Introduction

make a website https is a common search for anyone who wants a secure site that protects users and ranks better in search engines. HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) encrypts traffic using TLS (Transport Layer Security), prevents content tampering, and signals trust to visitors and browsers.

This guide explains what HTTPS does, why you need it, and how to implement it on real hosting platforms step by step. You will get checklists, pricing comparisons, a practical timeline, sample configuration snippets, and recommended tools. The goal is to give beginners and entrepreneurs a clear path from buying a domain to running a fast, secure website that automatically renews certificates.

Read this if you are building a brochure site, blog, web app, or online store. By following a single concrete process you can move from zero to a fully secured site in under a day on managed platforms, or in a few days for custom deployments. Practical examples use GitHub Pages, Netlify, Vercel, DigitalOcean, Amazon Web Services, Cloudflare, and Let’s Encrypt.

Make a Website Https Overview

What HTTPS does: it encrypts the HTTP connection between a visitor and your server so attackers cannot read or tamper with data in transit. HTTPS uses TLS certificates to verify identity and enable encryption.

Why HTTPS matters right now:

Search engines prefer HTTPS and may rank secure sites higher.
Modern browsers mark non-HTTPS pages as “Not Secure” when collecting input such as passwords or credit cards.
Payment processors and OAuth providers often require redirect URIs to be HTTPS.

When to use HTTPS:

Always use HTTPS for any public website. Even static brochure sites benefit from encryption and better SEO.
Use HTTPS for development staging if you share links with clients.
Use stronger TLS options and additional measures for sites handling payments, health data, or personal information.

Example scenarios and timelines:

Simple static site on Netlify or GitHub Pages: 30 minutes to 2 hours (including domain setup).
Small business WordPress site on shared hosting: 2-4 hours to set up domain and TLS with Let’s Encrypt (automated) or hosting panel.
Custom Node.js or containerized app on DigitalOcean or AWS: 4-16 hours depending on CI/CD and DNS propagation.
E-commerce store with PCI compliance: 1-2 weeks to configure secure transactions, logging, and compliance checks.

Actionable insight: prioritize automation. Use platforms that automate TLS issuance and renewal (Let’s Encrypt, Netlify, Vercel, Cloudflare) so you avoid expired certificates and manual renewals.

Core Principles of HTTPS and Secure Websites

What HTTPS actually secures:

Encryption: prevents eavesdroppers from reading content.
Integrity: detects tampering with resources (HTML, scripts, images).
Authentication: a certificate asserts domain ownership but not company identity unless using Extended Validation (EV) or Organization Validation (OV).

Key components explained:

TLS certificates: files issued by Certificate Authorities (CA) that browsers trust.
Certificate Authorities: companies like Let’s Encrypt (free), DigiCert, GlobalSign, Sectigo that issue digital certificates.
Certificate signing and validation: standard automated approaches are ACME (Automated Certificate Management Environment), used by Let’s Encrypt and many clients.
Certificate types:
Single-domain: protects one hostname (example.com).
Wildcard: protects subdomains (*.example.com).
Multi-domain (SAN): protects several specified hostnames.
EV/OV: paid validation for organization identity (rarely required for basic security).

How TLS fits into your stack:

CDN and reverse proxy (Cloudflare, Fastly) terminate TLS at the edge, then connect to your origin. Use “full” or “full strict” modes to maintain encryption to origin.
Servers can use built-in automation: Nginx with Certbot (Let’s Encrypt), Caddy (built-in automatic TLS), Apache with mod_ssl and Certbot.
Managed platforms like Netlify, Vercel, and GitHub Pages handle certificates for you.

Security extras and tradeoffs:

HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) forces browsers to always use HTTPS; enable after all pages serve correctly over HTTPS.
Redirect HTTP to HTTPS: required to avoid duplicate content and user confusion.
OCSP stapling reduces SSL/TLS handshake latency.
TLS versions: disable legacy TLS 1.0 and 1.1; allow TLS 1.2 and 1.3 for compatibility and security.

Numbers to use:

Typical TLS handshake adds 0.5 to 1 round trip; use HTTP/2 or HTTP/3 and TLS session resumption to reduce latency.
Let’s Encrypt certificates are valid for 90 days - automate renewals or use platforms that handle renewal.
Wildcard certificates cost $0 (Let’s Encrypt) to $200+ per year (paid vendors), single-domain certificates start at $0 to $70+/yr from CAs.

Example configurations (real products):

Small blog: GitHub Pages + Cloudflare free plan + Let’s Encrypt is free, setup time 30-60 minutes.
SaaS product: Vercel or Netlify $0-$20/month plus domain $12/year, TLS automated.
High traffic e-commerce: AWS Elastic Load Balancer + Amazon Certificate Manager (free for AWS) + Cloudflare Pro $20/month.

Step by Step Build and Deploy

This section provides a practical, ordered checklist and commands where useful. Choose your hosting category and follow the matching path: managed static hosting, shared hosting (cPanel), or cloud/VPS.

Shared pre-setup checklist (applies to all):

Buy a domain: expect $10 to $20 per year at registrars like Namecheap, Google Domains, or GoDaddy.
Prepare site files or code repository (Git). Use a folder with index.html, CSS, JavaScript.
Decide hosting model: static vs dynamic, CDN vs origin, managed vs self-hosted.

Path A: Static site on Netlify, Vercel, or GitHub Pages (fastest)

Time: 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Cost: free plans available.
Steps:

Push site to GitHub.
Sign up for Netlify or Vercel and connect the repository.
Configure build settings and deploy.
Add custom domain in settings and verify ownership (DNS record).
Enable automatic HTTPS (Netlify/Vercel issue certificates via Let’s Encrypt automatically).

Checklist:
DNS A/AAAA or CNAME records set.
Auto renew TLS enabled.
Redirect HTTP to HTTPS in platform settings.
Example time breakdown: 10 minutes repo + 20 minutes platform setup + DNS propagation 10-60 minutes.

Path B: Shared hosting with cPanel (WordPress or PHP app)

Time: 1-4 hours.
Cost: hosting $3-12/month (SiteGround, Bluehost), domain $12/year, Let’s Encrypt free or paid SSL.
Steps:

Buy hosting and domain.
Install WordPress or upload files via FTP.
In cPanel, find “SSL/TLS” and enable AutoSSL (Let’s Encrypt or cPanel provider).
Update WordPress settings to use https:// in Site Address and WordPress Address.
Force HTTPS via .htaccess redirect.

Minimal .htaccess redirect example:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} !=on
RewriteRule ^ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

Checklist:
Backup before changes.
Check mixed content issues (HTTP resources on HTTPS page).
Verify certificate auto-renewal.

Path C: VPS or cloud (DigitalOcean, AWS EC2, Google Cloud)

Time: 4-16 hours depending on automation.
Cost: VPS $5-$40/month, domain $12/year, optional load balancer/CDN costs.
Steps:

Provision a droplet (DigitalOcean $5/month) or EC2 instance.
Set up web server: Nginx or Apache.
Install Certbot (Let’s Encrypt) or use Caddy server for automatic TLS.
Configure server block for domain and run certbot to obtain cert.
Configure automatic renewal (cron or systemd timer).

Minimal Nginx snippet to redirect HTTP to HTTPS and use cert paths:

server {
listen 80;
server_name example.com www.example.com;
return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
}

Checklist:
Open ports 80 and 443 in firewall (ufw or cloud firewall).
Configure log rotation and monitoring.
Test with SSL Labs server test for grade and issues.

CDN and edge security (Cloudflare or Fastly)

Add Cloudflare: change registrar nameservers to Cloudflare’s.
Use Full Strict mode to ensure Cloudflare connects securely to your origin.
Cloudflare free plan includes basic DDoS protection, TLS, and caching.
Set minimum TLS version to 1.2 and enable HTTP/2 or HTTP/3 if available.

Sample timeline for small business site:

Day 1: Buy domain, choose hosting, set up repository or upload files.
Day 1-2: Configure DNS and deploy site on managed host.
Day 2: Enable TLS and test.
Day 3-7: Configure CDN, set HSTS after confirming everything, monitor for issues.

Cost comparison (annual, approximate)

Domain: $12/year (Namecheap, Google Domains).
Static hosting: $0 to $20/year (Netlify/Vercel free tiers or paid plans).
Shared hosting: $36 to $144/year (Hostinger, Bluehost).
VPS: $60 to $480/year (DigitalOcean $5-40/month).
CDN/edge: $0 to $240+/year (Cloudflare free to Pro $20/month).
TLS: $0 (Let’s Encrypt) to $200+/year for premium certificates.

Best Practices and Testing

Security and performance practices to include before and after going live.

Deployment best practices:

Enforce HTTPS site-wide with 301 redirects; avoid temporary redirects which hurt SEO.
Use HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) with a long max-age only after you are confident every hostname and subdomain serves HTTPS. Start with a short max-age (e.g., 1 day) then increase.
Prefer HTTP/2 or HTTP/3 for multiplexing; enable Gzip or Brotli compression for assets.
Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to offload static assets and provide DDoS protection and SSL at the edge.
Automate certificate renewal with ACME-based tools or rely on platform automation.

Privacy and data handling:

Avoid collecting unnecessary personal data.
Use secure cookies (HttpOnly, Secure attributes) and set SameSite cookie flags.
For login systems, use session timeouts and multi-factor authentication where possible.

Testing checklist:

SSL Labs test: get an A or A+ rating. Address weak ciphers and outdated protocol support.
Browser testing: check Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and mobile browsers for mixed content warnings.
Lighthouse test (Google): verify performance, accessibility, best practices, and SEO.
Penetration basics: run vulnerability scanners like OWASP ZAP (free) or third-party scanning for e-commerce.

Monitoring and maintenance:

Monitor certificate expiration even if renewals are automated; set alerts 30 days before expiry.
Monitor uptime with services such as Uptime Robot (free) or Pingdom.
Review server logs and set up error alerting via Sentry or similar for web apps.

Extra protections for higher-risk sites:

Enable DNS-based protections like DNSSEC for domain integrity.
Use Web Application Firewall (WAF) from Cloudflare or vendor.
Enforce strict TLS configuration and consider client certificate authentication for internal tools.

Tools and Resources

Concrete tools, platforms, and pricing to consider. Prices are approximate and reflect common entry-level or popular plans.

Domain registrars:

Namecheap: $8-$15/year for .com domains.
Google Domains: $12/year.
GoDaddy: promotions then renewal typically $12-$20/year.

Managed static hosting:

Netlify: Free tier includes TLS automation and global CDN; Pro $19/month.
Vercel: Hobby free, Pro $20/user/month, automatic TLS for custom domains.
GitHub Pages: Free for public repositories, TLS via github.io or custom domain via CNAME with TLS handled via GitHub.

Shared hosting:

Bluehost: $2.95-$10/month introductory, includes free SSL.
SiteGround: $3.99-$14.99/month, strong support and free TLS.
Hostinger: $1.99-$3.99/month for basic shared hosting.

VPS and cloud:

DigitalOcean: Droplets starting at $5/month.
Amazon Web Services (AWS): EC2 free tier then pay-as-you-go; Amazon Certificate Manager (ACM) free for use with AWS load balancers.
Google Cloud Platform: Compute Engine with free credits; managed certificates available for load balancers.

Certificate Authorities:

Let’s Encrypt: Free, 90-day certificates with ACME automation.
DigiCert: Commercial, $200+/year for premium support and EV.
Sectigo (formerly Comodo): $10-$100+/year depending on type.

CDN and edge:

Cloudflare: Free plan with TLS and caching; Pro $20/month for extra features.
Fastly: Pay-as-you-go, entry usage costs depend on traffic.
Bunny CDN: Starting $0.01/GB for storage and bandwidth.

Monitoring and testing:

SSL Labs: free server SSL/TLS grade check.
Uptime Robot: free plan for basic uptime checks.
Sentry: free tier for error monitoring.
Lighthouse: built into Chrome DevTools.

Automation and simplicity:

Caddy server: automatic HTTPS built-in; suitable for small to medium deployments.
Certbot: ACME client for Let’s Encrypt, works with Nginx and Apache.
Docker + Traefik: Traefik can auto-manage TLS for containerized apps.

Example recommended stacks by use case:

Personal blog: GitHub Pages + Cloudflare free + Let’s Encrypt (free) - total $12/year for domain.
Small company site: Netlify free/pro + Cloudflare optional - $12-$240/year depending on plan.
SaaS startup: Vercel Pro $20+/user/month + AWS services for backend - expect $100+/month initially.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Forgetting to redirect HTTP to HTTPS

Problem: Duplicate content, SEO issues, users see insecure banners.
How to avoid: Implement a permanent 301 redirect from HTTP to HTTPS at the server, CDN, or platform level.

Mistake 2: Not automating certificate renewal

Problem: Certificates expire and browsers block access.
How to avoid: Use Let’s Encrypt with Certbot or rely on Netlify/Vercel/Cloudflare automation and set monitoring alerts.

Mistake 3: Serving mixed content (HTTP resources on HTTPS pages)

Problem: Browser blocks or downgrades security; page elements may not load.
How to avoid: Audit resources, use protocol-relative or HTTPS URLs, and run Lighthouse or browser console to find mixed content.

Mistake 4: Enabling HSTS too early or with wrong scope

Problem: Misconfiguration can lock users into HTTPS even if some subdomains are not ready, making recovery hard.
How to avoid: Start with low HSTS max-age, test thoroughly, and enable includeSubDomains only when all subdomains support HTTPS.

Mistake 5: Weak TLS configuration and old cipher suites

Problem: Security vulnerabilities and lower grades on SSL Labs tests.
How to avoid: Use modern TLS settings, disable TLS 1.0 and 1.1, and enable TLS 1.2+ and TLS 1.3 where possible.

FAQ

How Long Does It Take to Make a Website Https?

A basic static site can be HTTPS-enabled in 30 minutes to 2 hours using Netlify, Vercel, or GitHub Pages. More complex setups on VPS or cloud can take 4-16 hours including server setup, firewall configuration, and testing.

Is HTTPS Free or Do I Need to Pay for Certificates?

Many certificates are free via Let’s Encrypt and are suitable for most websites. Paid certificates from vendors like DigiCert or Sectigo cost $50-$200+/year and may provide additional support or organization validation.

What is the Difference Between SSL and TLS?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the older protocol; TLS (Transport Layer Security) is the modern standard. Most people still say “SSL” colloquially, but TLS is what browsers and servers actually use today.

Do I Need to Configure Anything After I Add a Certificate?

Yes. You should enforce HTTPS redirects, check for mixed content, enable HSTS when ready, configure secure cookies, and test with SSL Labs and Lighthouse to ensure security and performance.

Can I Use Cloudflare to Handle HTTPS for My Site?

Yes. Cloudflare can terminate TLS at its edge on the free plan and provides options to secure origin connections (“Full Strict” recommended). You can also use Cloudflare Origin CA certificates to secure the origin server.

What Happens When a Certificate Expires?

Browsers will show security warnings and may block access to your site. To avoid this, automate renewals or use managed services that renew certificates automatically and set alerts 30 days before expiration.

Next Steps

Choose your hosting path and buy a domain: decide between static hosting (Netlify, Vercel, GitHub Pages), shared hosting, or a VPS (DigitalOcean, AWS). Allow 30 minutes to 2 hours for initial setup.
Deploy a minimal site and enable automated TLS: push a simple index.html to GitHub and connect to Netlify or set up Certbot on your server. Confirm HTTPS works and set 301 redirects.
Run tests and harden configuration: use SSL Labs, Lighthouse, and your browser console to fix mixed content, adjust TLS settings, and enable HSTS when ready.
Set monitoring and renewal alerts: add Uptime Robot, configure certificate expiration alerts, and document the recovery process for DNS or certificate issues.

Checklist summary to carry away:

Domain purchased and DNS configured
Site deployed on chosen platform
TLS certificate issued and auto-renewal configured
HTTP to HTTPS redirection in place
Mixed content cleaned and HSTS planned
Monitoring and alerts live

Concluding actions: pick one hosting stack, follow the path above, and schedule one block of 1-4 hours to complete the initial deployment and security checks.

Make a Website Https Step by Step