Short answer: you can get a free .com domain for the first year in Nigeria by buying yearly hosting that includes one. At SiloLobby, every yearly Tubor shared hosting plan (from ₦2,500/month) and every yearly WordPress hosting plan includes a free .com for the first year, once per account. After that, it renews at ₦15,500 a year, the same as our normal .com price.
"Free domain" offers are everywhere, and many of them are good value. Some, however, come with conditions that cost you later. This guide explains how free domains really work, how to claim one with SiloLobby, and what to check before you accept any free domain offer.
Why a domain cannot be free forever
Every .com domain is paid for every year. Registrars pay a yearly fee to the registry (Verisign for .com) plus an ICANN fee, for every domain they manage. So when a company offers a "free" domain, it is paying that cost for you, usually because you bought something else, such as a year of hosting.
That is why free domains:
- are tied to a hosting purchase,
- normally cover only the first year,
- renew at a regular price from year two.
There is nothing wrong with this, as long as you know the renewal price in advance.
How to get a free .com at SiloLobby
- Search for your name on our domain search to check that the .com is available.
- Choose a yearly hosting plan: any Tubor shared hosting plan or WordPress hosting plan, billed yearly.
- Add your .com in the cart as the domain for your hosting. The first year shows as free.
- Pay by card, bank transfer or wallet balance in naira.
- Your domain is registered in your name and your hosting is set up automatically.
Who qualifies
| Plan | Billing | Free .com |
|---|---|---|
| Tubor Lite, Basic, Pro and Max | Yearly | Yes, first year |
| WordPress Starter and Business | Yearly | Yes, first year |
| Any hosting plan | Monthly | No |
| Budget hosting | Monthly or yearly | No |
| Website development packages | One-time | A .com, .ng or .com.ng is included |
The free .com is given once per account. If you buy a second hosting plan, the domain for it is charged at the normal price.
What it costs after the first year
From year two, your .com renews at our regular price of ₦15,500 a year. We do not use a low first-year price and a high renewal: the price you see for a .com is the price you renew at.
This matters because some offers that look free cost much more later. A common pattern elsewhere is a free or very cheap first year, then a renewal price far above the normal market rate. Over three years, a "free" domain with a high renewal can cost more than a domain you paid a fair price for from the start. See domain prices in Nigeria: registration, renewal and transfer for how to compare.
Things to check before accepting any free domain
- The renewal price. Ask what the domain costs in year two and after.
- Who owns it. The domain should be registered in your name, not the provider's. Check the registrant details in your account.
- Transfer rules. You should be able to move the domain to another registrar (after the first 60 days, as ICANN rules require) without extra fees or delays.
- What happens if you cancel the hosting. At SiloLobby the domain stays yours; you simply renew it at the normal price.
- Privacy. Check whether WHOIS privacy is included so your personal details are not published. See what is WHOIS privacy.
Free .com or a Nigerian domain?
A .com is the best-known domain extension in the world and suits businesses that sell beyond Nigeria. A .com.ng or .ng tells visitors at once that you are a Nigerian business, and many customers trust it for local services.
| Extension | Price per year | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| .com | ₦15,500 (free first year with yearly hosting) | Brands with international reach |
| .com.ng | ₦7,500 | Nigerian businesses |
| .ng | ₦15,000 | Short, memorable Nigerian brands |
Many businesses register both: the free .com with their hosting, and a .com.ng that points to the same website, so nobody else can take it. Read .ng vs .com.ng vs .com for help deciding.
Making the most of your free domain
Once your free .com is registered:
- Set up email on it. Unlimited email accounts are included with Tubor plans, so you can create hello@yourbusiness.com straight away. See how to create a business email address.
- Turn on auto-renewal by keeping funds in your wallet, so the domain never expires by accident.
- Add it to Google with a Google Business Profile and Search Console.
- Use it everywhere: on your flyers, social media profiles, invoices and WhatsApp business profile.
What if my .com is taken?
If the .com you want is already registered:
- Try a .com.ng or .ng with the same name.
- Add a word that describes your business or city, such as adabakeslagos.com.
- Avoid hyphens and numbers, which people misspell.
See how to choose a domain name for your business for more ideas.
What a free .com really costs over three years
Here is what you pay for the domain alone with SiloLobby, using our regular price:
| Year | What you pay for the .com |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Free with yearly Tubor or WordPress hosting |
| Year 2 | ₦15,500 |
| Year 3 | ₦15,500 |
Compare this with any other offer by writing down the same three lines. If the renewal price is not shown before you pay, ask for it in writing.
After you claim it: the first week
Once the order is paid, a few simple steps make sure your new domain works for you:
- Check your contact details. Make sure the registrant name, email and phone in your client area are correct. Registries send important notices to that email address.
- Confirm your email address. ICANN rules require the registrant email to be verified. Click the link in the verification email you receive, or the domain can be suspended.
- Wait for DNS to update. A new domain usually starts working within a few hours. Your hosting is already connected, so there is nothing to change.
- Check SSL. Your free certificate is issued automatically once the domain points to your hosting. Visit your site with https:// to confirm the padlock.
- Create your first mailbox in cPanel, and connect it to your phone.
Moving a domain you already have
If you already own a .com with another registrar, the free first year does not apply to a transfer, but transfers are simple and include a year of renewal. See how to transfer a domain to SiloLobby. You can then use that domain with any of our hosting plans.
Summary
A free .com is a genuine saving when it comes with hosting you need anyway and renews at a fair price. With SiloLobby, buy any yearly Tubor or WordPress hosting plan and your .com is free for the first year, then renews at ₦15,500, with no surprise jump in year two.