Register domain for free: options and providers
Whether blog or simple business card on the net: It is better if you have a memorable, own domain instead of an obvious subdomain. We have found out for you whether this can be done without spending money.
Can domains be registered for free?
When you register a domain, its accessibility on the Internet and the owner are saved. The entry is managed by the corresponding Network Interface Controller (NIC). The domain managers take fees for this. Free top-level domains (your-name.de, your-name.com, your-name.net, etc.) are available in different models, which we present here.
- In principle, all free domains differ in terms of advertising, web space and ownership.
- Really free domains of the type mein-name.de do not exist, but there are some cheap alternatives that you should perhaps take a closer look at.
Domain with web space without advertising
If you want web space, a top-level domain and email mailboxes, you can rent it for around one euro a month. Alternatively, you can use a test phase free of charge and ad-free for 1, 3, 6 or even 12 months. Subsequently, the domain often costs considerably more than providers who do not offer test months.
- The providers for this model are One.com, Strato or 1 & 1.
- A good data center connection and low downtimes at high speed are advantageous with these models.
Freehoster with web space without advertising
The market in this segment is large: you get webspace, a domain that resembles top-level domains (mein-name.co.nf) or a subdomain (meinname.batcave.net). You can then place a domain on your web space for a monthly fee. These start at three euros per month (for example with Wordpress).
- This variant is comparatively expensive and the connections are sometimes slower because the data centers are not in Germany.
- Often you have only limited rights on the server, so that you cannot run certain functions or scripts.
Free trash domains without ads
The freenom.com website offers free domains from micro-states such as Mali, Tokelau or Gabon. You receive the domains free of charge, have the rights and can also configure the web space to which the domain points.
- Services like Freenom want to strengthen structurally weak regions.
- Unfortunately, the available domain extensions are not considered to be particularly serious and therefore get worse results from Google and Bing.
- You also need to get the web space because it is not offered.
Domain with advertising
The last variant in this practical tip is the ad-financed domain. Here you can find a domain for free and sometimes also a web space.
- The advertising banners are often dominant and disadvantageous for a homepage.
- The domain often belongs to the provider, which means that in the worst case, you will lose the domain if you move.
Conclusion
Free domains are a good thing to start with. But if you are looking for a professional website, you will probably not be able to avoid making a payment in the long run.