How To Register Your Own Domain Name For Free

Are you lot looking to register a domain name, simply don't know where to beginning?

Role of creating a website is buying a domain proper noun that has to be unique.

In this step-by-step guideline, we're going to show yous several options on how to register a domain proper name and also comprehend some commonly asked questions that might pop upwardly in your heed while registering a domain.

Table of contents

Why a Good Domain Name is Important?
How to Register a Domain Proper noun: 4 Options
Domain Registration FAQs
To Conclude: How to Annals a Domain Proper name

Set up? Permit's first start by explaining why is information technology crucial to choose a adept domain proper name.

Why a Skilful Domain Proper name is Important?

A domain proper name is your unique identifier amongst billions of other websites on the spider web. That'south why having a memorable and piece of cake-to-type name is essential for having an online presence.

Your domain name serves as an extension of your personal or business proper noun. In that sense information technology:

Improves recognition and awareness.
Adds extra credibility to your venture.
Eventually boosts visitors' remember.

Likewise, choosing a good domain name is important for SEO. Several years ago exact match domains (EMDs) were all the rage, but today virtually people choose brandable domain names.

Memorable domain names get typed to Google more oftentimes. Algorithms keep track of that and assign more say-so to your website. As the branded search book grows, your domain proper name earns extra authority points, so that it gets easier to rank for related keywords.

With that being said, let'south move on to the how-to role.

Good to know: The first step before registering a domain proper name should be choosing a website platform that you're going to build your site on. Here is our footstep-by-step tutorial on how to make a website with WordPress.

How to Register a Domain Name: 4 Options

Using Domain.com
Using GoDaddy.com
Using Namecheap.com
Using Bluehost web hosting (offers gratis domain for 1 twelvemonth)

To go a domain proper name, you'll need to 'call dibs' with ICANN. ICANN is a global non-profit authorization that maintains records on which domain and IP address belongs to whom and manages admission to them.

But ICANN doesn't provide registration services, information technology but maintains records. That'south where domain proper name registrars come into play.

The principal role of a annals is to:

Coordinate claims on dissimilar domain names.
Match specific domain names with Domain Name Arrangement (DNS) nameservers.
Ensure that there are no indistinguishable domain names.

Technically speaking, you are non buying a domain name from a registrar company, just reserve its usage for a specified time. You tin can pay to reserve a domain for 1-10 years at a time, depending on the registrar. Later your initial subscription expires, you lot'll need to renew it and pay a fee once again. You can re-purchase your domain proper name over and once again.

When registering a domain proper noun, you sign a long-term charter of your domain (without the power to buy it out for adept). You can read more about the domain costs hither.

In exercise, all of the higher up is much simpler than you recollect as we will evidence below.

1. How to Get a Domain Name from Domain.com

Domain.com is a reputable domain registrar, launched in 1998. Over ane.ii one thousand thousand websites are registered with them.

Domain.com features the most popular tiptop level domains (TLDs) such as .com, .net, .org, .co, along with over 25 county-specific domain extensions (.fr, .au, .co.uk, and more than).

They are generally selling affordable domain names with nearly names priced in the $9.99-$12.99/twelvemonth range. If y'all are lucky, you can also steal a deal and purchase your domain name for as low equally $ii.99/year.

For that price you get:

1-yr domain ownership.
Free SSL certificate for extra security.
Automatic email forwarding to your domain.
DNS registration and management tools.

Besides, yous can buy extra Domain Privacy+Protection for your domain (costs $8.99/twelvemonth). In this case, your personal details volition not be displayed publicly in the WHOIS/ICANN directories. Plus, the registrar will also run extra security checks.

Sounds sugariness? Here's how to register a domain name on Domain.com.

Step one: Run a quick search to verify that the domain name yous are eying is bachelor.

Stride 2: Pick your domain extension. Go for .com since information technology'due south the most familiar choice among users and thus, people, tend to blazon .com before trying annihilation else.

Your pick gets automatically added to your cart with a ii-year privacy protection subscription. This i's optional, then you can remove it during the side by side pace. Also, you can change your domain renewal period from one year to five years.

Moreover, you can pick some improver services such as:

A professional email accost, matching your domain proper noun.
Admission to a drag & drop website builder.
A web hosting plan (don't rush to grab it!).
SiteLock website security tool.

Step three : Provide your billing and payment information once you are done with your selections. Add together a coupon code "WEBSITESETUP25" to go 25% off of the first payment, review your selection(s), and proceed with checkout.

Apply this coupon code when registering to go 25% OFF – "WEBSITESETUP25"

Notation: Re-cheque your domain spelling before striking "Purchase At present". Domain.com doesn't allow you lot change your domain name mail-purchase if you misspelled information technology.

2. How to Register a Domain on GoDaddy.com

GoDaddy is likewise known as a web hosting provider, but yous tin can also buy a domain proper name from them.

Pace 1: Look up a new domain name first. If you haven't come up with a good name even so or are assessing dissimilar options, GoDaddy has a nice fix of extra features to help you out.

Y'all tin use the Bulk Domain search to check a agglomeration of domain ideas for eligibility in a click. Or you lot tin play around with their free domain name generator to go some alternative suggestions if your primary choice is already taken:

Also, if y'all are feeling very determined to go your desired domain for branding purposes, GoDaddy can try to broker a deal for you with the possessor. Only recollect, the original possessor may name any cost they deem appropriate and so in that case, you'll be paying:

Domain purchase fee to the seller.
GoDaddy Domain Brokerage commission.
The regular yearly subscription toll for the selected domain and add-ons.

If you are running a pocket-size business, going into a heated negotiation with some cyber squatters may not be the best investment of your time and budgets.

Expect out and meet if the other person forgets to renew their domain or abandons it and then that you could snatch information technology then. GoDaddy has a Domain Backordering service (starting at $24.98 per domain) where you can reserve your identify in line for a specific domain. If there'south more than than 1 buyer, the domain goes on auction. If it's just y'all only, you get it immediately.

Step 2: Once you've made your selection, grab all the TLDs you want to your basket and then select your renewals catamenia (1 to x years).

GoDaddy regularly runs different promos, and so it's easy to get a really affordable domain with them. Besides, the annual rate includes:

The power to create up to 100 subdomains for your website.
Basic privacy protection: your personal details will not be visible on WHOIS.
For personal proper noun domains: gratuitous forwarding to your Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter account.
Real-fourth dimension domain monitoring and security tools.
Excellent client back up.

Step 3: Once you've finished filling your cart with domains, click proceed to checkout. At the next screen, yous'll exist given an option to pick some actress handy features such equally:

Actress domain privacy and security coverage.
Costless "Coming Shortly" page.
An electronic mail accost to match your domain.

Step 4: Continue to your cart and carefully review your purchase summary. Pay attending to the fact that GoDaddy charges a lower charge per unit for 1-year domains. Just the price may become up if you lot sign upward for 2+years.

Again, you lot'd be pitched several upsells in case you lot change your mind.

Step five: Create an bookkeeping or sign in using your Facebook or Google Account.

Step six: Provide your billing data. Then add a valid payment method (think: you'll be auto-billed each yr, so your carte du jour shouldn't be besides close to expiring). Review all the details ane last time and click 'buy' to get your new domain name(s) registered.

3. How to Get a Domain Proper name From Namecheap.com

Namecheap is another popular website for ownership domain names and getting website hosting. As their domain proper name prompts, they often have a lot of adept deals and somewhat lower annular prices than GoDaddy, for example.

And then if you dearest a expert bargain, hither'south how to buy a domain name via Namecheap.

Step 1: Run your desired domain name search first and review available options. Namecheap has a actually huge collection of new TLDs such as .art .digital, .luxury amidst 400+ other options.

Likewise, if your proper noun isn't available or you'd like to become some more ideas, switch to their advanced search view aka the Fauna Style:

As you can encounter from above, you have a lot more features to play with such equally price range, suffix/prefix, so on. This can help you drill down to that perfect domain proper noun that is curt, memorable, available, and withal cheap!

Stride 2: Later on yous've called the best contenders, proceed to your cart to start the checkout process. At this signal, you can besides add some extras and customize your society:

With Namecheap, you get a lifetime gratuitous WHOIS protection for every domain name, plus they recently added a bonus premium DNS offer (priced at $4,88/year). When you enable it, your domain gets yearly protection against DNS/DDoS attacks (that are on the rise!), plus ultra-fast global DNS response. This gives you some extra leverage in terms of your website speed.

On top of that, you can select some affordable up-sells such equally:

A yearly hosting programme with a website builder included.
Dedicated managed WordPress web host.
SSL certificate for actress protection (recommended for websites processing payments).
VPN subscription.
A professional email address for your domain.

As well, you tin can play around with your renewal. Namecheap provides a small discount for 2+ years.

Footstep 3: To ostend your guild you'll need to create an account with Namecheap. Nonetheless, they don't offering an option to log in with Google or Facebook, so you'll demand to provide an electronic mail accost.

Pace 4: Later login, you'll demand to provide your billing details, add a payment method, and go on with the buy.

4. How to Register a Domain Proper name For Gratis (Using Bluehost)

Y'all've heard the rumor about free domain names. Is information technology true?

Yes! There are really ways to go a free domain proper noun for your website.

Get-go, you tin can go a gratuitous domain name for a web hosting provider such as Bluehost.

They offer every new user a i-year free domain with any of their hosting plans. You can either register a brand new domain name with them or transfer a domain name, registered with another company.

Some other hosting providers who likewise have a 1-yr 'costless domain' policy:

HostGator
Dreamhost
InMotion Hosting

Note: The downside of getting a domain name from a hosting provider is more expensive renewals. After a free year, virtually hosting providers will accuse a higher renewal fee, compared to domain registrars.

Domain Registration FAQs

Here are some ordinarily asked questions.

ane. What are Domain Name Extensions?

Domain name extensions help categorize dissimilar domain names. It's a special bureaucracy, invented for the Internet.

You can choose amidst popular top-level domain extensions (TLDs) such as:

.com
.org
.net

Or go with a local domain extension such as if yous want to focus on building a presence in a specific state:

.co.uk
.es
.fr
.au

Also, there'southward a agglomeration of artistic domain extensions, launched recently. You lot can endeavor playing around with them to create a shorter, brandable proper name. For example:

Alchemi.st
Autu.mn
Dear.ly
Handma.de

ii. How to Buy a Website Domain for Always?

As nosotros explained, domain names are not for complete sale. Substantially, you are reserving domain proper noun usage for a set catamenia (10-years max at a time). But you can keep renewing your domain name as many times as you want to.

While you cannot buy it out for good from a registrar, you can hold on to your domain proper name for every bit long as y'all are paying your renewal fee.

three. What Happens If I Don't Renew My Domain Name?

If you lot didn't ready car-renewal or forgot to manually practice so despite the reminders from your domain registrar, your domain name will expire. This means several things:

Your website will no longer be accessible by anyone who types your URL.
The domain proper noun will be available for sale over again, typically in 30-days or so after expiration.
It can also be auctioned on a website domain sale.

In essence, failure to pay a renewal fee ways lost access to your domain.

4. Tin I Transfer My Domain Name?

Yes, almost domain registrars tin as well facilitate the process of transferring a domain proper noun from one person to another (if sure conditions are met). For example, if you want to buy a premium domain name from someone, a registrar tin can help procedure the deal securely.

Also, you tin can transfer your domain name betwixt different registrars if yous found a meliorate deal, for example, or just demand some extra features.

Beneath are linked help documents for doing that with each registrar:

Domain.com
GoDaddy
Namecheap

5. How to Find Out Who Owns a Domain Name?

When yous register a domain proper noun, the ICANN (Cyberspace Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) requires you to provide personal contact information that will exist stored in the WHOIS database.

Basically, as before long as the domain proper name is in the database, the record is publicly available to anyone who uses the WHOIS search tool.

At that place are loads of WHOIS tools available on the Internet, simply you can endeavour out, for example, the ICANN Lookup tool.

To Conclude: How to Register a Domain Proper name

Congratulations! If you followed through with our step-by-stride guide, yous should now know how to register a domain name.

What you demand is come up upwards with (or research on the platform) a audio give-and-take combo, decide on your domain extension, pick some handful add-ons, and pay for your subscription. Later on, the registrar will provide you lot with further quick instructions for connecting your domain proper name to your website, then that you can finally become visible on the web.

Have a question about how to register a domain proper noun for your website that is non included hither? Leave u.s. a comment below.