How to Get a Free Domain Name: A Comprehensive Guide

Find out how to secure a free domain name through registrars, web hosting plans, or site builders for your website. Avoid common pitfalls in domain registration and compare the best options for personal or business use.

By Douglas Wade, Attorney

Email | Call (800) 484-4610

Have a quick question? We answered nearly 2000 FAQs.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. What to anticipate once your new domain has been registered

3. Final Thought

4. FAQs

Introduction

Consider your domain name to be the website’s name. It is crucial to get the most suitable domain name you can because it will serve as a calling card for visitors who want to discover your website. To make the domain name easy for users to remember, it’s a good idea to keep it brief and straightforward. Either the brand name of your company or a keyword associated with your industry should be in the domain name.

After selecting a domain name, users must check to see if the name of the website is already taken. Searching the Whois database for every registered domain is the simplest approach to accomplish that. The Whois database lists a domain’s availability, expiration date, and current owner. If the domain name you want isn’t available, you can try contacting the owner and buying it from them, or you can come up with something else entirely.

Use a registrar for free domain names

Reportedly, Freenom was the first supplier of free domain names in history. As long as you have a personalized domain name service (DNS), name servers, or URL forwarding, free domain names function precisely like a regular domain name. At this moment, you may register these domain extensions for free like TK, ML, GA, CF, and GQ. Freenom offers free domains without transfer rights, in contrast to premium websites.

You can host free domain names anywhere you like with DNS assistance from GetFreeDomain.Name & Dot TK. For purposes other than private use, free domain registration services are not advised. Free domain names are not a good choice for commercial websites because they lack email addresses and security, and the website looks unprofessional.

Purchase a Web Hosting Plan and Receive a Free Domain Name.

Packages for web hosting sometimes include free domains and business email addresses. Consider utilizing Bluehost as your web host if you intend to create your website with WordPress. WordPress not only suggests Bluehost, but for the initial year of service, customers may register a free-of-charge domain with the hosting company.

Similar complimentary domain registration for the first year is a feature of hosting packages from other providers like Hostinger, InMotion Hosting, and HostGator, limitless bandwidth, marketing instruments, automated backups, and security features are some services that are commonly included with hosting packages. While hosting costs differ, the first year may begin with prices as low as $2.99 per month. Find out which hosting companies offer a free domain name and more regarding the top web hosting providers.

Utilize an All-In-One Site Builder to receive a complimentary domain name

For the initial year, users of comprehensive website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly frequently receive a free name in addition to their hosting services. These web builders have become prevalent because they enable non-programmers to create expert-looking websites using drag-and-drop functionalities and configurable themes.

Even while they typically cost more than creating a WordPress website with a hosting company, they are far simpler for the typical user to operate. A free domain is included in most well-known website builders’ subscription plans for a period of 12 months. Not every plan offers professional email addresses, in contrast to hosting options. Visit our post on the top website builders for additional details.

What to anticipate once your new domain has been registered

Upon registering your domain name through a website builder, hosting service, or free plan, it usually takes between 24 and 72 hours for it to go live. This is the amount of time that the DNS needs to duplicate the name globally. Your domain is going to be added to the Whois database—a publicly accessible database that lists all domain registrations—after 48 hours. Anyone may look up the IP owner details of any website that has registered on the web using the database. In addition, it allows prospective website owners to ascertain whether the domain name they have in mind is accessible for registrations and, if otherwise when the present membership for that name ends.

For the first sixty days following registration, a domain name cannot normally be transferred. Most domains must be locked after registration for this amount of time, as per the ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). The sole provider of free domains worldwide is Freenom.

Final Thought

Using a web builder or hosting service is your best option if you want a free website that looks professional. Both offer fantastic features in addition to the domain, like free security, e-commerce capabilities, website layouts, and more. Recall that most free domain registration offers last only a year or two before requiring an annual payment. Find out more about registering free domain names.

FAQs

How can I get the best domain for my company website for free?

Although some organizations, like Dot TK and Freenom, provide free domains, they lack professionalism and security. Signing up with a hosting company or a website creator that gives new customers a free domain is your best option if you want a free business site. Remember that the complimentary domain is often only available for the initial year or the duration of the original agreement.

What happens when I decide to move hosting companies? Is my domain name still mine to keep?

Without a doubt. You have the option to move your domain to a new hosting provider or website builder after you sign up with one. Often, transferred domains are offered for free over a year. You won’t be able to move your domain during the initial sixty days of registration, though, as the ICANN mandates that domain registrars lock the majority of domains for Sixty days following registration. We have produced an easy-to-follow tutorial that walks through the process of transferring a domain to an entirely new web server.

For domain names, which registrars are the best?

It’s possible to register a name in a lot of ways, including through web hosting companies like DreamHost and GoDaddy. Integrated website builders like Squarespace or Wix. Namecheap, Domain.com, and Google Domains are the top domain name registrars, though, if that’s all you’re trying to accomplish. Study up on the top registrars for domain names.

How can I check whether I can register a domain name?

You can type in the desired domain name in the provided search form through a domain registrar. No details will appear if the domain name isn’t in use, and you are free to claim it. You may find out who owns the domain name, when it was created, and whether it has expired if it is presently in use.

Have a quick question? We answered nearly 2000 FAQs.

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