Free SSL Certificate Generator

Q: Does this support wildcard certificates?

Yes. Enter your identifier as *.example.com and choose DNS verification (wildcards cannot use HTTP verification). One certificate then covers every direct subdomain of that domain.

Get a real, browser-trusted SSL certificate free from Let's Encrypt — for a domain, a wildcard (*.example.com), or, now, a bare public IP address. One tool covers all three, fully automated: no account, no email required, no software to install.

100% Free Forever Domains, Wildcards & IPs No Account or Email

Enter your domain, wildcard, or public IP address

HTTP Verification Upload a small file to your web root. Works for domains & IP addresses, not wildcards.

DNS Verification Add a TXT record. Required for wildcards. Domains only, not IP addresses.

Prove you control

How It Works

Enter your domain or IP

Type a domain (example.com), a wildcard (*.example.com), or a public IP address, then pick HTTP or DNS verification.

Prove you control it

Upload one small file to your web root, or add one DNS TXT record. We check for it automatically — no manual "recheck" button to babysit.

Install your certificate

Copy or download the certificate and private key, then drop them into your server config. See the install guide below for your exact platform.

Works With Every Major Platform

Nginx Apache IIS Docker cPanel Plesk aaPanel AWS Node.js WordPress

Installation Guide

Nginx

Apache

IIS

cPanel / Plesk / aaPanel

Node.js

Upload certificate.crt and private.key to your server, then reference them in your server block:

server { listen 443 ssl; server_name example.com; ssl_certificate /etc/ssl/certs/certificate.crt; ssl_certificate_key /etc/ssl/private/private.key; }

Reload with nginx -s reload after saving.

Enable mod_ssl, then add to your VirtualHost:

<VirtualHost *:443> ServerName example.com SSLEngine on SSLCertificateFile /etc/ssl/certs/certificate.crt SSLCertificateKeyFile /etc/ssl/private/private.key </VirtualHost>

Restart with apachectl restart after saving.

IIS needs a single .pfx bundle rather than separate files. Combine them with OpenSSL first:

openssl pkcs12 -export -out certificate.pfx \ -inkey private.key -in certificate.crt

Then import the .pfx via IIS Manager → Server Certificates → Import, and bind it to your site's HTTPS binding.

Every major control panel has a "Paste Certificate" style SSL screen — paste each file's contents into the matching field:

cPanel: SSL/TLS Status → Manage SSL sites → paste Certificate + Private Key
Plesk: Websites & Domains → SSL/TLS Certificates → Upload/Add certificate
aaPanel: Website → Settings → SSL → Other → paste Key and Certificate

For a standalone Node.js HTTPS server:

const https = require('https'); const fs = require('fs'); https.createServer({ cert: fs.readFileSync('certificate.crt'), key: fs.readFileSync('private.key') }, app).listen(443);

Fully AutomatedNo CLI, no certbot install

IP CertificatesNew Let's Encrypt capability

Publicly TrustedSigned by Let's Encrypt

Never StoredPrivate key shown once only

About Free SSL Certificate Generator

The Free SSL Certificate Generator issues a real, browser-trusted SSL/TLS certificate directly from Let's Encrypt, at no cost. Unlike most free generators that only cover domain names, this tool also supports Let's Encrypt's newer capability to issue certificates for bare public IP addresses — useful for servers, admin panels, or APIs that are reached directly by IP rather than a hostname.

Simply enter your domain or IP address, choose HTTP or DNS validation, complete a one-time verification step (uploading a file or adding a DNS TXT record), and the tool automatically requests, validates and issues your certificate — no command line, no certbot installation, no account required. Domain certificates are valid for 90 days; IP address certificates are short-lived (about 6 days) per Let's Encrypt's current policy, so plan to renew accordingly.

Your certificate's private key is generated fresh for this request and streamed to you a single time — it is never stored on our servers.

Understanding SSL Certificates

What is an SSL/TLS certificate?

An SSL/TLS certificate is a small file that binds a cryptographic key pair to your domain, wildcard, or IP address. It lets visitors' browsers verify they're really talking to your server (not an impostor) and encrypts everything sent between them — passwords, form data, cookies — so it can't be read or altered in transit. "SSL" is the older name; the protocol in use today is actually TLS, but the term SSL stuck.

Why HTTPS matters for SEO and trust

Google has used HTTPS as a ranking signal since 2014, and Chrome marks any HTTP page that collects input as "Not Secure" — a visible warning that drives visitors away. Beyond rankings, HTTPS is required for modern browser features (geolocation, service workers, HTTP/2) and is table stakes for e-commerce, login forms, and APIs.

Domain Validated vs. Organization vs. Extended Validation

Certificates come in three trust tiers. Domain Validated (DV) — what this tool and Let's Encrypt issue — only proves you control the domain or IP, and is issued in minutes. Organization Validated (OV) additionally verifies your business is real, which takes days and usually costs money. Extended Validation (EV) is the strictest and most expensive tier. For encryption strength, all three are identical — the difference is purely how much identity vetting happened before issuance. DV is the right choice for the vast majority of websites, admin panels, and APIs.

HTTP-01 vs. DNS-01 validation

HTTP-01 proves control by asking you to serve a specific file at a specific URL on port 80. It's simple and fast, but requires the CA to reach your server directly on that port, and it cannot prove control of an entire subdomain space — so it can't be used for wildcards. DNS-01 proves control by asking you to publish a TXT record in your domain's DNS. It works even if your server isn't reachable on port 80 (e.g. behind a firewall, or for a wildcard), but requires access to your DNS provider and a short wait for propagation.

Wildcard certificates

A wildcard certificate (e.g. *.example.com) secures every direct subdomain of a domain — app.example.com, api.example.com, mail.example.com — with one certificate and one key pair, instead of issuing a separate certificate per subdomain. Wildcards must use DNS-01 validation; Let's Encrypt does not allow HTTP-01 for wildcards, since it can't prove control of the whole subdomain space that way.

IP address certificates — a genuinely new capability

Until 2025, no major public CA would issue a trusted certificate for a bare IP address — only for hostnames. That meant servers, admin panels, and internal APIs reached directly by IP (like a fresh VPS before DNS is configured) were stuck with either an untrusted self-signed certificate or no HTTPS at all. Let's Encrypt changed that, and this tool is built specifically to take advantage of it. IP certificates use the same DV trust model as domain certificates, but are deliberately short-lived (about 6 days instead of 90) as a security measure, since IP ownership can change hands more easily than domain ownership.

How This Compares to Typical Free SSL Generators

Capability	This Tool	Typical Free Generators
Domain certificates	✓ Yes	✓ Usually
Wildcard certificates	✓ Yes	✓ Sometimes
Bare IP address certificates	✓ Yes	✕ Rare / none
Automatic validation detection	✓ No manual recheck button	✕ Often manual
Account or email required	✓ Not required	✕ Usually required
Private key storage	✓ Streamed once, never stored	✕ Varies by provider
Upsells / paid tiers	✓ None — genuinely free	✕ Common

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a real, trusted SSL certificate?

Yes. This tool requests an actual certificate from Let's Encrypt, a certificate authority trusted by every major browser — it's not self-signed and won't show a security warning.

Can I really get a certificate for a bare IP address?

Yes — Let's Encrypt began issuing IP address certificates in 2025. They're short-lived (about 6 days) so you'll need to re-run this tool, or automate renewal with certbot/acme.sh, before it expires.

How long is a domain certificate valid?

Standard domain certificates from Let's Encrypt are valid for 90 days. Set a reminder to renew, or automate it with a free ACME client on your server.

Do you store my private key?

No. Your private key is generated fresh for this one certificate and streamed to you a single time when it's issued. We do not save a copy — download or copy it immediately.

HTTP or DNS verification — which should I choose?

HTTP verification is simpler (upload one file) but requires port 80 access and doesn't support wildcards. DNS verification supports wildcard certificates but requires access to your domain's DNS settings. IP address certificates must use HTTP verification.

What do I do with the certificate and key files?

Install them on your web server exactly like any SSL certificate — e.g. reference the certificate and private key file paths in your Nginx/Apache config or hosting control panel's SSL settings. See the Installation Guide above for your specific platform.

Does this support wildcard certificates?

Yes. Enter your identifier as *.example.com and choose DNS verification (wildcards cannot use HTTP verification). One certificate then covers every direct subdomain of that domain.

Is this different from a self-signed certificate?

Completely. A self-signed certificate is signed by your own key and isn't trusted by any browser, which is exactly what causes the "Not Secure" / "Your connection is not private" warning. This tool gets you a certificate signed by Let's Encrypt, a certificate authority every major browser and OS already trusts.

Do I need to create an account or give an email address?

No. Unlike most free SSL generators, this tool doesn't require an account, email address, or any personal information to issue a certificate.

Why did my verification fail or time out?

The most common causes: the file/record wasn't saved with the exact content shown, a firewall or CDN is blocking port 80 access to your server, or (for DNS) the TXT record hasn't propagated yet. Double-check the exact path/value, wait a minute for DNS propagation, then try again.

Can I use this certificate for commercial or production sites?

Yes. Let's Encrypt certificates are fully valid, browser-trusted certificates with no restriction on commercial use — they secure a large share of the web, including many production e-commerce and SaaS sites.