I created this video to walk through how to secure your Cloudways-hosted WordPress site with a custom domain and free SSL certificate using Let’s Encrypt.

If you’re hosting on Cloudways, you’re already getting solid performance — but by default, your site sits on a temporary URL. To go live properly and build trust, you need:

  • A real domain (e.g., yourbrand.com)

  • An SSL certificate (so your site shows up as https instead of http)

  • Clean DNS configuration

Here’s how I set it all up quickly and securely.

Step 1: Buy and point your domain

Use any domain registrar (Namecheap, Google Domains, GoDaddy, etc.). Once purchased, log into your registrar and update the DNS records to point to Cloudways.

You’ll need to:

  • Set an A Record to your Cloudways server IP

  • Optionally add a CNAME for www if you want both www.yoursite.com and yoursite.com to work

In the video, I show this step-by-step with a real example, so you can follow along visually.

Step 2: Add the domain in Cloudways

In your Cloudways dashboard:

  • Go to Applications > Your App

  • Click on Domain Management

  • Enter your full domain name and save

This tells Cloudways what domain to associate with your application.

Step 3: Install your free SSL certificate

Now, let’s secure the site.

  • Go to SSL Certificate tab

  • Choose Let’s Encrypt

  • Enter your email and domain

  • Click Install Certificate

Cloudways will generate and apply a valid SSL — this is the little padlock you see in browsers and the “https” in your URL.

Bonus: You can also set up auto-renewal, so your SSL doesn’t expire and break your site down the line.

Step 4: Force HTTPS and clean up redirects

Under Application Settings, make sure:

  • HTTPS redirection is enabled

  • SSL redirection is turned on

This ensures all visitors — even those typing http:// — are forwarded securely.

In WordPress, I also recommend:

  • Updating your WordPress Address URL to https:// under Settings > General

  • Installing the plugin Really Simple SSL to catch any mixed content issues

Why this setup matters

  • Trust signals: Visitors feel safer when your site is secured with HTTPS

  • Better SEO: Google uses HTTPS as a ranking factor

  • Professional polish: You’re not stuck with cloudwaysapps.com as your URL

  • Security: SSL protects your data and your visitors’ information

Too many site owners delay this part and lose traffic or trust without realizing it.

Are you launching sites without setting SSL up properly — or are you securing them from day one?