6 Legit Ways to Get a Free Email Domain in 2023
Elizabeth Kraus has more than a decade of first-hand experience building and growing a boutique digital marketing agency and double that in small and mid-size business marketing management. She provides expert answers to marketing questions related to branding, content marketing, web development, email, social media, and SEO.
Hazel Emnace writes content for small businesses in the USA, Australia, South East Asia, and New Zealand, from engaging copy to marketing tips for business owners.
This article is part of a larger series on Business Email.
Having an email address on your own domain (e.g., yourname@business.com) is vital to building a credible brand, but the cost of domains and email hosting can add up. You can avoid racking up expenses with providers that include free domains with services like email hosting, web hosting, or a site builder. Keep reading to learn the best ways to get a free email domain.
- Best free email domain provider overall: IONOS
- Best for free domain with WordPress web hosting: Bluehost
- Best site builder with domain and Gmail hosting free: Squarespace
- Best for unlimited emails and domain free in web hosting plans: DreamHost
- Best ecommerce site builder for getting a free domain: Weebly
- Best unlimited emails and domain bundle for advanced security: Scala Cloud
Free Email Domain Name Providers at a Glance
Cost / Month* | Free Email Domain With | Email Accounts | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | $1 | Email hosting | 1 to 10 |
 | $2.95** | WordPress hosting | 5+ |
 | $23 | Website builder | 1 |
 | $2.95** | Web hosting | Unlimited |
 | $12 | Website builder | N/A |
 | $19.95 | Email hosting | Unlimited |
*Cost per month with annual billing
**Renews at a higher cost after the first year
Interested in learning how to create your own email domain free of charge and with business email? Learn more about five legit ways to get free business email addresses.
1. IONOS: Best for Businesses Needing Just One Email Address
Pros
- Free domain and SSL for the life of subscription
- Largest attachments (70MB)
- Free email migration service
- Reliable and secure
- Private domain registration
- Business plan with 50GB storage and advanced spam and phishing protection
- Intuitive webmail on any browser, or easily connect to your favorite app
Cons
- Costs more than Bluehost the first year for 3+ addresses
- Limited storage (2GB) vs DreamHost at 25GB
- No plan includes unlimited email addresses, unlike DreamHost
Free Email Domain
- With business email hosting plans from $1 per month
When to Choose IONOS
IONOS offers ultra-low-cost email hosting plans that include a free domain for business email. This is a great deal for a small business that isn’t planning to build a WordPress website and only needs one or two email addresses since it only costs $1 per month to host one address with one free domain.
Another time to choose IONOS is for domain anonymity. This means you want a domain name different from the one you use for your website so that your company’s email accounts aren’t as easily discoverable by spammers and hackers.
When to Go With an Alternative
IONOS is the cheapest option for businesses needing only one or two additional emails. The price will scale for each new email, so using DreamHost will be more cost-effective long term with the Shared Unlimited plan for unlimited email addresses. Bluehost and DreamHost are also our top picks if you want a free email domain and web hosting on the same domain.
It’s easy to get a free custom email domain through IONOS. Starting from $12 per year, all of its email hosting plans come with a free domain (and SSL, should you want to use the same domain for your website). Another reason to go with IONOS is that your domain is included in your email hosting plan throughout your subscription. With most other ways to get a free domain for email, the domain is only free the first year (not forever).
With IONOS, private registration of your domain is included to protect your contact information and keeps it out of the hands of list-buying spammers and website hackers. Business plan users get up to 50GB of storage and emails are protected with advanced spam and phishing prevention.
Migrating to IONOS from another email provider? Good news: IONOS also includes free email migration to your new account. And from 15 years as an IONOS customer myself, I can state unequivocally that if something goes wrong and you need help, the team at IONOS will be there for you.
Here’s how to create your email domain for free with IONOS in four steps:
- Go to IONOS and register for an account (you will be prompted to choose your desired email domain name)
- Navigate to “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 for Free Email Domain With WordPress Hosting
Pros
- $2.95 starting cost for WordPress hosting with a free domain, SSL, email accounts, and WordPress builder
- Five emails in the base plan, unlimited after that
- Use your Bluehost email with Gmail, Outlook, Apple, and more
- Bluehost webmail to access your emails via any web browser
Cons
- Not the best value if you only need one or two email addresses and don’t need web hosting
- Domain is only free the first year (renews at regular cost, about $13)
- Limited email and web storage in base plan vs Shared Unlimited with DreamHost for the same starting cost
Free Email Domain
- With a WordPress hosting plan starting at $2.95 per month
When to Use Bluehost
Bluehost is one of the most popular web hosting companies with a free domain, email, and web hosting plans. Plans start as low as $2.95 per month for WordPress website hosting, plus a free domain name and email of up to five free business accounts. It’s a great value if you need all-in-one web and email hosting for your business website.
When to Go With an Alternative
Bluehost loses its edge if a business has a different web hosting provider, and then it would make more sense to try IONOS. This is also the case if you only need two to three additional email accounts. Bluehost’s base tier has the least amount of storage in this list, whereas DreamHost’s Shared Unlimited plans include unlimited web storage and 25GB of email storage for unlimited users (and also come with WordPress hosting, page builder, free domain, and SSL).
WordPress hosting provider Bluehost is the best way to get a free domain if you plan to build a WordPress website. Its WordPress plans come with everything you need to build your brand’s presence online, from an easy-to-build, no-code page builder to your free domain, SSL, and email hosting.
Sign up for hosting, then create up to five emails on your free domain for $2.95 per month (or get unlimited emails and storage for a few dollars more). Then access your mail via any web browser using Bluehost’s webmail app, or add it to Gmail, Outlook, and other popular work email apps in a few steps.
Here’s how to set up your free custom email domain with Bluehost in three steps:
- Select a plan and register your domain
- From the Bluehost dashboard, choose “Email & Office”
- Click the “+Create” button under “Email” and follow the prompts to set up a new email address
For step-by-step instructions, read our guide on how to set up Bluehost webmail for business email.
3. Squarespace: Best for Free Domain & Gmail Business Email
Pros
- Free domain for email plus Google Workspace (and Gmail) for one year
- Easiest way to build a small business website
- Over 100 sleek templates plus true drag-and-drop editing
- Email domain inclusive plans from $23, or full ecommerce for $27/month
Cons
- More expensive than other options, especially if you don’t need to build a website
- Domain and Gmail business email are only free the first year—you’ll have to pay for your domain and Google Workspace account on renewal
Free Email Domain & Google Workspace
- Free for one year with a website builder plan from $23 per month
When to Choose Squarespace
If you’re building your brand from the ground up, getting your domain free for the first year through Squarespace is a great option. Your plan will be all-inclusive of web hosting, domain, site builder, SSL, and Google Workspace with Gmail business email. You can easily build a Squarespace website in a matter of hours to start building your brand presence online.
When to Go With an Alternative
If you plan to build an ecommerce website, Weebly plans come in cheaper with more robust ecommerce and online selling tools (though they don’t come with Google Workspace). If you aren’t ready to build a website yet, IONOS is far more cost-effective at $1 vs $23 per month with Squarespace. If you need multiple emails, DreamHost’s Shared Unlimited hosting plan is a better option, even if you don’t plan to build a website.
WordPress comes with a steep learning curve, especially for beginners, vs all-in-one website builders like Squarespace. For most small businesses, Squarespace is the best way to establish online brand presence and grow their business through website-generated leads and sales.
Though the starting cost per month appears higher than most other providers here, it’s not necessarily the case. For example, while Bluehost plans start under $3 per month, you may spend from about $100 to several hundred dollars on premium themes and plugins for WordPress to get all the functionality you need. (Learn more about how much WordPress costs.)
As an added value with Squarespace, all but the base plan include one year of Google Workspace and Gmail business email. This gives your business not only the email tools needed to engage prospects and serve clients, but the productivity and communication tools to take your marketing and sales efforts to the next level, including video conferencing and webinars.
To get started, visit Squarespace and choose the Business plan or higher. Once your account is created, you’ll be able to get your free domain and Google Workspace accounts and set up Gmail business email.
4. DreamHost: Best Free Domain With Unlimited Email Hosting
Pros
- Free domain, SSL, emails and no-code WordPress builder
- Unlimited emails on your domain
- 25GB of storage
- Monthly, annual, and 36-month payment options
- 97-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Not the cheapest for those only needing one or two email addresses
- Doesn’t include email migration like IONOS
- Unlimited email plans don’t have unlimited email storage, unlike Bluehost
Free Email Domain
- With a web hosting plan for $2.95 per month the first year
When to Use DreamHost
DreamHost is a leading web hosting provider that includes a free domain and email addresses in web hosting plans. With its Shared Unlimited hosting plan, DreamHost is the best choice for businesses that need more than five email addresses. It is also a great option for businesses that need extra storage.
When to Use an Alternative
Since unlimited email addresses are DreamHost’s selling point, it is best to use an alternative if you only need a few business emails under your domain. IONOS email hosting plans allow for up to 10 users and are better for those needing automated email migration to preserve important records from a previous email client. Scala is a great option for those wanting a free domain and up to 10 email addresses with advanced security.
Like Bluehost, DreamHost is on our list of the best WordPress website builders. The Shared Unlimited plan, in particular, is an excellent value. It comes with WordPress hosting for unlimited sites, a domain and SSL, and unlimited emails on your domain. This is a great option for those needing emails for several team members or who want the option to create dedicated email accounts for departments like sales, customer service, and more.
To get started, go to DreamHost and select the Shared Unlimited plan under shared hosting. Complete the sign-up process by following the prompts, which include choosing your free email domain name. When account setup is complete:
- From the DreamHost user dashboard, go to “Mail”
- Then select “Manage Email”
- Click the “Add New Email Address” button
- Input your email address information (username and password) and complete the setup process
Once created, you can access your DreamHost email from any web browser using its webmail app (which is the same app that comes with Bluehost). And you can add your email address to your favorite email app (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, and so on) easily, with just a few clicks.
Even if you never build a website in this hosting plan, it’s an exceptional value for unlimited email accounts. You’ll pay $2.95 a month (with annual billing) for the first year, which will then renew at $12.99 a month. Email storage is ample for most at 25GB each, and when you’re ready, you can build a WordPress website using the BoldGrid theme and page builder.
5. Weebly: Best Free Domain Provider for Ecommerce Businesses
Pros
- Free domain in robust ecommerce website builder plans from $12
- Best website builder for casual online sellers
- Best website builder and email domain provider for restaurants
Cons
- Unlike other providers, email hosting isn’t included
- Domain is only included free the first year, unlike IONOS
Free Email Domain
- With ecommerce site builder plans from $12
When to Choose Weebly
If you plan to build a website with any type of ecommerce features, from an online store to a restaurant, appointment-based services, memberships, and so on, Weebly is a top contender. The Professional ($12 per month) and Performance ($26 per month) plans both include a domain free the first year, which you can connect to your email hosting platform.
When to Go With an Alternative
Weebly doesn’t match Squarespace in providing a free domain and Google Workspace/Gmail for one year for businesses needing productivity and collaboration tools. Also, email hosting isn’t included, so you’ll still need a hosting package from IONOS or the highly secure Scala to actually create email addresses on your domain.
Similar to Squarespace, Weebly is an all-in-one website builder. Powered by its parent company, payment processing leader Square, all of its plans come with robust ecommerce, starting for free. For small businesses, the best plan to start with is the $12 per month Professional plan. Not only does it include a free domain, it also removes Weebly and Square ads that detract from your brand’s credibility.
One drawback to choosing Weebly as your free domain provider is that hosting isn’t included. You’ll have to choose a separate email hosting plan to use with your domain, but with affordable email hosting options like IONOS and DreamHost, this still makes Weebly more cost-effective than Squarespace for ecommerce websites.
To get started, visit Weebly and select the Professional or Performance plans. Then follow the prompts to set up your account and get your domain name. For more guidance, read our instructions for building a website on Weebly.
6. Scala: Best for Advanced Security & Unlimited Emails
Pros
- Cloud plan with unlimited emails and a free email domain
- Scalable email hosting plans
- Great security and deliverability
- 50GB storage (expandable)
- Webmail or connect your favorite app
- Email migration included
- Automatic spam protection
- Daily backups
- Anytime money-back guarantee
Cons
- Free domain only comes with highest-tier plan
Free Email Domain
- With unlimited email hosting as low as $14.95 per month
When to Choose Scala
Scala’s at the upper end for business-class email security and deliverability. This makes it a top choice for businesses prioritizing online security and sales teams wanting to ensure 100% deliverability of cold emails. The Cloud plan also comes with blacklist monitoring, unlimited emails, and daily offsite backups.
When to Go With an Alternative
Scala offers impressive features, but it’s not the cheapest option. IONOS’ business plans are more affordable with similarly strong security features if you don’t need more than 10 email addresses. If unlimited email storage is a necessity, Bluehost’s second-tier and above plans are the better choice, starting as low as $5.45 per month.
Email hosting with Scala is a great way to get a bundled plan with a domain and unlimited email addresses. Lock in pricing as low as $14.95 a month for a 36-month plan, or pay $19.99 per month annually or $29.99 month-to-month. Regardless of your payment preference, get:
- A free domain and unlimited email accounts
- Secure, isolated, dedicated cloud hosting
- SShield real-time cybersecurity protection
- Daily offsite backups to fully protect your data
- Blacklist monitoring to keep your emails off of blacklists and out of clients’ spam folders
All of this makes Scala a great option for businesses that prize security as well as teams that want to be sure their emails hit inboxes, not spam folders. While on the pricier side, it’s a great product to complement your sales and marketing tech stacks for companies wanting dedicated email management tools.
Storage is scalable, and if the Cloud plan is overkill for your small business today, you can get smaller email hosting packages starting as low as $2.95 (three-year billing) inclusive of 10 email addresses. While lower-tier plans don’t include a domain, you can overcome this by purchasing a domain from IONOS for $1 the first year, or buy your .com domain directly from Scala for $16.95 per year.
Best Premium Alternatives to Free Email Domain Providers
A paid alternative might be better depending on the tools your business plans to use. For example, while Squarespace plans come with a free Google Workspace and Gmail account, it costs $23 a month, whereas a Google Workspace plan costs just $6 per month. Or, if you have a domain already, you can create five free business email accounts on Zoho Mail.
With that in mind, here are the best alternatives to the free email domain options above:
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Best for: Businesses using (or planning to use) Google Workspace and Gmail business email | Best for: Businesses needing company productivity suite and high storage for emails | Best for: Businesses already with their own domain, needing up to 5 email addresses and office suite |
Pricing: From $6 per user/month plus $12/year for domain | Pricing: From $6 per user/month plus cost of domain | Pricing: Free or from $1 per user/month Free domain with $6 per user/month plan |
How We Evaluated the Best Ways to Get Free Email Domains
The best providers include a lot more than an email domain free of charge. The best business email services include top-level domains (i.e., .com, .net, or .org) and secure, reliable, ad-free email hosting. We analyzed over a dozen leading email hosting services and found six top-notch providers for professional business email that are quick, affordable, and legitimate.
Here’s how we determined the six best small business options for creating a free custom email domain:
- Free top-level domain included
- Reliability and security
- Number of email accounts included
- Value-add packages, like bundled web and email hosting
- Ability to connect your email to other email clients (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail)
- Ad-free email hosting
- Our own firsthand experience with the providers, webmail apps, and email and domain registry processes
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need to get a .com domain for business email?
The .com domain extension is the most popular choice among most businesses (along with the new .co variant). It’s the most memorable, making it ideal for building a strong online brand presence, but finding an available .com domain can be challenging. Luckily, there are other top-level domain extensions available that are well-suited for business use. Check out the full list in our article detailing how to choose a domain name.
Can you get a completely free domain?
There are legitimate ways to get a completely free domain name. IONOS, Bluehost, and DreamHost include a free domain in paid hosting plans, as do top website builders like Wix and Squarespace. There are domain registrars offering free domain names as well, but keep in mind that these won’t be top-level domains (.com, .net, .org, and so on), and so aren’t considered credible for business use.
Does Google domain give free email?
The answer to whether Google Domains includes free email is yes—but only with the purchase of a Google Workspace plan. Alternatively, you can purchase a domain name through business domain registrars like Bluehost or Domain.com and use it to create up to five free email accounts in Zoho Mail.
Bottom Line
Getting a domain is the first step in setting up a custom email address. If you need a free domain for email but plan to build a WordPress website in the future, kill two birds with one stone with domain, email, and web hosting from around $3 in plans from DreamHost or Bluehost. If you just need a single email address or want a domain to use for email that’s different from your website URL, choose IONOS.
