Is Hostinger Good For Domain? Find Out The Truth

Introduction

Did you know over 3 million websites are hosted using Hostinger? That’s 5% of all WordPress websites. Hostinger is very powerful regarding affordability and value; it is at the next level. I have been using Hostinger for almost 1 year, and Hostinger also hosts the website you see.

If you purchase a Plus subscription, you will get a domain for free when you buy any hosting plan.

Many articles are available on this topic, but this article covers all the important points. I covered every single point on this topic.

Hostinger’s Domain Services Overview

When I started using it, there were only about ten domain extensions (e.g., .com, .net, .co.uk) available, but now I see that there are many domain extensions here. There are 100+ extensions available, including country name domains like .co.uk, .ie, etc.

You can also use a temporary domain; it is completely free if you have their hosting plan. A temporary domain looks something like dodgerblue-duck-249679.hostingersite.com

1. Domain Pricing at Hostinger

Also, Hostinger charges more for renewal. A Hostinger hosting plan costs around $35 a year. Using my affiliate link costs around $29, and they provide a one-year free domain.

Here is a list of the most popular domains that hosting a provide

Here is a list of the most popular domains that hostinger and other domain registrars provide

Note: Please note that prices can vary on discount offers, etc

2. Free Domain with Hosting – Is It a Smart Deal?

I said earlier that hostinger provides not only hostinger but that almost every hosting company offers a free domain with their hosting plan if you purchase their premium plan, which comes at US$ 35.88 with an affiliate link; it comes to $29. They provide a domain for free, no matter what domain TLD you want.

Here are other hosting companies that also provide domains with their hosting

Top Hosting Companies (with Free Domain – 1 Year)

3. WHOIS Privacy Protection – Do You Have to Pay?

What is Whois protection? When you purchase a domain, you have to fill out your information, such as your name, address, phone number, email, etc., and it is saved in the WHOIS database.

This means anyone can look up your private data, so will you allow someone else to look at it? That’s where WHOIS Privacy Protection comes in.

WHOIS Privacy Protection (sometimes called domain privacy) is a shield for your info. Without it, anyone can look up your name, email, address—everything you used when registering the domain. That’s just asking for spam, marketing calls, or worse.

Here’s the thing — some hosting providers give you WHOIS protection completely free, which is honestly great. Namecheap and Hostinger, for example, usually include it by default at no extra charge. But yeah, others like GoDaddy might make you pay yearly just to keep your info hidden, which feels a bit unnecessary.

So yeah, if staying low-key online matters to you (and let’s be honest, it should), picking a host that gives you free WHOIS privacy is a smart move. It saves you a bit of cash and keeps those annoying spam emails out of your inbox.

WHOIS Privacy Protection Comparison

4. Domain Management Tools – What’s Inside?

Domain management tools are the features provided by your hosting or domain provider that let you control your domain settings—like DNS records, subdomains, email forwarding, and redirects—all from one dashboard.

Since I have been using Hostinger for a long time, I really like their dashboard. Everything you need for domain management is in one place—redirects, DNS, ownership settings—you name it. It’s clean, fast, and beginner-friendly.

Here’s what you can manage from the Hostinger dashboard:

• DNS Records – You can easily edit A, CNAME, MX, TXT, and other records.
  
• Subdomains – Create and manage subdomains in just a few clicks.
  
• Redirects – Set up 301 or temporary redirects easily.
  
• Email Forwarding – Forward emails from your domain to your inbox.
  
• WHOIS Ownership Info – Verify or update domain ownership details.
  
• Nameservers – Change or customize nameservers if needed.
  
• Auto-Renew Settings – Turn domain auto-renewal on or off as per your choice.
  

Other providers offer these tools, too, but Hostinger’s layout makes things simple—even if you’re not that technical. I’ve used its tools many times to create subdomains and redirects without needing support.

5. Security Features – Is Your Domain Safe?

When I first got my domain from Hostinger, I didn’t think much about security features. But later, I realized these small things can save your website from big risks.

Domain Locking is available by default on Hostinger. This helps protect your domain from accidental transfers or hijacking. You can find it easily in the domain panel, and I always turn it on.

SSL Certificates? Hostinger gives them free with every hosting plan—even on the cheapest plan. You don’t need to worry about buying one unless you need something like an EV SSL for an advanced business site.

DDoS Protection and DNS Security are handled by Hostinger’s systems. From my experience, I’ve never faced downtime or weird DNS issues. Plus, if you want extra control, you can use Cloudflare DNS with Hostinger—it’s supported and easy to set up.

So overall, Hostinger handles security better than I expected when I first signed up.

6. Domain Transfer – Easy or a Headache?

Personally, I have used Hostinger’s Hostinger-to-Hostinger domain migration. It was very smooth. I haven’t transferred a domain from one registrar to another yet, but I know a lot about how it works.

Yes, you can transfer domains to Hostinger or from Hostinger to other providers. It’s not hard at all. Just search something like:
“How to transfer domain from Hostinger to GoDaddy” or replace with your registrar’s name — and follow the official step-by-step guide.

Costs and Duration

Transferring usually costs the same as renewing a domain (around $10–15) and may take up to 5–7 days. Most registrars also give you 1-year renewal free during the transfer.

Can You Leave Hostinger Easily?

Yes, Hostinger allows you to transfer your domain without problems. Just unlock the domain, get the EPP code, and follow your new registrar’s guide.

7. Domain Renewal Policies – Don’t Lose Your Domain!

Personally, the domain renewal price was a bit disappointing for me. At first, the .com domain I purchased from Hostinger was $9.99, but when it came time to renew, it became $16.99. That’s around a 70% increase, which I didn’t expect.

But this kind of price jump is not just with Hostinger. Most domain providers give discounts for the first year, but then increase the price when you renew.

Namecheap, for example, is more transparent. Their .com domains usually start at $5.98 for the first year, and renew at $13.98. So, yes, there’s an increase, but not as much as Hostinger. They also include free WHOIS protection, which adds extra value.
→ Renewal increase: 133.73%

GoDaddy gives very cheap first-year prices, sometimes even under $1, but the renewal jumps to around $19.99. They also charge extra for WHOIS privacy, which can make it even more expensive.
→ Renewal increase: Around 1,900% depending on your first-year price

Google Domains (now under Squarespace) had stable pricing. The domain price for .com was $12, and the renewal was the same. WHOIS privacy was also included for free. After the move to Squarespace, this may change, so it’s good to check before you buy.
→ Renewal increase: 0% (before transition)

NameSilo is one of the few that keeps pricing simple. You buy a .com for around $9.95, and the renewal stays the same. They also provide WHOIS protection for free.
→ Renewal increase: 0%

So, before buying a domain, always check the renewal price. First-year offers may look cheap, but what really matters is how much you’ll pay later.

8. Email Hosting Linked to Your Domain

One of the most valuable aspects of purchasing a domain is that it provides free email. It is completely free and offers a very professional appearance. For example, if your website name is webwishcreation.com, you can get a professional email like info@webwishcreation.com without spending any money.

​Hostinger offers email accounts as part of its hosting plans, with the number of free email accounts varying based on the plan you choose:​

• Single Web Hosting Plan: Includes 1 free email account.​
• Premium Web Hosting Plan: Provides up to 25 free email accounts.​
• Business Web Hosting Plan: Offers up to 50 free email accounts.​

Each of these free email accounts comes with 1 GB of storage per mailbox. 

If you require more storage or additional features, Hostinger offers Business Email plans:​

• Business Starter: Provides 10 GB of storage per mailbox.​
• Business Premium: Offers 50 GB of storage per mailbox.

9. Pros and Cons of Using Hostinger for Domains

Let’s talk straight.

After using Hostinger for nearly a year, I’ve seen both the bright side and the things that made me pause. I won’t hype it up just for the sake of it. Here’s what I personally liked and what didn’t sit well with me.

Pros

1. Affordable First-Year Pricing
   This is honestly one of the main reasons I picked Hostinger. For someone starting out, or even running a basic business site, getting hosting and a domain at this price is a solid start.
   
2. Everything Under One Roof
   Managing hosting and domains from one place just makes life easier. You don’t have to switch platforms or figure out which nameserver goes where. It’s all inside Hostinger’s dashboard.
   
3. Simple, Beginner-Friendly Tools
   Hostinger’s dashboard is one of the cleanest I’ve used. No clutter, no technical confusion. Even when I first started, I could figure things out on my own without contacting support.
   
4. Free Email and WHOIS Protection (For Most Domains)
   This was a bonus I didn’t expect at first. Getting a custom email like info@yourdomain.com without paying extra feels good when you’re setting up a site seriously.
   

Cons

1. High Renewal Costs
   I didn’t like this part. My .com domain renewal shot up from $9.99 to $16.99. That’s almost double. Most companies do this trick where they give you a good first-year deal, then hike the price when it’s time to renew.
   
2. WHOIS Privacy Not Always Free
   For common domains like .com and .net, WHOIS privacy is free. But for some TLDs, you won’t get that unless you pay. I found this out the hard way while buying another domain.
   
3. No Backordering or Domain Auctions
   If your goal is to chase expiring domains or bid on premium names, you won’t find those tools here. Hostinger is more focused on website building than domain investing.
   

So overall, if your main goal is building a website, getting started quickly, and keeping your setup simple—Hostinger is great. But if you’re deep into domain flipping or advanced stuff, this might not be the platform for that.

10. Other Benefits of Hostinger Domain

1. Customer Support – Can They Help You Fast?

Support matters when something breaks. Hostinger’s live chat is fast—I’ve used it multiple times and usually got replies in under 1 minute. They also have a detailed knowledge base where I’ve solved most of my issues without even contacting support. Email support is there too, but I rarely needed it. Overall, support has been smooth and helpful.

2. User Reviews and Real-World Feedback

Before I started using Hostinger, I checked places like Trustpilot and Reddit. Most people praised the simple interface, fast setup, and good pricing. And honestly, I agree. It’s not the most advanced platform out there, but for small businesses, personal websites, or beginners—it does the job well without overwhelming you.

FAQs

These are the kinds of questions I personally had when I was figuring things out. You might be wondering the same, so here’s what I found out along the way.

Conclusion – Should You Use Hostinger for Domains?

So, here’s where I wrap it all up.

If you’re someone who wants to build a professional website, have everything in one place, and save some money in the first year—Hostinger is a great pick. I’ve been using it for my projects, and the experience has been smooth overall.

But, if your focus is just domains—buying, selling, managing lots of them—then I’d say look at platforms like Namecheap or even NameSilo. They’re more domain-focused, while Hostinger is more about the full website package.

At the end of the day, it depends on what you’re trying to build. I always say this—choose the tool that fits your actual need, not just what everyone else is using.

I hope this article helped clarify the full picture of Hostinger’s domain services. If you’re still confused or stuck, I’ve been there, too, and I’m always happy to help.