The Best HTTPS Redirection Plugins: A Comparison

Easy HTTPS Redirection (SSL)

Easy HTTPS Redirection (SSL) is a popular WordPress plugin specifically designed to assist in the transition from HTTP to HTTPS after installing an SSL certificate on a website. It ensures that search engines index the HTTPS versions of webpages, improving a site’s security and credibility.

The best HTTPS redirection plugin is best suited for advanced users and developers who have a deep understanding of SSL certificates and the HTTPS protocol.

Features That Matter

• The best HTTPS redirection plugin can automatically redirect the entire domain or selected pages to the HTTPS version, ensuring consistent use of secure URLs.
• For existing websites with static files embedded using non-HTTPS URLs, the plugin can force load these files using HTTPS URLs, avoiding browser SSL warnings to visitors.
• Despite its technical functionality, the best HTTPS redirection plugin offers a straightforward user interface that allows users to easily configure the settings.

What We Liked The Most

The Easy HTTPS Redirection (SSL) plugin effectively handles the complex task of redirecting HTTP content to HTTPS, providing an essential service for enhancing website security. Its ability to force load static files using HTTPS URLs dynamically is a standout feature that mitigates potential SSL warnings, improving the user experience.

Areas for Improvement

The best HTTPS redirection plugin assumes a level of technical knowledge from its users. Therefore, it may have a steep learning curve for non-technical users. Additionally, it lacks advanced features like bulk URL editing or pattern-based redirection, which could be useful for large websites.

Target Audience

This HTTPS redirection plugin is best suited for web developers and advanced users who manage websites that have installed SSL certificates and need to ensure consistent use of HTTPS.

Community Reviews and Ratings

Easy HTTPS Redirection (SSL) has received positive feedback on the WordPress HTTPS redirection plugin repository, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Users have praised its simplicity and effectiveness in handling HTTPS redirection. However, some users have pointed out its lack of advanced features.

Pricing Structure

Easy HTTPS Redirection (SSL) is a free HTTPS redirection plugin available in the WordPress plugin repository. There is no premium version or subscription offer, making it an accessible tool for all WordPress users.

Redirection

Redirection is a robust and highly popular WordPress plugin that primarily functions as a comprehensive redirect manager. With more than a decade’s worth of reputation and usage, this free HTTPS redirection plugin is appropriate for both advanced users and developers, assisting in the management of 301 redirections, tracking 404 errors, and promoting site optimization and performance.

Features That Matter

• Redirection allows the creation and management of redirects without requiring Apache or Nginx knowledge. It supports regular expressions, facilitating redirect patterns that match various URLs. The HTTPS redirection plugin can also monitor changes in posts or page permalinks and create automatic redirects to the new URL.
• The plugin’s capacity for conditional redirects is notable; it can execute redirects based on login status, WordPress capability, browser type, referrer page, cookies, HTTP headers, custom filters, IP address, server, and page type.
• Redirection offers configurable logging options that record all redirects, supplying information about the visitor, the browser used, and the referrer. It also maintains a ‘hit’ count for each redirect, enabling tracking of URL usage.
• Redirection supports a fully-featured import and export system, facilitating seamless transfers between sites and plugins.

What We Liked The Most

Redirection stands out due to its comprehensive redirect management. It not only allows for effortless creation and management of redirects but also provides detailed logging, import/export abilities, and conditional redirects.

Its compatibility with WordPress permalinks and support for regular expressions offer an advanced level of flexibility and control. Moreover, it is free, making it a top choice for users seeking a robust redirect management solution without incurring additional costs.

Areas for Improvement

While Redirection is feature-rich, it may present a steep learning curve for non-advanced users due to its extensive capabilities and settings. Simplifying the user interface and providing more in-depth tutorials could help mitigate this issue.

Additionally, despite its impressive logging features, a more intuitive presentation of logged data could enhance the user experience.

Target Audience

Redirection is best suited for advanced users and developers. Its comprehensive features and detailed settings require a solid understanding of redirection management and website optimization.

Community Reviews and Ratings

Redirection has consistently received positive feedback from users on WordPress HTTPS redirection plugin repositories and platforms like G2, with users praising its wide range of features and reliability. Some users have mentioned its complexity as a potential drawback for less experienced users.

Pricing Structure

As one of its standout qualities, Redirection is completely free. There are no premium versions or features locked behind paywalls, making it an accessible tool for all users and developers.

WP Encryption

The WP Encryption HTTPS redirection plugin is a powerful tool for WordPress site owners, providing a streamlined process for generating and installing SSL certificates provided by Let’s Encrypt®. This plugin’s primary use case is to secure WordPress websites with SSL, forcing HTTPS sitewide and resolving common issues related to insecure content and mixed content.

With over 5 million SSL certificates generated, WP Encryption has proven its worth in the WordPress community by simplifying a typically technical task.

Features That Matter

• WP Encryption verifies domain ownership and generates SSL certificates automatically. This feature eliminates the complex process of manual CSR generation and domain ownership verification.
• The plugin includes a vulnerability scanner feature that scans your WordPress site for known vulnerabilities in plugins and themes. This feature helps to maintain the overall security of your site.
• WP Encryption enhances your site’s security by enabling important security headers that protect against cross-site scripting, MIME sniffing, and clickjacking.
• This HTTPS redirection plugin keeps track of your SSL certificate’s health and sends automatic email notifications before its expiration. This feature ensures that your site’s SSL certificate remains valid and effective.
• WP Encryption allows users to force HTTPS sitewide with a single click, resolving issues related to redirect loops for various web services like Cloudflare and StackPath.

What We Liked The Most

WP Encryption stands out for its automation and simplicity. The plugin handles the entire process of SSL certificate generation and installation, removing the need for technical knowledge. The vulnerability scanner is another distinguishing feature, enhancing site security by detecting potential threats. Moreover, the one-click HTTPS redirection simplifies the process of enforcing secure connections throughout the site.

Areas for Improvement

While WP Encryption is an excellent tool for SSL management, it does require certain server settings like Linux hosting and OpenSSL, which may limit its use for some users. Additionally, its full range of features is available only with the premium version, which might not be ideal for users on a tight budget.

Target Audience

WP Encryption is best suited for website owners and developers who prioritize site security but prefer a simplified, automated process for SSL certificate management.

Community Reviews and Ratings

Based on reviews from the WordPress HTTPS redirection plugin repository and other platforms like G2, WP Encryption boasts a positive reputation. Users often praise its ease of use, automation capabilities, and the added layer of security it provides. However, some users have expressed a wish for more features in the free version.

Pricing Structure

WP Encryption offers a free version with basic features, while its premium version provides advanced features like automatic SSL renewal, wildcard SSL support, and premium support. The premium version is available at $29 per site.

Redirection

The Redirection HTTPS redirection plugin is an invaluable tool for advanced users and developers seeking to maintain an optimized and user-friendly website. As one of the most popular redirection plugins for WordPress, it provides an easy and efficient way to manage 301 redirections, track 404 errors, and tidy up any loose ends your site may have.

Primarily designed for advanced users and developers, the HTTPS redirection plugin simplifies the process of setting up URL redirections and rules, thus ensuring seamless site navigation and optimal user experience.

Features That Matter

• The plugin supports multiple HTTP codes (301, 302, 303, 304, 307 and 308) which provides flexibility in how you manage your redirects.
• The plugin offers advanced options for setting redirection rules, including inclusion and exclusion rules based on user attributes, referrer links, cookies, IPs, server, and language.
• Redirection allows you to set simple or complex redirection rules, using conditions like URL strings, permalink structures, and RegEx matches.
• The plugin offers a user-friendly interface for managing all redirects, making it easy to enable/disable, edit, and delete redirects.
• Recent updates include 404-page redirection to a specific URL or a random similar post, import/export functionality for redirection lists, and a log of all redirections and 404 errors.

What We Liked The Most

The Redirection plugin stands out for its user-friendly interface and advanced features that cater to both novices and seasoned developers. The inclusion of a log for all redirections and 404 errors, along with a one-click solution to fix dead links, is a game-changer in terms of convenience and efficiency.

Areas for Improvement

While the HTTPS redirection plugin is robust and feature-rich, it might intimidate beginners due to its advanced functionalities. Additional tutorials or a more simplified user guide could make it more accessible to less experienced users.

Target Audience

The Redirection HTTPS redirection plugin is most beneficial for advanced users and developers, as well as large site owners who need to manage a high volume of redirects and track 404 errors efficiently.

Community Reviews and Ratings

The Redirection plugin enjoys positive reviews and ratings on platforms like G2 and WordPress plugin repositories. Users commonly praise its comprehensive features, user-friendly interface, and reliable performance. Some users have mentioned a steep learning curve, but overall, the feedback is overwhelmingly positive.

Pricing Structure

The Redirection HTTPS redirection plugin is free to use, making it a cost-effective solution for managing redirects and improving site performance. However, it’s part of the Inisev product family, which offers other premium plugins and services at various price points.

WP Force SSL & HTTPS SSL Redirect

WP Force SSL & HTTPS SSL Redirect is a widely used WordPress plugin designed to redirect insecure HTTP traffic to secure HTTPS, and fix SSL errors without any necessary coding. This HTTPS redirection plugin is known for its simplicity, effectiveness, and compatibility with any SSL certificate, whether it be a free one from Let’s Encrypt or a paid SSL certificate.

This HTTPS redirection plugin is best suited for advanced users and developers who want to ensure the security of their websites without the need for complex code manipulations. It’s also suitable for large site owners who want to convert their entire site into HTTPS using a simple one-click operation.

Features That Matter

• WP Force SSL automatically redirects all HTTP traffic to HTTPS, ensuring that your site is always secure.
• The plugin includes a testing tool that checks if your SSL certificate is valid, properly installed, and up-to-date.
• WP Force SSL works with any SSL certificate, giving you flexibility in terms of your choice of SSL provider.
• The pro version of the plugin offers additional features such as SSL monitoring, file redirection, fix mixed-content, force secure cookies, and cross-site scripting protection.
• The plugin’s settings are accessible via the main Settings menu, making it easy to manage your SSL settings.

What We Liked the Most

WP Force SSL stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness. The ability to redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS with a single click simplifies the process of securing a website. The plugin’s compatibility with any SSL certificate also makes it a versatile tool for website security.

Areas for Improvement

While WP Force SSL is a robust tool, it does have a few areas where it could improve. The difference between the free and pro versions is quite significant, with many essential features only available in the pro version. Making some of these features available in the free version would make the plugin more accessible to a broader range of users.

Target Audience

The target audience for the WP Force SSL plugin is developers and advanced users who want a simple, effective way to secure their websites. Large site owners who wish to convert their entire site to HTTPS would also benefit from using this plugin.

Community Reviews and Ratings

WP Force SSL has received positive reviews on platforms like G2 and WordPress plugin repositories. Users often praise the plugin’s ease of use and effectiveness. Some users have expressed dissatisfaction with the limited features of the free version.

Pricing Structure

WP Force SSL offers a free version with basic features. For advanced features, users can upgrade to the pro version. Pricing for the pro version is not specified on the plugin’s website and may vary depending on the provider.

301 Redirects

301 Redirects – Easy Redirect Manager is a powerful WordPress plugin that helps you manage and create 301, 302, 307 redirects for your WordPress site. This tool is primarily used to improve SEO and enhance the visitor experience. By helping to prevent visitors from landing on a 404 error page, it effectively manages broken links and maintains the site’s user-friendliness.

This plugin is best suited for advanced users and developers due to its sophisticated features and capabilities. It is also ideal for those who are reorganizing their old content or creating new sites.

Features That Matter

• This plugin allows you to choose from Pages, Posts, Custom Post types, Archives, and Term Archives from a dropdown menu to create redirection. This gives you comprehensive control over your site navigation.
• You can set a custom destination URL, providing flexibility and customization options.
• The plugin can retain query strings across redirects, ensuring that important data isn’t lost during the redirection process.
• It offers super-fast redirection, reducing the load time for users and enhancing their experience.
• The plugin features a 404 error log that helps you identify problematic links and fix them promptly.

Standout Features

The 301 Redirects plugin stands out for its Import/Export feature, which enables bulk redirects management. This is particularly useful for large websites or sites undergoing a substantial overhaul. It also provides simple redirect stats so you can understand how much a redirection is used.

What We Liked The Most

We like that the 301 Redirects plugin is fully compatible with translation plugins that use lang prefix in URL, making it adept at managing multilingual sites. Its 404 error log widget is also a standout feature that helps you quickly identify and address broken links directly from the dashboard.

Areas for Improvement

While the plugin is robust and feature-rich, it might be a bit complex for beginner users. The interface could be simplified or a beginner’s guide could be included to help less experienced users navigate the plugin more effectively.

Target Audience

The 301 Redirects plugin is most beneficial for advanced users, developers, and large site owners who need to manage a significant number of redirects.

Community Reviews and Ratings

The plugin has received positive reviews on platforms like G2 and WordPress plugin repositories. Users have praised its easy-to-use interface and its efficient management of redirects. Some users have mentioned that they would like more detailed documentation.

Pricing Structure

The 301 Redirects plugin offers a Pro version that provides additional features like wildcard & regular expression URL matching, auto-typo fixing in URLs, complete redirect and 404 log, link scanner, and a centralized SaaS dashboard to monitor redirects on all your sites from one place. Pricing details can be accessed on their official website.