Yes. Every Ultra Web Hosting account includes free SSL certificates via Let's Encrypt, automatically installed and renewed for all your domains. You don't need to purchase, install, or configure anything. This guide covers how AutoSSL works, how to verify your SSL is active, and what to do if it's not.
SSL Is Free and Automatic
Every domain on your Ultra hosting account gets a free SSL certificate. No action required on your part.
- Let's Encrypt certificates issued automatically via AutoSSL
- Renewed automatically before expiration
- Covers your domain and the
wwwsubdomain - No purchase or manual installation needed
01. Free SSL via AutoSSL
AutoSSL is a cPanel feature that automatically requests, installs, and renews Let's Encrypt SSL certificates for every domain on your account. It runs periodically and checks all your domains. New domains typically get a certificate within a few hours of being added to your account.
AutoSSL covers:
- Your primary domain (
yourdomain.com) - The www version (
www.yourdomain.com) - All addon domains
- All subdomains created in cPanel
- Webmail, cPanel, and other service subdomains
02. Check Your SSL Status
- In cPanel - go to SSL/TLS Status. Green lock icons mean the certificate is active. Yellow or red means pending or failed
- In your browser - visit your site with
https://and click the padlock icon in the address bar. It shows certificate details including issuer (Let's Encrypt) and expiration date - Online checker - use SSL Labs for a detailed report
03. SSL Not Working?
If your domain doesn't have an SSL certificate or shows as insecure:
Run AutoSSL Manually
In cPanel > SSL/TLS Status, click "Run AutoSSL." This triggers an immediate certificate request instead of waiting for the next automatic run.
Common Reasons AutoSSL Fails
- DNS not pointed to your server - AutoSSL needs to verify domain ownership by connecting to your server. If DNS doesn't point to Ultra yet, it can't verify. Wait for DNS propagation
- Domain expired - an expired domain can't be verified
- .htaccess redirects interfering - if .htaccess redirects the AutoSSL validation URL, verification fails. Temporarily rename .htaccess and run AutoSSL again
- Rate limiting - Let's Encrypt has rate limits. If too many certificates were issued recently for the same domain, you may need to wait. This is rare for most users
After adding a new addon domain, wait for DNS to propagate (up to 48 hours) before expecting AutoSSL to issue a certificate. AutoSSL will keep retrying automatically.
04. Forcing HTTPS
Once your SSL certificate is active, you should force all traffic to use HTTPS. In cPanel > Domains, find your domain and toggle "Force HTTPS Redirect" to ON.
If your site shows mixed content warnings after enabling HTTPS, see our Mixed Content Guide.
For WordPress sites, also update your Site URL and Home URL in Settings > General to use https://.
SSL Issues?
If AutoSSL isn't issuing a certificate for your domain after 48 hours, open a ticket. We can check the AutoSSL logs for the specific failure reason.
Open a Support TicketFrequently Asked Questions
Does Ultra Web Hosting include free SSL?
Yes. Every account includes free SSL via Let's Encrypt through AutoSSL, which installs and renews certificates automatically for all your domains. You do not need to buy, install, or configure anything.
How do I check if my SSL certificate is active?
Visit your site with https and look for the padlock in the browser, or check the SSL/TLS Status tool in cPanel, which lists each domain and its certificate. AutoSSL marks the domains it has secured.
Why is my SSL not working on a new domain?
AutoSSL issues a certificate only after the domain resolves to your account, so a brand-new domain may wait until DNS propagates. Make sure the domain points to the server and has no CAA record blocking Let's Encrypt, then AutoSSL secures it automatically.
How do I force my site to use HTTPS?
Add a redirect in .htaccess that sends http requests to https, or enable the force-HTTPS option in your application such as WordPress. Make sure the certificate is active first so the redirect does not create errors.
Quick Recap
- SSL is free and automatic - Let's Encrypt via AutoSSL, no action needed
- Check SSL/TLS Status in cPanel - green lock = active
- Click "Run AutoSSL" - if your certificate is missing
- DNS must point to Ultra first - AutoSSL needs to verify domain ownership
- Force HTTPS - toggle it on in cPanel > Domains
Last updated November 2026 · Browse all SSL articles · See also: Mixed Content Fix
