Overview
DreamHost provides new Shared (Shared Starter and Shared Unlimited), VPS, and DreamPress customers on annual plans with one free domain registration credit per account for the first year, which can be used toward a .blog, .club, .co, .com, .design, .gay, .info, .ink, .io, .me, .net, .online, .org, .shop, .site, .store, .tattoo, .tech, .tv, .us, .wiki, or .xyz domain.
To qualify for one free domain registration credit for the first full year, you must sign up for a new DreamHost account with a 1-year or 3-year annual plan on a Shared Starter, Shared Unlimited, VPS, or any annual DreamPress plan (monthly Shared or monthly DreamPress plans do not apply). This free credit is NOT available under any other hosting plan.
You must also use the free registration within the first three months of your annual Shared/DreamPress plan. If you do not use the free registration within the first three months, it will expire and no longer be available to use.
Visit the following pages to view more details:
The price of a transfer may differ from the price of a renewal. Visit the following pages for updated pricing information:
What is the free registration program?
When you sign up for a new account with an annual Shared Starter, Shared Unlimited, or VPS hosting plan or any annual DreamPress plan:
- You receive one (1) registration credit for free per DreamHost account.
- You can use this registration credit to register a new domain name (.blog, .club, .co, .com, .design, .gay, .info, .ink, .io, .me, .net, .online, .org, .shop, .site, .store, .tattoo, .tech, .tv, .us, .wiki, or .xyz).
If you use (or transfer) the free domain registration and then close your 'Shared Starter'/'Shared Unlimited' hosting or DreamPress plan before your annual period has completed, you are responsible for the registration cost for which the credit was used. Usually, this amount is deducted from your refund unless a balance is due on the account before you cancel. You also continue to own the domain name until it expires.
FAQs
How can I check if I have a free credit on my account?
If you have a registration in your account
You can check this in your panel on the Manage Registrations page.
If you have a free credit available, the price for the renewal of the selected domains mentioned above is listed as “$0.00”.
For an example, please refer to the following screenshot:
If this page shows a fee listed for your .blog, .club, .co, .com, .design, .gay, .info, .ink, .io, .me, .net, .online, .org, .shop, .site, .store, .tattoo, .tech, .tv, .us, .wiki, or .xyz domain renewal, this means that your free credit has already been used for the year.
If you DO NOT have a registration in your account
If no registrations are listed on this page, you can register a new domain using the Search Domain Names box toward the top of the page:
To the right, you will see a message confirming a free credit is available.
I have DreamPress and Shared Unlimited — how many free domain registrations am I eligible for?
One. Adding additional hosting services will not provide extra domain registrations if you have already received a free domain registration with an eligible hosting service.
Who owns the free registration? DreamHost or me?
You are the full owner of the domain registration that you use the credit towards.
Can I use the credit for other services?
No. This credit cannot be used toward any other services or items.
If the registration is transferred away to another company, can I renew it at that other company for free?
No. The free domain credit only applies to domains managed through your DreamHost panel.
On what type of registrations can I use the free registration credit?
While DreamHost does offer many different domain extensions, the free credit is only available for use on the following standard domains:
- .blog
- .club
- .co
- .com
- .design
- .gay
- .info
- .ink
- .io
- .me
- .net
- .online
- .org
- .shop
- .site
- .store
- .tattoo
- .tech
- .tv
- .us
- .wiki
- .xyz
The credit cannot be used for specialty domains or international country-specific domains.
I used my free credit for one registration but intended to use it for another. Can this be changed?
Yes. DreamHost support can assist you with applying the free credit toward a different domain if requested. An example would be if you renewed two domains simultaneously but wanted the credit used on one domain instead of the other. Please note that the free credit change would not involve changing your payment amount. If the free credit change results in a positive balance on your account, the balance would be applied to future charges as they arise.
DreamHost understands that some customers are resellers and have a reason to use the credit for a specific domain listed on their invoices. Please contact support on the Contact Support page if you need assistance.
When closing my account, do I have to pay for my free domain registration?
View the following article for details on how a free registration is billed when closing an account.
