Free domain offers aren't all they're cracked up to be

One perk offered with web hosting packages these days is a free domain. If you sign up for several months, many providers are willing to register any major TLD for you.

This may look like a good way to save money at first glance, but read the fine print. Most web hosts who offer this sort of deal have a clause in their terms stating that if you cancel the hosting account, you must pay them the yearly registration fee. This seems reasonable enough until you discover providers will often charge as much as £15 for a domain.

Your best bet is to register your domain with a registrar unaffiliated with your web host. While the alternative would most likely be perfectly safe, why needlessly put all your eggs in one basket? If there is ever a major technical or billing issue, having your domain elsewhere not only makes switching easier, but also gives you more bargaining power with the host.

Photo | Flickr