/ Plugin Category

/ Security & Privacy

/ Security Scanning & Malware Protection

/ Auto-Install Free SSL – Generate & Install Free SSL Certificates

Auto-Install Free SSL – Generate & Install Free SSL Certificates

By Anindya Sundar Mandal

Security & Privacy / Security Scanning & Malware Protection

Auto-Install Free SSL – Generate & Install Free SSL Certificates Review - In-Depth Analysis

Generate and install Free SSL Certificates for WordPress with ease. This plugin offers HTTPS redirect and automatic renewal reminders.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

7.13/10

User Rating

4.9/5 (based on 404+ reviews)

Active Installations

8,000+

Update Frequency

Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

6.1 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Auto-Install Free SSL allows you to generate Free SSL Certificates directly from your WordPress dashboard. It simplifies the process of securing your website without the need for programming skills.

This plugin utilizes Let’s Encrypt™ SSL Certificates, which are free and easy to install. With just a few clicks, you can secure your website and ensure your visitors' data is protected.

The plugin offers features such as domain ownership verification, automatic renewal reminders, and one-click HTTPS redirection. It is designed for users who want a hassle-free solution for SSL installation.

Comparing to Alternatives

Auto-Install Free SSL stands out among SSL plugins for its ease of use and seamless integration, especially when compared to other free SSL solutions.

Top alternatives

Auto-Install Free SSL – Generate & Install Free SSL Certificates

Strengths

Automates SSL certificate generation and installation with minimal user input.
Works reliably where some hosting providers' free SSL options fail.
User-friendly interface suitable for beginners.
Saves money by providing free SSL certificates.
Seamless integration with WordPress sites.

Weaknesses

Limited advanced customization options for SSL configurations.
Support primarily through community forums and documentation.
May not support all hosting environments equally.
Some users may require more detailed setup guidance.

User Sentiment Analysis

User feedback highlights the plugin's reliability and ease of use, with many praising its effectiveness where other solutions failed.

Positive highlights

"Excellent plugin, very useful – helps save moneeeey" – timour2008
"All is cool" – alexkailin
"I have been using Auto-Install for YEARS and I couldn't be happier." – globalgirlssquad710
"Amazing help! Made my install very easy!" – viscomm1
"It simply worked. Within minutes. No complex configuration, no second guessing each click." – skeeterseatery

Common complaints

Limited advanced features for power users.
Some users may find instructions insufficient without careful reading.

Weaknesses

Lack of direct premium support channels.
Occasional compatibility issues with certain hosting providers.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Website owners and administrators seeking a hassle-free, cost-effective way to secure their sites with SSL certificates without technical complexity.

Not ideal for

Users needing advanced SSL customization or those whose hosting environments are incompatible with automated SSL installation plugins.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version provides automatic generation and installation of free SSL certificates, covering the essential needs for securing a WordPress site.

Pro version

Offers premium features such as advanced SSL management options, priority support, and compatibility enhancements for diverse hosting environments.

Final Verdict

Auto-Install Free SSL is a highly effective plugin for users looking to quickly and easily secure their WordPress sites with free SSL certificates. Its automation and simplicity make it a standout choice, especially for those frustrated by other providers' limitations.

While it may lack some advanced features and direct premium support, its core functionality and positive user feedback make it a valuable tool for most website owners seeking reliable SSL installation without added costs.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Auto-Install Free SSL – Generate & Install Free SSL Certificates plugin.

Free SSL

Free SSL Certificate

HTTPS Redirect

Screenshots

FAQ

Please click here to learn about plugin installation.

This is a temporary issue. You may wait 24 hours or follow these steps:

Please access your website with HTTPS (e.g., https://example.com). If you are sure that the SSL certificate is installed correctly and the padlock is visible, please log in to your WordPress dashboard, open a new tab, write the following URL in the address bar by replacing ‘www.example.com’ with your domain name, and hit enter:

  http://www.example.com/wp-admin/admin.php?page=aifs_force_https&aifsaction=aifs_force_https_override&checked_ssl_manually=done&valid_ssl_installed=yes

Let’s Encrypt™ does not issue SSL certificates for localhost. Let’s Encrypt™ certificates are intended for public domain names, which are accessible via the internet for the domain control validation (DCV) process. Since localhost is a local server and a hostname used for development, it is not publicly accessible and cannot be validated online using the HTTP-01 challenge (the most common method).

After you complete developing the website in the local development environment, please do the following to secure your website with a free SSL certificate:

Use an existing web hosting server or hire a new one that is publicly accessible, i.e., available online.
Use an existing domain name or purchase a new domain name.
Associate the domain name with the IP address or nameservers of the online web hosting server, i.e., set A records or NS records.
Migrate the website from your local development environment to the online web hosting server using a Migration and Backup Plugin, like ‘Duplicator’.
If the domain name mentioned in steps 2 and 3 is different from your local hostname, replace it with the new domain name across all database tables using a plugin like ‘Better Search Replace’.

Rest assured, after you complete the above steps, you can easily generate an SSL certificate with this plugin, i.e., ‘Auto-Install Free SSL’. We’ve made the process as straightforward as possible for your peace of mind.

However, if you use a registered domain name (for your WordPress website), mapped to the localhost IP address (e.g., 127.0.0.1), and use the DNS-01 challenge for the domain control validation (DCV), our plugin will create a free SSL certificate for your registered domain name. Then you can download the SSL certificate files from our plugin’s ‘Generate SSL’ page and manually install them on the local server. In that case, we recommend you map the registered domain name to the localhost IP address (e.g., 127.0.0.1) using your local computer’s host file, but don’t set A records pointing to the localhost IP with your domain registrar. Use your domain registrar only to set TXT records for the DNS-01 challenge. Please read this for more information: https://letsencrypt.org/docs/certificates-for-localhost

Let’s Encrypt™ issues free SSL certificates only after successful domain control validation (DCV).

Let’s Encrypt™ HTTP-01 challenge works by creating a specific text file with specific content in a specified directory (.well-known/acme-challenge/) of the document root of the website, as defined by the ACME standard. The file name and its content are variable. Our plugin creates this file with the specific text by automatically communicating with the Let’s Encrypt™ API server, and as per their requirements. Users of the free version can download the static file and upload it to the specified directory. The premium plugin uploads this file to the specified directory automatically.

It’s the responsibility of your web server to make the static file available at the specific public URL. This is the standard behavior of every web server. To validate your domain control, Let’s Encrypt™ API server accesses the specific URL and checks if the file’s content is valid. For example, the file at the following URL:

http://yourdomain.com/.well-known/acme-challenge/pqv-gjW9kF0VjktRxdqpPNK-0tLA_n5ORCzuB71-Zog

Must return this exact content or text:

pqv-gjW9kF0VjktRxdqpPNK-0tLA_n5ORCzuB71-Zog.aSOSwUGmotjVbnE_hY1u-2wwHhwyl5qtPLVr4COOSQs

If your web server (or hosting provider) purposefully blocks access to such files, Let’s Encrypt™ cannot validate that you control the domain, and will not issue an SSL certificate for your domain name.

Please contact your web hosting provider and ask whether they allow Let’s Encrypt™ API access to HTTP-01 challenge files.

Optionally, follow these steps: create two directories (i.e., folders) ‘.well-known/acme-challenge/’ in the document root of your domain name or website. Create a static file with the following file name:

pqv-gjW9kF0VjktRxdqpPNK-0tLA_n5ORCzuB71-Zog

and without any file extension inside the ‘.well-known/acme-challenge/’ folder. Copy the following content into the file and save it:

pqv-gjW9kF0VjktRxdqpPNK-0tLA_n5ORCzuB71-Zog.aSOSwUGmotjVbnE_hY1u-2wwHhwyl5qtPLVr4COOSQs

Then try to access it over HTTP like the following URL:

http://yourdomain.com/.well-known/acme-challenge/pqv-gjW9kF0VjktRxdqpPNK-0tLA_n5ORCzuB71-Zog

(Make sure to replace ‘yourdomain.com’ with your actual domain name.) If you can see the exact file content in your browser, your server is ready.

However, some hosts allow you to view the file manually in a browser but block Let’s Encrypt™ API from accessing it, which also causes failures. So, the best way is to ask your web hosting provider.

This is a temporary issue. You may wait 24 hours or follow these steps:

  http://www.example.com/wp-admin/admin.php?page=aifs_force_https&aifsaction=aifs_force_https_override&checked_ssl_manually=done&valid_ssl_installed=yes