TrueSiteCostCheap Domain and Hosting: Bundle or Buy Separately?
A free domain with hosting is a real saving in year one. After that you're paying the host's renewal price for the domain, and your name and your hosting are tied together.
Bundle vs separate, year by year
Assume a .com domain. Bundled: free for year one with an annual hosting plan, then renewed at the host's domain price, here $22. Separate: bought at a registrar for $12, renewing at $15.
| Year | Domain bundled with host | Domain at a separate registrar |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | $12 |
| 2 | $22 | $15 |
| 3 | $22 | $15 |
| 3-year total | $44 | $42 |
| 5-year total | $88 | $72 |
The free domain is worth having in year one, but by year three the two routes cost the same and after that the separate registrar is cheaper. The real difference isn't money, it's control: with the domain at a separate registrar you can switch hosts by changing one DNS setting, without a transfer.
First-year price vs renewal by extension
| Extension | Typical first year | Typical renewal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| .com | $10–12 | $11–20 | Safest default; widest range between registrars |
| .org / .net | $8–12 | $11–22 | Similar to .com |
| .co | $10–30 | $25–35 | Often mistyped as .com by visitors |
| .io | $35–60 | $45–70 | Expensive every year |
| .xyz, .site, .online | $1–3 | $13–40 | Cheap first year, large renewal jump |
Typical published prices before tax and any registry fee; country-code extensions vary widely.
A setup that avoids lock-in
- Buy the domain at a registrar that publishes its renewal price on the pricing page.
- Turn on WHOIS privacy (free at most registrars) and the transfer lock.
- Turn on auto-renew and make sure the card on file won't expire before the renewal date.
- At your host, add the domain to your hosting account; the host shows two nameservers or an IP address.
- At the registrar, either change the nameservers to the host's, or keep the registrar's DNS and add an A record pointing to the host's IP. Keeping DNS at the registrar makes a later host change a one-line edit.
- Wait for DNS to update (usually minutes, sometimes a few hours), then enable the free SSL certificate at the host.
If you already took a free domain from your host
You don't have to move it now. Note its renewal date. A few weeks before, decide whether to transfer: unlock the domain at the host, request the transfer code (often called an EPP or auth code) and start the transfer at the new registrar. The transfer includes one year of renewal, added to your existing expiry date, so you lose no paid time. Transfers are blocked for 60 days after registration or a previous transfer.
Common mistakes
- Registering the domain in a designer's or agency's account. If you fall out, getting it back is painful. Always own it in your name.
- Buying a cheap new extension for year one and getting a $30+ renewal bill.
- Letting it expire. After a short grace period, recovery can cost $80–200, and expired domains are sometimes bought by others.
- Using the domain for email and forgetting it powers your inbox too. If the domain lapses, email stops. See hosting with email.
For the hosting side of the bill, see cheap web hosting. The calculator includes the free first-year domain when the route offers it.
FAQ
Is a free domain with hosting really free?
For the first year. It then renews at the host's domain price, often $18–25 for a .com, which is more than many registrars charge.
Can I move my domain away from my host later?
Yes, but not within 60 days of registration or a previous transfer, and you'll pay for one year at the new registrar, which is added to your current expiry date.
What happens if my domain expires?
The site and email stop working. Most registrars give a grace period of about 30 days, then a redemption period where getting it back can cost $80–200.