If you need an SSL certificate for your Hostinger site, the pricing depends on which type you pick and whether you want a free or paid option. Hostinger includes a free SSL certificate with every hosting plan through Let's Encrypt, but paid SSL certificates from Sectigo (formerly Comodo) start at $11.99 per year for a single domain and go up to $179.99 per year for a wildcard certificate. This article covers every SSL certificate Hostinger offers, what each costs at first purchase and renewal, and which one makes sense for your specific setup.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Short answer | Free SSL (Let's Encrypt) included on all plans. Paid SSL from $11.99/year (single domain) to $179.99/year (wildcard). Renewal prices are higher. |
| Applies to | All Hostinger shared, cloud, VPS, and WordPress hosting plans. Paid SSL certificates are separate add-ons. |
| Best for | Most site owners get everything they need from the free Let's Encrypt SSL. Paid SSL is only necessary for wildcard coverage, extended validation (EV), or multi‑domain (SAN) certificates. |
| Watch out for | Renewal prices on paid SSL certificates are roughly 2–3× the initial price. The free SSL only covers one domain (non‑wildcard) and renews automatically, but you have no control over the certificate's issuer. |
What SSL Certificate Options Does Hostinger Offer?
Hostinger gives you two paths to HTTPS: a free SSL certificate that comes bundled with every hosting plan, and a set of paid SSL certificates you can purchase as an add‑on through the billing dashboard.
Free SSL Certificate (Let's Encrypt)
Every Hostinger account, regardless of the plan tier, includes a free SSL certificate issued by Let's Encrypt. This certificate is valid for 90 days and renews automatically as long as your domain's DNS points to Hostinger's servers. You do not need to configure anything, Hostinger's control panel (hPanel) handles the AutoSSL process in the background.
What it covers: one domain (e.g., yourdomain.com) and its www subdomain. It does not cover subdomains like blog.yourdomain.com or shop.yourdomain.com unless you have a separate SSL setup for each.
Limitations: You cannot choose the certificate authority. The certificate is domain validation (DV) only, no company validation. Some older browsers or security scanners may flag Let's Encrypt certificates as less trusted, but in practice they work fine for 99% of users.
The free certificate does not support wildcards or multiple domains under a single certificate.
Paid SSL Certificates (Sectigo / Comodo)
If you need a wildcard certificate, an extended validation (EV) certificate, or a certificate that covers multiple domain names (SAN/UCC), you can buy a paid SSL from Hostinger's add‑on store. These certificates are issued by Sectigo, a well‑known certificate authority.
Hostinger currently offers three paid SSL tiers:
| Certificate Type | Validation Level | Covers | Initial Price (per year) | Renewal Price (per year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Domain DV | Domain Validation | 1 domain + www |
$11.99 | $29.99 |
| Wildcard DV | Domain Validation | 1 domain + unlimited subdomains | $89.99 | $179.99 |
| Multi‑Domain (SAN/UCC) DV | Domain Validation | Up to 3 domains (additional domains $9.99 each) | $29.99 | $59.99 |
Note: Prices are correct at the time of writing (March 2026) and are for annual billing. Hostinger occasionally runs promotions that reduce initial prices further.
Extended Validation (EV) certificates are not listed as a standard option in Hostinger's SSL add‑on catalog as of early 2026. If you specifically need EV (the green address bar with your company name), you may need to purchase a certificate from an external CA and install it manually via cPanel or the hosting panel. Hostinger's documentation confirms that manual SSL installation is possible on VPS and dedicated plans.
What About SSL on VPS and Cloud Hosting?
If you are using Hostinger's VPS or Cloud plans, you have full root access and can install any SSL certificate, free or paid, through the command line. The free Let's Encrypt SSL still works via Certbot, and you can also purchase a paid certificate from Hostinger or an external provider. The pricing for paid certificates is the same regardless of the hosting plan you use.
SSL Certificate Hostinger Pricing Breakdown by Use Case
Not everyone needs the same certificate. Here is how the pricing maps to common scenarios.
I Just Want HTTPS for My Blog or Small Business Site
You almost certainly do not need to spend a cent. The free Let's Encrypt certificate that comes with your Hostinger plan will secure your main domain and its www variant. It renews automatically, and you can see its status inside hPanel under SSL > Manage.
Cost: $0
I Have Subdomains (e.g., blog.example.com, shop.example.com)
The free certificate does not cover separate subdomains automatically. You have two options:
- Get a paid wildcard certificate, $89.99 first year, $179.99 renewal. This covers
*.example.comso every subdomain is secured under one certificate. - Install separate free certificates on each subdomain, You can manually run Let's Encrypt on each subdomain if you have access to the server (VPS/Cloud plans) or use hostinger's AutoSSL feature which may issue individual certificates per subdomain. This is free but more work.
For most users with a few subdomains, the free per‑subdomain route is fine. For a commercial site with many subdomains, the wildcard is simpler.
I Have Multiple Domains on One Hosting Account
If you host several domains under a single Hostinger account (e.g., site1.com, site2.com), you can get a free SSL for each one. hPanel's AutoSSL will attempt to issue a separate certificate for every domain that points to your account. There is no extra charge.
However, if you need all domains covered under a single certificate (for management simplicity or compatibility with older servers), you need the Multi‑Domain (SAN) certificate at $29.99 first year. Each additional domain beyond the first three costs $9.99 per year.
I Run an E‑commerce Site That Handles Payments
For a standard online store, a DV certificate (free or paid) is sufficient for encrypting transactions. Payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal do not require EV or wildcard. The free certificate will work fine.
The only reason to upgrade to a paid certificate for an e‑commerce site is if you need a wildcard (to cover a subdomain shop) or if your customers are particularly security‑conscious and you want to display the company name in the address bar (EV). Note that EV certificates are not available from Hostinger directly; you would need to buy from Sectigo or another CA and install it yourself.
Common Mix‑Ups or Things People Get Wrong
Mix‑up: "I need to buy an SSL certificate to enable HTTPS on Hostinger."
Reality: Hostinger gives you a free SSL certificate automatically. Most users never need to buy one. The confusion comes from older web hosts that charged for SSL or made users manually install it.
On Hostinger, HTTPS works out of the box on all plans.
Mix‑up: "Hostinger's paid SSL certificates are the only way to get wildcard coverage."
Reality: You can also use Let's Encrypt with Certbot or acme.sh on VPS or cloud plans to get a free wildcard certificate. Hostinger's shared hosting does not allow custom ACME clients, so the paid wildcard is the easiest route on shared plans. But if you have a VPS, you can get a free wildcard certificate without paying Hostinger a cent.
Mix‑up: "The free SSL certificate expires every 90 days and I have to renew it manually."
Reality: Hostinger's AutoSSL handles renewal automatically. You do not need to do anything. The only time you might see an expiry is if you change DNS settings or move your site away from Hostinger's nameservers, in which case the certificate will stop renewing and eventually expire.
What This Means for You
If you are on a budget or just starting out, the free SSL certificate on Hostinger is more than enough. It works for the vast majority of WordPress sites, blogs, and small business websites. You get the green padlock, encryption, and a good SEO boost from HTTPS, all for zero extra cost.
The only real reason to pay for an SSL certificate on Hostinger is if you need a wildcard to cover subdomains, need to cover multiple domains under one certificate, or want a certificate from a different issuer for compliance reasons. And in those cases, you should also compare the paid Hostinger SSL prices against buying a certificate from a third‑party provider (like Namecheap or SSLs.com), where you might find cheaper wildcard options or free wildcards via Let's Encrypt on VPS.
One honest caveat: renewal prices on Hostinger's paid SSL certificates are significantly higher than the introductory price. A single‑domain SSL that costs $11.99 the first year will cost $29.99 when it renews. If you plan to keep the certificate for several years, the second year price may feel steep.
Some users prefer to buy a multi‑year certificate upfront from another provider at a flat rate.
If you already have a Hostinger hosting plan and want to add a paid SSL, you can do so from your hosting dashboard under Billing > Add‑ons. Or if you are still shopping for a plan, you can use this Hostinger coupon to get a discount on your hosting, then decide on SSL later.
For those who need help with DNS setup after buying a certificate, a guide like this one on adding A records from Blogger to Hostinger can clarify the technical side. And if you ever decide to cancel your hosting, you'll want to know how to cancel your Hostinger subscription without hassle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hostinger include a free SSL certificate with all plans?
Yes. Every Hostinger hosting plan, shared, cloud, VPS, and WordPress, includes a free SSL certificate issued by Let's Encrypt. It activates automatically for domains pointed to Hostinger's nameservers.
There is no separate fee or upgrade required.
How much does a wildcard SSL certificate cost on Hostinger?
A wildcard SSL certificate (domain validation) on Hostinger costs $89.99 for the first year and renews at $179.99 per year. It covers one domain and all its subdomains (e.g., *.yourdomain.com).
Can I use my own SSL certificate on Hostinger?
On shared hosting plans, you can install a third‑party SSL certificate manually through hPanel under SSL > Manage > Install Custom Certificate. On VPS and cloud plans, you have full control to install any certificate via the command line.
Does Hostinger offer extended validation (EV) SSL certificates?
Hostinger does not advertise EV certificates as a standard add‑on. If you need EV, you would need to purchase one from an external certificate authority and install it manually. This is possible on VPS and dedicated plans but may not be supported on shared hosting.
What is the price of Hostinger's single‑domain paid SSL?
The single‑domain domain validation (DV) SSL from Hostinger costs $11.99 for the first year and $29.99 for renewal. It covers one domain plus its www variant.
If you are ready to set up your site with Hostinger and want the best deal on hosting, grab the current coupon here. The free SSL is already waiting for you once you sign up, no extra purchase needed.
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