HTTP and HTTPS are both protocols browsers and servers use to communicate, but HTTPS is the secure version — the ‘S’ stands for secure, and it means the connection is encrypted with an SSL certificate. HTTP sends data in plain text that could be intercepted; HTTPS encrypts it, protecting information in transit and showing the padlock in the browser. Today every website should use HTTPS: browsers flag HTTP-only sites as ‘not secure’, and HTTPS is expected for trust and SEO. The good news is that getting HTTPS is easy and usually free with hosting.
This guide explains what HTTP and HTTPS are, how they differ, why HTTPS matters for every site, and how to get it.
Did you know?
The only visible difference is a single letter and a padlock — but behind it, HTTPS encrypts everything between your site and its visitors, while plain HTTP sends it in readable text.
What HTTP is
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is the foundational protocol that browsers and web servers use to communicate — the system for requesting and delivering web pages. When you visit a website, HTTP is the language your browser and the server use to exchange the page. It has been the basis of the web since the beginning.
The limitation of plain HTTP is that it sends data unencrypted, in plain text. That means information passing between your browser and the server — anything you type, submit, or receive — could in principle be intercepted and read by others on the network. For a modern web where security and privacy matter, that is a serious shortcoming.
What HTTPS is
HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) is the secure version of HTTP. The ‘S’ stands for Secure, and it means the connection is encrypted using an SSL/TLS certificate. HTTPS does the same job as HTTP — exchanging web pages — but it scrambles the data so it cannot be read or tampered with in transit.
So HTTPS is HTTP plus encryption. It protects the information passing between your site and its visitors, and it is signalled by the padlock icon in the browser’s address bar and the ‘https://’ at the start of the address. It has become the standard for the modern web, expected on every legitimate site.
The key differences
Here is how HTTP and HTTPS compare.
The core difference is encryption: HTTPS secures the connection, HTTP does not — which is why HTTPS is now the expected standard.
Why HTTPS matters for every site
HTTPS is no longer optional, even for simple sites. Browsers now actively flag HTTP-only sites as ‘not secure’, a warning that scares visitors away and undermines trust regardless of whether the site collects data. So even a plain content site needs HTTPS just to look legitimate and avoid that warning.
Beyond the warning, HTTPS protects any data visitors send (essential for logins and payments), builds trust through the padlock, and is favoured by search engines, helping SEO. For a store or any site handling information, it is a technical necessity; for every other site, it is expected. In short, every website today should be on HTTPS.
How HTTPS works, simply
HTTPS works by using an SSL/TLS certificate installed on your site to establish an encrypted connection. When a browser connects, the certificate lets the browser and server set up a secure, scrambled channel, so the data they exchange cannot be read by anyone intercepting it. The certificate also verifies the site’s identity.
You do not need to understand the technical detail — the practical point is that HTTPS requires an SSL certificate, and once that is in place, your site loads securely over https with the padlock. The encryption happens automatically for every visitor. So getting HTTPS is really about getting and installing an SSL certificate, which good hosting makes easy.
How to get HTTPS for your site
Getting HTTPS is straightforward and usually free. You need an SSL certificate, and good hosts include a free SSL certificate with their plans, often installed automatically. Once the certificate is active, your site can load over https, and you should ensure the whole site uses https (redirecting any http links) so every page shows the padlock.
So the practical steps are: choose a host that includes free SSL (most good ones do), enable it (frequently automatic), and confirm your site loads over https everywhere. With free SSL standard on quality hosting and automatic renewal handling the upkeep, getting and keeping HTTPS is easy — which is exactly why every site can and should use it from day one.
Ready to put the theory into practice?
Hostinger makes the technical side simple — one-click WordPress, free SSL and domain, a clean control panel, and 24/7 support — so you can build without wrestling with the jargon. From a few dollars a month; use code PROTIPS for the reader discount.
FAQs
What is the difference between HTTP and HTTPS?
Both are protocols browsers and servers use to communicate, but HTTPS is the secure version — the ‘S’ means secure, and the connection is encrypted with an SSL certificate. HTTP sends data in plain text that could be intercepted; HTTPS encrypts it, protecting data in transit and showing the browser padlock.
What does the ‘S’ in HTTPS stand for?
Secure. HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) is HTTP plus encryption: it does the same job of exchanging web pages, but scrambles the data using an SSL/TLS certificate so it cannot be read or tampered with in transit. It is signalled by the padlock and ‘https://’ in the address.
Why does my site need HTTPS?
Because browsers flag HTTP-only sites as ‘not secure’, scaring visitors away; HTTPS protects any data visitors send, builds trust via the padlock, and is favoured by search engines for SEO. Every website today should use HTTPS, even simple ones, just to look legitimate and avoid the warning.
Is HTTP still safe to use?
Not really, for a public website. Plain HTTP sends data unencrypted, so it can be intercepted, and browsers now warn visitors that HTTP-only sites are ‘not secure’. For any modern site, HTTPS is the expected standard — there is no good reason to stay on HTTP when free SSL makes HTTPS easy.
How do I get HTTPS for my website?
You need an SSL certificate, and good hosts include a free one, often installed automatically. Once active, your site loads over https with the padlock; ensure the whole site uses https by redirecting any http links. Choose a host with free SSL, enable it, and confirm every page loads securely.
How does HTTPS work?
HTTPS uses an SSL/TLS certificate on your site to establish an encrypted connection: when a browser connects, the certificate lets it and the server set up a scrambled channel so exchanged data cannot be read, and it verifies the site’s identity. You just need the certificate; the encryption then happens automatically.
The bottom line
HTTP and HTTPS are both protocols for browsers and servers to exchange web pages, but HTTPS is the secure version: the ‘S’ means secure, and it encrypts the connection using an SSL certificate. HTTP sends data in readable plain text that can be intercepted, while HTTPS scrambles it, protecting information in transit and showing the trusted padlock.
Every website today should use HTTPS — browsers flag HTTP-only sites as ‘not secure’, and HTTPS is expected for trust, essential for logins and payments, and favoured for SEO. Getting it is easy and usually free: choose a host that includes free SSL, enable it, and ensure your whole site loads over https. With free SSL standard on good hosting, there is no reason for any site to remain on plain HTTP.
When you are ready, you can start with Hostinger and use code PROTIPS for the reader discount. HTTPS is the secure, encrypted version of HTTP — every site needs it, and free SSL from your host makes it easy.