Whether you’re a shoestring startup or a wannabe blogger, an effective domain name is what brings people to your website.

It’s like a street address. Choose the right one and traffic could be beating down your door. Choose the wrong one and you’ll be nearly invisible.

So, without a warehouse full of equipment and a team of IT experts on retainer, how do you get started? The good news is that you can get a free domain name in under a minute if you know where to look. The bad news is that like everything else, you get what you pay for.

There are scores of websites that offer domain names at no cost, but they don’t all come without strings. Most are legitimate web hosting companies that offer a free domain name if you buy their services. Others are really just giving you a subdomain name that’s more like buying a franchise than opening your own business.

Before registering your domain name, it pays to know exactly what you’re getting and what you may have to compromise on to get it for free.

Below, we will show you the following:
1- Where and how you can get your hands on a free domain name.
2- Domain name basics
3- Free domain name offers

5 Legit Ways You Can Get A Free Domain Name #1 – Get A Free Domain With Your Web Hosting Services

If you’re starting an online business or starting a blog, the simplest and most efficient way to get a free domain name is to buy a package of web hosting services.

Unless you have a private server that’s big enough to handle large volumes of traffic plus the expertise to use it, you’ll need to sign up with a web host eventually, so it’s a one-stop way to get started.

Web hosting companies provide data storage space, analytic tools and tech support when your website goes down.

Some also offer website building software.

More importantly, they provide your website’s bandwidth and that plays a large part in how traffic is directed to your page.

Some web hosts, like Bluehost, offer a free a domain name with no strings attached, but the services it comes with are so limited that it’s not enough for most businesses. The upside is that it’s completely free and you own the domain name outright.

Other web hosts register domain names for free, but you’ll lose it if you want to switch hosts or fail to renew your contract on time.

A free domain name is the carrot most web hosts use to interest you in their services. They gain a customer and recoup the cost of the domain name through small package fees, while you get a solid domain name and a chance to see how your site performs without committing much money.

It’s a win-win if you know exactly what to expect.

#2 – Free Domain Name With Website Builders

If you’re not ready to commit to web hosting services, website builders offer another option for securing a free domain name, but it may be a subdomain under the name of the provider rather than a custom domain name that belongs exclusively to you.

For example, if you sign on with Wix, your address will be www.yourname.wixsite.com instead of just www.yourname.com. Similarly, if you build your site on WordPress.com, your free address will look something like www.yourname.wordpress.com.

Using a subdomain is an easy way to get a basic page started, but you don’t own the name. It’s like a rental for as long as you have some level of service with the company. The moment you stop paying or decide to move elsewhere, that address goes with it.

A significant drawback to using subdomains is that they don’t look as professional as custom domains. When clients buy products from you, they like to feel confident they’re dealing with an established business. When your business name is attached to the name of your website builder, it can raise doubts that are hard to shake, however good your product actually is.

For a short-term project, a portfolio, or just testing an idea before you commit any money, a free subdomain from a website builder is a perfectly sensible starting point. But if you’re serious about building a brand, a proper custom domain is worth the small investment sooner rather than later.

#3 – Grab a Free Domain Through a Registrar Promotion

This one takes a little patience, but it is one of the few ways you can get a genuinely free domain name that belongs to you outright, with no hosting commitment and no subdomain strings attached.

Registrars occasionally run limited-time promotions where certain domain extensions are available to register for free or at heavily discounted rates. These deals tend to appear around key dates like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or the start of a new year when registrars are competing for new customers. The extensions on offer are usually newer or less common ones like .xyz, .online, .site, or .store rather than a .com, but they are real domains that you own and can point to any website you like.

A few registrars worth keeping an eye on for these kinds of deals:

Porkbun regularly offers free or heavily discounted first-year registrations on a rotating selection of domain extensions. Their promotions page is updated frequently and the deals are genuine. A .xyz or .pro domain has come up completely free on multiple occasions.

Namecheap runs frequent promotions and has a dedicated deals section on their website. They also participate in the GitHub Student Developer Pack, which gives students a free .me domain for a year along with other perks.

Namecheap Beast Mode and similar deal aggregator sites track registrar promotions across the industry in real time, so you do not have to check each registrar individually.

The catch, if there is one, is timing. These deals come and go quickly and the best extensions tend to get snapped up fast. If you are not in a rush and are happy to monitor for a good deal, this is a legitimate way to get a proper domain name at no cost.

It is also worth being aware that most promotional domains are free for the first year only, with standard renewal fees applying from year two onwards. Always check the renewal price before registering so you are not caught off guard twelve months down the line.

#4 – Pay for Your Domain with Advertising

It’s possible to get a free domain name by allowing companies to place advertising on your website. This is usually in the form of banner ads that serve as clickbait. The revenue generated by users that follow links to your advertiser’s site generates the revenue needed to offset the price of registering your domain name.

The problem with this is three-fold. First, you have little to no control over what is advertised on your site. If you run www.modestwear.com, shoppers likely won’t be impressed with banner ads for racy lingerie. Next, clickbait ads tend to slow sites down, annoying viewers who may never return to your site and finally, when visitors click ads, it takes them away from your content and you don’t get a penny for the referral.

#5 – Pay for Your Domain by Referring Client

Some registrars like HostGator offer free domain names in exchange for referrals. This usually means they’ll place an ad for themselves on your site. It’s a step up from a page full of clickbait, but it’s still advertising that you can’t control.

Most hosts, however, are good sports and keep their ads discreet and conveniently placed.

Domain Name Basics – Everything You Need To Know (Quickly) About Domains

Your new domain name is your online identity. A domain name such as yournicewebsite.com is a unique name for an IP address (a number), which is an actual digital location on the Internet. Domain names replace IP addresses for something more memorable and easy to remember.

It’s like registering a trademark so no one else can use it. A snappy name is the key to generating traffic to your blog or business and while you can get one for free, there are always catches.

Whoever registers your unique name, also known as a registrar, has to pay for that privilege. In that sense, there is really is no such thing a free domain name, but you can get one at no cost through a variety of channels.

Before you get started, consider what you need out of domain name registration. If you’re starting a new business and want to build a unique brand or want your blog to be the next online sensation, you’ll want a custom domain name that you have complete ownership and control of. The name should be professional and easy to find through a search engine like Google.

Not surprisingly, completely free options are rare at this level, but there are cheap domain name alternatives that give you a lot of bang for your buck. If you’re serious about a permanent online presence, inexpensive domain names may represent a better value in the long run than those that are completely free.

If you have no budget at all and need a domain name for temporary use, free domain names are a great option if you don’t need bells and whistles. Here are five ways you can get a free domain name and how the best offers stack up.

For more information on domain registrars then have a read of our best domain registrars guide. We also have a detailed domain name registration guide.

Top Free Domain Name Offers To Get You Online In No Time!

Domain registration is a very easy process. Let’s run through all the best options for getting a free domain. The following free domain offers below all come with a catch. You will either need to buy hosting in order to get the free domain name, or have an existing website for that free domain to point to.

Bluehost

Bluehost is a comprehensive web hosting service that offers domain names with every suffix such as .com .org .space .tech and many more. While the domain name is free, it requires you purchase one of Bluehost’s hosting plans.

For $2.95 monthly, you’ll get 50 GB of storage, unmetered bandwidth and a free custom domain name that belongs exclusively to you. The first year of domain name registration is free. Also included are optional subdomains, email accounts and even parked domains that work as placeholders for future names you might want to use. All can be managed from your very own Bluehost control panel.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution, however, Bluehost may not be it. They don’t have a web builder for you to use, but if you’re using the WordPress platform to build your site, then that is just as good as using a web builder, if not better.

Bluehost’s hosting services and customer support are among the best you can buy in the shared hosting space. If you’re thinking big, it’s worth a look even if it isn’t completely free.

HostGator

HostGator offers complete web hosting plans plus a solid website builder with thousands of templates and a range of applications that fit most needs. They have a team of consultants that can help along the way or they’ll design a website for you. Domain registration is straight forward and simple to do.

Like Bluehost, Hostgator requires you to purchase one of their hosting plans, specifically “The Ultimate Web Hosting Package”.

Package prices including at least one free domain name are currently less than three dollars monthly if you pay for a year upfront. The first year of domain registration is free. For that, you’ll also get one professional e-mail address, a free SSL certificate and they promise unmetered bandwidth.

For businesses that need more, they offer unlimited domain names and comprehensive business tools like analytics and SEO support. It’s a great value for as little as $3 per month , but you’ll have to pay for two to three years in advance. HostGator offers a 45-day limited money back guarantee and you can pay with credit card, and debit card. You can also pay for hosting with paypal.

This is a great package for a new blogger or new business owner as it not only sets you up with a website, but gives you email accounts to help promote your blog and to build up communication lines with the world. You have access to all these features via their easy to use control panel. Hostgator are known for their excellent customer support, so if you run into trouble, they are on hand to help.

Wix

Wix is an all-in-one premium website builder, web host and e-commerce platform that offers a free custom domain name — not a subdomain — as a perk for using their other services, but it’s good for only a year and additional fees may apply.

Their least expensive plan cost $5 per month and includes 1 GB of bandwidth and 500 MB of storage, but no free domain name and you’ll have to show their ads on your site. For a free domain, you’ll need to part with $12 monthly, but you’ll also get hosting services that include 2 GB of bandwidth, 3 GB of storage and you can run ad–free.

What stands out about Wix is their advanced website building tools. Their options are user-friendly, customizable and fit the broadest range of applications. In a world where your business is your website, this is powerful stuff. The downside is that if you ever want to switch to another web host to administer a site you built on Wix, it’s a technological nightmare.

Sign up for a Free Trial 

Biz.nf

Biz.nf is another one-stop website builder and host, but it’s free domain names are all country code top level domains. In this case, it’s the nation of Norfolk Island. Their website isn’t as slick as the competition and their site building tools are limited, but functional.

Your domain name will have a tough-to-find suffix of co.nf, but it’s completely free and upgrade packages are a fraction of the cost of other web hosts. For less than a premium cup of coffee, you get all the best features without ads.

It really sounds like a great deal, but if you’re trying to build a brand, it might be better to pony up for a highly recognizable .com suffix. For blogger and product test drives, it’s perfect.

A Few Warnings

Each company represents its offer in the best light possible and the strings and catches aren’t always obvious. Here are a few things extra things to look for in the fine print.

Bandwidth Restrictions

Bandwidth determines how much traffic your site can handle and if you exceed your packages limitations, your customers will be unable to load your page. Most web hosts are clear about how much bandwidth they provide, but only in the fine print.

Some sites like Biz.nf offer unmetered bandwidth. This means that you’ll never pay extra fees for high usage, but your use may be limited. Beware of companies that reroute bandwidth to larger clients when traffic is heavy.

Renewal Grace Periods

Most offers for free domain names are only good for a limited time and need to be renewed at certain intervals. Reputable registrars won’t simply let your domain name expire without contacting you, but without a grace period, you could be charged more to renew or could lose your name entirely if you pay the bill a day late.

Payment Terms and Guarantees

Paying for months in advance is often necessary to get a free domain name and the lowest per month price on service packages. If you don’t like the service, you can get your money back, but only if there’s a guarantee and it’s usually strictly time limited.

The Bottom Line

When you’re evaluating choices, look ahead and dig deep for answers. You’ve worked long and hard to get to this point and should be completely clear on what you’ll get when you register your domain name. The lesson here is that a free domain name is a way anyone can get started without a investing a dime, but it may not be the best option for everyone.

More Domain Name Related Content

If you want to read more about all things domain names then check out the following guides:

1. How To Sell A Domain Name
2. .ORG Vs .COM – Which One Is Better?
3. How Many Domains Are There?
4. How Get A True Valuation of Your Domain Name
5. Where To Buy The Cheapest Domain Names