Are WordPress Domains Free?

This question trips people up because WordPress.com and WordPress.org are two genuinely different things, and the answer to this question depends entirely on which one you mean. It is one of the most common points of confusion for anyone starting out, so it is worth clearing up properly.

The short version: a free WordPress.com subdomain costs nothing, but a proper custom domain, the kind that looks professional and builds trust, almost always involves a fee somewhere. This article explains exactly where that line sits.

WordPress.com Free Plans

If you sign up for a free plan directly through WordPress.com, you are given a subdomain at no cost, something like yoursite.wordpress.com. This is genuinely free, with no catch attached to the domain itself.

• The subdomain is free for as long as your free WordPress.com account remains active
• It includes the wordpress.com branding as part of the address, which is not ideal for a professional business presence
• Free plans also come with other limitations, such as restricted storage, limited design customisation and adverts on your site

For a personal hobby blog or small side project where branding doesn’t matter, this genuinely costs nothing. For a business, it is rarely the right choice, since a WordPress.com address in your web address looks unpolished to visitors.

Custom Domains on WordPress.com

To use your own custom domain, such as yourbusiness.co.uk, on WordPress.com, you need to either buy one through their platform or connect one purchased elsewhere. Either way, this involves an ongoing annual fee, typically renewed every year, since domain registration itself is never a one-off, permanently free purchase from anyone.

• WordPress.com sometimes bundles a free domain for the first year with certain paid plans, which can create the impression that domains themselves are free
• After that first year, the domain renews at the standard annual rate, whether through WordPress.com or an external registrar
• Domain pricing varies by extension; a .co.uk domain typically costs less annually than many others

Self-Hosted WordPress.org

This is the version most business websites actually run on, downloaded free of charge from WordPress.org and installed on your own hosting. The WordPress software itself genuinely costs nothing, but you are entirely responsible for sourcing and paying for your own domain and hosting separately.

• The WordPress.org software is free, open source, and always will be
• A domain name must be registered and renewed annually through a domain registrar, which is a separate cost from WordPress itself
• Hosting, where the site’s files actually live, is also a separate, ongoing cost, distinct from both the software and the domain

This is worth understanding clearly, because it explains why a self-hosted WordPress site is never entirely free, even though the core software has no licence fee attached to it.

So Where Does the Cost Actually Sit?

☐  The WordPress software itself, whether via WordPress.org or WordPress.com’s free tier, costs nothing

☐  A branded subdomain like yoursite.wordpress.com is genuinely free

☐  A custom domain, yourname.com or yourbusiness.co.uk, always involves an annual registration fee somewhere

☐  Hosting for a self-hosted WordPress.org site is a separate, ongoing cost not included in the software itself

☐  A free first year offered as part of a paid plan is a promotion, not a genuinely free domain long term

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a completely free custom domain for my business?

Not on a genuinely ongoing basis. Some providers offer a free first year as part of a paid hosting or plan package, but the domain itself will renew at a standard annual fee after that. Anyone offering a permanently free custom domain is usually bundling the cost into something else, such as advertising placed on your site.

Is a free WordPress.com subdomain bad for SEO?

Search engines don’t automatically penalise it, but it can affect how trustworthy your site looks to visitors and limit your branding options. For a serious business presence, a proper custom domain is generally worth the modest annual cost for credibility alone, separate from any direct SEO impact.

How much does a custom domain actually cost per year?

It varies by extension and registrar, but a standard .co.uk or .com domain typically costs a relatively modest amount annually, often less than a coffee a month. Some premium or highly sought-after domain names cost considerably more, particularly short, memorable ones.

Do I need to buy my domain and hosting from the same company?

No. You can buy domains and hosting from different providers and connect them, which is common practice and sometimes more cost-effective. That said, buying both from the same provider can simplify management for anyone who prefers fewer accounts to track.

What happens if I stop paying for my domain?

The domain will eventually expire and become available for anyone else to register, at which point your website and any email addresses using that domain will stop working. Registrars typically send renewal reminders and offer a grace period, but it’s worth setting up automatic renewal to avoid losing a domain you rely on.

Confused About Domains and Hosting Costs?

If you want a clear, honest breakdown of what a domain, hosting, and a proper WordPress site will actually cost for your business, get in touch for a straightforward conversation with no obligation and no sales pitch.