Learn how to host a secure WordPress website on a Raspberry Pi with free HTTPS, SSL, and a free domain name — all step by step, no prior experience required.
Ready to stop paying for web hosting? In this step-by-step tutorial, I'll show you how to turn a Raspberry Pi into a fully functional, secure WordPress web server that you can host online for free. All you need is a Pi and an internet connection—no prior experience is necessary!
We'll cover everything from the initial setup to taking your site live. You'll learn how to install the NGINX web server, MariaDB database, and PHP , and then secure your WordPress site with a free domain name from DuckDNS and a free SSL certificate from Certbot. By the end, you will have a fast, secure, and completely free self-hosted WordPress website.
đź”— HELPFUL LINKS:
DEVICES USED:
⏰ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction & What You'll Achieve
00:25 - Downloading Raspberry Pi Imager & OS
01:05 - Writing the OS & Enabling SSH
01:12 - First Boot and Finding Your IP Address
01:40 - Connecting Remotely with an SSH Client
02:20 - Updating and Upgrading All Packages
02:45 - Setting Up Automatic Security Updates
03:10 - Installing NGINX, MariaDB (MySQL), and PHP-FPM
03:24 - Securing the MariaDB Database Installation
03:50 - Creating the WordPress Database and User
04:15 - Configuring PHP-FPM for NGINX
04:59 - Creating the NGINX Server Block for WordPress
05:32 - Downloading & Setting Up WordPress Files
05:46 - Setting Correct File Ownership & Permissions
06:00 - The WordPress 5-Minute Install
06:44 - Getting a Free Domain Name with DuckDNS
07:18 - Installing & Automating the DuckDNS Update Script
08:08 - Port Forwarding on Your Router (Ports 80 & 443)
08:31 - Installing Certbot for a Free SSL Certificate
08:58 - Updating WordPress URL to use HTTPS
09:17 - Using "Better Search Replace" to Update Database
09:51 - Recommended: Installing Essential PHP Libraries
10:38 - Final Tweaks: Increasing PHP Memory & Execution Time
11:25 - Final Checks & Wrap Up
#RaspberryPi #WordPress #SelfHosting