How to Get a Free Domain Name from Hostinger (Beginner’s Guide)

Free domain name registration is a great way to start your online business with a minimal budget, and Hostinger got you covered. It is a great hosting provider that offers extremely affordable services to customers with many freebies. One of these freebies Hostinger gives its customers is a free custom domain. However, you will only get this if you buy some particular hosting packages.

For instance, you will get a free domain registration only on the shared, WordPress, and Cloud hosting packages. However, the first plans of Hostinger’s shared and WordPress hosting packages do not include free custom domain name registration. Without further ado, let’s look at how to get your free custom web address.

How to Get a Free Custom Domain Name from Hostinger

It is a no-brainer that you need to have an account with Hostinger before getting a free domain name from the host. At the same time, you can only get an account if you purchase a hosting plan. So, let’s see how to do that.

1. Purchase a Hosting Account/Plan

To purchase a hosting account, go to the Hostinger website.

Now, navigate to the menu at the top-right corner of the homepage and click on the Hosting link. Choose the type of hosting you want by clicking on it.

If you choose shared hosting (Web Hosting), we recommend purchasing at least the Premium package to enjoy this benefit. If you’re looking for managed WordPress hosting, go for the WordPress Premium package to get a free domain for one year.

Note: Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting packages except the Cloud Startup plan are all “shared hosting”. This is because it has dedicated resources and uses cloud servers that are better.

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Click on the Add to cart button of whichever package you choose.

Choose your subscription period from between 12 to 48 months. If you can, we recommend going for the 48-month subscription. It gives you the best deal in terms of increased discounts. Moreover, you can get a full refund within 30 days of signing up if you are dissatisfied or change your mind.

Note: The monthly subscription period on all eligible Hostinger plans does not qualify for the free custom domain name.

Now, provide the email address you want to use for the account. Alternatively, you can use your Facebook or Google account to sign up.

Fill in your billing address details in the boxes provided.

If you have a promo code, click on the Have a coupon code? link. Type your coupon code in the box and click the Apply button. You can use our exclusive Hostinger promo code to get an extra 10% off your subscription.

Choose the payment method you want and fill in your details. Click on the Submit Secure Payment button afterward.

Choose your account password on the next page and log in to the Hostinger hPanel.

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2. Claim Your Free Domain Name

After purchasing your hosting plan, you need to claim your free domain name and build your site.

To do that, log in to your Hostinger hPanel. Navigate to the Websites link on the top menu.

Now, click on the Create or migrate a website box.

Click on the Select button under the Create a new website box.

Option 1: For WordPress installation, click on the Select button under the WordPress box.

Input your preferred administrator email address and password. Then, click on the Continue button.

Now, choose the plugins you want on your site by ticking them. Then click the Continue button.

Hover on your preferred theme and click on the Select button. You may check out the theme first by clicking the Preview button before choosing it.

Option 2: To use the Hostinger Website Builder, click the Select button under its box.

Option 3: If you would like to install a different web application on your domain, click on the Select button in the Other platforms section.

Choose the preferred platform by clicking on the Select a platform box and picking from the drop-down. You can type the name of the platform in the box for a faster result.

Then, provide your preferred administrator email address and password in the appropriate boxes. Click the Continue button afterward.

Note: Irrespective of the option you choose, the next steps in this guide on how to get a free domain name from Hostinger are common to all of them.

Now, click on the Select button under the Claim a Free Domain box.

Provide the desired web address (with the extension) in the left box. If you don’t include the extension, click the box with the text .in and choose from the drop-down menu. Then click on the Search button.

Note: Adding an extension to your domain name in the left box overrides whatever extension you choose from the drop-down.

If the domain name is available, click on the Continue button. Otherwise, you have to choose another one.

On the next page, choose your country. Then indicate if you are registering the web address as an individual or a company. Click the Next step button afterward.

Now, enter your name, address, and phone number. Then click on the Finish registration button.

What is left to do? Simply follow the on-screen instructions to build your site. That is how fast and easy it is to claim a free custom domain name from Hostinger.

Hostinger Free Domain Name Transfer

While it is possible to get a free domain name from Hostinger, you can also transfer your existing domain from another provider for free. Although, the process involves renewing your domain name for an additional year with Hostinger without losing the remaining time you had on the former subscription. So if a domain name costs about $10 yearly, you will only pay that to get an extra year with no hidden transfer fee.

You can only transfer a domain name that was registered or last transferred at least 60 days prior to the present time. At the same time, if the domain has been registered or renewed for up to 10 years into the future, you cannot transfer it since it cannot be renewed for a longer period. You will have to wait till it has only nine years left before expiration.

Hostinger Free Domain Privacy

Our findings have shown that Hostinger gives free WHOIS privacy protection on all domains registered on it. This shields all your information such as name, email address, house or office address, and phone number from the public, especially your domain’s WHOIS page. Whereas, many web hosts and domain registrars charge a pretty for privacy protection.

Here are some ways that domain privacy can favor you:

• Prevent or Reduce Spam: Leaving your email addresses or phone number in a public database leads to a lot of spam. Spammers and scammers can get a hold of your information from these databases and start sending you useless or unwanted information that can be annoying. It could even be from legitimate businesses whose services you are not interested in. Privacy protection shields you from this.
• Stay Hidden or Anonymous: ICANN and other domain registries make providing correct or up-to-date information about you and/or your business. This means without domain privacy, anyone can access your WHOIS page to know everything about you or your business. If you are in a business where you don’t want people to connect you with your site, this compromises your identity.
• Prevent Identity Theft: So many fraudsters also scrape the internet for information on people to impersonate. Hence, they may catch unsuspecting people trying to communicate with your business by using your name, your company’s name, and your address. They may even create email addresses that are similar to yours. This could lead to serious legal issues since victims would naturally think they were in contact with you.

Why You Should Choose Hostinger

Hostinger is undoubtedly one of the best hosting providers in the industry. This is evident in our thorough analysis of Hostinger services. Thus, it is our first recommendation for every business.

Here are some of the reasons why you should host your website with them:

• Affordability: Hostinger is the most affordable web host, with hosting packages starting at as low as $2 per month. It also gives the best deal for renewals, making it easy for small businesses and low-budget entrepreneurs to renew their plans without breaking the bank. Furthermore, with only $0.99, you can register a top-level domain (TLD).
• Speed and Performance: The web host uses impressive performance technologies for its hosting environment. You will enjoy the raw power of LiteSpeed-based servers with LSCache technologies for improved website loading speed. Moreover, it uses fast NVMe SSD storage to store your files and databases. At the same time, it has multiple data centers, so no matter where your targeted audience is, you can bring your server closer to them, leading to a fast-loading website.
• Great Customer Support: It has an impressive 24/7 customer support team of experts with field experience. They are quick to attend to your questions and are very competent.
• Ease of Use: The Hostinger hPanel makes managing your website and its files very easy. It is better than the cPanel and makes website management enjoyable.

All these arguments convinced you? Then don’t wait any longer and request your free domain name from Hostinger.

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FAQs

Here are some of the most asked questions and their answers about this topic.

Does Hostinger Offer a Free Domain?

Yes. Hostinger gives new customers a free domain name for the first year of the subscription. However, this offer is available only for selected hosting types and packages.

You can get the free custom web address from the Premium and Business packages under the Web Hosting type. However, it is not available on the Single Web Hosting package.

At the same time, under the WordPress Hosting type, you can get a free custom domain name on all the plans except the Single package. The Cloud Hosting packages, however, all give a free personalized website address, while the VPS Hosting plans, including Minecraft Server and CyberPanel, do not.

An important restriction to note is that you can’t get this offer on a monthly subscription. You need to buy at least 12 months of subscription for eligible plans to qualify. Therefore, even though, Hostinger gives free custom domain names, you have to choose the right plan and subscription period to enjoy it.

Which Domain Extension is the Best?

The best domain for your business will be determined by its purpose. A free custom website address with the .com extension is the best for most businesses since it is easier to remember. However, a free .ai domain name might be more appropriate if your site is for an AI business.

Can I Have Multiple Domains on One Hostinger Account?

You can have multiple domains on one Hostinger account under some conditions. For instance, your hosting plan needs to support more than one website. So if you are on the Single WordPress package or the Single Web Hosting plan, you cannot have more than one domain on your Hostinger account.

Alternatively, if you have more than a plan on one Hostinger account, you can have multiple domains on it. The limit will, however, be determined by the plan itself.

How to Get a Free Domain Name Forever?

You cannot get a free custom domain name forever from any web host or registrar, including Hostinger. Although, you can get a free subdomain forever from a few web hosts and website builders, like Wix. The issue is that a free subdomain is not professional and is not recommended for a serious long-term business.

Therefore, you should purchase a hosting plan from Hostinger to get your free custom domain name for the first year. The renewal prices for the hosting and domain are quite affordable.