{"id":46851,"date":"2025-07-08T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crazyeggblog.wpengine.com\/?p=46851"},"modified":"2026-01-06T15:12:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T23:12:58","slug":"how-to-buy-a-domain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crazyegg.com\/blog\/how-to-buy-a-domain\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Buy a Domain Name for Less Than You Think"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you want to start a website, you need a domain name. Buying one takes less than five minutes and usually costs far less than most people expect\u2014especially when you bundle it with web hosting. You need both to build a website, so it often makes sense to get them together. If you’re wondering exactly<\/em> how to buy a domain name or how to save money when buying a domain, you’re in the right place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two Methods for Buying a Domain Name<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, it doesn’t really matter where you buy your domain\u2014once registered, a domain is the same everywhere and you won\u2019t see quality differences based on the registrar. What does<\/em> vary is price, renewal terms, and perks like WHOIS privacy or domain security tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest difference between one domain registrar and the next is the price\u2014some offer domains for around $10\u2013$20 per year (with occasional promos) while others charge more. There are two ways to get a domain name: one route includes a free first year with hosting, the other is purchasing from a registrar at standard annual rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Bundled With Web Hosting (Free)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you’re starting one website with a single domain name, bundling your domain name with web hosting is the most popular route for beginners. It keeps billing and management in one place and is simple to set up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, many hosts include your domain name free for the first year<\/strong> on annual plans. Always check the renewal cost and which TLDs are eligible for the promo before you buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Through a Domain Registrar (Not Free)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you’re buying more than one domain name or want to manage your domain and hosting services separately, you can use a domain registrar like Domain.com or Namecheap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This route makes sense if you’re launching a business website and want to buy variations of your brand name to prevent others from grabbing them. Many registrars offer bulk discounts and built-in privacy protection, but you won’t get the first year free as you would with a hosting bundle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out our top domain registrar recommendations, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Get a Domain for Free<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you already have hosting, you typically can\u2019t retroactively apply a free-domain promo unless you upgrade to an eligible plan or switch providers. Timing matters if you want your first year of domain registration included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re starting from scratch, you need web hosting and<\/em> a domain name\u2014so bundling them is an easy way to save.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a one-checkout setup for everything you need, and you\u2019ll usually get the lowest introductory pricing on hosting plus a free first-year domain (eligible TLDs only, then standard annual renewal).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most important step is choosing the right host for your site\u2019s needs. Here\u2019s how to pick a good one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Web Hosts That Offer Free Domains<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Launching a new website can get pricey, so here are hosts that include a free first-year domain on qualifying plans and make it easy to get online fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many providers offer beginner-friendly plans with a complimentary domain for the first year. Our top recommendations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Bluehost<\/a> – Best shared hosting<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. HostGator<\/a> – Best for budget-friendly scalability<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Hostinger<\/a> – Most affordable option<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Wix<\/a> – Best website builder<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. DreamHost<\/a> – Best WordPress hosting<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. InMotion Hosting<\/a> – Best VPS hosting services<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    1. Bluehost<\/a> – Best Shared Hosting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    Bluehost<\/a><\/h3>\r\n

    Best Shared Webhosting<\/h4>\r\n

    Get a free domain for the first year on eligible annual plans. After that, standard domain rates apply. Includes an easy dashboard, DNS controls, domain locking, and 24\/7 support.<\/p>\r\n

    >> Snag Your Free Domain!<\/a><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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    Bluehost<\/a> is one of the most popular hosting providers\u2014reliable, beginner-friendly, and affordably priced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You\u2019ll get a free domain for the first year when you choose an eligible 12- or 36-month hosting plan. After year one, your domain renews at the standard annual rate for the TLD you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bluehost\u2019s domain management is straightforward: intuitive controls, DNS access, auto-renew options, domain locking, and 24\/7 support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Introductory shared hosting promos are frequently among the lowest for reputable providers, and you can upgrade anytime as your site grows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bluehost also offers VPS, managed WordPress, and dedicated hosting if you outgrow shared resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. HostGator<\/a> – Best for Budget-Friendly Scalability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    HostGator<\/a><\/h3>\r\n

    Best for Budget-Friendly Scalability<\/h4>\r\n

    If you're creating a fast-growth website on a shoestring budget, HostGator scales affordably as your traffic increases. Get a free domain for the first year with 12-, 24-, or 36-month terms on Shared or WordPress hosting.<\/p>\r\n

    >> Snag Your Free Domain!<\/a><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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    HostGator<\/a> guarantees 99.9% uptime and provides 24\/7 support via phone and live chat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    HostGator\u2019s shared hosting line keeps it simple with Hatchling, Baby, and Business plans. The entry tier is frequently discounted, and the free domain perk applies to the first year on multi-month terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Remember: the domain renews at the regular annual<\/em> rate after year one, so factor renewal pricing into your budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you need shared hosting for more than one site, the Baby plan supports unlimited websites for only a modest increase over the entry plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Scalability is a strong point: unmetered bandwidth and generous storage on shared plans mean you can accommodate traffic spikes without nickel-and-diming over monthly visit counts (fair-use limits still apply).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The free domain offer typically supports popular extensions like .com, .net, .org, and several other common TLDs on initial registration when you sign up for 12, 24, or 36 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Business includes extra perks, but the free-domain count is still one; additional domains are purchased separately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Hostinger<\/a> – Most Affordable Shared Hosting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    Hostinger<\/a><\/h3>\r\n

    Most Affordable Option<\/h4>\r\n

    On a tight budget? Hostinger\u2019s Premium Shared and WordPress Starter plans often start around $2.99\/month on long terms and include a free domain for the first year. Great performance and features for new sites.<\/p>\r\n

    >> Snag Your Free Domain!<\/a><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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    If you\u2019re hunting for affordable hosting that doesn\u2019t feel cheap, Hostinger<\/a> is hard to beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You can snag a free domain on many Hostinger plans. If you don\u2019t need the muscle of VPS or cloud hosting, the Premium Shared or WordPress Starter tiers deliver excellent value and include a custom domain for year one on eligible terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These plans often promo between about $2.49 and $2.99 per month on long terms and require at least a 12-month commitment for the free domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For most people, Premium Shared is the sweet spot\u2014NVMe storage, solid speed and uptime, a free domain for the first year, and bundled tools like an AI site builder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Newer plan structures include up to 3 websites, around 20 GB of SSD storage, weekly backups, and 2 free mailboxes per website for the first year. If you need higher limits, Hostinger\u2019s Business and Cloud tiers increase sites, storage, and email capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hostinger\u2019s Premium Shared plan includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n