what is the best way to recognize reliable free domain ?

There are often offers to get a domain for $0.99 so there is not much point using a free domain.

Originally Posted by oliverneely

There are often offers to get a domain for $0.99 so there is not much point using a free domain.

Other than .99 cents...what do you see as the difference?

Originally Posted by Jim Gillum

Other than .99 cents...what do you see as the difference?

I see the $0.99 one being a contract while the free domain is on life support.

I have seen hosting companies which offer free domains as a bonus for using their services.

Paid is more trustworthy IMHO.

You're better off just buying a recognised TLD, .com, .net, .org or something similar.

Free domains tend to be extremely spammed up, thus search engines HATE them!

crazydomains.com is offering free .asia domains....not sure 100% free!!!! but that's what their site says.... if you like .asia then try crazydomains.....
but i would recommend you to go with other ggtlds like .com/.net/.info etc.....

Originally Posted by Obosh

crazydomains.com is offering free .asia domains....not sure 100% free!!!! but that's what their site says.... if you like .asia then try crazydomains.....
but i would recommend you to go with other ggtlds like .com/.net/.info etc.....

Their.asia domain is 100% free and works. Crazy Domains also has their .com tld on sale for $3.00 right now.

1and1.com is offering 1$ .com domain name for the first year. You may try them.

Originally Posted by LeoJames

1and1.com is offering 1$ .com domain name for the first year. You may try them.

No one in their right mind would use 1 and 1. If they were giving domains away for free I wouldn't touch it. We won't even take on a new client that uses 1 and 1 unless they did their own transfer out to another registrar.

http://www.webhostingreviews.com/1and1-reviews.htm

Originally Posted by LeoJames

1and1.com is offering 1$ .com domain name for the first year. You may try them.

True but watch out for the auto-renewal that comes month before your domain expires...It will renew sometimes at absurd rates ($20+!).

and charge an exorbitant fee to transfer them.

If I'm going to run a serious business then I would never think of using free domain or hosting.

Domain name is very important for your business and it should be too secure. Better if you use Godaddy and other similar providers for better security and flexibility as well.

I wouldn't trust someone using a free domain, so I wouldn't expect anyone to trust me. Even with paid domains there are ones that are regarded as more legitimate than others.

If someone wants money off of me, I want them to at least have been professional enough to have bought their own domain.

Gandi is offering free 1 year .ME domain for Mozilla Thunderbird user. You just need to register from inside Thunderbird and thats pretty much it. Gandi is establish registrar in Europe.

Screenshot : imgur.com/a/rpfFi#0
Source : gandi.net/news/en/2012-11-13/821-thunderbird_.me_and_gandi_too

There are providers offering .eu for cca 1.50 USD, it is not exactly .com, but definitely much better than a free .tk.

Free domains comes with the plans only. Isn't?

Originally Posted by mit

Free domains comes with the plans only. Isn't?

As far as I know yes, but here's a link where I talked about the downside of free domains with a hoster plan, the live link I provided in the thread is still active.

Thread Post #47

I think free domains are provided by many hosts, it's a bonus for using their services.