The Cheapest Web Hosting with Free Domain (2024 Guide)
For students, developers, and small businesses looking to establish an online presence without breaking the bank, finding cheap hosting with a free domain is crucial. This comprehensive guide explores the best budget-friendly hosting providers that include a free domain name, along with their pros, cons, and ideal use cases.
1. Best Cheap Hosting Providers with Free Domain (2024)
Here are the top 5 cheapest hosting services that offer a free domain name (usually for the first year):
A. Hostinger – Best Overall Budget Hosting
💰 Price: $1.99/month (with 4-year plan)
🌐 Free Domain: Yes (1 year free)
✔ Best for: Small websites, blogs, and startups
🔗 https://www.hostinger.com
Pros:
✅ Ultra-affordable (cheapest premium hosting)
✅ Free SSL & CDN (improves speed & security)
✅ Easy-to-use hPanel (simpler than cPanel)
Cons:
❌ Free domain only for the first year
❌ Renewal prices increase
B. Bluehost – Best for WordPress (Official WordPress Recommendation)
💰 Price: $2.95/month (with 3-year plan)
🌐 Free Domain: Yes (1 year free)
✔ Best for: WordPress blogs & business sites
🔗 https://www.bluehost.com
Pros:
✅ 1-click WordPress install
✅ Free SSL & CDN
✅ 24/7 customer support
Cons:
❌ Higher renewal rates
❌ Upsells during checkout
C. DreamHost – Best for Long-Term Affordable Hosting
💰 Price: $2.59/month (with 3-year plan)
🌐 Free Domain: Yes (free for life as long as you host with them)
✔ Best for: Developers & long-term projects
🔗 https://www.dreamhost.com
Pros:
✅ Free domain forever (not just 1 year)
✅ No upsells (transparent pricing)
✅ 97-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
❌ No cPanel (uses custom panel)
D. Namecheap – Best for Cheap Shared Hosting
💰 Price: $1.98/month (first year)
🌐 Free Domain: Yes (1 year free)
✔ Best for: Beginners & small websites
🔗 https://www.namecheap.com
Pros:
✅ Very cheap first-year pricing
✅ Free SSL & privacy protection
✅ Easy WordPress setup
Cons:
❌ Renewal prices jump significantly
E. IONOS – Best for Small Business Websites
💰 Price: $1/month (first 6 months)
🌐 Free Domain: Yes (1 year free)
✔ Best for: Business websites & eCommerce
🔗 https://www.ionos.com
Pros:
✅ Very cheap introductory offer
✅ Free professional email (1st year)
✅ Good uptime & performance
Cons:
❌ Short-term discount (prices increase after 6 months)
2. Free Hosting with Free Domain (Limited Options)
If you want completely free hosting + domain, options are limited, but these exist:
A. InfinityFree + Free .TK Domain
🌐 Free Domain: Use Freenom (.tk, .ml, .gq, etc.)
💡 How it works:
- Get free hosting at InfinityFree
- Register a free domain at Dot TK
- Connect them via DNS settings
Limitations:
❌ Free domains may have ads
❌ Limited support & reliability
B. AwardSpace (Free Plan + Free Subdomain)
🌐 Free Domain: yoursite.awsdns-xx.com
✔ Best for: Testing & small personal sites
🔗 https://www.awardspace.com
Limitations:
❌ No custom free domain
❌ Very limited resources
3. Key Considerations When Choosing Cheap Hosting
Before picking a plan, consider:
✔ Renewal Prices (Most discounts are for the first term only)
✔ Free Domain Validity (Some give 1 year, others lifetime)
✔ Uptime & Speed (Avoid overly slow hosts)
✔ Customer Support (24/7 live chat is best)
4. Best Long-Term Strategy
- Year 1: Use Hostinger/Bluehost for the cheapest deal
- Year 2+: Switch to DreamHost (free domain for life) or Cloudways (better performance)
5. Final Verdict: Best Cheap Hosting with Free Domain
| Hosting Provider | Starting Price | Free Domain | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hostinger | $1.99/month | 1 year | Best overall budget hosting |
| Bluehost | $2.95/month | 1 year | Best WordPress hosting |
| DreamHost | $2.59/month | Free forever | Best long-term value |
| Namecheap | $1.98/month | 1 year | Cheapest first-year deal |
| IONOS | $1/month (6 months) | 1 year | Best for small businesses |
Conclusion
If you need the absolute cheapest hosting with a free domain, Hostinger ($1.99/month) and Namecheap ($1.98/month) are the best choices. For long-term value, DreamHost (free domain for life) is the winner.
Would you like a step-by-step guide on setting up any of these? 😊