Getting a truly free domain and hosting for a WordPress website is a popular goal for beginners, students, or anyone who wants to experiment without a financial commitment. While many providers offer "free" options, it's crucial to understand the limitations and what you're actually getting.

In 2024, the landscape of free hosting has become more defined. You typically have two primary options: a hosted platform like WordPress.com or a traditional free web host.

Option 1: Using a Hosted Platform (WordPress.com)
This is the most straightforward and simplest way to get a free WordPress site.

How it works:

WordPress.com is a managed service that uses the core WordPress software.

They handle all the hosting, security, and maintenance for you.

You don't need to manually install WordPress.

What you get for free:

Hosting: Fully managed, reliable hosting.

Domain: A free subdomain, such as yourname.wordpress.com.

Storage: A limited amount of storage (typically around 1 GB).

Features: Basic themes and plugins are available.

Limitations:

No custom domain: You can't use a domain like yourname.com on the free plan. To do so, you must upgrade to a paid plan.

Limited customization: You can't install custom plugins or themes. The free version is a "walled garden," which restricts your ability to fully customize the site's functionality.

Ads: WordPress.com may place their own ads on your site.

No monetization: You cannot run your own ads or monetize the site with affiliate links on the free plan.

Best for: Personal blogs, portfolios, or small projects where you don't need a custom domain or advanced features.

Option 2: Using a Free Web Hosting Provider
These services offer a more traditional hosting environment where you can install the self-hosted version of WordPress (WordPress.org). This gives you more control and flexibility.

How it works:

You sign up for a free hosting account.

Most of these providers offer a "one-click" WordPress installer, making the setup process easy.

You can often use your own custom domain (if you purchase one separately) or use a free subdomain provided by the host.

What to look for (and what to expect):

Free Hosting Providers:

000webhost: A popular choice for beginners, owned by Hostinger. It offers a cPanel for easy management, a one-click WordPress installer, and often comes with a free subdomain.

InfinityFree: Known for its "unlimited" features, including unlimited bandwidth and disk space (within fair use). It also allows you to host your own custom domain for free.

AccuWeb Hosting: They offer a free WordPress hosting plan for one year. It's a great way to test out a more robust hosting service before committing. However, you will need to pay after the trial period.

FreeHosting.com: Provides free hosting with 10 GB of storage and unmetered bandwidth, along with a free subdomain.

Free Domain Options (with these hosts):

Free Subdomains: All of the above-mentioned hosts offer free subdomains (e.g., yoursite.000webhostapp.com). This is how you get a "free domain" without any cost.

Free Domain for One Year (with purchase): Some paid hosting providers, like Hostinger and Bluehost, offer a "free domain for one year" with the purchase of a paid plan. This is not a truly free option, but it can be a good value if you plan to upgrade later.

The Ultimate Guide to Getting Started for Free
Step 1: Choose Your Path
Decide if you want the simplicity of WordPress.com or the control of a free web hosting provider. For a first-time user, WordPress.com is the easiest. For someone who wants to learn the ins and outs of WordPress, a free web host is a better choice.

Step 2: Sign Up with a Provider

If you chose a web host (e.g., InfinityFree): Go to their website and sign up for the free plan. You'll need to create an account and follow their instructions.

If you chose a hosted platform (WordPress.com): Go to their website and click "Start your site." You'll be prompted to choose a name and start building immediately.

Step 3: Get Your Domain (or Subdomain)

If you're using a free web host, you'll be given the option to register a free subdomain (e.g., yourblog.infinityfree.com) or use a custom domain. For a truly free setup, use the free subdomain.

On WordPress.com, the subdomain is automatically generated for you.

Step 4: Install WordPress (for web hosts)

After you sign up and log in to your hosting account, look for the Softaculous Apps Installer or a similar one-click installer in your control panel (cPanel).

Find the WordPress icon and click "Install."

Follow the on-screen prompts to set up your username, password, and site title.

Step 5: Start Building Your Website

Log in to your new WordPress dashboard using the credentials you created.

From here, you can start customizing your site by installing themes and plugins (on a free web host) or by using the built-in customization tools (on WordPress.com).

The Bottom Line:
While you can't get a yourname.com domain for free in the long run, you can absolutely get a fully functional, free WordPress website with a subdomain. These free options are perfect for personal projects, learning to code, or testing a business idea before investing in paid hosting and a custom domain.