Last Updated on April 17, 2024 by James Wilson
Need a domain name, but don’t want to pay for it? Believe it or not, there are many ways to get a domain name free of charge.
Normally the best way to get a freedomain nameis with a web hosting plan. Cheap hosts like Hostinger start from just £2.59 and include a free domain with their Premium and Business packages.
Many of the best web hosts and website builder companiesoffer a promotion where they’ll give you a free domain name for a year. After the free year has expired you could transfer your domain name and hosting to another provider (if they also offer free migrations, this could be a good option).
However, in some cases,domain registrars will offer completely free domain names. What’s more, if you’re lacking inspiration, there are some really useful generators for domain names that can give you some creative ideas and they’re free to use.
All the research has been carried out by the UK Web Host Review team. We’re always constantly updating this page with all the best offers and promotions.
1. Hostinger (Free Domain Name Included)
BEST FOR – Grabbing a free domain name from a reliable website host (£2.59/Month)
For just £2.59 per month, you can get hosting and a free domain name from Hostinger. You also get access to a free web builder, so you can be up and running within a day.
Click Here To VisitHostinger
Pros
✔Free professional domain name
✔ Cheap hosting
✔ Bitcoin payment accepted
✔ Custom email address
✔ 99.9% uptime guarantee
✔ Website builder
✔ 24/7 support
✔ Free drag and drop AI Website Builder
Cons
✘Free domain only available with annual hosting package
2. Wix (Free Website Buider & .com Subdomain)
BEST FOR – Small businesseses with limited technical experience who want a .com domain
You can get a free .com domain name from Wix when you sign up for one of their website builder plans. Wix is ideal for people who are just starting out online and have limited technical experience. Websites can be made with templates and customized with drag and drop tools.
Click Here To Visit Wix
Pros
✔Great for novice
✔FREE .com domain name for 1 year
✔Easy to use web builder
Cons
✘Free domain name only available with web builder
✘Restrictive in terms of web development
3. Bluehost (Free Website Domain Included .com, co.uk, org, .net)
BEST FOR – Best for – WordPress hosting and domain names for a professional business
With Bluehost you have peace of mind thatyou own your domain name when you sign up for their reliable shared or super-fast WordPress hosting. They allow you to transfer it to another hosting provider and access your chosen domain name, which is great. You can also get access to a wide range of domain names, even premium domain names like .club and .tech. They offer a free domain credit (worth £9.50) if you don’t select your domain name straight away.
Recommended – View our full Bluehost review here
Click Here To Visit Bluehost
Pros
✔Site builder included
✔Free domain name
✔24/7 support
✔1-click WordPress installation
✔Reputable domain host
Cons
✘Prices displayed are for a 36 month term
✘VAT is not included
✘No monthly billing, only annual billing offered
4. Dreamhost (Free Domain is Included on all Plans)
BEST FOR – Offering a wide range of domain name extensions
To qualify for a free domain from Dreamhost you must sign up for one of their hosting packages. Starter Shared/ Unlimited Shared hosting or DreamPress plans all come with a free domain name. You can choose from a wide range of domain name extensions including: .blog, .club, .com, .global, .info, .net, .online, .org, and .shop
Pros
✔You own your domain name and can transfer it
✔A wide range of domain name extensions available
✔Easy to set up hosting within the control panel should you need it
✔Domain name credit can be redeemed at a later date
✔Unlimited subdomains
✔Straight forward domain management tools
Cons
✘Free registration must be redeemed within the first month (otherwise it expires)
✘Limited opening ours for customer support
5. 1&1 IONOS (Free .co.uk)
BEST FOR –Free .co.ukwith optional hosting
Want a domain name for free with no hosting? Then look no further than 1&1 IONOS. Provided you are looking for a .co.uk domain name, then you can snag one 100% free of charge for one year. You can use this domain name on any kind of website, whether you’re starting your first online blog or launching your international online store. This offer is unusual as hosts normally tie you into a hosting agreement to get your free domain name
Pros
✔You don’t need to buy anything to get your free domain name
✔Freedom to use your domain name as you like in the future
✔1 email account
✔SSL Wildcard included
✔10,000 subdomains
Cons
✘ Offer only available for .co.ukdomain names
✘Not for the novice
6. Weebly (FREE subdomain/.com)
BEST FOR – Early stage start-up/ personal projects
If you are not too fussed about a professional domain name and are happy with a subdomain (eg. yoursite.weebly.com) then Weebly could be an option. Weebly is a website builder designed for complete beginners. On the other hand, if you upgrade to their £6.36/ month package then you can get a free professional .com domain name.
Pros
✔100% free option (for both domain name and hosting)
✔Free professional domain name with hosting purchase
✔Website builder available
✔Easy to use
Cons
✘Ad supported (your site will have adverts on it unless you upgrade)
7. Dot.tk (FREE.tk)
BEST FOR – Small projects or those that want to raise awareness of Tokelau.
FREE .tk extension domain names are available atdot.tk“Free domains for all”. Dot TK is a project of the government of Tokelau in the South pacific. Dot.tk was created to offer free .tk domain names that would raise awareness about Tokelau throughout the world. The only thing is they don’t offer hosting or website builders should you require one. You can however, transfer your domain name to another host.
Pros
✔Completely free domain name
✔Raise awareness about Tokelau
Cons
✘Can only register for one year
✘No website builder or hosting
8. Biz.nf (FREE .co.nf)
BEST FOR – Projects or small businesses who need FREE hosting and FREE domain
If you’re looking for a 100% free domain name with a free hosting plan then you can get these from Biz.nf. Unlike other free domain name services, you can register your free domain name for an unlimited time. Normally hosts only allow you to register your FREE domain name for a year. A decent free service to get you up and running
Pros
✔FREE domain name
✔Register domain name for unlimited period of time
✔FREE hosting available
✔Good for info sites or sites where the domain name extension doesn’t matter too much
Cons
✘Unusual domain name
✘No legacy or memorable domain name extensions available
✘File size restricted to 15MB
✘Domain name non-transferable
9. One.com (.co.uk, .com, .uk, .org)
BEST FOR – Wide range of credible free domain name extensions
One.com offers the widest range of credible domain name extensions. You can secure your business identity on all the major extensions like .com, .co, .co.uk, .org and .uk for FREE. The only thing I would point out here is that they do apply a monthly £0.99 DNS fee, so the domain name is not really free. Bummer.
Pros
✔Wide range of credible “free” domain names
✔No hosting required to claim free domain names
✔Website builder can be added on for under £4
Cons
✘Tempting to fill your basket with free domains
✘DNS fee of £0.99/ month is applicable (eg. not free)
10. Names.co.uk (FREE .co.uk)
BEST FOR – Companies that want a UK presence with a free .co.ukdomain name
If you want to register a domain name for free then you can do so withNames.co.uk. You can get a FREE .co.ukdomain name without ordering hosting fromnames.co.uk. If you do decide you want hosting for your domain name, then you can take advantage of the free website builder and email service offered byNames.co.uk
Pros
✔Part of a reputable domain registry group
✔100% free domain name
✔Free Email
✔Free Suite builder
✔24/7 support
Cons
✘ £0.99 for domain name privacy
In Summary
Whether you are looking for a domain name for a personal project, or want to get your new idea off the ground there are plenty of FREE domain name options, for example DOT.tk or Biz.nf. A professional brand should still be on a .com domain name, so if you are looking to expand in the future then you can get a .com from Wix, Bluehost, Dreamhost, One.com or Weebly.
It’s a good idea to consider what is important to you, do you want a website builder? Or would you like a one click installation for WordPress? Either way, you can get a free domain fairly easily!
