How to Get a Free Domain Name for Your Website (2026)

Short answer

You can get a free web domain by signing up for web hosting with Bluehost or Hostinger — both include a free .com domain name for the first year with any annual hosting plan. Squarespace and Wix also include a free domain on paid plans.

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Best deal right now: Bluehost bundles a free .com domain with every annual hosting plan (starting ~$3/month). It's the fastest way to get a domain and hosting set up in one step — no separate registrar needed.

3 ways to get a free domain name

Option 1: Bundle it with web hosting (best for WordPress sites)

| Host | Free domain? | Hosting cost | Notes | |------|-------------|-------------|-------| | Bluehost | Yes — 1st year free | ~$3/month | Most popular for WordPress | | Hostinger | Yes — 1st year free | ~$2/month | Cheapest option | | SiteGround | No (migration only) | ~$4/month | No new free registrations |

How to claim your free Bluehost domain:

1. Go to Bluehost and pick a hosting plan
2. On the domain screen, enter your desired .com name
3. If available, it's added to your cart at $0
4. Complete checkout — the domain is registered in your name

Option 2: Bundle it with a website builder

Squarespace — free custom domain for the first year on any paid plan ($16+/month)

Wix — free domain for one year on any paid plan ($17+/month)

Both are convenient if you're using their builder anyway — no separate registrar to manage.

Option 3: Genuinely free (with limitations)

Freenom — offered free .tk, .ml, .cf, .ga domains, but has become unreliable and is not recommended for business. These extensions look unprofessional and hurt credibility.

GitHub Pages — free subdomain (yourname.github.io) — developer-only, not suitable for a business site.

Verdict: Skip the truly free options. A .com bundled with hosting is free for a year and costs less than a coffee per month after that.

The catch you need to know

Free domains from hosting companies are only free for the first year. After that, renewal is typically $15–$20/year — this is standard industry pricing, not a bait-and-switch.

What to check before signing up:

• What's the renewal price for the domain after year 1?
• Is the hosting renewal price different from the intro rate? (It usually is — often 2–3× higher)
• Does the plan include free WHOIS privacy? (It should — some hosts charge extra for this)

Should you get a free domain or buy one separately?

Take the free domain if: You're buying hosting anyway and want the simplest setup — Bluehost is the easiest option.

Buy separately if: You want to keep your domain independent of your host (smart long-term). Namecheap is the go-to registrar — .com domains from ~$9–$11/year, free WHOIS privacy included, and no upsell games at checkout. This makes switching hosts easier and keeps your most important asset (the domain) in your own hands.

Registering a domain only (no hosting yet)? Namecheap is the most straightforward choice — no hidden fees, free WHOIS privacy, and easy DNS management when you're ready to connect hosting.

What to do right after getting your domain

1. Turn on auto-renew — losing your domain because you forgot to renew is a real and avoidable disaster
2. Enable WHOIS privacy — hides your personal address and phone from the public domain lookup database
3. Check the nameservers — if bundled with hosting, they're set automatically; if bought separately, you'll need to point them at your host

Related questions

• How to buy a domain name
• Best domain registrar for small business
• Best web hosting for small business