Before anything else, I should warn you that there is almost no completely free way to get a domain name. For the most part, you’ll only get a domain name as a freebie with paid website or email hosting plans. And even if you do get a 100% free one from a free domain provider like FreeDomain.one, it poses plenty of security risks.
The reason for this is that domains are like internet real estate — you need to pay for them to own them and keep them secure. For example, the domain for this website is “fitsmallbusiness.com,” so no other website can have that domain.
That said, there are five ways you can get a domain name for free, whether on its own or as part of a package: through a website builder, a website host, a free domain registrar, a dynamic domain name service (DDNS), or a promotion from paid domain registrars.
 You can get a 100% free domain name through a free domain registrar or a dynamic domain name service. However, for the longevity of your business, I would recommend investing in a paid domain name, ideally through a platform like Squarespace that also provides a website, hosting, and security for your domain. |
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1. By building a website on a website builder platform
How to get a free domain name: Build a website using the platform, then upgrade to a paid plan with a free domain for one year
What’s the catch: It’s only free for the first year
Best choice if: You’re also planning to build a website or a comprehensive brand presence
Where to get one:
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|---|---|---|
Free custom domain for one year with plans starting at $16/month | Free custom domain for one year with plans starting at $2.99/month | Free custom domain for one year with plans starting at $17/month |
This is by far the easiest and most guaranteed way to get a free domain as part of a website builder package. It’s also the best option if you’re planning to build a website for your business.
With most website platforms, once you upgrade to a paid plan, it’ll also come with a free domain name for the first year. However, you’ll need to start paying for your domain from the second year onward.
This is by far the easiest and most accessible way to get a domain name that holds the most value: You get a domain, a website, and domain security. Once you check that the domain you want is available, it’s automatically yours and ready to be attached to your website.
2. Through a free domain registrar
How to get a free domain name: Check your preferred domain name’s availability on the platform, then claim it (you may need to sign up for an account).
What’s the catch: You’ll have to give up any hopes of getting a good top-level domain extension like “.com” or “.net.” You may also be vulnerable to security risks. And getting any kind of support is almost impossible.
Best choice if: Your budget is $0, and you don’t mind an unusual domain name or extension
Where to get one:
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Available Domains: .us.to, .eu.org, .iz.rs, and more | Available Domains: .publicvm.com, .run.place, .linkpc.net, .line.pm, .work.gd |
The absolutely no-cost, no-strings-attached way to register a domain name is through a free domain registrar like FreeDomain.One and GetFreeDomainName. However, I strongly recommend only using this as a final resort because these platforms have very little to no security for your domain, and using them could make your site vulnerable to hacks and other malware attacks.
Plus, at best, you’ll get something like “.xyz” or “.ml” as a domain extension, which aren’t great options for building your brand credibility.
From a marketing perspective, this is my least favorite option as there are just too many risks associated, from sacrificing your security to the credibility of your brand. Like I said, only use this as your absolute last option.
3. Through a Dynamic Domain Name Service (DDNS)
How to get a free domain: Search for your preferred domain name, then claim it if it’s available. You may also need to sign up for an account.
What’s the catch: Your domain name will be hosted on a subdomain like .zapto.org or .pp.ua
Best choice if: You have a $0 budget and don’t need a business website, just a portfolio site or a personal blog.
Where to get one:
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|---|---|---|
Available free domain extensions: .hopto.org, .zapto.org, .sytes.net, .ddns.net | Available free domain extensions: .k.vu, .my.to, .mine.bz, .info.gf | Available free domain extension: .pp.ua |
Getting a free domain name through a dynamic domain name service (DDNS) is almost identical to getting one from a free domain provider and involves the same risks.
The only difference is that using a DDNS means you can access your internet-connected devices anytime, even if your internet provider changes your IP address (some internet providers do this from time to time because there is a limited pool of IP addresses available).
Some DDNS services allow you to use a domain name for free, but only with specific domain extensions they offer. For example, Nic.ua only allows free domains with a .pp.ua extension.
However, your domain will also still be vulnerable to risks and malware, so as with free domain registrars, I only recommend this route as a final resort or if you’re not building a professional website as it’s neither secure nor credible. Also, support is rarely available so you’re pretty much on your own.
4. By purchasing a hosting plan from a web hosting service
How to get a free domain name: Purchase a web hosting plan with a free domain, then search for your domain name. It’ll be yours free for one year.
What’s the catch: It’s not entirely free, as it’s part of a web hosting plan, and your domain is only free for the first year.
Best choice if: You already have a website from a free website builder and want to upgrade it to a professional domain at a lower cost than a website builder plan.
Where to get it:
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|---|---|---|
Free domain for one year with plans starting at $2.95/month, plus storage and SSL security | Free domain for one year with plans starting at $2.95/month for 10 websites | Free domain with plans starting at $5.95/month, plus unlimited websites |
If you already have a website but just need a secure home (aka a host for it), you can get one with a free domain name through a website hosting service like Bluehost or Dreamhost. Like website builders, most website hosts also include a domain for free for the first year of your plan, along with storage and website security.
Generally, website hosts also cost less than website builders (usually less than $5 a month) and are a good option if you already have a website from a free website builder like Wix or Weebly and want to upgrade it to a full professional domain without the “.wix.com” or “.weebly.com” subdomain on it. Moving it to a website host can get your own custom domain free for one year.
For example, say you own a cafe named Retro Roast and built a free website for it on Wix, where it currently has the domain “retroroast.wix.com.” You can move your site to a website host like Bluehost or Dreamhost, where it can have the domain “retroroast.com” for free for one year with any plan, along with advanced security.
5. Keep an eye out for promotions from domain registrars
How to get a domain name for free: Look out for promotions for free domain name extensions on domain registrars.
What’s the catch: No catch, but these promotions are pretty rare and something you’ll need to keep constant watch for. Sometimes, the best you can get is a discounted domain for less than $1.
Best choice if: You don’t have a website yet but plan to make one in the future and want to secure a domain name first.
Where to get one:
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|---|---|---|
Discounts up to $0 for .co.uk domains or .online and .store for 98 cents | Discounts up to 99 cents for .net domains | Discounts up to 80 cents for .site or .online domains |
I put this one last because it has the slimmest chances of getting an absolutely free domain, but every once in a while, domain registrars like Domain.com and Namecheap will offer free domain promotions for specific domain extensions, or at least, very close to free domains.
For example, at the time of writing, Namecheap currently offers .store and .online domains for just 98 cents a year, and it’s a much safer option than going with a free domain registrar that puts your domain at risk.
I recommend checking these sites out every once in a while to stay on top of their promotions. You might just get the domain extension you’re after for less than $1 a year.
Why I recommend investing in a domain name (even if it isn’t free)
The two biggest reasons are credibility and site security. If you have a website for your business or brand, or plan to make one in the future, security and credibility are two things you shouldn’t compromise on. They’re also what you risk with a free domain registrar like Freedomain.one. While they offer free, no-strings-attached domains, they also don’t give any protections for your domain and can potentially compromise your site’s data.
It’s especially not ideal if you plan to accept online payments or handle customer information. Not to mention that an unknown domain extension like “.xyz” doesn’t exactly say “trustworthy business.” (If your friend, spouse, or relative said they bought something off a .xyz website, you’d probably tell them it’s a scam.)
Instead, any of the other options I mentioned above are less expensive ways to get a legitimate domain name. They’re also more cost-effective because they often bundle extra features. For example, a website builder also gives you a website with your domain, plus site security.
Website hosts also grant you site security and extra storage. For less than $10 a month (sometimes even less than $5 a month), you get the peace of mind of a secure and professional domain that’ll promote your reputation and credibility.
Transitioning to a paid domain from a free one
A free domain might be a suitable option for now, when you don’t need a full website yet or don’t have the budget and resources. But when the time comes to get a professional one, you can get one from a domain registrar or a website hosting service like the ones I mentioned above.
You can, of course, also get one from a website builder, but that would be impractical if you already have a website built.
If you used a free domain or DDNS service to get a free domain, you’ll probably first need to unlock your current domain by going into your settings or control panel. There shouldn’t be any cancellation fees if it’s free.
After deactivation, your domain name will again be free to claim on your new domain provider. Most domain registrars and website hosts also have domain transfer services.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
You can get a 100% free domain name through a free domain registrar like FreeDomain.one, GetFreeDomainName, or through dynamic domain name services (DDNS) like Nic.ua or Noip.com.
However, these are neither secure nor great for your branding, so they’re not the best choice if you’re building a professional business website. Instead, opt for cost-effective alternatives like getting a free domain for one year from a web hosting service or a domain registrar, where domains can cost less than $5 a month and come with security and a top-level domain extension.
Yes, domains from free domain registrars and dynamic domain name services are available for anyone to claim and use at no cost. However, they’re not as secure as paid domains from a vetted domain registrar, website hosting provider, or website builder platform.
And they’re not as professional-looking because they’ll have unusual domain extensions like .hopto.org or .pp.ua. At most, they’ll only be suitable for building personal, non-business websites.
No, unfortunately, Google Sites doesn’t provide free custom domains yet. If you build a website on Google Sites, it’ll be on a Google Sites subdomain (i.e., sites.google.com/yourwebsite). As such, it’s not a suitable platform for building business websites — it also doesn’t have sophisticated design features or any ecommerce or appointment-booking tools.
At most, it’s best used as an internal company website or team resource hub, especially if your team also uses Google Workspace.
Bottom line
The two main ways to get a 100% free domain name are through a free domain registrar and a dynamic domain name service. However, these can come with security risks and have unusual domain extensions, so I don’t recommend them for professional and business use.
Instead, there are cost-effective ways to get a domain from website builder platforms and website hosts, which often bundle free domains with their plans. Legitimate domain registrars like Domain.com also have occasional domain discounts that price domains at less than $1 a year, which are better options for building a credible and professional website.
