How To Get A Free Domain Name (And Should You?)

If you’re looking to keep website costs low, you might be considering a free domain name to represent your brand. While it is possible to get free domain names, you might be wondering – what’s the catch? And, is it worth it?

A free domain name can be particularly useful for event websites, simple blogs, and web development testing. But, it’s unlikely that you’ll snag your desired domain. Plus, it’s usually only free for a certain period of time. And, since your domain options can be limited, your URL may not support a strong brand image.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the pros and cons of free domains. Then, we’ll show you where to register a domain name for your site. Let’s get to it!

Is It Possible to Get Free Domain Names?

A domain name gives your website a physical space on the internet, so that visitors know where to find your content. But, there are additional benefits of choosing a quality domain that represents your brand effectively.

For instance, it’s a great way to boost brand recognition, which is especially important for new or emerging businesses. Additionally, search engines consider domain reputation, so a good domain can help you achieve higher rankings.

The most typical domain registration route is to use a quality domain registrar like NameHero:

When it comes to choosing a domain name, NameHero is particularly helpful, because you can use its free domain search tool to get started. Plus, you’re able to filter results by availability, industry, and more.

The cost of domain names vary based on factors like domain extensions. To give you an idea, .com domains generally cost more since it’s the most recognizable option.

Now, it is possible to get a free domain name if you’re trying to keep costs low. That said, you’ll usually have to purchase some other tool or solution first like a website builder or a hosting plan.

Then, the company usually provides free domains as part of a package. But, it’s not limited to these solutions. For example, some companies offer free domain names when you sign up for certain email services or affiliate programs.

The Pros and Cons of Free Domain Names

Now that you know a bit more about domain registration, let’s take a look at the main pros and cons of securing a free domain name.

The Pros of Free Domain Names

Let’s start by discussing the benefits of free domain names.

If you use a paid content management system (CMS), website builders, or something similar, you’ll often accumulate recurring monthly costs. Plus, if you’re going to sell products or memberships, you might require premium plugins and SSL certificates.

Therefore, a free domain is a great way to reduce the costs associated with launching a new website. However, there are some other situations when free domain name registration is particularly useful.

For example, you might not be sure yet whether you want to commit to running a website, or whether your website will be successful. As such, a free domain name provides an ideal opportunity to try your hand at it first.

It can be the perfect solution if you want to start a simple blog. Meanwhile, free domains work well for web developers that want to try out software or updates in a live environment after testing tools on a staging site.

On the other hand, a free domain makes total sense if you need to launch a limited-period website for a one-time event like a fundraiser. This is because, unlike with most other sites, you’ll only require the domain until the completion of the event.

The Cons of Free Domain Names

Although there are plenty of advantages to free domain registration, it’s important to be aware of the limitations. First off, when you register a domain, it only lasts for a specified period of time.

Usually, you’ll retain ownership of the domain for one year. After that, the domain will expire or you can renew it, but you’ll have to pay the renewal fees (which can be expensive).

Another consideration is that sometimes, budget solutions that offer free domains might not be as dependable as other paid options. You might find that the resources associate with your free domain – like storage space or bandwidth – are limited. What’s more, if you get the domain from an untrustworthy website, it may be a prime target for hackers.

Additionally, we discussed that the right domain can increase brand recognition. But, this isn’t always the case with a free domain name. For instance, if you set up a website with Squarespace, the free domain features the .squarespace extension:

Therefore, even though you can represent your brand in the root domain, you’re still providing free advertising for Squarespace, which can detract from the brand image you’re trying to build.

What’s more, Hostinger offers free domain names with certain web hosting plans. However, you’ll find terms like “not all TLDs are eligible for this promotion”. Plus, you can’t select a domain name that’s more than $9.99 in value:

Similarly, DreamHost provides free domain registration, but the service is only valid on specified top level domain names (TLDs) like .art, .blog, .info, and .me. With that in mind, a free domain may lead to large compromises on your part, so it can be difficult to achieve your desired domain name.

Should You Use a Free Domain Name?

Now that you know the pros and cons of using a free domain name, you might be wondering whether it’s a good option for your website. Earlier, we mentioned that a free domain name can be the best choice in certain circumstances (like if you need to set up an event website).

But, free domain name registration isn’t ideal for every type of website. In the previous section, we discussed that you may have to pay a high domain renewal fee. Plus, the domain extension may feature the name of website builders or web hosting services that supply the domain.

Therefore, if you want to remove all these restrictions, it’s best to choose a reputable domain provider like NameHero to register your domain name:

You can evaluate domain name availability using the free domain search tool. Plus, you can add lots of useful extras to your order like domain privacy protection and email forwarding.

With NameHero, you can also secure a custom email domain, which can improve email deliverability. And, you’ll get access to the client area which makes it easy and convenient to manage all your domains (and hosting plans) in one place.

Lastly, on the subject of free domains, NameHero does offer free domain names with certain hosting packages. For example, if you purchase two years of web hosting, you can get a free domain for your website.

Conclusion

On the surface, free domain names sound like a great way to reduce the costs associated with launching a website. But, it’s important to be aware of all the hidden terms before you make the decision.

For example, with most promotions a domain is only free for a specified period of time (usually a year). Additionally, free domain name options tend to be generic, so it isn’t the best way to support a strong and cohesive brand. That said, it can be a good choice for web developers, or owners of limited-time websites for events.

At NameHero, you can get free domains when you sign up for certain web hosting packages. Plus, you can even access free SSL certificates, a free business email, and more. Check out our plans today!