How to Get a Free Email Domain (the 3 Legit Ways)
Kelly is a former Google Tech Entrepreneur and Apple Developer who has counseled businesses of all sizes and growth stages. You can find her expertise across Fit Small Business in marketing, business website, and business trend content.
This article is part of a larger series on Business Email.
Having an email address that ends with your business’ domain (i.e., name@business.com) is vital to maintaining a professional appearance. To avoid quickly racking up expenses for business email addresses, we’ll show you how to get a free email domain legitimately through top email hosting services with providers you may already use, or may soon need to use.
Here are the three best ways to get a free email domain for your small business:
- IONOS: The best way to get a free business email domain with ultra-low-cost email hosting for $1 per month
- Bluehost: Best free email domain for businesses that need multiple email addresses
- DreamHost: The best way to get a free domain name and free email hosting for businesses that need WordPress website hosting but don’t want a long-term contract
Top Free Email Domain Name Providers (Compared)
 |  |  | |
Free Email Domain | Yes; included with email hosting plans | Yes; included with web hosting plans | Yes; included with web hosting plans |
Starting Price | $1 per month | $2.95 per month | $2.59 per month |
Email Hosting Included | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Number of Email Addresses | 1 | Up to 5 | Unlimited |
Email Storage Limit | 2GB or 100,000 emails | 100MB | 25GB |
Attachment Limit | 70MB | 50MB | 40MB |
Ability to Connect to Third-party Email Hosts (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Top-level Domains (e.g., .com, .net, .org) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Ad-free Email | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
IMAP | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Built-in Security | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Email Migration Service | ✓ - Free tool | ✓ - Available as an add-on for $149.99 | N/A |
Money-back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 97 days |
How We Evaluated the Best Free Email Domain Providers
The best email domain providers include a lot more than just a free domain name for business emails. The best business email services include top-level domains (i.e., .com, .net, or .org), as well as secure, reliable, ad-free email hosting. We analyzed more than a dozen leading email hosting services and found three top-notch providers for professional business email that are quick, affordable, and legitimate.
Here’s how we determined the three best small business options for creating a free email domain:
- Free top-level domain included
- Reliable and secure email hosting
- Ability to connect to third-party email providers (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail)
- Ad-free email hosting
Let’s take a closer look at the three best ways to get your free email domain:
1. IONOS: Best for Businesses Needing Just One Email Address
IONOS
What We Like
- Highest attachment limit on our list at 70MB
- The only provider on our list offering a free email migration tool
- Reliable and secure email hosting for professional use
- Good option for businesses that don’t need web hosting
- Ability to connect to third-party apps (e.g., Outlook)
Free Email Domain
With an email hosting plan (starting at $1 per month)
IONOS is a popular web hosting company that also offers ultra-low-cost email hosting plans that include a free email domain. This is a great deal for a small business that isn’t planning to build a WordPress website, and that only needs one or two email addresses, since it only costs $1 per month to host one address with one free domain.
How to Get Your Free Email Domain With IONOS
It’s incredibly easy to get a free email domain through IONOS, as all of its email hosting plans automatically include a domain. Simply go to IONOS and complete the registration process to create a new email hosting account. During the new account setup process, you will be prompted to choose your desired domain name.
Here’s how to set up your free email domain with IONOS in three steps:
- Go to IONOS and register for an account (you will be prompted to choose your desired email domain name).
- Navigate to the “Email & Office” and click “Create email address.”
- Complete the inputs (e.g., email username, password, and security options)
- Click “Save.”
Having trouble finding an available domain name? Get help with the top tips when choosing a domain name.
2. Bluehost: Best Free Domain & 5 Free Email Addresses
Bluehost
What We Like
- Create up to five free email addresses
- Option to set up and use your business email through Gmail
- Includes web hosting for your WordPress website, one-click WordPress installation, free SSL certificate, and more
What's Missing
- Not the best value if you only need one or two email addresses and don’t need web hosting
Free Email Domain
With a web hosting plan (starting at $2.95 per month)
Bluehost is one of the most popular web hosting companies that includes a free email domain with web hosting plans. Plans start as low as $2.95 per month for WordPress website hosting plus a free domain name and up to five free business email accounts. It’s a great value if you need web hosting for your business website, want a free domain, and need email hosting for a handful of email accounts.
Interested in getting a free domain and free business email? Learn more about five legit ways to get free business email addresses.
How to Get Your Free Email Domain With Bluehost
To get a free domain through Bluehost, you must sign up for a web hosting plan. Start by going to Bluehost.com and selecting a plan. Then follow the prompts to complete the registration process, which includes selecting your desired domain name.
With that done, you can set up your new professional email address using your business domain. Navigate to “Email & Office” from your Bluehost dashboard and click the “+Create” button under “Email” to create up to five free email accounts.
Here’s how to set up your free email domain with Bluehost in three steps:
- Select a plan and register your domain.
- From the Bluehost dashboard, choose “Email & Office.”
- Click “+Create” and follow the prompts to set up a new email address.
3. DreamHost: Best Free Email Domain With Unlimited Email Hosting
DreamHost
What We Like
- Unlimited number of email addresses
- 25GB of storage (highest on our list)
- Short-term plans available
- Secure email and reliable web hosting
What's Missing
- Not the best value for those who only need one or two email addresses
- Does not include an email migration service like IONOS
Free Email Domain
With a web hosting plan (starting at $2.59 per month)
DreamHost is another web hosting provider that includes a free internet domain with purchase of its web hosting plans. Like Bluehost, it offers feature-rich plans at a low cost, including email hosting as well as a free domain name.
Another standout feature of DreamHost is that its low-cost plans include unlimited email hosting. This makes it our best choice for businesses that need more than five email addresses as well as hosting for a WordPress website.
How to Get Your Free Email Domain With DreamHost
In order to get your free domain, you’ll first need to sign up for a web hosting plan. Start by going to DreamHost.com and selecting a web hosting plan. Then complete the signup process by following the prompts, which include choosing your domain name.
After choosing your business domain, you can then create a new email address using your domain name. Navigate to “Mail” from your user dashboard, then click “Manage Email” and “Add New Email Address.”
Here’s how to get a free email domain and set up your business email address in DreamHost in three steps:
- Select a plan and register your domain.
- From the DreamHost user dashboard, go to “Mail” and then select “Manage Email.”
- Click the “Add New Email Address” button and input your email address information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need to get a .com domain?
The .com domain extension remains the most popular choice among most businesses. However, given its vast popularity, it’s often very difficult to find an available .com domain. Luckily, there are a number of top-level domain extensions available that are well-suited for business use, such as the .io that has quickly become the top choice for tech startups, .org for nonprofits and social causes, and .store for ecommerce and retail businesses.
Is Gmail good for business?
Gmail is a popular email service with small businesses. You can connect your business domain name and use Gmail’s business email for $6 per user, per month.
Gmail comes packed with features and inclusions, from built-in security features that protect you and your inbox to productivity and collaboration tools such as Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Learn more about why so many small businesses use Gmail in our Gmail for business guide.
Which is better: Google Workspace or Office 365?
The answer to whether Google Workspace (formerly known as G Suite) or Office 365 is better for your business boils down to your needs and unique preferences. However, if your business wants the best value and the most user-friendly tools, you’re likely to find Google Workspace to be the better option. To learn more, check out the complete breakdown of Google Workspace vs Office 365.
Bottom Line
Getting a free email domain is only the first step in setting up your custom email address—and chances are, it’s also one of your first steps in building out your online presence. Next, consider creating a professional email signature, sending email marketing campaigns, and making a WordPress website to increase online visibility and generate leads for your business.
You Might Also Like…
- Not sure about the best way to format your new email? Learn how to best format a professional email address.
- Get ideas on how to create a well-designed email signature using these email signature examples.
- Rev up your email with the best email apps for business.
