I have been using different web hosting services and creating websites for many years, so if you’re looking for a cheap web hosting that gives you access to cPanel and a free domain I know a few providers you can use.
Having a free domain for the first year is a sweet deal. It takes away the hassle of buying one separately and saves you some money. Keep in mind that you’ll need to renew it after the first year, but hey, it’s still a nice perk to start with.
cPanel helps managing your website in a very straightforward way, so you can easily do things like install WordPress, create email accounts, and manage your files.
Bluehost
Best For Your First Blog
Pros and Cons
- Free Domain
- Free SSL
- Cheap Renewal Costs
- 30-Days Money-Back
- Free Email - 1st Year ONLY
- Basic Customer Support
- No Free Website Backup
Why I Picked It
I like Bluehost because they’re beginner-friendly and easy on the wallet, which was perfect when I was just starting out. However, I wasn’t a huge fan of their customer service, so I eventually switched to a different host.
Who It's For
Bluehost is a good starting point for beginners creating their first blogs and looking for an affordable and easy way to do it.
However, they might not be the best option long-term because their customer support and billing practices aren’t the greatest.
Features & Specs
- 10 GB SSD Storage
- cPanel Access
- Free CDN
- DDos Security Protection
- Free WordPress Staging Site
- Free Malware Scanner
My Bluehost Experience
Bluehost provides a free domain on all of their hosting plan for the first year as well as cPanel access to manage your account for as long as you have an hosting account with them.
Their cPanel access allows you to easily upload files through your account or SSH, create email accounts, install software, and monitor your website’s performance – all in one place. It’s super user-friendly, even if you’re new to this whole website thing.
Speaking of user-friendly, Bluehost is often recommended for beginners. They offer a pretty straightforward platform and their pricing is competitive.
However, I’ve got to give you the full picture. While I started with Bluehost myself, I wasn’t completely thrilled with their customer support, especially because they only provided chat support on their cheapest hosting plan – phone support on more expensive plans.
It felt like I had to put in extra effort to get things done, which can be frustrating. Other than that everything was good.
So, while Bluehost ticks the boxes for cPanel and a free domain, I’d encourage you to keep in mind what support you’re going to be getting based on the plan that you’re buying.
Namecheap
Best For Low-Cost Shared Hosting
Pros and Cons
- Free Domain
- Free Email
- Free SSL
- Cheap Renewal Costs
- 30-Days Money-Back
- Free Domain is Not a.com Domain
- Good Customer Support
Why I Picked It
I like Namecheap website hosting because they’re affordable and I already buy my domain names from them. Their cPanel is a little tricky to figure out at first, but overall they’re a good host to create a website with, if you’re on a really tight budget.
Who It's For
Namecheap is a great option for people who are new to creating websites and are looking for affordable web hosting, especially to keep costs down.
Just a heads up, they use cPanel, which can be a bit tricky to navigate at first, but if you don’t mind that you’re all good. If you’re looking for web hosting for small businesses I recommend SiteGround instead of Namecheap.
Features & Specs
- 20 GB SSD Storage
- cPanel Access
- Free CDN
- Apache/Litespeed Server
- MySQL Databases
- PHP MyAdmin
- Free WHOIS Domain Privacy
My Namecheap Experience
Namecheap is a big name in the domain name world, and they’ve recently started offering web hosting services too. They’ve got some really sweet deals, especially if you’re just starting out with your website.
One of the cool things about Namecheap is that they offer a free domain name for the first year when you sign up for one of their annual hosting plans.
This can save you some cash upfront, which is always a bonus. However, there’s a little catch – the free domain might not be a .com. If you’re set on having a .com, you might need to look at other options or pay a little extra.
Now, let’s talk about cPanel. Namecheap uses cPanel and Softaculous for their hosting control panel. It’s super popular and gives you tons of control over your website.
However, it can be a bit overwhelming for beginners. It might take a little time to get the hang of it but if you’re here I don’t think you’ll have a problem with learning things.
Overall, Namecheap is a great option, especially with the free domain offer and cPanel access. The only downside is that the free domain may not be a .com domain.
HostGator
Best For Beginners and Bloggers
Pros and Cons
- Free Domain
- Free SSL
- Cheap Renewal Costs
- 30-Days Money-Back
- Free Email Trial - 1 Month ONLY
- Basic Customer Support
- No Free Website Backup
- No Free CDN
- No Free Website Transfer
Why I Picked It
I like HostGator because their plans are pretty straightforward, even though they’re not the absolute best and definitely not my first choice (SiteGround). I figured it’s a good starting point for someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money on web hosting.
Who It's For
HostGator is a good option for someone who is just starting out and need a simple website up and running. They’re owned by the same company as Bluehost, so their pricing and plans are pretty similar.
Features & Specs
- 10 GB SSD Storage
- cPanel Access
- MySQL databases
- phpMyAdmin access
- Free Malware Scanner
My HostGator Experience
HostGator offers a free domain for the first year on all their web hosting plans, and they give you access to cPanel within your account. They’re a decent choice for basic needs, and they generally get the job done.
However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind with HostGator. Their customer support, while helpful, isn’t the best in the industry. Also, they could be more upfront about their resource limits, which might be a concern if your website starts to grow.
Overall, a web hosting service like HostGator with cPanel and a free domain is a great place to start, especially if you’re new to websites. It simplifies things and saves you some money upfront.
Personally I really like Bluehost over HostGator as a beginner friendly cPanel for someone just using these services for the first time. But honestly any of these on the list would give you access to cPanel.
Which Web Host Would I Use For Free Domain and cPanel Access?
I would use and I’d recommend Bluehost for their free domain and user-friendly cPanel access, especially if you’re a beginner who is just starting out.
However, be aware that their customer support can be a bit lacking, so factor that in when choosing a plan. If you need an alternative to Bluehost, try Namecheap instead.
