Getting a domain name is one of the first steps when you’re creating a website, but you don’t always have to pay for the domain separately.
With Fasthosts, eligible Web Hosting and Hosting for WordPress packages include a free domain name for the first year, and depending on the package, you can choose from a range of extensions including .com, .co.uk, .uk and .online. Some packages also include multiple free domains for the first year.
This means you can get your website hosting and domain together rather than registering the domain separately and paying an additional registration fee. However, it’s important to bear in mind that “free domain” doesn’t mean you own a domain permanently without any future costs. The domain is included at no additional charge for the first year under the relevant hosting package, and standard renewal charges can apply afterwards.
Here’s how it works and what beginners need to know before choosing a free domain with hosting.
What is a free domain with hosting?
A free domain with hosting is a domain name included as part of a web hosting package at no additional charge. Normally, you pay separately for your domain name, web hosting and any email or other services you need, but with a hosting package that includes a free domain, domain registration is included in the price of your hosting package for the applicable period.
For example, you might choose a hosting package for a new business website and receive a domain such as ‘yourbusiness.co.uk’ or ‘yourbusiness.com’. The domain is then managed alongside your hosting, often within the same control panel, rather than being a completely separate purchase.
At Fasthosts, Web Hosting packages include at least one free domain for the first year, whilst our higher-tier packages can include multiple free domains (up to 5 in our Pro package) for that same period. Popular domain extensions like .com and .co.uk are included in this offer.
How do I get a free domain name with Fasthosts?
Getting a free domain with Fasthosts simply involves choosing an eligible hosting package and registering an eligible domain as part of the setup. The basic process is:
1. Choose your hosting package
Start by deciding how much hosting you need. Fasthosts Web Hosting packages currently range from the Start plan, which supports one website, to higher-tier packages like Scale and Pro designed for multiple websites. The number of free domains included increases with the package.
The free domain offer applies to selected extensions, which currently include .com, .co.uk, .uk and .online on relevant Fasthosts packages.
For more information on how to choose the right domain extension for your website, check out our article on the different types of domains, including generic top-level domains (gTLDs) like .com, country code TLDs like .uk, and much more.
4. Complete your hosting order
Once you’ve chosen your hosting and domain, complete the order. The eligible domain will then be included with your hosting package for the first year rather than being charged as a separate domain registration.
5. Build your website
Once your hosting and domain are set up, you can start building your website. Depending on the package and platform you choose, you can use tools such as WordPress or Fasthosts’ own Website Builder to create your site, enabling you to set up your site in minutes compared to the time-consuming process of coding everything manually.
Which Fasthosts hosting plans include a free domain?
We currently include free domains with our Web Hosting and Hosting for WordPress packages. The number of domains included depends on the package.
For Web Hosting, the current packages include:
Fasthosts package
Free domains for the first year
Example eligible extensions
Start
1
.com, .co.uk, .uk, .online
Grow
2
.com, .co.uk, .uk, .online
Scale
3
.com, .co.uk, .uk, .online
Pro
5
.com, .co.uk, .uk, .online
The exact domains available and offer conditions can change, so check the current package information when you order.
If you’re only building one website, you may not need a package with multiple free domains. On the other hand, if you’re planning several websites or want to register additional relevant domain names, a higher-tier package may provide more value.
However, even if you only want to set up one website, registering multiple domains can be useful if you want to register different domain extensions (like .com and .co.uk) and redirect them to the same site. This is a good idea if you plan to expand your brand internationally in the future and want to prevent others from registering and using variants of your brand name.
Make sure you consider all of these factors before choosing your hosting package.
Is the domain really free?
Yes. The eligible domain registration is included at no additional charge for the first year with the relevant Fasthosts website hosting package.
However, it’s important to understand what “free domain” means in this context. It doesn’t mean that the domain will never have a cost – rather, once the included period ends, standard domain renewal charges can apply. This is similar to other introductory domain offers you’ll find with Fasthosts and other domain name providers: the first-year registration is included, but you’ll need to pay the applicable renewal price if you want to keep using the domain beyond the initial period.
Overall, before choosing a hosting package, make sure you check the following to avoid any surprises and unexpected costs down the line:
What to check
Why it matters
First-year domain cost
Confirms whether the domain is included
Renewal price
Shows what you’ll pay to keep the domain afterwards
Hosting renewal price
Shows the ongoing cost of the hosting package
Included extensions
Confirms whether your preferred domain is eligible
Number of included domains
Helps you choose the right hosting package
VAT
Shows the final amount you’ll pay
What happens to the free domain after the first year?
The domain doesn’t automatically become unusable after the first year, even though the introductory free period will end. If you want to keep your domain, you’ll need to renew it according to the applicable domain terms and pricing. This is an important distinction for beginners – a free first-year domain is a way of reducing the initial cost of getting online, not a way of permanently owning a domain without paying for it.
Before the renewal date, check the current domain renewal price and make sure your payment details are up to date. If the domain is important to your business, automatic renewal can help prevent you from accidentally allowing it to expire. You can enable auto-renewal for your Fasthosts domains via the Fasthosts Control Panel, within the Hosting & Domains section.
What domains can you get for free?
The available free domains depend on the hosting package you’ve chosen. Fasthosts currently lists .com, .co.uk, .uk and .online among the extensions included with relevant Web Hosting and Hosting for WordPress offers.
Different domain extensions can suit different websites, so here’s a quick rundown on the free domain extensions you can get with Fasthosts Web Hosting and Hosting for WordPress.
.co.uk
A .co.uk domain is strongly associated with the UK, making it a natural option for businesses and organisations primarily serving British customers, or for brands that want to retain a strong British identity even when operating internationally.
For example: yourbusiness.co.uk
.com
A .com domain is globally recognised and isn’t tied to a particular country, making it a good option if you’re building an international brand or want a domain without a UK-specific association. However, .com domains have a lot of global demand, so it could potentially be harder for you to find an available .com domain matching your brand identity.
For example: yourbusiness.com
.uk
Introduced in 2014, the newer and shorter .uk extension is also strongly associated with UK organisations. It can provide a concise alternative to .co.uk, and because it’s newer, you may find it easier to get exact-match brand names with this extension.
For example: yourbusiness.uk
.online
A .online domain isn’t tied to a particular country and can be suitable for a wide variety of websites, online businesses, services and projects. As a newer TLD, it offers high availability and promotes a strong digital-first identity.
For example: yourbusiness.online
Is a free domain with hosting better than buying a domain separately?
It can be, particularly if you need both a domain and hosting. Buying both from the same provider can simplify setup because your domain and hosting are managed through the same account and control panel, and it can also reduce your initial costs.
However, price shouldn’t be the only consideration, as a free domain isn’t much use if the hosting package that comes with it doesn’t meet the needs of your website. Always compare the full package, including:
Hosting performance and storage
Number of websites supported
Domain renewal prices
Email allowances
SSL certificates
Support
Backup and security features
Any limits that apply to the hosting plan
What else is included with Fasthosts hosting?
The free domain is only one part of our hosting packages. Fasthosts Web Hosting plans currently include a range of impressive features such as unlimited bandwidth, SSL certificates on selected packages, email, databases, OneClick app installation and 24/7 support from our team of hosting experts. For example, the Start Web Hosting package includes one website, 100GB SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, 15 databases and one 2GB professional email address, as well as one free domain for the first year. And if you upgrade to our Grow, Scale and Pro packages, all of these features scale accordingly, alongside extras such as free lifetime SSL certificates and free Marketing Radar add-ons.
Our Hosting for WordPress packages are designed specifically for WordPress websites and include a free domain for one year, NVMe storage, a professional mailbox and free SSL certificates.
Can you get a free domain without hosting?
At Fasthosts, the free domain offer is provided with qualifying hosting products rather than as a standalone domain registration with no associated purchase. If you only need a domain and don’t need hosting yet, you can purchase a domain separately, but if you’re ready to build a website, combining the two can be a convenient way to get started.
Does a free domain include a free website?
No – a free domain and a free website are different things. The domain is the address people use to find your website, whereas web hosting provides the infrastructure where your website is stored and served to visitors.
Plus, you’ll still need to create the website itself. Fasthosts also offers Website Builder products that include a free domain for one year when you buy for the applicable period.
Can you use a free domain for a business website?
Yes. A domain included with a hosting package can be used for a business website, provided the domain name is available and appropriate for your business. In fact, registering a domain early can be useful when launching a business because it gives you a consistent web address and can be used for professional email. Before registering a business domain, check that the name:
Matches your business or brand
Is easy to spell and remember
Doesn’t conflict with another business
Is suitable if your business expands
Is available in the extension you want
It’s also worth considering whether registering more than one relevant extension makes sense for your brand, as discussed earlier.
Can you use the free domain for email?
A domain can be used as part of a professional email address – for example, if your domain is ‘yourbusiness.co.uk’, you could use an address such as ‘hello@yourbusiness.co.uk’. However, the domain itself isn’t the same thing as an email mailbox. You’ll need an email service or mailbox to send and receive messages.
Fasthosts Web Hosting packages include professional email allowances that vary by plan. For example, the current Start package includes one 2GB professional mailbox, whilst higher-tier packages include additional mailboxes – up to 8 free email addresses with their own 2GB mailboxes each on our Pro package.
Is a free domain good for SEO?
Search engines don’t treat a domain as more authoritative because you paid a separate registration fee for it. What matters much more is the quality and relevance of your website, its technical setup, content, links, reputation and user experience.
The domain extension can communicate geographical or topical information, but choosing a domain because it’s free (or not free) doesn’t give you an SEO advantage. Instead, choose an extension that makes sense for your audience and brand rather than choosing one purely because it costs nothing initially.
The simplest way to keep your domain is to renew it before it expires. Make sure your account information and payment details are up to date, and consider enabling automatic renewal for an important business domain.
If you decide you no longer want the domain, you can allow it to expire according to the applicable domain rules. However, don’t let an important domain lapse accidentally, as losing a domain could significantly impact your website, email and brand.
It’s also worth remembering that your domain and hosting are separate services, even when the domain was included with your hosting package.
Get a free domain with Fasthosts hosting
If you’re starting a new website, combining your domain and hosting can be a straightforward and cost-effective way to get online.
Fasthosts Web Hosting and Hosting for WordPress packages currently include at least one FREE domain name for the first year, with the number of included domains depending on the package. You can then manage your domain and hosting through the same Fasthosts account and control panel, with plenty of handy features such as DNS management, web forwarding and email options available alongside your hosting.
Choose a hosting package that includes a free domain as part of the offer, then register an eligible domain when you set up your hosting. Fasthosts currently includes a free domain for the first year with our Web Hosting and Hosting for WordPress packages.
Can I get a free domain with Fasthosts?
Yes. Fasthosts includes free domain registration for the first year with eligible Web Hosting and Hosting for WordPress packages. The number of free domains depends on the package, and eligible extensions include .com, .co.uk, .uk and .online.
Is a free domain really free?
An eligible domain is included at no additional charge for the applicable first year of the hosting package. Standard domain renewal charges can apply after the included period, so check the renewal price before registering.
Can I get a free .com domain with hosting?
Yes, Fasthosts currently includes .com among the eligible free domain extensions on relevant hosting packages. The free .com domain is included for the first year, subject to the applicable package terms and conditions.
A .com domain can be a useful choice if you’re creating a business website with an international audience or don’t want your domain to be specifically associated with the UK.
Can I get a free .co.uk domain with hosting?
Yes, .co.uk is also included among the eligible domain extensions on relevant Fasthosts hosting packages.
A .co.uk domain is often a natural choice for a UK-focused business because it clearly communicates a connection with the UK. For a local business or UK-focused ecommerce website, the geographical association of .co.uk can be very useful.
Does a free domain include hosting?
No. Usually, it works the other way around: you purchase an eligible hosting package and the domain registration is included with it for the applicable period.
Does a free domain include a website?
No. A domain is your website address, whilst the website itself still needs to be created and hosted.
Fasthosts also offers Website Builder products if you want a way to create a website without the hassle of building one from scratch.
What happens to my free domain after one year?
The included first-year period ends and standard renewal charges can apply if you want to keep the domain. Check the current renewal price and make sure automatic renewal and payment details are set up if the domain is important to you.
Can I get more than one free domain with Fasthosts?
Yes. Higher-tier Web Hosting packages currently include multiple free domains for the first year. The current Grow, Scale and Pro packages include two, three and five free domains respectively.
Can I get a free domain without buying hosting?
Fasthosts’ free domain offer is linked to eligible hosting products. If you don’t need hosting, you can purchase a domain separately rather than taking out a hosting package solely to obtain a free domain.
Can I use my free domain for email?
Yes – you can use your domain as part of a professional email address, although you need an email mailbox or service to send and receive messages. Fasthosts hosting packages include different numbers of professional mailboxes depending on the package.
