Is a Free Domain, as Part of a Web Hosting Promotion, a Good Deal or a Bad Idea?

Who owns or controls the domain when it comes as part of a webhosting package?

[Bomberman]

I have a question.
I have seen various companies like kvchosting, QHoster, Hostgator, bluehost and others who have domain name as free option. Is that good idea to sign up for such deals?
How to make sure that I will be the owner of the domain name?
Any other ways of getting free domain name?

[bill]

In the past I would say no. You often get the domain name stuck at the host. If you leave, there used to be horror stories of not being able to transfer the domain if you wanted to move hosts. Not sure how it works now, but the old advice was never to have your domain registrar be the same as your host.

[lucy24]

Ask each specific host what the procedure is if you ever need to switch the domain name to a different registrar. The correct answer is some business involving a code number. The incorrect answer is any kind of runaround.

I think "one name free with hosting" is pretty standard on mid-priced hosting plans. Once a few places start offering it, everyone else has to.

:: wandering off to refresh memory on how to change my own setup ::

[RedBar]

Any other ways of getting free domain name?

The cost of a domain name is so low I'm amazed that anyone would not rather have control of it from day 1 rather than wait a year or two down the line to find out the penalties. Whatever they tell you now read closely, and re-read again their small print.

Count yourself lucky you weren't thinking of this 20 years ago when they were $70 a pop.

[engine]

I agree, domains really are not expensive, unless you're going for a premium domain, of course.

Good advice about looking at the small print, especially as far as the transfer costs are concerned. Sometimes that's a good money earner for the host. It's also worth making sure the domain is registered to you, and not to the hosting company.

I'm surprised that people still fall for the domain name scams, which are still going on. I transferred one the other day, at the request of the client, and the recipient, and IT company that was providing hosting, promptly changed the domain owner to themselves. It was correctly registered to the client when it left me! Not my problem now.

[Imbahost]

Yes, it is really a good deal but read their terms of service before signing up for such offer.

[Webwork]

If your brand identity will be for the long haul then I'd never tie domain ownership and control to hosting.

Secure your brand identity to your exclusive control THEN go shopping. You can get hosting from 10,000+ providers. Your uniquely identifying Web address is a one of a kind. Don't risk losing it to small print, terms and conditions you barely understand or anything else.

[jmccormac]

For hosters and registrars, free domain promotions generally have a very poor renewal rate so the free domain offer is generally used to up-sell the customer into a hosting package. If the customer does not renew, then some hosters and registrars will bounce the domain name into their PPC monetisation programme or to their auction site, especially if it was getting enough traffic during its first year. If you do avail of such an offer, it is best to be careful about any lock-in clauses in the terms and conditions of the offer.

Regards...jmcc