Your site’s domain name (online address) is crucial to your brand’s online discoverability. For the most part, domain names are bought—much like physical addresses, but at a much cheaper price—because they take up internet space. But if you need a free domain, good news: you can get them free via website builders, email hosts, WordPress web hosts, or domain registrars. Keep reading to learn how to get a free domain name for your website in four ways.
What is a domain name? A domain name is your website’s address or what users type into their search bar to locate your site; for example, “fitsmallbusiness.com” or “netflix.com.” Domain names are much like your physical address because they’re the primary way people can discover your website. This makes domains key to building your brand presence. Find out more about what business domains are and how they work.
There are four ways to get free domain names, which we’ll discuss in detail below. Here they are at a glance, along with where you can get them.
How to Get a Free Domain Name
Keep reading to learn more about how to get free domain names with each option above. Many also come with additional benefits that help grow your business even further. We’ll also list how each one works, their pros and cons, and the platforms providing them.
1. Using a Website Builder
Chances are, if you’re looking for a free domain for your website, you also need a website builder. So, if you want a free domain name and to build your website in one go, the best option is to use a website builder, specifically Wix, Weebly, Squarespace, or Hostinger. These platforms have all-inclusive plans that let you build your small business website (even if you’re a total beginner) and then host it on a custom domain.
Website builders like Wix often include free domains in their plans. (Source: Wix)
Here’s a deeper look into the website builders where you can get a domain name for free.
However, there are some caveats to using website builders to get a free site domain name. For instance, most plans only have one year of free domain hosting. This means you’ll need to pay for your domain for the following years.
Here are the biggest pros and cons of using website builders to get a free domain name:
A website builder is your best bet if you want a platform to build your website and get free website domains. It’s easy to use, cost-friendly, and gives you a custom domain for free.
Pro tip: If you use WordPress to build your website, you can get a .org domain for free.
2. Using an Email Host
If you want your custom domain for your business email instead, an email hosting plan with a free .com domain could be ideal. The most affordable option by far is IONOS. IONOS is one of the best business email providers for small businesses, and it offers several email hosting options with a free website domain, starting from $1 per month.
IONOS’s plans include a business email and a free domain. (Source: IONOS)
Here are the email hosting plans offered by IONOS that include a free web domain:
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*All plans are billed annually
Domains can cost about $10–15 per year, but IONOS’ email hosting plans bundle email and a domain at an even cheaper cost. Plus, all its plans include spam filtering, virus protection, web-based email, and IMAP/POP settings to set up your email in your preferred email client. You can also scale it with additional email accounts or storage.
The drawback with IONOS is that while you can get a free domain, you won’t be able to build your website on the platform, so you need to have your website first. Your free domain only lasts as long as your email hosting plan is active, meaning if you discontinue your IONOS email, you’ll need to find a new domain host as well.
Here are the biggest pros and cons of using IONOS to get your free domain name:
Just like using a website builder to get an all-in-one website and domain, use an email host like IONOS if you want a platform to host your business email while getting a domain name free of charge. IONOS is also one of our best email hosting services, thanks to its advanced security on top of its email and domains.
3. Using a WordPress Website Host
Hosting is a required cost for building a website. All-in-one site builders (like Wix and Squarespace) include hosting in their plans, but if you’re building a WordPress website, you’ll need to purchase web hosting separately. You can do this via web hosts like DreamHost, BlueHost, or Scala Hosting, which also include free domain names in their plans.
Host your WordPress website and get a free domain name through platforms like BlueHost. (Source: BlueHost)
Have a look at these WordPress website hosts in more detail and what they offer:
The best thing about website hosts like the ones above is their complementary features, such as a free domain, cloud storage, and web security. On the flip side, like with website builders, your free domain usually lasts one year, after which you’ll need to pay to continue using it.
Here are the other main pros and cons of using a WordPress website host to get free site domains:
Overall, using a WordPress website host is your best option for getting a free domain if you only need a secure host for your website with additional storage.
4. Using a Free Domain Registrar
If you only want to know how to get a free domain name and nothing else, use a free domain name registrar like Freenom. Registering your business domain using these platforms is 100% free, no strings attached. However, it can only register lesser-known extensions like .tk or .ml. High-quality extensions like .com or .org aren’t available, which can make your website look substantially less credible and can sometimes even pose security risks.
Therefore, we don’t recommend this for building your business’s brand presence. If you want a long-term domain, opt for one of the above options instead. Only use free domain registrars if you absolutely need a free domain or are only testing your site.
Registrars like Freenom are an option that is 100% free but not risk-free. (Source: Freenom)
Here are some domain registrars where you can get 100% free domains:
As mentioned, the biggest disadvantage of free domain registrars is that the domains you can get are not the most credible, potentially costing you site visitors. But there are also a few other things to take note of.
Here are the biggest pros and cons of using free domain registrars:
Pro tip: If you’re running on a truly tight budget, build your business website on a subdomain through a free website builder instead of using a risky free domain. Your site’s URL will look something like “yourbusiness.wix.com,” which looks more credible while not 100% professional, as people are far more familiar with Wix and other reliable site builders.
You can try one of the registrars above if you absolutely need a free domain. However, always be wary of potential security risks or changes in each registrar’s policies. Otherwise, for your website’s longevity, we recommend any of the first three options above instead to get your free domain.
Best Practices When Setting Up Your Domain Name
Did you know that the domain name for the blockbuster musical Les Miserables’s website isn’t lesmiserables.com, but lesmis.com? It’s one of my favorite examples of domain names that play into public recognition. When fans discuss the musical, they don’t refer to it by its full name but as “Les Mis.” It’s a good example of a domain name that understands its brand’s relationship with its audience.
It’s also why your domain name is much more than just a string of words. It’s what people type into their search bar when they want to check out your business website. It also signals your brand identity and boosts your search engine ranking. That’s why careful consideration is needed when choosing the right domain name. Below are some tips to help you out:
- Choose the right domain extension: Domain extensions are the letters that go after the dot on your domain (e.g., .com, .org, and so on). While they function identically, they have different connotations among the public. For example, .org is usually meant for organizations, while .me sites are often portfolios. Choosing the right extension gives people a more accurate idea of your business.
- Keep it short but memorable: The lesmis.com domain from the example above also works because it’s short, sweet, and easy to remember. You want users to access your site quickly and easily, and a short and memorable domain name can help with that.
- Add a relevant keyword: If you have a specific keyword you want your site to rank for, add it to your domain (as long as it isn’t too long). For example, the airline Frontier uses flyfrontier.com as its site domain because it includes the keyword “fly.”
- Keep it consistent with your other digital fronts: Your website isn’t the only way users can discover your brand online. They’ll also find you via social media, ads, and other online spaces. Ensure your domain is consistent with your other online fronts to maintain solid branding.
For more tips and best practices on your domain name, read our guide on how to choose a domain name for your business.
Best Alternatives to Free Domain Name Providers
Getting products like email, web hosting, and your domain in affordable bundled plans is often the best way to get free web domains. But If you don’t need these bundled products, you can always opt for a standalone registry. These are also affordable and can guarantee security, reliability, and top-level .com or .net domains for your business.
Here are some of the best alternatives to consider:
Learn more about these and other providers in our list of the best domain registrars for small businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can get a free domain name if you build your website using a website builder like Wix or Squarespace, whose plans have free domains. You can also use an email host like IONOS or web hosts like DreamHost or BlueHost, which have similar domain-inclusive plans. If you need a standalone free domain, you can also use a free domain registrar like Freenom—however, these can have security risks and don’t make your website look credible.
The only way to get a free .com domain for your website’s lifetime is by building your site using a platform like Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, or Hostinger and then choosing a plan with a free .com domain. A .com domain is nearly impossible to get completely free because it’s one of the most used among websites. However, website builders like the ones above often include them in their plans.
You can’t free up a domain name that belongs to someone else. You can only delete a domain name you previously registered by simply not renewing it when your contract expires. If you need to delete your domain immediately, you can do so via your domain registrar or website platform. However, policies vary with each platform, and some don’t allow instant domain deletion.
Bottom Line
Getting a domain for your site is like getting a piece of online real estate for your business: it needs to be secure, professional, well-branded, and easy for people to remember so they can visit you often. That’s why if you’re looking to learn how to get a domain name for free, we recommend a website builder or an email host—they can guarantee security and reliability and offer a lot of value for your business.
