What 'free' covers
The offer covers the registration fee for the first year on eligible extensions - usually .com and a handful of common ones. Premium names and niche extensions are excluded.
From year two, the domain renews at the registrar's normal rate and is billed separately from hosting. Those two renewal dates rarely line up, which is where the surprise comes from.
Things worth checking on day one
Five minutes of setup prevents the most common domain problems.
- Confirm the registration contact email is one you will still read in three years.
- Turn on WHOIS privacy if it is included, and check whether it stays free at renewal.
- Note the transfer lock - most domains cannot move registrars for 60 days after registration.
- Add the renewal date to a calendar independently of any email reminder.
Should you take it?
Yes. A year of free registration is real money and the domain is yours - you can transfer it away later if you leave the host. Just price the renewal into your comparison rather than treating it as permanently free.
Takeaway: Keep the domain, but never assume it is bundled into the hosting renewal price.