How to Switch WordPress to HTTPS: Really Simple SSL vs Cloudflare for Securing WordPress

Use a valid SSL certificate on your host, set Cloudflare to Full strict, and use Really Simple SSL only when WordPress needs help fixing redirects or mixed content. That is the cleanest way to move WordPress to HTTPS without creating redirect loops, broken images, or fake security. Google has treated HTTPS as a ranking signal since 2014, so this is not just a browser padlock issue [source: Google Search Central].

TLDR: For most WordPress sites, the best setup is host SSL plus Cloudflare in Full strict mode, with Really Simple SSL used as a cleanup tool. For example, a small WooCommerce store with 12,000 monthly visits may lose trust fast if checkout shows “Not secure,” even if the products are fine. Really Simple SSL is easier for beginners, often taking under 10 minutes. Cloudflare is stronger for performance and security, but only if the SSL mode is configured correctly.

Really Simple SSL vs Cloudflare: the short answer

Really Simple SSL is a WordPress plugin. It helps your site use HTTPS by detecting SSL, changing WordPress settings, forcing redirects, and correcting mixed content. It is useful when your site already has an SSL certificate but WordPress still behaves badly.

Cloudflare sits between visitors and your website. It can provide edge SSL, CDN caching, DNS, firewall rules, bot protection, and performance tools. It does more than HTTPS, but it also gives you more ways to misconfigure things.

If you want the safest setup, do not treat them as enemies. Use Cloudflare for traffic protection and delivery. Use Really Simple SSL only if WordPress needs help fixing inside problems. The annoying part is that both tools can force HTTPS, and when both are set too aggressively, you can end up with loops.

What HTTPS actually changes in WordPress

HTTPS encrypts data between the browser and the server. On WordPress, that matters for logins, admin sessions, forms, checkout pages, membership areas, and analytics scripts. It also affects browser trust. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge are blunt now. If a page is not secure, users see it.

Switching WordPress to HTTPS usually means four jobs:

• Install a valid SSL certificate on the hosting server.
• Change WordPress URLs from http to https.
• Redirect old HTTP pages to the secure versions.
• Fix mixed content, such as images or scripts still loading over HTTP.

Miss one of these, and the padlock may vanish. It drives me crazy that one old logo URL in a theme option can make an entire page look insecure.

Option 1: Switching with Really Simple SSL

Really Simple SSL, now often branded under Really Simple Security, is popular because it is direct. Install it, activate it, run the setup, and it checks whether SSL is available. If it is, the plugin can update your WordPress site URL and home URL, enable HTTPS redirection, and patch mixed content on the front end.

Best for

• Beginners who want a guided process.
• Small business sites with normal hosting.
• Blogs, portfolios, brochure sites, and basic WooCommerce stores.
• Sites where the SSL certificate is already installed by the host.

Pros

• Fast setup: You can often finish in a few minutes.
• WordPress aware: It understands common WordPress URL issues.
• Mixed content handling: Helpful when old uploads or theme settings use HTTP.
• No DNS changes: Good if you are nervous about domain records.

Cons

• It is not a certificate provider by itself in the usual hosting sense. Your server still needs SSL.
• It adds another plugin to maintain.
• It can hide poor server setup instead of fixing it.
• Advanced security features may require paid plans.

Really Simple SSL is a good repair kit. It should not be your full security plan. If your host has broken SSL, weak redirects, or outdated TLS support, the plugin cannot magically turn that into a strong setup.

Option 2: Switching with Cloudflare

Cloudflare is more powerful. It can issue an edge certificate, proxy traffic, improve load times, block threats, and add DNS-level control. It is a serious tool for sites that get regular traffic or attacks.

The key setting is SSL mode. This is where many site owners get burned.

• Flexible: Browser to Cloudflare is HTTPS, but Cloudflare to your server is HTTP.
• Full: Cloudflare connects to your server over HTTPS, but may accept a self-signed or invalid certificate.
• Full strict: Cloudflare connects to your server over HTTPS and requires a valid certificate.

Use Full strict when possible. Flexible SSL feels like a trap. It can show users a padlock while the origin connection is still not properly secured. It also causes classic WordPress redirect loops, especially when WordPress thinks it is on HTTP and Cloudflare says it is on HTTPS.

Best for

• Sites with global traffic.
• WooCommerce stores that need speed and security.
• Publishers with traffic spikes.
• Sites hit by spam, bots, or login abuse.

Pros

• Stronger perimeter security: DNS, firewall, rate limiting, and bot controls are available.
• Better performance: CDN caching can reduce server load.
• Free Universal SSL: Useful for many small sites.
• Good scaling path: You can add rules as the site grows.

Cons

• DNS changes are required. Mistakes can take the site offline.
• Caching can confuse testing. You may fix an issue and still see the old version for minutes.
• Wrong SSL mode can break WordPress. Redirect loops are common with Flexible mode.
• Some settings are not beginner friendly. Expect a learning curve.

The recommended setup for most WordPress sites

The safest process is not complicated. Do it in the right order.

1. Back up the site, including database and files.
2. Install SSL at the host, often through Let’s Encrypt or your hosting control panel.
3. Change WordPress Address and Site Address to HTTPS under Settings > General.
4. Update internal links with a trusted search-and-replace tool if needed.
5. Enable server-level redirects from HTTP to HTTPS.
6. Set Cloudflare SSL to Full strict if you use Cloudflare.
7. Use Really Simple SSL only if mixed content or redirect issues remain.
8. Clear all caches, including plugin cache, server cache, browser cache, and Cloudflare cache.

When Really Simple SSL is the better choice

Choose Really Simple SSL if you want the simplest path and your hosting already provides SSL. It is sensible for a dentist site, a local restaurant, a personal blog, or a five-page company site. You do not need Cloudflare just to show a padlock.

It is also useful after a messy migration. If pages load but images do not, or the padlock keeps disappearing, the plugin can help identify and patch mixed content. That saves time. A manual database cleanup is cleaner, but not every site owner is comfortable doing that.

When Cloudflare is the better choice

Choose Cloudflare if your site needs more than HTTPS. If you care about CDN speed, DNS control, WAF rules, DDoS protection, and bot filtering, Cloudflare is the stronger option. It fits WooCommerce, LMS sites, membership platforms, and content sites with real traffic.

Cloudflare also helps when your host is under strain. Caching static files at the edge can reduce pressure on the origin server. That can make admin work feel smoother too, although WordPress admin pages should not be aggressively cached.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Do not use Cloudflare Flexible SSL unless you have a rare reason and understand the risk.
• Do not force HTTPS in three places without checking for loops.
• Do not forget old hard-coded HTTP links in page builders, widgets, menus, and theme panels.
• Do not skip backups before database search-and-replace work.
• Do not assume a padlock means the origin server is secured if Cloudflare is involved.

Final recommendation

For a serious WordPress setup, install SSL on the host first. Then use Cloudflare in Full strict mode if you want CDN and security features. Add Really Simple SSL only when WordPress needs cleanup.

If you want quick and low-risk, start with Really Simple SSL. If you want stronger traffic control and better scaling, use Cloudflare. For the best result, combine them carefully, with Cloudflare handling the edge and the plugin fixing WordPress-specific issues only when needed.