How to Install Free SSL on Namecheap EasyWP (2026 Guide)

How to Install Free SSL on Namecheap EasyWP (Step-by-Step)

If you bought Namecheap's entry-level EasyWP Starter plan to spin up a quick WordPress site, you've probably run into the exact frustration that drove me to write this guide: your custom domain is live, but your browser is screaming a terrifying "Not Secure" warning in the address bar.

Namecheap includes free SSL certificates with their Turbo and Supersonic plans, but the Starter tier leaves you stranded. They'd love for you to upgrade your subscription or fork over extra cash for a standalone Sectigo certificate. We're not doing that.

Over the last week, I set up a test site on EasyWP Starter, pointed a custom domain at it, and ran through every free SSL workaround available. You don't need a cPanel, you don't need root access, and you certainly don't need to spend an extra penny. Let's walk through the exact, click-by-click process to secure your EasyWP site using Cloudflare's free tier.

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The EasyWP SSL Problem: What Namecheap Doesn't Tell You

When you build a site on standard cPanel hosting, installing a free Let's Encrypt certificate takes about ten seconds via AutoSSL. EasyWP isn't standard hosting. Namecheap built EasyWP as a proprietary, containerized WordPress architecture designed for raw speed. That speed comes with a major limitation: no cPanel, no file manager, and no direct server access.

Because you can't access the server root, you can't upload verification files or run command-line scripts to install third-party SSL certificates manually. On the EasyWP Starter plan, Namecheap issues a complimentary SSL for your temporary .easywp.com domain, but when you map your own .com or .org, that certificate doesn't automatically transfer.

Before we dive into the fix, let's look at how Namecheap's native plans stack up regarding SSL inclusion, so you know exactly what you're working with.

EasyWP Plan	Monthly Cost (Approx.)	Native SSL Included	Custom Domain SSL	Best For
Starter	$3.88 / mo	Temporary Domain Only	Manual Setup Required	Testing, staging, low-traffic blogs
Turbo	$7.88 / mo	Yes (PositiveSSL)	Automatic	Production business sites, steady traffic
Supersonic	$11.88 / mo	Yes (PositiveSSL)	Automatic	High-traffic sites, e-commerce

If you're on the Starter plan, you have two choices: upgrade your plan or route your domain through Cloudflare to handle the SSL handshake for free. Since you're reading this, let's save your budget and set up Cloudflare.

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Step 1: Set Up a Free Cloudflare Account

Cloudflare acts as a reverse proxy between your visitors and your EasyWP server. When someone visits your site, they connect to Cloudflare over a secure HTTPS connection, and Cloudflare talks to your EasyWP server. This completely bypasses the lack of an SSL certificate on the EasyWP Starter container.

1. Head over to Cloudflare and click Sign Up.
2. Enter your email address and create a strong password. Check your inbox for the verification link and activate your account.
3. Once logged into your Cloudflare dashboard, click the Add a Site button in the top right or center of the screen.
4. Enter your exact custom domain name (e.g., myawesomeblog.com) and click Continue.
5. Cloudflare will prompt you to select a plan. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the pricing table and select the Free tier. Click Continue.

Cloudflare will now automatically scan your domain's existing DNS records. This takes about ten seconds.

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Step 2: Verify and Configure Your DNS Records in Cloudflare

This is where most beginners mess up and accidentally break their site or their professional email. Pay close attention to what Cloudflare imports during the scan.

1. Review the list of DNS records that Cloudflare discovered. You should see your A records pointing to your previous host, or blank entries if this is a brand new domain.
2. Log into your Namecheap Dashboard, navigate to Domain List, click Manage next to your domain, and go to the Advanced DNS tab.
3. Keep both tabs open side-by-side: your Namecheap Advanced DNS and your Cloudflare DNS management screen.
4. If your EasyWP site is already mapped to your domain, you need your EasyWP server's IP address. Go to your EasyWP Dashboard, click on your site, go to the Databases & Domains tab, and copy your assigned IP address.
5. In Cloudflare, add or edit your root A record: Type: A Name: @ (or your domain name) IPv4 address: Paste your EasyWP IP address here. Proxy status: Proxied (Make sure the cloud icon is orange, not grey. This is crucial for the free SSL to work).
6. Add a CNAME record for the www version of your site: Type: CNAME Name: www Target: Your root domain (e.g., myawesomeblog.com) Proxy status: Proxied (Orange cloud).
7. If you use external email (like Google Workspace or Zoho), ensure those MX and TXT records are copied over accurately into Cloudflare before proceeding.

Double-check every record, then click Continue at the bottom of the Cloudflare DNS page.

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Step 3: Update Your Nameservers at Namecheap

Now you need to tell your domain registrar (Namecheap) to point traffic to Cloudflare's DNS servers instead of Namecheap's default servers.

1. Cloudflare will provide you with two assigned nameservers (for example: ns1.cloudflare.com and ns2.cloudflare.com). Copy both of them.
2. Go back to your Namecheap Dashboard -> Domain List -> Manage -> Domain tab.
3. Scroll down to the Nameservers section.
4. Change the dropdown from Namecheap Basic DNS to Custom DNS.
5. Paste the two Cloudflare nameservers into the designated boxes and click the green checkmark icon to Save your changes.

Registrar Setting	Old Value (Namecheap Default)	New Value (Cloudflare)
Nameserver 1	dns1.registrar-servers.com	ns1.cloudflare.com (Provided in dashboard)
Nameserver 2	dns2.registrar-servers.com	ns2.cloudflare.com (Provided in dashboard)
DNS Management	Namecheap Advanced DNS	Cloudflare DNS Dashboard
SSL Control	Direct EasyWP Container	Cloudflare Universal SSL

Nameserver propagation usually takes anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, though global networks can occasionally take up to 24 hours. Grab a coffee and let the internet catch up. You can check propagation status using tools like dnschecker.org.

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Step 4: Configure SSL Settings Inside Cloudflare

Once Cloudflare detects that your nameservers have updated, your site will be active on their network. Now we need to configure the encryption mode so your traffic flows securely.

1. Return to your Cloudflare Dashboard and select your domain.
2. In the left-hand sidebar, click on SSL/TLS.
3. At the top of the SSL/TLS overview page, select your encryption mode. You must choose Full or Full (strict). Why Full?* Because your EasyWP container uses a self-signed or default certificate internally. Selecting "Flexible" will cause an annoying "Too many redirects" error loop on your WordPress site. Selecting "Full" tells Cloudflare to encrypt the connection between the visitor and Cloudflare, and then use a secure encrypted connection to talk to your EasyWP server.
4. Next, click on the Edge Certificates sub-tab in the left sidebar.
5. Scroll down and toggle ON Always Use HTTPS. This ensures that any visitor typing http://myawesomeblog.com is automatically redirected to https://myawesomeblog.com.
6. Scroll down further and enable Automatic HTTPS Rewrites to fix mixed content warnings (where old images or scripts try to load over HTTP).

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Step 5: Configure WordPress Settings and Clear Caches

Your DNS is pointing to Cloudflare, Cloudflare is issuing a free SSL certificate, and your traffic is encrypted. The final step is making sure your WordPress installation inside EasyWP knows its new home is running on HTTPS.

1. Log into your WordPress admin dashboard through your EasyWP dashboard.
2. Go to Settings -> General.
3. Look at the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) fields. Make sure both fields begin with https:// instead of http://.
4. Scroll to the bottom and click Save Changes. Note: WordPress may log you out when you do this. Log back in using your new HTTPS credentials.
5. If you use a caching plugin on EasyWP (such as Redis Object Cache or Namecheap's default caching integrations), clear your site cache.
6. Finally, open a new Incognito or Private browsing window in your browser and visit your custom domain. You should see a clean padlock icon in the address bar with zero security warnings.

If you run into any formatting issues or broken styling, check out our guide on how to fix mixed content errors in WordPress after migrating to SSL.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Namecheap EasyWP include a free SSL certificate?

Yes, EasyWP Turbo and Supersonic plans include free positive SSL certificates with automatic activation. However, the budget-friendly EasyWP Starter plan only includes a free SSL for the Namecheap temporary domain, requiring manual configuration or a third-party provider like Cloudflare for custom domains.

Why is my EasyWP Starter site showing an insecure connection warning?

This happens because the free SSL certificate included with EasyWP doesn't automatically map to custom domains on the Starter tier. You need to either upgrade your plan or route your DNS through Cloudflare to force HTTPS.

How long does it take for a Cloudflare SSL certificate to activate on EasyWP?

DNS propagation and SSL issuance through Cloudflare typically take between 5 to 30 minutes, though global propagation can occasionally take up to 2 hours.

Do I need a credit card to set up a free Cloudflare SSL for EasyWP?

No, Cloudflare's Free tier provides universal SSL certificates, basic DNS management, and CDN services without requiring any payment or credit card information.

Can I use Let's Encrypt directly on Namecheap EasyWP?

No, EasyWP is a managed WordPress container environment that doesn't grant root access, cPanel, or file manager access to install third-party scripts like Let's Encrypt certbot. You must use Namecheap's native options or a DNS proxy like Cloudflare.

Will changing my nameservers to Cloudflare break my professional email?

Not if you copy your existing MX, SPF, and TXT records from your Namecheap DNS manager into your Cloudflare DNS settings before switching your nameservers.