- Why Your Domain Name Matters
- How to Choose The Domain Name
- How to Get a Free Domain Name
- FAQs: How to Get a Free Domain Name
People know and trust businesses and other people through their identity, and in the digital world, your identity is your domain name. You need a domain name, whether you are creating a portfolio showcasing your work, a blog writing about a niche topic, or a company website defining your brand.
As someone just starting, though, it may not be possible for you to invest a huge amount in buying a domain name. In this blog, we will guide you through how to get a free domain name and which one you should choose for your company.
Why Your Domain Name Matters
Before jumping into the free options, it helps to understand why your domain registration is so important. Your domain isn’t just a link; it’s your brand’s first impression when they search for you online. When you get a personalised domain name, it:
- Builds trust and credibility with visitors
- Makes your website easier to find and remember
- Impacts your search engine ranking (SEO)
So even if you’re going for a free domain, you want to ensure it looks clean and professional.
How to Choose The Domain Name
When you go for the domain name, always see what the extension of the domain name is. The best domain names and the trustworthy domain extensions are .com, .net, .io, .app, .org and even .xyz.
- If you are an individual publishing a portfolio or a working professional sharing your pitch decks and portfolio, you should get your own name for the domain name so it looks very personalised. You can use an AI website builder to develop a personalized website and then move forward to hosting it with your domain name.
- If you are not publishing a portfolio but something like a blog, a game or something different, make sure your domain name is around the theme. Suppose it is a blog about building websites, for example, you can name it as ‘learn-coding.com’.
- If you are a small business owner trying to get your online business into the digital world and want customers to find you and understand your identity, you should choose the company name as the domain name. That builds trust with the people because when people trust your company, they should see the same name as the domain name, too, making it easy for them to associate with you.
- It is important to connect domain names for organisations, as they become your identity. Have a unique domain for your business or non-profit so that people can easily identify it.
Your domain name plays a big part in your brand identity and SEO. You need to be strongly aligned with your branding to rank better on Google and get organic views.
How to Get a Free Domain Name
Let’s cover tools and ways you can do a free domain name registration or get a domain name at very budget-friendly pricing:
Option 1: Get a Domain Name through Tiiny Host
If you are a small business or have a personal portfolio you want to host online, you can use Tiiny Host to get a customised subdomain or a domain name.
You can use Tiiny Host to host the website and then attach the domain name, so you do not have to worry about any other future settings.
Tiiny Host allows you to get a free subdomain (like xyz.tiiny.site), so you do not need to spend a single penny. If you do not wish to get the subdomain but a customised domain, you can get it for as low as 1$ per month using Tiiny Host. You also get an SSL certificate directly when you make a purchase through Tiiny.
Option 2: Use Site Builders like Wix or WordPress
WordPress, on its free plans, allows you to get a customised subdomain when you use their webpages to build and publish your website. These websites will also allow you to get a free customised domain, but that would be when you purchase their premium plans, and that too just for one year or a limited time.
Option 3: Get Free Domain Registration with Web Hosting Plans
Many companies like Hostinger, Bluehost, Dreamhost, etc, can also act as a domain name registrar when you sign up for one of their hosting plans. After the first year ends, generally high renewal fees are applied to these domains, which isn’t that effective for small businesses. It typically costs a bit more if you want to purchase popular domain names.
Option 4: Get a Domain Name without Having to Spend anything
Some hosting sites, like Freenom, allow you to register domain names online at no cost. These are generally lesser-known domain extensions like .tk, .ml, .ga, .club, etc. Once you get these domain names, you usually have to point them to your website using DNS settings, and your website will be live. The problem with websites like this would be that they often look spammy, and people would not think of you as an authentic source of information when you use them, or might be blocked in some regions, so it is better to avoid them.
FAQs: How to Get a Free Domain Name
Can I get a .com domain name for free?
Typically, no. ‘.com’ domains almost always require payment, though many hosting providers offer them free for the first year when you buy hosting. You can get subdomains that end with .com which you can use.
Are free domains safe to use?
Yes, if you choose a reputable provider (like Tiiny Host, WordPress, or GitHub Pages). Avoid lesser-known providers that might reclaim your domain or inject ads.
Will a free domain affect my SEO?
Subdomains can rank in search results, but custom domains are better for long-term SEO. Use a free subdomain to start and upgrade once your site gains traction.
