Last Updated on December 24, 2014
There is an endless debate going on the web between web developers and search ending optimizers as to how bad free second-level subdomains and free top-level domains really suck compared to premium paid domains.
Some will swear that “content is key”, no matter what your site’s URL, you will always be #1 in the search engine results pages (SERPs) as long as you have the most relevant, fresh, and abundant content. Others will put it on their mothers’ souls that if you don’t have a top-level domain (TLD) name, then anyone with relevant content that does will outrank you in the SERPs.
I’m Not Going to Fuel the Debate – I’m Just Showing You the Key Pros and Cons of Both Free and Paid Domains!
The Pros of a Paid Domain
With the purchase of a premium paid domain, you will enjoy the use of a full featured DNS manager to handle pretty much everything you will need of your domain. Paid domains generally have no guidelines or restrictions as to what uses the domain name can be put toward, unless you are severely breaking a law or code of ethics. Top-Level paid domains are usually easier to get ranked higher in the SERPs for high-traffic SEO keywords when the competition is mainly second-level subdomains. Your premium top-level domain will also look the most professional, be easier to remember, and be the most reliable as long as you remember to pay for it!
The Pros of a Free Domain or Subdomain
A free domain or subdomain is free, so that’s always a good pro point #1. Free domains only take a few moments to sign up for. Plus, it’s typically fairly simple to point your free domain to your web host or whatever IP address you need it redirected to using the tools provided by the domain registrar!
The Cons of a Paid Domain
A premium paid domain costs hard-earned cash, (unless you pay with Bitcoin – but that’s covered in another post,) so that’s definitely con #1. As white-collared as it may seem, the time spent to actually choose a paid domain, and then figure out the best/cheapest place to buy/register it, can be lengthy and tedious. Also, some premium domain registrars will have immensely over-complicated DNS managers, so configuring things can be a pain for some beginners.
The Cons of a Free Domain or Subdomain
Free domains and subdomains suffer from quite a few cons – the first and biggest probably the fact that you will have limited DNS features which could be problematic for an advanced user. Free domains usually have certain guidelines for the registry of domains regarding site content, use, and/or geographic regions. You might suffer in high-traffic competition for certain SEO keywords if using an irrelevant free domain or subdomain. Plus, your free domain or subdomain can give off a less-than-professional tone, be harder for users to remember, and perhaps even be unreliable if you ever forget to re-register it or the registrar/provider ever decides to stop offering free (sub)domains!
Pros of Paid Domain
Full Use of DNS Features
Limited or NO Guidelines
Appear Most Professional
Better Competitive SEO
Easier to Remember
Reliable
Pros of Free (Sub)Domain
Free of Charge
Easy to Acquire
Easy Setup
Cons of Paid Domain
Costs Money
Time Spent Choosing & Comparing
Confusing Setup for Newbies
Cons of Free (Sub)Domain
Limited DNS Features
Strict Guidelines
Amateur Appearance
Less Competitive SEO
Harder to Remember
Unreliable
Reasons To Use a Paid Domain:
- Business/Company Website
- Non-Profit/Organization Website
- Large-Scale Marketing/E-Commerce Website
- Professional Blog
Reason to Use a Free (Sub)Domain:
- Personal Blog
- Informational Website
- Local/Community/Family Website
- Game Guild/Clan/Alliance Website
- Small-Scale (Niche) Marketing/E-Commerce Website
That about sums it up! If this article has swayed your stance one way or the other, feel free to check out the other posts on picking up a free top-level or second-level domain. Also, if you are ready to skip the free stuff and buy your premium domain, I recommend WebsiteSpot for the cheapest domains, GoDaddy for the most extras and features, and NameCheap for a mix of price and features.
John started JSnowCreations as a place to post random tech guides and product reviews. However, while shopping for his daughter’s first “big girl” bed in 2019 he learned about the hidden dangers of fiberglass in mattresses. Since then, John has made it his mission to expose as much hidden fiberglass in mattresses as possible. His ultimate goal is federal regulations that ban fiberglass from being used in mattresses, or at least a law that require it to be listed in the material tags.