How to Get a Free .Com Domain for 1 Year? [7 Ways For 2024]

So, you’ve decided to create a website and are thinking of buying a domain.

Hold on a second! Why buy it when you can get a free .com domain for 1 year? Yup, you don’t have to spend a single penny to snag a domain.

If you’re wondering how this is possible, you might not be aware of the free domain options available out there. Many people want to build their own websites, whether for a small business or a hobby.

These options can offer you a free domain for one year when you sign up for their web hosting services. (Even with their cheapest plans!) It’s a deal of gold, especially for beginners without much experience in managing websites.

There are two key things you need to kick things off: a Domain and a Web Hosting service.

We will share a few combo money saving options here.

7 Trusted Web Hosts to Get Free Domain for 1 Year (All Tested)

how to get a free domain

We test 100’s of options for you round the year and our opinion is based on results. As per current offerings, here are the best ways to save your domain cost.

1. Hostinger (.com Premium Shared Hosting Plan)

Hostinger was launched in 2004 and swiftly emerged as a leading web hosting provider. 

It’s a perfect choice for all the beginners with zero technical knowledge. It offers a plethora of premium support and a deep knowledge base via tutorials, articles, and videos. 

Currently, it is catering to over 3 million users across 178 countries. 

Available InShared Web, Managed WordPress, And Cloud 
Cheapest Plan With 1-Year Free DomainPremium Web ($2.99 Per Month)
Purchase Cost For a .com Domain$9.99 Per Annum

Notable Features of Hostinger:

  • Unlimited Bandwidth 
  • LiteSpeed Cache
  • Free domain-based Email
  • Free SSL
  • Weekly Backups 
  • 24/7 live support
  • Free Site Builder (Hostinger)
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

How to Get a Free Domain for 1 Year with Hostinger?

Step 1: Visit Hostinger’s Official Page through our link.

hostinger free one year domain plan

Step 2: It’s time to select the best-suited plan for you. Hostinger offers various hosting plans, but for a free domain, I would suggest you consider the Premium Shared Hosting plan. 

You not only get a free domain but also hosting of up to 100 websites, a free SSL ($11.95 value), and a free email. When you’re all set to check out, it would be best if you choose a long-term plan. 

Step 3: Choose a suitable payment method and complete the payment process to secure your hosting plan and free domain. 

Use code ANILAGARWAL to get a maximum discount of an extra 10%. (Look in the image below)

hostinger premium plan billing

2. Bluehost.com (Basic Plan)

Bluehost is also a highly reputed hosting brand, leading over 2 million websites. With a good partnership with WordPress, Bluehost is becoming a top choice for many startups. 

Bluehost was founded in 2003 by two co-founders Matt Heaton and Danny Ashworth, but seven years later, it was acquired by the prestigious Endurance International Group (EIG).

Available InShared Web, VPS, Dedicated and Managed WordPress
Cheapest Plan With 1-Year Free DomainShared Basic ($1.99 per month)
Purchase Cost For a .com Domain$12.99 per annum

Notable Features of Bluehost:

  • Unlimited Bandwidth 
  • 24/7 Live support via phone, email, and live chat
  • Free trial of domain-based Email
  • Free SSL
  • Free CDN
  • Basic Auto Backups 
  • Free Site Builder (Bluehost)
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

How to Get a Free Domain for 1 Year with Bluehost?

Step 1: Use our special link to reach the official Bluehost website. Upon reaching the site, take a look at the available pricing plans to get started.

bluehost free one year domain plan

For beginners or those looking to start with one website, we recommend the choice plus plan for a 12-month subscription. You will get a sufficient amount of storage with a free CDN. 

Step 2: Enter your desired domain name along with the preferred extension (such as .com) to check for its availability.

Step 3: Finalize your order by selecting your preferred payment method, either credit or PayPal, to conclude the process.

choosing a free domain name in bluehost

Confused about which Bluehost Shared plan to go with? No worries, read our detailed explanation of each plan here, Bluehost hosting plans.

3. HostArmada

HostArmada, founded in 2019 is a relatively fresh entry in the US-based web hosting industry. But it has quickly created a strong grip on the market through its advanced features such as cloud technology, robust security, daily backups, and the option to choose data centers.

Available InShared Web and WordPress
Cheapest Plan With 1-Year Free DomainShared and WordPress Start Dock ($2.49 per month)
Purchase Cost For a .com Domain$11.99 per annum

Notable Features of HostArmada:

  • Unmetered Bandwidth
  • Free domain-based Email 
  • Free SSL
  • Free Daily Backups  
  • 24/7/365 live support via phone, Email, ticket, and chat
  • Free Site Builder (HostArmada) 
  • 45-day money-back guarantee 

How to Get a Free Domain for 1 Year with HostArmada?

Step 1: Follow the provided link to access their site and proceed to the pricing page to view shared hosting plans.

hostarmada free one year domain plans

Step 2: Click “Get Started” to proceed to the domain selection page where you can enter and grab an available domain for free.

Step 3: Complete the payment section, you will now receive a confirmation email after the payment, which includes the details of your free domain.

choosing one year free domain in hostarmada

Also read, HostArmada Review 2024, Is It the New High Performance Hosting We Have Been Waiting for?

4. ChemiCloud

Next on the list is ChemiCloud. It was founded in 2016 and stood out by offering a range of hosting solutions (Shared, VPS, Reseller, and Managed WordPress hosting plans), all at affordable rates. Over 50,000 websites are currently being hosted by ChemiCloud, which earns it a position in our list.

Available InShared Web, WordPress, and VPS Cloud 
Cheapest Plan With 1-Year Free DomainShared or WordPress Starter ($2.95 per month)
Purchase Cost For a .com Domain$15.95 per annum

Notable Features of ChemiCloud:

  • Unlimited Bandwidth
  • Free domain-based Email 
  • Free SSL
  • Free Daily Backups
  • Free CDN  
  • 24/7 live support via ticket and chat
  • Free Site Builder (ChemiCloud) 
  • 45-day money-back guarantee 

How to Get a Free Domain for 1 Year with ChemiCloud?

Step 1: Use the provided link to reach the ChemiCloud site.

chemicloud free one year domain plans

Step 2: Click “Get Started Now” once you have selected your desired plan and billing cycle (Triennially recommended).

Step 3: Enter the chosen domain name you wish to register.

choosing one year free domain in chemicloud

Massive Discount of up to 97%, Read this to learn more, ChemiCloud Coupons And Deals: Exclusive 94% OFF + Free Domain

5. GreenGeeks

GreenGeeks is one of the oldest web hosts and believes in eco-friendliness. They are serving their server hosting services across 150 countries with high-rated customer support, top uptime, and usage of green energy.

Available InShared Web and WordPress 
Cheapest Plan With 1-Year Free DomainShared or WordPress Lite ($2.95 per month)
Purchase Cost For a .com Domain$17.95 per annum

Notable Features of GreekGreens:

  • Unlimited Bandwidth
  • Free domain-based Email
  • Free SSL
  • Free CDN
  • 24/7/365 live support via chat and phone
  • Free Website Builder (Weebly)
  • Free daily backups
  • 30-day money-back guarantee 
  • 1 Tree Planted for each hosting purchased.

How to Get a Free Domain for 1 Year with GreenGeeks?

Step 1: Visit the site using this link.

greengeeks one year free domain plans

Step 2: Choose any of the selected plans from Shared and WordPress hosting as all plans offer a free domain.

Step 3:  Select the domain and get your payment done.

greengeeks one year free domain billing

6. HostPapa

HostPapa is believed to be the #1 web server provider in America, with top reviews leading over 0.5 million websites. It is known for its powerful security features at affordable rates.

Also, you can get all the hosting plans, having the luxury of a free domain for 1 year.

Available InShared Web
Cheapest Plan With 1-Year Free DomainShared Start ($2.95 per month)
Purchase Cost For a .com Domain$15.99 per annum

Notable Features of HostPapa:

  • Unlimited Bandwidth
  • Free domain-based Email 
  • Free SSL
  • Auto Backups 
  • 24/7/365 live support via phone, Email, and chat
  • Free Site Builder (HostPapa) 
  • 30-day money-back guarantee 

How to Get a Free Domain for 1 Year of HostPapa?

Step 1: Visit the site using this link

hostpapa free one year domain plans

Step 2: Choose any of the selected plans with a free domain. I would recommend you start with the shared “Start” plan which will cost you $2.95 per month.

Step 3: Deeply review your billing to avoid unnecessary items and have a soft checkout.

hostpapa free one year domain billing

7. InMotion Hosting

Last but not least. Inmotion has been a well-trusted host since 2001. If you’re still looking for a perfect host, InMotion can be a great choice.

Available InShared Web, Managed WordPress, Dedicated, VPS, and Cloud 
Cheapest Plan With 1-Year Free DomainShared Launch Plan ($4.99 per month)
Purchase Cost For a .com Domain$19.99 per annum

Notable Features of InMotion:

  • Unlimited Bandwidth
  • Free domain-based Email 
  • Free SSL
  • Auto Backups 
  • 24/7/365 live support via phone, ticket, and chat
  • Free Site Builder (BoldGrid) 
  • 90-day money-back guarantee 

How to Get a Free Domain for 1 Year from InMotion?

Step 1: Visit the site using this link.

inmotion hosting free domain for one year

Step 2: To get a free domain for 1 year, select any of their shared hosting plans except the Shared Core plan. (Shared Launch plan would be cheaper ($4.99 per month) if you go for triennial billing.)

Step 3: Get your payment process sorted and you’re good to go.

inmotion free domain billing

Why Do Web Hosting Companies Offer Free Domain For 1 Year?

Nothing is free today! But still, these companies offer a 1-year free domain. Why? 

Offering a free domain for a year is a common marketing strategy to attract customers to sign up for their hosting services. It is an attractive incentive, especially for beginners looking to create a new website.

Plus, it’s a way for these companies to show off – they want to be the one-stop solution with a bunch of features.

Several people hesitate to buy web hosting on an annual basis due to the high one-time cost. Typically, all web hosting services keep their monthly plans cheaper on annual billing rather than on monthly billing. Take Hostinger, for example; if you compare their monthly and annual billing, you’re shelling out $2.99 per Month instead of $12.99.

Here, going with the annual billing sounds like the most wise yet expensive option. In such a case, free add-ons can cut the extra cost, such as free domain, free SSL, and so on. This ultimately motivates users to purchase hosting on an annual basis.

After the first year, customers often need to pay for the domain. This is where hosting companies can make a profit. 

Not only that, once a customer establishes their website, they’ve become comfortable with their hosting provider. They might be more inclined to continue using their services and potentially upgrade to higher-tier hosting plans.

If a customer is engaging with them for the long run, the cost of providing that free domain for a year could be easily covered by the money the company makes from continued business. So, in other words, it’s a win-win strategy!

So, it’s really important to choose a reputed hosting provider. Here, I’ve got a list of top-notch and tested hosting providers with stellar 5-star hosting quality:

  • Hostinger
  • Bluehost 
  • HostArmada
  • ChemiCloud
  • GreenGeeks
  • HostPapa
  • InMotion Hosting

Can You Get Free Web Hosting With A Free Domain?

Yes, you can! 

Some platforms allow you to create your website at a much cheaper cost or for free. In other words, you don’t have to buy hosting or a domain.

GoDaddy, Blogger, WordPress, Wix, Weebly, Jimdo, and Webnode are some popular options.

But cheap isn’t always good. Don’t step in without knowing the harsh truth.

The only advantage you get here is that you will get everything for free without spending a single dollar. But there are some disadvantages, you should be aware of.

Unwanted Branding and No Credibility: These free domains often come with the branding of the domain provider in the URL (yourname.provider.com). It looks unprofessional and might not instill trust in visitors or potential customers.

free web hosting and domain provider

Limited Features: These platforms usually come with limitations on features, customization options, and functionalities. You might have restricted access to plugins, themes, and other tools that can help your website grow.

No Ownership: Here, you will be a user, not the owner. You don’t own the domain. This lack of ownership can lead to complications if you decide to migrate your site to a paid domain later.

SEO and Visibility: Your ranking depends on the platform as well. Hence, it can impact your website’s visibility and SEO ranking. 

Ads and Monetization: Some free domain providers might place ads on your website over which you have no control. This can be distracting to your visitors, especially if you aim to monetize your site.

Support and Security: You can often experience limited support, and security measures might not be as robust. So, this potentially leaves your site vulnerable to hacking or other security issues.

But if you buy with our mentioned web hosts, you won’t get any issues like this. (As all are tested and used!)


Bottom Line

So, what are you waiting for? Get your free domain now!

The process of getting a free dot com domain is simple and straightforward. I hope this blog will be helpful to you. If you have any doubts or questions regarding this, do let me know in the comments.

Avatar of Anil Agarwal
About Author
Anil Agarwal is a full-time blogger and SEO expert with over 17 years of experience. Here's the founder of HostingMonks.com and India's leading digital marketing blog BloggersPassion.com. Anil has been featured on major websites like Forbes, Semrush, Hostinger, Bluehost, CloudWays, Kinsta, WPX, DreamHost, etc.
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