A free domain can take roughly $10 to $20 off the cost of launching a website, but it is rarely free in the way the banner suggests. Most hosts give the domain free for the first year only, and renewal fees apply from year two. Some require a hosting term of at least 12 months before you qualify. Other conditions include claiming the domain within a set window, choosing an eligible extension, and paying a fee if you cancel early.
This guide compares five hosting plans that include a free domain. For each one, you will see who it suits, which plans qualify, the fine print, and what to watch for, so you can pick a plan that fits your site and your budget.
Hosting plans with a free domain
| Provider & plans | Intro price (approx.) | Free domain offer | Storage | Free SSL |
| Truehost (Starter / Pro) | From USh 8,905.00 / billed triennially. to USh 3,740.10 / billed triennially. | Starter: free domain on select extensions. Pro: free domain valued up to ~$8.99 | 30 GB to 50 GB SSD | Yes |
| Hostinger (Premium / Business / Cloud Startup) | $2.49 to $7.99/mo on 48-month terms | Free for 1 year (12+ month term required) | 20 GB to 100 GB SSD | Yes |
| Bluehost (Starter / Business / Ecommerce Essentials) | $3.99 to $14.99/mo (12- and 36-month terms) | Free for 1 year; redeem within 90 days; standard extensions only, no premium names | 10 GB to 100 GB NVMe SSD | Yes |
| NindoHost (Personal / Business / Cloud /Multi site / Windows) | From UGX 12,300/mo listed (billed locally in UGX) | Free domain for the 1st year | 25 GB to 100 GB+ | Yes |
| DreamHost (Web Hosting Launch / Growth / Scale) | $2.89 to $9.99/mo on annual terms | Free for 1 year on annual plans; credit must be used in the first 3 months; free WHOIS privacy | 25 GB to 60 GB NVMe SSD | Yes |
1) Truehost
Truehost is for individuals and small businesses in Uganda looking for affordable hosting with local pricing. We list our prices in Ugandan shillings and support local online shops with Mobile Money and Airtel Money payment plugins.
Plans with a free domain:
- Starter: USh 8,905.00 / billed triennially
- Pro: USh 3,740.10 / billed triennially
Prices exclude VAT. Starter includes a free domain with selected extensions, such as .xyz, .info, and .in. Pro includes a free domain valued at US$8.99.
The conditions: The free domain usually covers the first year, with renewal fees applying afterward. The free .ug domain is available only on some annual plans, so confirm which plans and extensions qualify.
What’s good: Truehost offers local pricing and support. All three plans include cPanel, free SSL, daily backups, unlimited email accounts, unlimited bandwidth, free migration, and one-click app installation. Starter supports 10 websites with 30 GB of SSD storage, while Pro supports 30 websites with 50 GB.
Watch out for: The lowest prices require a three-year commitment, and VAT is charged separately. Some displayed prices are in US dollars, so confirm the final amount in UGX. Also, check that the free domain extension suits your needs and find out how much renewal will cost.
2) Hostinger
This is for beginners and small-site owners who want solid performance and a simple control panel without overpaying. Every plan includes free SSL, free automatic website migration, a CDN, 24/7 support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Plans with a free domain.
Prices are the 48-month promotional rates per month, excluding VAT and paid upfront:
- Premium, $2.49/mo ($119.52 for 48 months, renewing at $10.99/mo): 3 websites, 20 GB SSD storage, weekly backups, and 2 free mailboxes for the first year.
- Unlimited, $3.49/mo ($167.52 for 48 months, renewing at $16.99/mo): unlimited websites, 50 GB NVMe storage, daily backups, and unlimited mailboxes free for the first year. Earlier reviews called this plan Business.
- Cloud Startup, $7.99/mo ($383.52 for 48 months, then $25.99/mo): unlimited websites, 100 GB of NVMe storage, daily and on-demand backups, and unlimited mailboxes free for the first year.
The conditions: The domain is free for the first year on plans lasting at least 12 months. Claim it through your dashboard after purchase. Premium domains and domain-only purchases don’t qualify. Free WHOIS privacy is included.
What’s good: Hostinger offers low starting prices, free SSL, migration, and an easy-to-use dashboard. Premium costs $2.49/month and supports three websites. Unlimited and Cloud Startup support unlimited websites. The two higher plans include daily backups, and all three offer free email for one year.
Watch out for: Renewal prices increase sharply. Premium rises from $2.49 to $10.99/month, while Unlimited goes from $3.49 to $16.99. Email is free for only one year. If you cancel and request a refund, the domain’s cost may be deducted. New .com registrations are refundable only within 96 hours.
3) Bluehost
This is for WordPress users who want a well-documented setup with clearly stated terms. Bluehost is a WordPress.org-recommended host and says it has worked closely with WordPress since 2005.
Plans with a free domain:
Prices are the monthly rates on a 36-month term, excluding VAT:
- Starter, $3.99/mo (renews at $9.99/mo): 10 websites, 10 GB NVMe SSD storage, weekly backups and chat support only.
- Business, $6.99/mo (renews at $13.99/mo): 50 websites, 50 GB NVMe SSD storage, weekly backups, phone support, a web application firewall, DDoS protection and free domain privacy for the first year.
- eCommerce Essentials, $14.99/mo (renews at $21.99/mo): 100 websites, 100 GB NVMe SSD storage, the Business features plus WooCommerce auto-install and built-in commerce tools such as payments and subscriptions. The commerce tools cover one website.
The conditions: Bluehost offers one free domain for the first year with 12- or 36-month hosting plans. You must claim it within 90 days. Eligible extensions include .com, .net, .org, and others, but premium domains are excluded. After the first year, renewal charges apply automatically unless you cancel.
What’s good: Bluehost includes WordPress updates, free SSL, a CDN, and website migration. Shared hosting has a 99.99% uptime guarantee, with a 5% monthly credit if it’s missed. Eligible domains get free privacy protection for the first year, but Starter doesn’t include it.
Watch out for: Starter hosting renews at $9.99/month instead of $3.99, while a .com domain may cost $12.99/year to renew. Cancelling within the first year means paying a non-refundable domain fee, which is deducted from refunds. Restoring an expired domain can cost $99. Paid extras include professional email at $2.50/month after a one-month trial. Starter also has just 10 GB of storage and no phone support.
4) NindoHost
This is for People who prefer a smaller, Africa-focused provider that still bundles a free first-year domain.
Plans with a free domain
NindoHost’s Uganda site lists four shared hosting families that include a free domain, each with three tiers. Prices are monthly and listed in US dollars:
- Personal (Linux, cPanel), free domain for the first year:
- Shake, UGX 12,300/mo: 1 website, 100 GB storage and 5 email addresses.
- Move, UGX 20,500/mo: 2 websites, unlimited storage and 100 email addresses.
- Lead, UGX 41,100/mo: 3 websites, unlimited storage and unlimited email addresses.
- Business (Linux, cPanel, LiteSpeed), free domain for the first year:
- Shake+, UGX 20,500/mo: 1 website, 50 GB SSD and 5 email addresses.
- Move+, UGX 28,700/mo: 2 websites, 100 GB SSD and 100 email addresses.
- Lead+, UGX 53,400/mo: 3 websites, 200 GB SSD and unlimited email addresses.
- Multisite (cPanel and WHM, for agencies and resellers), free domain described as “for life” on the plan page:
- Launch, UGX 61,700/mo: 10 cPanel accounts, 100 GB storage and 1 TB of monthly traffic.
- Grow, UGX 144,000/mo: 50 cPanel accounts, 250 GB storage and unlimited traffic.
- Scale, UGX 473,500/mo: 200 cPanel accounts, 1 TB storage and unlimited traffic.
- Windows (Plesk, ASP.NET with SQL Server), free domain for the first year:
- Atlas, UGX 20,500/mo: 1 website, 50 GB SSD and 5 email addresses.
- Fusion, UGX 41,100/mo: 2 websites, 100 GB SSD and 100 email addresses.
- Falcon, UGX 82,300/mo: 3 websites and 200 GB SSD.
What’s included: All plans offer free SSL, daily backups, website migration, phone and email support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Business adds LiteSpeed and developer tools, Windows includes SQL Server, and Multisite offers WHM and a dedicated IP but no root access.
Free domain terms: Most plans include a free domain for one year, but Multisite claims it’s free for life. Confirm this in writing. Only .com is clearly listed; domain registrations are non-refundable, renewals aren’t automatic, and transfers are allowed after 60 days.
What’s good: Plans suit personal sites, small businesses, and agencies. Shake costs $2.99/month and includes 100 GB storage, daily backups, phone support, and free migration. Business and Windows start at $4.99/month, while Multisite starts at $14.99. A .com costs $12.99/year, with WHOIS privacy available for most extensions.
Watch out for: NindoHost is a smaller provider. Uganda prices are listed in US dollars, hosting renewal rates aren’t published, and the advertised .ug domain prices differ across pages. Confirm all costs before paying. Domains require manual renewal. After hosting expires, data remains accessible for 30 days and backed up for another 30 days. Restoration costs $49.95 before permanent deletion.
5) DreamHost
This is for users who want renewal prices shown upfront and a host with real support, rather than the lowest introductory rate. DreamHost has been independent and employee-owned since 1997.
Plans with a free domain:
Prices are the monthly rates on a 12-month term, excluding tax. The 4-year rate is in brackets.
- Launch, $2.89/mo (renews at $10.99/mo; 4-year: $1.99/mo, renews at $7.99/mo): 25 websites, 25 GB NVMe SSD storage, about 40,000 monthly visits and 20 mailboxes free for three months.
- Growth, $3.99/mo (renews at $12.99/mo; 4-year: $3.49/mo, renews at $8.99/mo): 50 websites, 50 GB NVMe SSD storage, about 200,000 monthly visits and 40 mailboxes free for three months.
- Scale, $9.99/mo (renews at $25.99/mo; 4-year: $7.99/mo, renews at $19.99/mo): 100 websites, 100 GB NVMe SSD storage, about 400,000 monthly visits and 60 mailboxes free for three months.
All three include unmetered bandwidth, daily automated backups, free SSL certificates, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
The conditions: The domain is free for the first year on annual or multi-year plans, not monthly plans. You must claim it within three months. The offer covers one new domain or transfer per eligible account, using supported extensions. Renewal costs extra.
What’s good: DreamHost shows both introductory and renewal prices upfront. It includes free domain privacy, a WordPress migration tool, 24/7 chat and email support, an uptime guarantee with service credits, and a free four-page starter website. You can request a human agent through chat. Monthly visitor figures are estimates, not strict limits.
Watch out for: Launch hosting rises from $2.89 to $10.99 per month after the first year. Email is free for only three months, then costs extra. DreamHost has data centers in four locations: Oregon, Virginia, Amsterdam, and Singapore. Its CDN is a paid add-on, and keeping your free domain after closing your account requires paying its registration fee.
Free-Domain Traps to Avoid
A free domain can cost you later. Check these six things before signing up.
- High renewal prices: Check the domain and hosting prices for the second year. Hostinger Premium and DreamHost Launch hosting renew at about $10.99 per month, compared with introductory prices of around 2–3.
- Refund deductions: Some hosts deduct the domain’s cost from your refund if you cancel. Bluehost and Hostinger do this, while DreamHost may charge you for the domain if you close your account.
- Monthly plans: Free domains usually require annual or longer hosting plans. Bluehost requires 12 or 36 months, Hostinger at least 12 months, and DreamHost an annual plan.
- Unsupported extensions: Check that your preferred domain extension qualifies. Some hosts exclude premium domains and extensions.
- Privacy fees: Domain privacy may cost extra. DreamHost includes it, while Bluehost offers it free for the first year on eligible domains.
- Domain renewal after hosting ends: Cancelling hosting doesn’t cancel your domain. You must cancel or transfer it separately to avoid future renewal charges. New domains also generally cannot be transferred to another registrar within the first 60 days.
Is hosting with a free domain worth it?
Yes, if you need hosting for at least a year anyway. The free domain saves you roughly $10 to $20 in year one, but that is small next to what you’ll pay for hosting over the next few years. Don’t pick a host for the free domain alone. Compare the total cost over two or three years, renewal prices included.
Take the free domain if you’re committing to an annual or longer term, your extension is eligible, and you’re comfortable with the renewal prices for both hosting and domain. Buy it separately if you want cheaper renewals at a registrar, expect to switch hosts soon, or need an extension the offer excludes.
Before you buy, check the renewal price and refund terms at checkout. If you take the free domain, claim it right after signing up, since some offers expire within 90 days.
Ready to get started? Check Truehost hosting plans and choose the one whose renewal price you can live with.
Hosting Plans With a Free Domain FAQs
Is the free domain really free forever?
No. It is free for the first year only. From year two, the domain renews at the then-current standard rate, which for a .com is often around $10 to $20 a year. Bluehost and DreamHost both state this in their terms.
Can I transfer the free domain later?
Usually yes, but not straight away. ICANN rules block a transfer within 60 days of a new registration, and you must unlock the domain and get an authorization code from your current host. A transfer normally adds a year to the registration, though you pay the new registrar’s transfer fee. Note that DreamHost’s free credit applies only to domains managed in its own panel, so a domain moved elsewhere won’t renew for free.
What happens if I cancel hosting?
The domain stays registered and keeps renewing until you cancel it or transfer it. Your refund may be reduced: Bluehost and Hostinger can deduct the domain’s regular price if you cancel inside the refund window, and DreamHost asks you to pay for the registration when you close an account that used the credit. NindoHost states that its domain registrations are non-refundable.
Do I get free WHOIS privacy?
Sometimes. DreamHost includes it free, Hostinger includes it with the free domain for the first year, and Bluehost includes it for the first year on eligible extensions (some, such as .us and .uk, don’t support privacy). For Truehost and NindoHost, check the domain page at checkout.
Which TLDs are usually included?
Popular extensions such as .com, .net, .org and .info are common, along with low-cost extensions like .online, .site, .store and .tech. Regional hosts such as Truehost often offer local extensions like .co.ke too. Premium domain names are excluded almost everywhere.
Is a free domain better than buying a domain and hosting separately?
It depends on how long you will stay. If you will keep the hosting for a year or more, the free domain saves real money in year one. If you want the cheapest long-term domain renewals or the freedom to switch hosts easily, buying the domain from a separate registrar can cost less over time and keeps it independent of your hosting account.
