Install Fast and Free SSL and HTTPS in cPanel with Let’s Encrypt

Let’s Encrypt is a trusted, open source certificate authority that offers free SSL certificates for as many domains as you want – and now there are easy ways to integrate it with cPanel for one-click, automated certificate installation that takes mere seconds to complete.

Installing an SSL certificate with Let’s Encrypt is already fast, but if you own a hosting business, you’re a developer who manages clients’ sites, or you want an even faster solution, then there are Let’s Encrypt plugins you can integrate into cPanel, including an official plugin by cPanel.

In this post, I’ll cover how to install each of the Let’s Encrypt plugins for cPanel and how you can use them to install and renew free certificates in a few seconds.

• Server Requirements
• Free Let’s Encrypt cPanel GitHub Plugin
  • Installing the cPanel Plugin
  • Installing a Certificate
• Free Official cPanel Plugin
  • Installing the cPanel Plugin
  • Installing a Certificate
• Wrapping Up

Server Requirements

To run any of the lugins for cPanel there are a few prerequisites:

• You need cPanel installed with a valid license
• Root and SSH access to your server
• The basic requirements for using Let’s Encrypt:
  • Unix-type OSes that include Python 2.6 or 2.7
• For the official cPanel plugin:
  • cPanel and WHM versions 58.0.17 or above
• For the plugin found on GitHub, you need:
  • A Centos five, six or seven server
  • A static IP address if you have Centos five

Once you have all the server requirements for the plugin you want to use, you can go ahead and install it. Feel free to skip ahead to the one you want to install:

1. Free Let’s Encrypt cPanel GitHub Plugin
2. Free Official cPanel Plugin

1. Free Let’s Encrypt cPanel GitHub Plugin

As with any plugin installed from GitHub, it’s important that you’re aware of the inherent risks. Since regular maintenance and security isn’t guaranteed across all plugins found on GitHub, you need to be sure you trust the developer.

It’s a good practice to check out the developer of even recommended plugins from GitHub no matter who recommends them. For details about the developer of this plugin, check out the Let’s Encrypt cPanel plugin repository on GitHub.

For more details on the precautions you should consider before installing plugins from GitHub, check out one of our other posts How to Find and Install Hundreds of Free WordPress Plugins from GitHub.

Installing the cPanel Plugin

Log into the root of your server with SSH and run this command to download the plugin package to your server:

Next, go to the directory that was created for the plugin with the following line:

Finally, install the plugin by entering the command below:

Once you receive a message that says Successfully installed letsencrypt manager you’re all set to install your first SSL certificate.

Installing a Certificate

Once you’re logged into cPanel go to Security and click the Let’s Encrypt link. You’re not going to see an icon accompanied with the link. We’re not being fancy here.

On the management page, click the New SSL Certificate button.

Next, select one of your domains that you have registered to your cPanel account. Once you have made your choice, click the Submit button to start installing your certificate.

After about 10 seconds, you should be re-directed to the main page with a message letting you know the installation was a success. You should also see your domain listed on the page as well.

Next to your domain on the list, you should see that a certificate for your domain was installed automatically for both your main domain and with a www. prefix. You should also see the date your certificate expires as well as the number of days you have left until the certificate expires.

2. Free Official cPanel Plugin

While this plugin needs to be installed to see it when you log into cPanel, there’s a chance it could come pre-installed in cPanel and WHM version 60. It’s not for certain yet only because extra testing needs to be completed by the folks behind cPanel before they can push out the change for everyone.

Installing the cPanel Plugin

For now, you can install the official Let’s Encrypt plugin for cPanel with one command:

The final installation steps need to be completed in WHM so go ahead and log in as the root user. Go to SSL/TLS > Manage AutoSSL and choose the Let’s Encrypt option under Choose an AutoSSL provider.

Next, check the boxes for I agree to these terms of service and Create a new registration with the provider. You can also click the link to review the terms of service.

When you have made your selections, click Save. You should see a small pop-over appear in a few seconds that lets you know the installation has completed successfully.

Installing a Certificate

It’s important to note that this feature only works if AutoSSL is enabled for the users where you want the SSL certificates installed. To enable this option for users, click the Manage Users tab, then select the Enable radio button next to the user account names where you want to install certificates.

Click the Check button to enable AutoSSL. When the process has completed, you can go back to the main Providers tab and click the Run AutoSSL For All Users button.

The process should only take a few seconds, but can take longer if you have many cPanel accounts and domains. Once the process is complete, all domains registed to all the cPanel accounts should have an SSL certificate installed.

Also, you won’t have to worry about renewing the certificates since that’s all setup for you automatically.

Wrapping Up

That’s a wrap of the options you can use to install SSL certificates using your cPanel account or WHM.

Any of these options are generally great and fast but note that some plugins can be trusted more than others so be sure to exercise the appropriate amount of caution before installing any plugin for cPanel.

If you run to any troubles, feel absolutely free to contact our expert support team, night or day. We’re here for you. If you already have an active WPMU DEV membership, premium support is all set and ready for you so you can open a support ticket, hop on live chat or check out the support forum for any issues you experience.