A custom domain ending in .com, .net, or another top-level domain (TLD) isn’t permanently free. But you can get a free website address through three routes: free subdomain registration, a website platform’s subdomain, or a paid hosting package that includes domain registration.
A domain name is the readable address visitors use to find a website. Registering one gives you the right to use it for a set term. You renew the registration to keep it, so a free introductory offer doesn’t give you permanent ownership.
This guide explains what each route provides, which restrictions apply, and what you’ll pay when a promotional offer ends.
How to get a domain name for free
Compare the address you receive, the hosting costs, and the restrictions attached to each offer:
| Route | Cost | What you get | The catch | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free subdomain registration | Free address; hosting arranged separately | A name beneath an existing domain | Provider rules and continued access to the parent domain limit your control | Personal projects, nonprofits, and testing |
| Free platform subdomains | No separate address fee; platform charges vary | An address attached to the platform hosting your site | The provider’s domain appears in your URL, and platform restrictions apply | Store setup, simple websites, portfolios, and project documentation |
| Package deals | Paid hosting plan; eligible domain registration included initially | A custom domain with an eligible extension | An annual or longer commitment, followed by renewal fees | Businesses already purchasing hosting |
Note that Google Domains is no longer a registration option. The search company sold the service to Squarespace in 2023.
Free domain registrars
Registrars don’t offer permanently free registrations for domain extensions such as .com, .net, and .org. Services such as EU.org offer free subdomains, such as yourbusiness.eu.org. It mainly serves individuals and nonprofits.
EU.org’s commercial-use policy accepts small commercial sites but strongly discourages businesses from applying unless they have exhausted other options. The site offers no direct support, though it lists a user mailing list.
FreeDNS offers subdomains beneath domains shared by other users. You can point the address to your hosting service, but continued access depends on the parent domain staying available. FreeDNS explicitly warns that shared domains can disappear.
Formerly free extensions also carry a history of abuse. Interisle’s 2025 phishing report documents extensive historical phishing activity involving .tk, .ga, and .ml, and explains how abuse damages an extension’s reputation.
Check that history before using an extension for customer-facing links. For paid alternatives, compare renewal pricing with the introductory registration price before committing. If the specific name you want has been registered before, check its domain history for previous site content and spam before using it for your business.
Free platform subdomains
Website platforms often have a free subdomain that includes their name in your address. Shopify automatically assigns a myshopify.com address when you sign up.
You can rename it once at no cost, using a format such as yourbrand.myshopify.com. The address cannot be removed or transferred, and your original address is an identifier for your store, even if you add a custom domain as your customer-facing address later.
Shopify’s platform combines a website builder with Shopify Payments for payment processing and Shopify Messaging for email and SMS marketing. The subdomain has no separate registration fee, though running your online store involves a paid Shopify plan.
For a personal portfolio or project documentation, GitHub Pages provides a URL like username.github.io. However, it prohibits using its free hosting to run an ecommerce site.
Package deals
Hosting providers often include domain registration with an annual or longer paid plan. The domain is typically free for the first year, with renewal fees charged afterward. For a business address, choose a domain name customers can spell and remember, then check whether it’s available with your preferred extension.
Hostinger includes an eligible domain with qualifying plans purchased for at least 12 months. IONOS also includes a domain for the first year with eligible hosting packages. Compare the full hosting commitment and renewal charges before purchasing.
A premium domain can carry a higher registration price than a standard name. Check whether your specific choice qualifies for the bundle before paying for hosting.
Shopify includes hosting with its online store plans, but a custom domain costs extra. You can buy a domain through Shopify in your admin under Settings > Domains > Buy new domain. Search for an available name, review the price, and complete the registration.
After purchase, you can manage domain settings, contact information, and renewals from Settings > Domains. Shopify charges domain renewals separately from your plan subscription. You can also connect a domain purchased from another provider.
Do your due diligence when researching unique domain names to avoid trademark headaches down the road. This involves checking the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to ensure your domain name doesn’t infringe on any existing intellectual property.
How to claim a free domain
Claim your address through the provider offering it, then check its privacy, security, and renewal settings.
The registration and renewal steps below apply to custom domains. Platform subdomains are managed through your website account:
- Complete registration and verification. Enter accurate contact details and complete any email verification requested by the provider. For a hosting bundle, confirm that your selected domain qualifies for the offer before paying for the plan. Keep access to the email address used for registration so you receive account and renewal notices.
- Check domain privacy protection. Privacy services hide personal contact details from public domain registration records, but availability varies by extension. Shopify’s domain privacy cites extensions that don’t include WHOIS privacy. Review the purchase summary to confirm whether protection is included.
- Confirm that HTTPS is active. A TLS certificate encrypts data exchanged between your website and visitors. Shopify provides free TLS certificates for domains added to a store, including correctly connected third-party domains. With another host, follow its certificate setup instructions and check that your site loads over HTTPS.
- Review automatic renewal. Enable auto-renewal for a registered domain and keep your payment details current. Domains purchased through Shopify have auto-renewal enabled by default, and renewal charges are billed separately from your Shopify plan. Your myshopify.com address doesn’t need renewal.
Considerations before you get a free domain name
Check whether you can keep the address when changing providers, authenticate business email, afford renewals, and use the service commercially:
Transfer rights depend on the type of address
Registered domains such as .com generally qualify for transfers between registrars under ICANN’s Transfer Policy, subject to transfer locks and other restrictions. Free subdomains are part of someone else’s domain and don’t carry those same registrar-transfer rights. Country-code domains follow their registry’s rules, so check the specific extension’s transfer policy before registering.
Branded email needs authentication
Confirm that your provider lets you configure the DNS records, which help receiving mail services verify your messages. For domains purchased elsewhere, Shopify’s email setup instructions explain how to add CNAME records for sender policy framework (SPF) and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) authentication. Plus a Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) record. Shopify configures email authentication and the configuration applies to emails sent through Shopify.
The first renewal can change the cost of a bundle
A first-year-free offer starts charging for the domain when the promotional period ends. Check the domain renewal fee alongside the hosting renewal price before committing to the package.
Renewal rates can also rise over time
Verisign announced that its annual wholesale fee for .com registrations and renewals will increase from $10.26 to $10.97 on November 1, 2026. That is the registry’s charge to registrars, but each registrar sets the retail price you pay.
Free services can restrict commercial use
Some genuinely free options prohibit running an ecommerce site or limit business use. Review the provider’s acceptable-use policy before publishing product listings or accepting orders, and confirm that your planned activity is permitted.
How to get a domain name for free FAQ
Can you get a totally free domain name?
You can get a free subdomain through services such as EU.org or a website platform. That gives you an address beneath a domain the provider controls. A custom domain such as yourbusiness.com requires registration for a set term and payment to keep it when that term ends.
How do you permanently buy a domain name?
You can’t buy a domain permanently. You register it for a set term and renew it to keep using it. Enable auto-renewal, keep a valid payment method on file, and update your contact details so you receive renewal notices.
Can I register a domain by myself?
Yes. You can register an available domain yourself through a registrar or Shopify. Compare domain registrars on renewal prices, privacy features, and support before selecting one. Then enter your contact details, pay the registration fee, and complete any required verification.
What’s the cheapest way to get a domain?
A free platform subdomain has no separate registration or renewal fee. If you need a custom domain, compare both the first-year price and the renewal price across registrars. A hosting bundle can cover the first year’s domain registration when you already plan to pay for eligible hosting.
Are free domain names safe?
A free address can use HTTPS, but check the provider’s security features and terms before using it for a business. Shopify provides free TLS certificates for domains added to a store. Some formerly free extensions also have a history of phishing abuse, which can affect their reputation.
