Can You Get a Free Custom Domain? The Truth About 'Free' Domains
Direct answer: A small number of paid website builder plans bundle a free domain for the first year only; there is no major mainstream website builder that provides a permanently free custom domain on its free tier.
Why Domains Cost Money at All
Domain names are leased annually through a registrar and ultimately overseen by ICANN's registry system, which charges wholesale fees builders and registrars pass on to consumers. This is true regardless of which website builder you use.
The 'Free for a Year' Bundle Trap
Several paid plans include a free domain for the first 12 months as a signup incentive, but auto-renew the following year at full registrar price, typically $12-$20 annually for a standard .com.
Your Actual Free Options
If your budget is genuinely zero, your best options are a builder-provided subdomain (like yourname.wixsite.com or yourname.blogspot.com) or a free subdomain service, understanding that a root custom domain will always carry a small annual cost from a registrar.