The difference between http vs https is one of the most frequently asked questions in website management. In this article we explain the difference between http vs https thoroughly and show why switching to HTTPS is essential for every website.

You see it in your browser: a padlock on websites with HTTPS and a "not secure" warning on HTTP. But what is the difference between these two protocols, and why should you as a website owner switch to HTTPS? We explain it to you.

What is HTTP?

HTTP was developed in 1991 by Tim Berners-Lee and formed the basis of the World Wide Web. At that time, security was not a priority, the internet was still small and mainly academic.

The problem with HTTP

HTTP sends all data as plain text. This means that anyone who can intercept the network traffic (for example on public wifi) can read everything:

• Login details and passwords
• Form data
• Credit card numbers
• Personal messages
• All pages you visit

This makes HTTP unsuitable for any website where sensitive information is exchanged, and these days that is virtually every website.

What is HTTPS?

With HTTPS, all communication between your browser and the web server is encrypted. Even if someone intercepts the network traffic, they only see unreadable characters instead of the actual data.

How does HTTPS encryption work?

HTTPS uses asymmetric encryption for the initial connection and symmetric encryption for the actual data communication. It works as follows:

1. Your browser asks the server for its SSL certificate
2. Your browser checks whether the certificate is valid and comes from a trusted issuer
3. Browser and server securely exchange encryption keys
4. All further communication is encrypted with these keys

This whole process takes milliseconds and is invisible to the user.

The main differences between HTTP and HTTPS

Aspect	HTTP	HTTPS
Encryption	No encryption	SSL/TLS encryption
Port	Port 80	Port 443
URL prefix	http://	https://
Browser indication	"Not secure"	Padlock icon
SEO effect	Negative	Positive
Visitor trust	Lower	Higher
Data integrity	Can be changed in transit	Protected against tampering
HTTP/2 support	No (in browsers)	Yes

Why you should use HTTPS

Security of sensitive data

The most important reason for HTTPS is security. Passwords, credit card data, personal information in forms, everything is sent encrypted.

This is especially crucial on public wifi networks such as in cafes, hotels and airports. There, malicious parties can easily eavesdrop on unsecured traffic. With HTTPS your data is protected, even on untrusted networks.

Visitor trust

Modern browsers show clear indications of the security status:

• With HTTPS you see a padlock next to the URL, sometimes with "secure"
• With HTTP you see a "not secure" warning, especially on forms

Visitors are increasingly security aware. A "not secure" warning scares off potential customers, especially on web shops and sites where you have to enter data.

Better position in Google

Google confirmed in 2014 that HTTPS is a ranking factor. Websites with HTTPS get a boost in the search results. Between two otherwise equal sites, the HTTPS variant will rank higher.

In addition, Google shows in the search results which sites are secure, which affects the click-through rate.

Access to modern browser features

Many modern web features require HTTPS:

• Service workers for offline functionality and push notifications
• Geolocation, browsers block location access on HTTP sites
• Camera and microphone access
• Clipboard API for copying and pasting
• Progressive web apps (PWA)

HTTP/2 support

HTTP/2 is the newer, faster version of the HTTP protocol. It offers significant performance improvements such as multiplexing (multiple requests over one connection), header compression and server push.

Browsers only support HTTP/2 over HTTPS. By switching to HTTPS you automatically benefit from these speed advantages.

Data integrity

HTTPS protects not only against eavesdropping, but also against tampering. Without HTTPS, a malicious party (or even your internet provider) can modify the content of websites before it reaches you.

With HTTPS there is a cryptographic guarantee that the data you receive is exactly what the server sent.

Switching to HTTPS

Types of SSL certificates

There are three types of certificates:

• DV (domain validation): domain check only, suitable for blogs and small sites
• OV (organization validation): business verification, for company websites
• EV (extended validation): extended verification, for banks and large web shops

Free SSL with Let's Encrypt

Let's Encrypt is a free, automated certificate authority that issues DV certificates. Most hosting providers, including Theory7, offer Let's Encrypt certificates as standard with their hosting plans.

Step-by-step plan for the switch

1. Request an SSL certificate (with modern hosting often one click)
2. Set up your website to use HTTPS only
3. Fix mixed content, make sure all resources (images, scripts) also load over HTTPS
4. Set up 301 redirects from HTTP to HTTPS
5. Update internal links to https://
6. Update your sitemap and robots.txt
7. Add the HTTPS version in Google Search Console

Mixed content: what to watch out for

Browsers block or warn about mixed content because it undermines security. An attacker could inject malicious code through the unsecured element.

Check your site for mixed content after activating HTTPS and update all resources to HTTPS.

Common misconceptions about HTTPS

"HTTPS is only needed for web shops"

This is not true. Every website benefits from HTTPS: better SEO, more trust, access to modern features, and protection of your visitors, even if they only read.

"HTTPS makes my site slower"

This is also not true. The encryption overhead is minimal and with HTTPS you get access to HTTP/2, which actually makes your site faster.

"HTTPS is expensive"

With Let's Encrypt, SSL certificates are free. Most hosting providers offer this as standard.

"HTTPS protects against all hackers"

Partly true. HTTPS protects the connection, but not your website itself. You still need strong passwords, updates and good security practices.

The future of HTTPS

Websites that still use HTTP are increasingly seen as unprofessional and insecure. There is no longer any good reason to still use HTTP.

At Theory7 you get free SSL certificates with all hosting plans. Activating is done with one click in DirectAdmin, and your site is secured right away.

HTTP vs HTTPS: technical comparison

Feature	HTTP	HTTPS
Port	80	443
Encryption	None	TLS/SSL
Data integrity	No verification	Guaranteed
Authentication	None	Via certificate
Speed	Slightly faster (minimal)	Comparable (with HTTP/2)
SEO benefit	None	Google ranking factor
Browser warning	“Not secure”	Padlock icon
HTTP/2 support	Not supported	Fully supported
Cost	Free	Free (Let’s Encrypt)

HTTP vs HTTPS: impact on your website

1. Visitor trust: 85% of online shoppers avoid websites without HTTPS. The padlock icon is a universal sign of safety.
2. Google rankings: HTTPS is a confirmed ranking factor. Websites with HTTPS are favored in search results.
3. Form security: passwords, credit card data and personal information are sent encrypted.
4. Browser compatibility: modern browsers actively show warnings on HTTP sites, which scares off visitors.
5. Performance: HTTPS is required for HTTP/2, which loads pages faster through multiplexing.

An SSL certificate is free and easy to install these days. There is no longer a reason to stay on HTTP.

Frequently asked questions about HTTP vs HTTPS

Is HTTPS slower than HTTP?

Not noticeably in practice. The initial TLS handshake adds a few milliseconds, but HTTPS enables HTTP/2, which actually improves the total load time. With TLS 1.3 the difference is negligible.

Do I have to pay for HTTPS?

No, Let’s Encrypt offers free SSL certificates. Most hosting providers, including Theory7, support automatic installation and renewal of Let’s Encrypt certificates.

What should I do after switching to HTTPS?

Set up 301 redirects from HTTP to HTTPS, update your sitemap and internal links, resubmit your HTTPS site to Google Search Console, and check for mixed content warnings. Also read our SSL certificate guide for more information.

Switching from HTTP to HTTPS: complete checklist

1. Install an SSL certificate: request a certificate through Let’s Encrypt (free) or buy one from your hosting provider
2. Set up 301 redirects: permanently redirect all HTTP URLs to HTTPS via .htaccess or server config
3. Update internal links: replace all http:// links in your content with https://
4. Fix mixed content: make sure all sources (CSS, JS, images, fonts) are loaded over HTTPS
5. Update the sitemap: generate a new sitemap with HTTPS URLs and submit it to Google Search Console
6. Google Search Console: add your HTTPS site as a new property
7. External links: ask important backlink sources to update their links to HTTPS
8. HSTS header: activate Strict-Transport-Security to force browsers to use HTTPS

Most hosting providers, including Theory7, offer free SSL through Let’s Encrypt with automatic renewal. Read our comprehensive SSL certificate guide for all the details about setting up and managing HTTPS on your website.

Should I also load internal pages over HTTPS?

Yes, absolutely. All pages of your website must be loaded over HTTPS, not just pages with forms or payments. Google considers your entire site insecure if even one page is loaded over HTTP. Set up a sitewide 301 redirect from HTTP to HTTPS to guarantee this.

Switching from HTTP to HTTPS

Steps for the http vs https migration

The first step in switching from http vs https is acquiring an SSL certificate. Many hosting providers offer free SSL certificates through Let's Encrypt. After installation, you need to make sure that all internal links, images and scripts are also loaded over HTTPS. Then set up a 301 redirect from HTTP to HTTPS to prevent visitors from still ending up on the unsecured version.

Understanding http vs https is crucial for every website manager. With a reliable web hosting provider that supports HTTPS as standard, you make the switch from http vs https effortlessly.

HTTP vs HTTPS: technical workings of SSL encryption

The process works as follows: your browser sends a request to the server and receives the SSL certificate. The browser checks whether the certificate is valid and issued by a trusted Certificate Authority. Then browser and server generate a shared session key through the Diffie-Hellman key exchange protocol. From that moment on, all communication is encrypted with this session key through symmetric encryption, which is considerably faster than asymmetric encryption.

Modern TLS 1.3 connections are faster than older versions because the handshake takes place in just a single round trip. This minimizes the extra latency that HTTPS adds. In practice, the difference in load time between HTTP and HTTPS is negligible, while the security benefits are enormous. Read more about why an SSL certificate is needed.

HTTPS and SEO: the influence on your Google ranking

In addition, HTTPS is required for modern web functionalities that indirectly improve your SEO. Service Workers, which are needed for Progressive Web Apps and offline functionality, only work over HTTPS. The same applies to HTTP/2 and the newer HTTP/3 protocol, which significantly improve the load speed of your website. Since speed is a direct ranking factor, you benefit twice from switching to HTTPS.

For websites that contain forms or process user data, HTTPS is not only an SEO advantage but a legal requirement. The GDPR requires that personal data is adequately protected, and sending data over an unencrypted HTTP connection does not meet that. Do you want to become more findable on Google? Then start with an SSL certificate.

Migrating from HTTP to HTTPS: checklist

• Install an SSL certificate: Install an SSL certificate on your server. Let's Encrypt offers free certificates.
• Fix mixed content: Make sure all images, scripts and stylesheets are loaded over HTTPS. Mixed content warnings harm trust.
• Set up 301 redirects: Configure permanent redirects from all HTTP URLs to their HTTPS equivalent via your .htaccess file.
• Update internal links: Replace all internal links from http:// to https://. Use a find-and-replace tool for this.
• Update the sitemap: Generate a new sitemap with HTTPS URLs and submit it to Google Search Console.
• Google Search Console: Add your HTTPS version as a new property and submit the new sitemap.
• Canonical tags: Check whether all canonical tags point to the HTTPS version.

After the migration, it is normal to see temporary fluctuations in your search results. Google has to reindex the new HTTPS URLs, which can take a few weeks. In the long term you benefit from better rankings and more trust from your visitors.

Different types of SSL certificates and their uses

Organization Validated (OV) certificates offer a higher level of verification. The Certificate Authority checks not only the domain ownership but also the identity of the organization. This gives visitors extra trust and is suitable for company websites that process sensitive information. Extended Validation (EV) certificates offer the highest level of verification and show the company name in the address bar. This is the standard for banks, government websites and large e-commerce platforms.

Wildcard certificates secure a domain and all its subdomains with a single certificate. Instead of separate certificates for www.example.nl, mail.example.nl and shop.example.nl, a wildcard covers everything. This saves costs and simplifies management. Multi-domain certificates (SAN) secure multiple different domain names with a single certificate. Read our comprehensive guide on SSL certificate costs for a complete overview.

Conclusion: HTTPS is the standard in 2026

In 2026 there is no longer any reason to run a website without HTTPS. The technical, SEO and legal benefits are obvious, while the cost is zero thanks to free certificates from Let's Encrypt. Migrating from HTTP to HTTPS is a one-time investment in time that keeps paying off in better rankings, more visitor trust and compliance with privacy legislation. Every website, from a personal blog to a large web shop, deserves the security that HTTPS offers.