Comparing Free Domain Suffixes on GetFreeDomain.name

Updated

GetFreeDomain.name lists free domains and subdomains in a table with columns for our rating, user rating, extra suffixes, years active, geo-targeting, indexing, TLD status, IDN support, notes, and DNS record types. To compare them, read those columns as trade-offs rather than scores: a high rating with a short "years active" figure is a newer service, while a long-running suffix with fewer DNS record types may limit what you can configure. The table is the primary decision tool, so hover over the header labels for definitions or check the glossary before choosing.

The comparison dimensions that matter

The table's columns answer different questions, and mixing them up is the most common mistake.

Column What it tells you How to use it
Our Rating The site's own assessment Treat as a starting filter, not a verdict
User Rating Visitor feedback Useful for spotting services that degraded after listing
Extra Suffixes Additional endings available under the same entry Check whether your preferred ending is actually included
Years Active How long the service has operated Longer generally means more stability, but see the News section
Geo-targetable Whether the suffix can target a country Relevant if your audience is regional
Is Indexed? Whether search engines index the domain Matters if you rely on organic search traffic
Is TLD? Whether it is a true top-level domain or a subdomain Affects how the address looks and how it is treated
Supports IDN Internationalized domain names Needed for non-Latin scripts
Notes Special conditions Read before registering — some are developer-only
DNS Records Record types you can configure Determines whether you can point the domain where you need

Reading the DNS record column

The DNS records column is the most practical filter, because it decides what you can actually do with the domain.

  • A, AAAA — point the domain at an IPv4 or IPv6 address. Needed for almost any self-hosted site.
  • CNAME — alias one name to another. Common for hosting platforms that give you a target hostname.
  • MX — email routing. Without it, you cannot receive mail on the domain.
  • TXT — verification and records such as SPF. Often required by hosting and email providers.
  • NS — delegate DNS to another provider. This is what lets you "host them wherever you prefer," as the site puts it.
  • SRV, CAA, DS, URL — service records, certificate authority authorization, DNSSEC delegation, and redirects. These appear on some entries only.

If an entry lists only A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS, SOA, and TXT, you can run a normal website and email but should not expect advanced DNSSEC or service-record setups.

Worked example: choosing between two entries

Suppose you need a domain for a developer project with email forwarding and a static site on a hosting platform.

  1. Filter for entries whose DNS Records column includes CNAME (for the hosting platform) and MX (for email).
  2. Check the Notes column. An entry marked "Be a developer" requires you to demonstrate developer status, so it is not open to everyone.
  3. Check Years Active. A figure like 6 indicates a longer track record than 1.
  4. Confirm Is TLD? if you care whether the address is a true TLD or a subdomain.
  5. Confirm Is Indexed? if you want the site to appear in search results.

Only after those filters should you weigh Our Rating and User Rating.

Limitations the table does not hide

The site's own News section is part of the comparison, because it shows how quickly free suffixes disappear:

  • Since December 2025, OpenHost Registry (.pride.ngo and similar) stopped accepting new registrations.
  • Freenom, the registry behind .tk, .ml, .ga, .cf, and .gq, announced in February 2024 that it was exiting the domain business. Since mid-January 2023 those domains have been down, with new registrations "temporarily out-of-order" and some existing domains failing DNS resolution.
  • Amazon launched .FREE in April 2025.

A suffix with a strong rating today can become unavailable, so treat "Years Active" and the News section together rather than trusting a rating alone. Also note the site's claim that these domains "work exactly like dot-coms" for practical purposes — that is a statement about function, not about permanence or search treatment.

What to check before you register

  • Whether the entry is a TLD or a subdomain — subdomains depend on the operator continuing to run the parent domain.
  • Whether IDN support is listed, if you need non-Latin characters.
  • Whether the Notes column imposes conditions such as developer status.
  • Whether the DNS records you need are actually supported, especially NS if you plan to use your own DNS provider.
  • Whether the suffix is geo-targetable and indexed, if visibility matters to you.

The table is updated over time, so re-check the entry before committing, and read the glossary for any column whose meaning is unclear.