Best UK Hosting With Free Domain (2026)
A free domain saves you £5–15 in year one — but not all "free" deals are equal. We compare 9 UK hosts that include a free domain, reveal what the domain costs at renewal, and rank by first-year total value.
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TL;DR — Top 3 UK Hosts With Free Domain
Our picks balance the free domain value with hosting quality, renewal fairness, and included features.
IONOS
Free .co.uk or .com domain for the first year with all shared plans — hosting from just £1/mo with 200 GB storage and UK data centres
HostArmada
Free domain, daily backups, free SSL, and cloud SSD storage on 9 global locations — from £1.59/mo
DreamHost
Free domain + 97-day money-back guarantee — and one of the smallest renewal markups at just 131%
What "Free Domain" Actually Means
Before comparing hosts, understand exactly what is (and is not) included in a free domain offer.
What IS included
- First year of domain registration (typically .co.uk, .uk, or .com)
- DNS management through your hosting control panel
- Full ownership — you can transfer the domain to another registrar
- WHOIS privacy included free by some hosts (IONOS, Bluehost, DreamHost)
What to watch out for
- Domain renewal after year one (£8–18/year depending on extension)
- WHOIS privacy sometimes charged extra (£3–10/year)
- 60-day transfer lock on new domains (ICANN policy, not provider-specific)
- Premium extensions (.io, .dev, .london) usually not covered
Free Domain Hosting — Full Comparison Table
All 9 UK hosts offering free domain registration, ranked by cheapest intro price. Features and included extras shown side-by-side.
| # | Provider | Score | From | Renewal | Uptime | Free SSL | Backups | Money-Back | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 8.0 | £1.00/mo | £8.00/mo | 99.99% | 5 | 30 days | ||
| 2 | | 8.0 | £1.47/mo | £5.99/mo | 100% | 5 | 97 days | ||
| 3 | | 8.5 | £1.59/mo | £7.96/mo | 99.9% | ∞ | 45 days | ||
| 4 |  | 7.8 | £2.20/mo | £7.89/mo | 99.9% | 100 | None | ||
| 5 |  | 7.9 | £2.22/mo | £12.99/mo | 99.99% | 5 | 90 days | ||
| 6 |  | 7.8 | £2.94/mo | £10.99/mo | 99.9% | 5 | 30 days | ||
| 7 |  | 7.6 | £2.95/mo | £14.03/mo | 99.9% | 100 | 30 days | ||
| 8 |  | 7.8 | £5.00/mo | £5.00/mo | 99.99% | 1 | 30 days | ||
| 9 |  | 7.0 | £6.99/mo | £6.99/mo | 99.9% | 1 | 14 days |
Free Domain Renewal Costs — What You Pay After Year 1
Your domain is free in year one, but you will pay renewal fees from year two onwards. Here is what each provider charges to renew the most popular UK extensions.
| Provider | .co.uk Renewal | .com Renewal | Year 1 Saving | WHOIS Privacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £10/yr | £15/yr | £10–15 saved | Free |
| £9/yr | £12/yr | £9–12 saved | Free |
| £12/yr | £14/yr | £12–14 saved | £3–10/yr |
| £10/yr | £13/yr | £10–13 saved | £3–10/yr |
| £13/yr | £16/yr | £13–16 saved | £3–10/yr |
| £14/yr | £18/yr | £14–18 saved | Free |
| £15/yr | £18/yr | £15–18 saved | £3–10/yr |
| £8/yr | £12/yr | £8–12 saved | £3–10/yr |
| £8/yr | £12/yr | £8–12 saved | £3–10/yr |
💡 Pro Tip: After year one you can transfer your domain to a cheaper registrar. See our domain price comparison to find the best renewal rates across all UK registrars.
First-Year Total Value — Hosting + Free Domain
The true first-year value includes hosting cost plus the domain you would have paid for separately. Sorted by best overall deal.
| Provider | Year 1 Hosting | Domain Saved | Effective Cost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £12 | -£10 | £2 | 8.0 |
| £19 | -£12 | £7 | 8.5 |
| £26 | -£10 | £16 | 7.8 |
| £35 | -£15 | £20 | 7.6 |
| £35 | -£14 | £21 | 7.8 |
| £31 | -£9 | £22 | 8.0 |
| £36 | -£13 | £23 | 7.9 |
| £36 | -£8 | £28 | 7.0 |
| £60 | -£8 | £52 | 7.8 |
Free Domain Hosts — Detailed Provider Breakdown
In-depth look at the top free-domain UK hosts, including plan specs, domain details, and who each provider suits best.
#1 IONOS
From £1.00/mo · Free domain included · 99.99% uptime
IONOS (formerly 1&1) offers excellent value for UK users with dedicated resources, fast UK servers, and unusually transparent pricing. The assigned personal consultant is a unique touch, though the interface feels less modern than competitors.
#2 DreamHost
From £1.47/mo · Free domain included · 100% uptime
DreamHost differentiates itself with exceptional guarantees: 97-day refund window and 100% uptime commitment. As an employee-owned company officially recommended by WordPress.org, they prioritize transparency over aggressive upselling, making them ideal for WordPress users seeking long-term value.
#3 HostArmada
From £1.59/mo · Free domain included · 99.9% uptime
HostArmada is a fast-rising cloud hosting provider that punches above its weight with NVMe storage, a UK data centre, and some of the best customer support in the industry. Their 45-day money-back guarantee shows confidence in their product, and the cloud infrastructure delivers solid performance. The main drawback is the steep renewal price jump, which is common in the industry but particularly pronounced here.
#4 Flashcloud
From £2.20/mo · Free domain included · 99.9% uptime
Flashcloud is a refreshingly transparent hosting provider launched by industry veterans who set out to fix the common pain points of traditional web hosting — confusing pricing, restricted features, and inadequate support. Their value proposition is genuinely strong: every plan includes a free domain for life, free daily backups with 30-day history, a free handcrafted starter website, WAF protection, and an anytime prorated money-back guarantee. The LiteSpeed + NVMe SSD infrastructure delivers solid performance, and the pricing is remarkably competitive starting from just £2.20/month. The main drawback for UK audiences is the lack of a British data centre — their closest European location is Frankfurt, which adds some latency compared to London-based competitors. As a newer provider, they also lack the extensive track record of established players. That said, the transparent pricing model (renewal rates clearly published upfront) and the sheer volume of included features make Flashcloud an excellent option for small businesses and bloggers who value simplicity and honesty over brand recognition. New customers can use code COMPAREUK10 for 10% off Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting plans.
#5 InMotion Hosting
From £2.22/mo · Free domain included · 99.99% uptime
InMotion Hosting provides reliable service backed by excellent US-based support and a generous 90-day guarantee. While their US-only data centres make them less ideal for UK-focused sites, businesses serving American audiences or those valuing phone support will find solid value here.
#6 Bluehost
From £2.94/mo · Free domain included · 99.9% uptime
Bluehost's official WordPress recommendation and beginner-friendly approach make it a popular choice. However, the upselling tactics and average performance mean savvier users should consider alternatives like SiteGround for WordPress hosting.
What About Hosts Without a Free Domain?
Some excellent hosts do not include a free domain. If hosting quality matters more than a bundled domain, these are worth considering — you can register a domain separately from £1/year.
AccuWeb Hosting
From £1.57/mo · No free domain
Businesses needing Windows hosting or a choice between Linux and Windows with a London data centre
Review
HawkHost
From £1.97/mo · No free domain
Budget-conscious users who want LiteSpeed performance with a London data centre
Review
SiteGround
From £1.99/mo · No free domain
WordPress users who prioritize performance, security, and exceptional customer support
Review
Dynadot
From £2.00/mo · No free domain
Domain investors, small businesses, and individuals who want affordable, transparent domain registration with free WHOIS privacy across 500+ TLD extensions — and a simple drag-and-drop website builder for basic sites
Review
Hosting.com
From £2.99/mo · No free domain
Developers and performance-focused users who want turbo-fast speeds and flexible configurations
ReviewBest Free Domain Hosting for Beginners
Starting your first website? These hosts bundle a free domain with easy setup tools so you can get online without separate registrar hassle.
Best Free Domain Hosting for Small Business
Small businesses benefit most from bundled domains — fewer accounts to manage, one renewal date, and often professional email thrown in.
IONOS
99.99% uptime SLA, UK data centres, scalable plans, and free .co.uk domain from £1/mo
InMotion Hosting
Free domain, 90-day money-back guarantee, and business-class shared hosting from £3.19/mo
Fasthosts
UK-headquartered, free .co.uk domain, no renewal price increase — £5/mo forever
Read our full best free domain hosting for small business guide
Cheapest Hosting With Free Domain
If budget is your top priority, these hosts offer free domain registration on their most affordable plans.
Looking beyond free domains? Our cheap web hosting UK guide ranks all budget hosts by value. For domain-only pricing, see our domain comparison page. Or use the hosting calculator for a personalised recommendation.
Free Domain Hosting — Frequently Asked Questions
Which UK hosting providers include a free domain?
Is the free domain really free, or are there hidden costs?
What happens to my free domain after the first year?
Can I transfer my free domain to another registrar?
Which free domain extensions are included?
Is it better to buy hosting and domain separately?
Do free domain hosts also include free email?
What is the best hosting with free domain for WordPress?
Ready to Get Hosting With a Free Domain?
Use our calculator to get a personalised recommendation based on your needs, or explore our full comparison of all 23 UK hosting providers.