How to Get Free Domain Name

100% free domains are a thing. But there's a catch. Read on to learn where to get them, if you should get them, and some providers you can trust.

Building a website can get pricey, so you might plan to save money with a free domain. Some providers offer them. But there are options that are unsafe or unprofessional.

So, how do you know which one works and which options to avoid? You'll find out at the end of the article. Read on.

How to Get a 100% Free Domain?

There are 4 ways to get a domain name for free. However, free domains often only last a year or two. After that, you'll have to pay for the subscription.

If you don't, other people can end up registering that domain as theirs. That said, here's how you can get a domain for free, even if it's only for a while.

Free Domain Name with a Website Builder

Website builders often come with free domains. But you typically have to subscribe to annual plans to get them.

Your domain will look legit and trustworthy since you can choose from generic top-level domains (gTLDs) like .com, .net, and .org. Plus, it's easy to renew them on the platform itself.

Additionally, you can get more features with a website builder compared to other means of getting a free domain. For example, you can edit your site without needing to know how to code.

Some even provide marketing features (such as social media marketing). You can take Wix as a website builder example.

Website builders often come with hosting services. But you can also get a free domain with web hosting providers.

Free Domain Name with Web Hosting

Web hosting providers offer free domain registration, typically during the first year of your subscription. That said, it's usually only available for higher-tiered plans and annual contracts.

The good news is that hosting providers typically provide website-building tools as well. So you can get the same benefits of a website builder for a more affordable price. Just don't expect the same level of flexibility and number of features.

Aside from a free domain, hosting providers offer a free SSL certificate. This shows website visitors that your website is trustworthy. Check out Hostinger as an example below.

Sometimes, web hosting providers offer email hosting. And email hosting plans also come with free domains.

Free Domain Name with Email Hosting

There are plans for business emails that come with a free domain. But you may be limited to selected domain extensions compared to the other means of getting a free domain.

This can still be good news for your business, however. Not only do you need a professional-looking domain, but you'll also want a professional email address that your clients or customers can trust. It's a good thing you can have both on some platforms.

Popular email hosting providers include IONOS and Google (through Google Workspace). Google offers you a free domain for a year.^[3] But IONOS can be a more affordable option.

Let's say you don't really want to pay for anything. And you JUST want a free domain. Registrars can help with that.

Free Domain Name through Registrars (Not Recommended)

If you're looking for a standalone 100% free domain, it's possible with a free domain registrar. But it's not the smartest nor the safest thing to do. And it can cost you more in the long run.

You can't get a generic top-level domain (gTLD) with it. gTLDs are more trustworthy and make your site look professional. Examples of gTLDs include .com, .edu, and .gov.

Additionally, you won't get the features that typically comes with a paid domain. For example, you don't get transfer rights, your domain won't be secure, AND you could lose your domain anytime.

Free Domain Alternatives

What if you're on the fence about getting a free domain? Try the following alternatives.

Temporarily Use Subdomains

Website builders typically offer free plans. That means you can create a website for free with no time limit. But free plans don't come with free domains. They come with subdomains instead.

Subdomains look like "www.mybusiness.websitebuilder.com" where mybusiness stands for your preferred domain name, and websitebuilder refers to your website builder of choice.

The main idea is that your preferred domain name will be shown with the website builder's domain. This is free and typically comes from trusted providers. That said, it looks unprofessional, so it's only best for personal use.

Purchase Affordable Domains

Purchasing your domain name from trusted domain registrars can be a good investment for your website in the long run.

Sometimes, cutting costs can make it more expensive for your business due to potential risks or losses.

If you ever decide that a purchase can be worth it, here are affordable providers to choose from.

• GoDaddy

  GoDaddy is not only a website builder. It's also a domain registrar, where you can purchase and register your domains.

  In fact, it's the largest domain registrar, with over 20 million customers worldwide.^[7] It offers 3 bundle plans so you can get a lot of value for your money.^[8]

  Domain Bundle	Starting Price	Inclusions
  Starter	$2.99/mo for 12 months; $8.66/mo after	.com domain, professional email, full domain protection, and more
  Essentials	$9.50/mo for 12 months; $24.65/mo after	Starter inclusions plus website builder, email marketing, appointment scheduling, SEO features, and more
  Ecommerce	$14.50/mo for 12 months; $33.64/mo after	Essentials inclusions plus online store builder, product listings, Google paid search campaigns, and more

• IONOS

  Like GoDaddy, IONOS is a domain registrar while at the same time a hosting provider and website builder.

  You can get really affordable domain fees while getting some freebies if you purchase a .com domain.

  A .com domain costs $1 for 1 year. You'll also get:^[9]
  

  • SSL certificate
    
  • 2GB email account
    
  • Private registration to hide your contact info from the public

  Other domain extensions are really affordable, too. For example, .org can cost you $3 for 1 year, .net costs $1 for 1 year, and .info is also $1 for 1 year.

  WHOIS contains the records of all domains and contact information related to each. If you choose public registration, your information will be public. If you have private registration, the WHOIS database won't reveal your contact info.
  

• Namecheap

  Namecheap is another domain registrar that offers affordable domain extensions with freebies. It's not the cheapest compared to the first two, but it is another trusted provider to consider.

  Here are some of the top-level domains you can purchase:^[10]

  Domain Extension	Registration Price (first year)	Renewal Price
  .com	$13.98	$15.88
  .net	$14.98	$15.98
  .org	$7.48	$14.98
  .io	$44.98	$48.98

  Similar to its competitors, your domain registration will come with free domain privacy protection and a free email address (2-month free trial).

What You Should Know About New Domains

There are a couple of things to note about domains:

• Character limitations

  The maximum length of your domain name can be up to 63 characters. The minimum is 1 character.^[11]

  That said, it's better to have shorter domain names since they can be easier to remember.

• 4 types of domains

  Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) are the mostly used domains. These are .com, .net, .org, etc.

  There are also Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLD) which are domains that show your geographical locations (i.e., .uk for United Kingdom, and .au for Australia).

  IDN ccTLD, which stands for Internationalized Country Code Top-Level Domains, are domains in other characters, apart from the Roman alphabet (like Chinese characters).

  Then there are subdomains, as previously talked about.

• Privacy of your contact details

  When you start to own a domain, your contact details can get accessed by anyone through the WHOIS database. You can hide this, however, if you opt for domain privacy protection services.

  Apart from your contact details, the database will also show the domain information (like when it was created and its expiry), registrar information, admin/tech personnel information, etc.

• Domain activity

  It can take 1 to 3 days (24 to 72 hours) for your domain to be active. This is because every time you register a new domain, all the servers on the internet need to be updated about it.

  This process is called Domain Name System (DNS) propagation.

• Domain transfers

  Newly registered domains typically have a lock-in period. So you typically can't transfer a domain right away (usually in the first 60 days).

  This period depends on various factors like the rules and regulations of your domain registrar.^[12]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best way to get a domain name for free?
The best way to get a free domain name is to subscribe to a year-long website builder or web hosting plan. They typically offer free domain registration for a year, which can help with your budget.

After that, you'll have to pay for renewal to keep using the domain. Otherwise, the registrar can "lease" it to someone else.

What happens to the domain name if I want to switch hosting providers?
You can transfer your domain to your new hosting provider. But first, you'll have to unlock that domain (typically from your dashboard).

You'll also need to request an authorization code (AuthCode) from your current provider. Then, with your new hosting provider, select "Transfer Domains," typically found on the Domain menu.

How to get a free domain-based email name?
A domain-based email or professional email usually comes free with a website builder or web hosting plan. But you can also opt for an email hosting plan.

Your business email will include whatever your domain name is. It would look like "hello@mybusiness.com."

Bottom Line

Getting a free domain isn't exactly free. It often comes with purchasing annual or multi-year plans from website builders and web hosting providers.

For the best security and extra features, you can try the plans offered by:

• Website builders
  
• Web hosting providers
  
• Email hosting providers

You may eventually have to purchase this domain. But this can be more secure than opting for a completely free domain name from a free domain name registrar.

References