Having a SSL certificate is a requirement on your website, and if you have a WordPress website, there are a few different plugins that I’ve used to generate SSL certificates. WP Encryption is one, and I’ve used it on several sites because the paid version allows me to generate a wildcard SSL (one that will secure multiple sites) much cheaper than if I purchased this type of security certificate through my host. I know this sounds very technical, but bear with me.
Free and Paid
WP Encryption, like many WordPress plugins offers a free and a paid version. The free version allows you to secure one domain with or without the www (www.yourauthorwebsite.com or yourauthorwebsite.com). For most people that’s sufficient. Once every 90 days you need to add some verification and regenerate the certificate, and this is a service I offer for FREE for my website hosting customers. Therefore, you never have to worry about your security certificate expiring and your website (along with its data) stays secure. If you have a web store on your site, then it is vital you always have a valid SSL certificate.
The paid version will install the certificate for you, though depending on your host you may still need to go in and complete verification every 90 days. Additionally, it allows you to generate a wildcard SSL which secures multiple subdomains. (For example this website and the subdomains of this website.) And let’s be honest, for a $49 lifetime fee, that WP Encryption paid program is one heck of a deal.
Why I no longer recommend upgrading
I have four paid upgrades for various websites with WP Encryption. Of those four upgrades, only ONE works correctly each and every time, out of the box. Considering that the back end of those websites is the same hardware/server configuration, and the websites are more or less the same (theme, WordPress, plugins, general configuration, etc.), that’s a pretty high failure rate.
I’m a technical person. I know how to put in support tickets and provide appropriate server information. I’m even extra nice to the help desk people I interact with because I know how awful some customers can be. And yet, the “support” I’ve received has been some of the worst, and that’s saying something. And one issue (with my license key reading free, rather than paid, when I have and have provided receipts), they refuse to fix.
I’ve taken steps to ensure I no longer have to deal with them on the websites that weren’t working, and while I am willing to use the free version of their plugin and continue to do so, I cannot in good conscience recommend anyone upgrade this plugin.
The Bottom Line
First, the other plugin I’ve used to generate SSL certificates is SSL Zen, and this is the plugin that I’m using and suggesting on all new sites moving forward.
Secondly, if you’re hosted with me, I’ll handle this for you, so you don’t have to worry about it! It’s included in the price of web hosting.
And finally, if you do need a wildcard SSL, I am happy to recommend hosts which include the SSL in the cost of hosting for free or discussing different options. But I do not recommend paying for or upgrading to WP Encryption, because the truth is, it may or may not work, and the support will fail you and your site.
