Your website needs a domain name, such as yourbusiness.com, and a savvy business knows there are ways to get one for free. However, the truly free domains are bad for business as they’ll cost you your credibility. That doesn’t mean you’re out of options. What you may not realize is that you can get a free and completely legit domain by purchasing other essential website services.
For example, if you’re building your site on WordPress, you’ll need web hosting for your site to be live on the web. The best web hosting companies, such as Bluehost, offer low-cost yet feature-rich plans packed with free extras, including a domain for as little as $2.95 per month.
3 Ways to Get a Free Domain Name
Option A | Option B | Option C |
|---|---|---|
Free domain with a web hosting plan | Free domain with all-in-one site builder plan | Free domain from a domain name registrar |
Best For: | Best For: | Best For: |
Those building a site with WordPress | Those building a site with a site builder (e.g., Wix) | Personal use (NOT recommended for professional use*) |
-Get a free .com -Professional and legit -Secure -Free business email | -Get a free .com -Professional and legit -Secure -Free business email | -Get a free .tk, .ml, or .cf -Appears unprofessional -Not secure -No business email |
Providers: | Providers: | Providers: |
*As tempting as it may be, skip the shady free domain registrars if you’re using your domain for business use. The truly free domain registrars do not offer professional domains but rather untrustworthy-looking .tk domain extensions, and some can pose a security risk.
How to Set Up Your Free Domain Name
The way in which you’ll actually get your free domain will depend on which option you choose. You can learn more about each option and its specific steps required to set up your free domain by selecting an option in the dropbox below:
Option A: Get a Free Domain Name With a Web Hosting Plan
If you’re planning to build your site on WordPress, then you’re going to need web hosting. Get the most out of your web hosting plan by choosing one that includes a free domain. On top of that, you will also get a one-click WordPress installation, making your life easy by automatically connecting your domain and web hosting to WordPress.
On the fence about WordPress? If you’re not sure if you have the time or aptitude, see how easy it can be and learn how to make a WordPress website.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Free domains with plans WordPress users will need anyway | Must purchase a web hosting plan |
| Free .com domains | Plans usually require a 12-month contract to get a free domain |
| You own the domain | |
| Looks professional and credible | |
How to Set Up a Free Domain
The leading web hosting companies offer a free domain name with competitively priced hosting plans. To get your free domain name, simply choose which web host you want to use (e.g., Bluehost or DreamHost), and select a plan. You’ll then be prompted during the account creation process to create a new domain name. Input your desired domain, and complete the prompts.
Here are the best overall web hosting providers that come with a free domain:
- Bluehost: Best for getting everything you need to start a small business website, from a free domain to free business email for as low as $2.95 per month.
- DreamHost: Best for affordable, short-term plans that are feature-rich.
- GoDaddy: Best for low-cost, high-storage web hosting plans that include extras like a free domain.
Not sure which web host is right for you? Get the complete breakdown on the best web hosting companies or answer a few questions to find which is right for you.
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Option B: Get a Free Domain Name With a Site Builder Plan
You don’t have to be a web developer—nor do you have to hire one—to get a professional website. All-in-one site builders, such as Squarespace, Weebly, and Wix, all give you the ability to build your own site easily and code-free. And, because these plans are all-inclusive, you’ll get a free domain with your plan of choice, in addition to everything else you need to build and maintain your small business website.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Free domain with leading site builders | Must purchase a plan to get a domain |
| Free .com domains with plans | Site builders are generally more expensive than WordPress |
| Easiest way to build a site; no web design experience required | |
| Professional and credible appearance | |
How to Set Up a Free Domain
Site builders make it easy to do everything, from building your website to getting a free domain. While each site builder works slightly differently, with Weebly, all you need to do is create an account, select a template, and customize your site. When you’re ready to go live, you click the prompt from your user dashboard to connect a domain or click the orange “Upgrade” button in the upper right-hand corner of the site editor to launch the free domain name registration process.
Here are the best site builders that come with a free domain name:
- Weebly: Most affordable site builder with plans starting at $6 per month.
- Squarespace: Best for award-winning web design and powerful marketing tools to grow your business.
- Wix: Most flexible drag-and-drop site builder for maximum design freedom.
- GoDaddy: Best for service-based businesses, given its great online booking features.
Want more help deciding which is right for you? Get the complete breakdown of the best all-in-one site builders that include a free domain.
Option C: Use a Free Domain Name Registrar
You can get a domain name from a free domain registrar, but these don’t come with a web hosting plan and are not suitable for business use. Why? The only truly free domains use untrustworthy-looking domain extensions, such as .tk, as opposed to a standard .com. So sure, you can save $12 per year, but a free domain like yourbusiness.tk will immediately make you appear unprofessional to prospective customers.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Completely free | Looks unprofessional and untrustworthy |
| .com extensions are not available for free | |
| You don’t own it | |
| Often unreliable | |
| More susceptible to hackers | |
How to Set Up a Free Domain
The free domain name registrars look easy to use, and yet these platforms are actually a headache. For example, if you navigate to Freenom, you’re prompted to input your desired domain name. Upon clicking “Check Availability,” you’ll be redirected to a list of (seemingly) available domains to choose from. However, you’ll likely notice that this list is deceiving, and upon clicking the “Get Now” button, odds are the domain won’t actually be available.
Here are three completely free domain name providers:
Again, if you’re planning to use your free domain for professional use, whether for your business website or business email, forget the free domain. It’s a surefire way to look unprofessional, and some pose serious security issues. The better route is to get a free domain through services you’re going to need anyway, such as web hosting through Bluehost for WordPress, or through a site builder plan, such as Squarespace or Weebly.
On such a tight budget that you absolutely need a free domain? Opt for a subdomain instead, such as yourbusiness.weebly.com. It looks more credible than, say, yourbusiness.tk, as people are familiar with Weebly, and it’s free to use. As you grow, you can get a free domain through a Weebly paid plan, which is the cheapest on the market with pricing as low as $6 per month.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What’s the best way to get a free domain name?
The best way to register a free business domain is to use a domain registrar that offers free domains as a part of their web hosting plans. For example, Bluehost offers a free domain when you sign up for its $2.95 per month hosting plan. To begin, select a hosting plan, then follow the prompts to search for a domain, select an available one, and buy web hosting. Get step-by-step instructions on the process of domain name registration.
How do I get a free email using my domain name?
Many hosting plans offer a free domain and at least one free email account with a matching email address (e.g., name@yourdomain.com). Bluehost offers the best deal, including five free business email addresses within its ultra-low-cost plan for just $2.95 per month. It also comes with many other money-saving extras, such as a free domain name and a free SSL certification. Learn more about how to get free email.
How can I get a free website?
There are a number of ways to get a free website, from using site builders such as Weebly with a subdomain (and ads) to using an open source content management system, such as WordPress. Those building a professional business website will find WordPress to be the best solution, which is free to use and enables you to connect a custom domain with third-party web hosting. Learn more about how to build your small business website.
Bottom Line
If you want a free domain, your best bet is to get a legit domain for free through a provider you’re already going to need. Whether that’s a web hosting plan for as little as $2.95 per month from Bluehost (for those using WordPress) or a free domain with a website builder, such as Squarespace. Either way, you’re going to need a website and for it to be live on the web, you’ll need one of these services anyway, so you might as well get it for free.
You Might Also Like…
- For help finding an available domain, get the expert tips on choosing a domain name.
- Need to get a legit domain name and you’re not ready to choose a content management system (CMS)? Get yours from the best domain name registrars.
- Now that you have a domain, learn how to set up your professional email address.
