domains. Status icons typically show whether a certificate is already installed, pending, or failed. Hovering over any warning icon usually reveals a reason, such as DNS mismatch or the domain not pointing to this server.

3. Issuing a Let’s Encrypt certificate for addon or parked domains

Addon and parked domains are often forgotten during SSL setup, which leads to browser warnings when users access the site from alternate URLs. To include them:

Add the domain under “Domains” → “Addon Domains” or “Aliases” in cPanel, ensuring the document root is correct.

Wait for DNS to propagate so that the new domain points to this server.

Return to “SSL/TLS Status” and confirm that the domain appears in the list.

Select the new domain and run AutoSSL manually, or wait for the scheduled run.

If you prefer more control (for example, selecting only specific subdomains), some cPanel builds include a “Let’s Encrypt SSL” or similar interface where you can explicitly choose hostnames. The underlying ACME flow is the same; the difference is just in how you trigger it.

4. Confirming that auto-renew is working on cPanel

AutoSSL on cPanel is designed to renew certificates automatically, usually when they are about 15–30 days from expiry. To confirm:

In “SSL/TLS Status”, check the expiry date for your domain’s certificate.

Wait at least one AutoSSL cycle (often nightly) and verify that the expiry date moves forward on its own.

Look at the AutoSSL logs in WHM (for server admins) if a renewal failed; logs will often show DNS errors, incorrect vhost mappings or challenge failures.

In most cases you do not need cron jobs or scripts; cPanel’s internal scheduler takes care of renewals. The key is to keep DNS pointed correctly and avoid firewall or redirect rules that block ACME validation paths.

Step‑by‑Step: Free SSL and Auto‑Renew on DirectAdmin

DirectAdmin has a built-in Let’s Encrypt integration that works at the user and reseller level. Configuration is straightforward once you understand what each option does.

1. Enable Let’s Encrypt at the admin level (server admins)

If you manage your own DirectAdmin server:

Go to “Administrator Settings” or the related global configuration area (exact names vary by skin).

Confirm that “Let’s Encrypt” support is enabled and that the server has a valid contact email set; some builds require an email for ACME registration.

Make sure the server’s hostname and system time are correct; Let’s Encrypt validation can fail if the clock is significantly skewed.

Most modern DirectAdmin installations from providers like dchost.com ship with Let’s Encrypt support ready to use. If you are on an older build, you may need to update DirectAdmin or enable ACME components manually.

2. Requesting a Let’s Encrypt certificate for a single domain

As a DirectAdmin user (for example, on a shared hosting account or a user under a reseller):

Go to “Account Manager” → “SSL Certificates” (or the equivalent section in your skin).

Select the option that mentions “Free & automatic certificate from Let’s Encrypt”.

Choose the domain you want to secure from the dropdown list.

Select the hostnames you want covered, for example:li>n
- example.com
- www.example.com
- mail.example.com (if applicable)
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Make sure “Use a symbolic link from private_html to public_html” is set appropriately if you want HTTPS to serve the same content as HTTP.

Click “Save” or “Issue” to request the certificate.

DirectAdmin will run the ACME HTTP-01 challenge automatically. If everything is configured correctly, you should see a success message and the certificate details on the same page.

3. Enabling auto-renew in DirectAdmin

DirectAdmin handles Let’s Encrypt renewals using its internal scheduler and cron. When you issue a certificate via the Let’s Encrypt interface, auto-renew is usually enabled by default. To verify:

On the same “SSL Certificates” page, look for a checkbox or message indicating that auto-renewal is active.

Check the certificate expiry date; DirectAdmin typically tries to renew about 30 days before expiry.

Ensure that the domain’s DNS and web hosting configuration remain unchanged; if you move the site or change nameservers, renewals can fail.

In some advanced environments (for example, on a VPS with custom cron settings), you might adjust the ACME-related cron tasks, but most standard hosting setups do not require manual changes.

4. Using Let’s Encrypt for multiple domains and subdomains

One of the advantages of Let’s Encrypt is that you can secure multiple hostnames under a single certificate (a SAN certificate). In DirectAdmin, this is often as simple as ticking more boxes:

Open “SSL Certificates” for the main user.

Select the option for a Let’s Encrypt certificate again.

Tick all the domains and subdomains you want covered under the same certificate, for example, example.com, www.example.com, blog.example.com.

Re-issue the certificate with the new list.

If you are considering wildcard certificates such as *.example.com for more complex setups or multi-tenant apps, you will typically need DNS-01 validation and a bit more automation. Our article The Hands-Off Guide to Let’s Encrypt Wildcard SSL and DNS-01 automation shows how this works on control panels and custom Nginx setups.

Verifying HTTPS, Auto‑Renew and Common Pitfalls

Once your certificate is issued, you should test it thoroughly to avoid surprises later.

1. Basic browser checks

Open your site in a modern browser and check:

The URL bar shows HTTPS and a lock icon without warnings.

Clicking the lock reveals that the certificate is issued by Let’s Encrypt (or your chosen CA) and is valid for your domain names.

The expiry date is about 90 days ahead (Let’s Encrypt standard validity).

2. Detect and fix mixed content

Mixed content happens when a page is loaded over HTTPS but some resources (images, scripts, CSS files) are still loaded over HTTP. Browsers may block or warn about these resources, making the site look broken. To avoid this:

Search your theme, templates and plugins for hard-coded http:// URLs and change them to https:// or to protocol-relative URLs.

Update your CMS configuration (for example, the WordPress Site URL) to use HTTPS.

Use browser developer tools (Network or Console tab) to locate remaining mixed content warnings.

For a deeper look at SSL-related warnings, including mixed content and “Not secure” labels, see our guide Fixing Common SSL Certificate Errors: Mixed Content, ‘Not Secure’ and Browser Warnings.

3. Confirming renewals actually happen

It is easy to set everything up once and then forget about it until the day a certificate expires. To avoid this:

Note today’s date and the certificate’s expiry date in a simple calendar reminder a week before expiry.

When that reminder fires the first time, check the certificate again. If auto-renew worked, the expiry date should have shifted forward by another 90 days.

If the date did not change, investigate AutoSSL logs (cPanel) or DirectAdmin’s ACME logs to understand why renewals are failing.

Common reasons for failed renewals include moved DNS, disabled virtual hosts, changed document roots or a firewall that suddenly blocks port 80.

4. Pay attention when you change DNS or hosting

Whenever you migrate a site between servers or change nameservers, remember that Let’s Encrypt’s next renewal will target whatever DNS points to at that time. If you move from one hosting provider to a dchost.com VPS or dedicated server, for example, and change your DNS accordingly, your new environment should issue fresh certificates automatically. But if DNS is split (for example, the www host goes to one server and the root domain goes to another), some hostnames may fail to renew.

We explain how to move domains and hosting with minimal disruption in articles like Why Domain Transfers Break Email (and How to Avoid It) and our TTL-focused migration guide about making DNS propagation feel instant.

When You Might Still Need a Paid SSL Certificate

Let’s Encrypt covers the majority of everyday use cases: blogs, company sites, landing pages, personal projects, APIs and even many e-commerce stores. However, there are scenarios where a commercial certificate is still relevant:

Some compliance regimes or legacy systems require specific CAs, OV (Organization Validation) or EV (Extended Validation) certificates.

Certain enterprise integrations still check certificate fields for company names or custom attributes.

Very long-lived certificates (beyond 90 days) may be mandated in some closed environments, although the trend is shifting towards shorter lifetimes.

From a pure encryption and modern browser trust perspective, Let’s Encrypt DV certificates are just as secure. The difference is mostly in identity validation level and ecosystem expectations. We compare these trade-offs in more detail in our article Let’s Encrypt vs Commercial SSL: Choosing the Right Certificate for E‑Commerce and Enterprise, so you can decide when free SSL is enough and when a paid option makes sense.

Wrapping Up: Make HTTPS Something You Never Worry About Again

Once DNS is clean and your control panel is talking to Let’s Encrypt correctly, SSL certificates can become one of the most “boring” parts of your infrastructure — and that is exactly what you want. On cPanel, AutoSSL takes care of issuing and renewing certificates for all eligible domains, including addon and parked domains, as long as you keep them pointed to the server. On DirectAdmin, the built-in Let’s Encrypt integration does the same job with a few straightforward clicks at the user level, backed by automatic cron-based renewals.

At dchost.com, we design our shared hosting, reseller accounts, VPS, dedicated servers and colocation offerings so that free SSL and auto-renew are a default part of the stack instead of an afterthought. If you are planning a new project or moving from a platform that still charges per certificate, consider aligning your DNS, hosting and SSL strategy from day one. Our checklist for the first 30 days after buying a domain, including DNS, SSL, email and SEO, is a good next read when you want an end‑to‑end picture of the setup process. With a solid foundation and Let’s Encrypt automation in place, you can focus on building your site or application instead of constantly watching certificate expiry dates.

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“meta_description”: “Learn how to install free SSL with Let’s Encrypt on cPanel and DirectAdmin, enable auto-renew, fix DNS issues and avoid common HTTPS pitfalls. For shared hosting.”,
“faqs”: [
{
“question”: “Is Let’s Encrypt SSL really free and secure enough for my website?”,
“answer”: “Yes. Let’s Encrypt issues domain-validated (DV) certificates at no cost. They use the same modern TLS standards and encryption strength as paid DV certificates, and are trusted by all major browsers. The main difference compared to OV/EV certificates is identity information: Let’s Encrypt only confirms control of the domain, not your legal company details. For most blogs, corporate sites, landing pages and many online stores, a Let’s Encrypt DV certificate is technically sufficient, especially when combined with other security best practices on your hosting stack.”
},
{
“question”: “How often does Let’s Encrypt auto-renew, and do I need to set up a cron job on cPanel or DirectAdmin?”,
“answer”: “Let’s Encrypt certificates are valid for 90 days. Best practice is to renew around 30 days before expiry. On typical cPanel servers, AutoSSL runs automatically (often nightly) and handles both issuance and renewals without you adding a custom cron job. DirectAdmin does something similar with its built‑in Let’s Encrypt integration, relying on its own scheduled tasks. You only need manual cron or scripts if you are running a custom ACME client directly on a VPS without a control panel.”
},
{
“question”: “Why is my Let’s Encrypt SSL failing on cPanel or DirectAdmin?”,
“answer”: “Most failures come from DNS or connectivity issues. Common causes include A/AAAA records still pointing to an old server, nameservers not updated to your current hosting provider, port 80 blocked by a firewall, or aggressive HTTP to HTTPS redirects that break the ACME validation path. In cPanel, check the AutoSSL logs and the “SSL/TLS Status” page for per‑domain error messages. In DirectAdmin, look at the Let’s Encrypt output in the SSL Certificates section. Fix DNS first, ensure HTTP is reachable, then run the issuance again.”
},
{
“question”: “Can I use Let’s Encrypt for wildcard domains like *.example.com on cPanel or DirectAdmin?”,
“answer”: “Yes, but wildcard certificates require the DNS-01 challenge, where you prove control of the domain by creating specific DNS TXT records. Not all shared hosting environments expose this flow directly in the panel, and automation depends on whether your DNS is hosted where the automation tool can update records. For more advanced setups, especially on VPS or dedicated servers, combining DNS-01 automation with tools like acme.sh is common. Our wildcard-focused guide on Let’s Encrypt and DNS-01 covers real-world setups in detail.”
},
{
“question”: “Do I need to buy a separate SSL certificate for each addon domain on my hosting account?”,
“answer”: “Not necessarily. With Let’s Encrypt and SAN (Subject Alternative Name) certificates, you can secure multiple domains and subdomains under a single certificate, as long as they are all hosted and validated correctly. On cPanel, AutoSSL usually issues certificates that cover all eligible addon and parked domains automatically. On DirectAdmin, you can tick multiple domains and subdomains when requesting a Let’s Encrypt certificate. The key is to ensure that each hostname’s DNS points to the correct server and that HTTP validation works for all of them.”
}
]
}

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