If you’re building a site on Framer, you no longer have to pay extra just to give it a clean, professional URL. With Framer’s “Free Custom Domains” update, you can now claim a discounted or fully free domain for the first year when you upgrade to a yearly plan.

This guide walks you through how the Framer free custom domain offer works, who it’s for, and how to connect a custom domain in a few clicks so your website looks polished from day one.

Quick summary

  • Framer offers a free or discounted custom domain for the first year when you upgrade to a yearly plan.
  • The promotion is powered by a partnership with Hover, which handles domain registration and DNS.
  • You can only redeem this offer once per subscription and only on yearly plans.
  • After the first year, the domain renews at the standard Hover rate, and you manage it in your Hover dashboard.
  • You either claim a new domain through Framer or connect an existing one from any registrar.

What is Framer’s free custom domain offer?

Framer now lets creators and small businesses claim a custom domain for the first year at no extra cost when they upgrade their site to a yearly plan. This is designed to help you launch a professional brand‑friendly URL (like yourbrand.com) without shopping around for a separate domain registrar.

The offer is delivered through a partnership with Hover, a domain‑hosting platform that handles registration, DNS, and renewals behind the scenes. When you choose a domain through Framer, it’s automatically linked to your site and configured so your visitors reach the right Framer‑hosted pages.

Who can get a free custom domain on Framer?

Framer’s free custom domain promotion is only available under specific conditions:

  • You must upgrade to a yearly plan (for example, Basic, Mini, or higher tiers).
  • The offer can be redeemed once per subscription, not multiple times across projects.
  • The domain is new registration only; you can’t stack this offer on an already‑owned domain.
  • The deal is not valid when used with a 100% discount code or certain other promotions.

If you’re on a free or month‑to‑month plan, you still get a Framer‑branded subdomain (like yoursite.framer.website), but you won’t qualify for the first‑year free or discounted domain.

How the Framer–Hover domain partnership works

Framer teamed up with Hover to create a one‑click flow for finding and connecting a domain. When you choose a domain through Framer, you’re redirected to Hover’s system, where a Framer‑provided voucher applies the first‑year discount or full‑price waiver.

Here’s roughly how it works:

  1. You upgrade your Framer site to a yearly plan.
  2. You open Project Settings → Domains and select “Claim a free custom domain.”
  3. Framer shows you available domains and TLDs (such as .com, .net, .org, .in, .online, etc.).
  4. If the domain you pick is eligible, it’s registered for the first year at no cost (or at 50% off, depending on the voucher).
  5. Hover takes care of DNS setup, and your Framer project automatically points to the new domain.

After the first year, your domain renews at Hover’s standard rate, billed directly through Hover, and you can manage it in your Hover account.

Step‑by‑step: claim a free custom domain on Framer

To claim your Framer free custom domain, follow these steps.

  1. Upgrade to a yearly plan
    • Go to Settings → Billing in your Framer project.
    • Choose a yearly plan (e.g., Mini Yearly or Basic Yearly) and complete the upgrade.
  2. Open the Domains tab
    • In the same project, go to Project Settings → Domains.
  3. Select “Claim a free custom domain”
    • Click the “Claim a free custom domain” option.
    • Search for a desired name; Framer will show availability and applicable TLDs.
  4. Complete the purchase flow
    • When you confirm your choice, you’ll be redirected to Hover.
    • The Framer voucher is applied automatically, so you see the first‑year discount or free registration.
    • Confirm the purchase and let Hover finalize the domain setup.
  5. Verify your site goes live on the new domain
    • After a short propagation window, your Framer site will automatically connect to the new domain.
    • You can toggle or edit the domain in the Domains section later if needed.

If you ever want to use a different domain later, you can connect an existing domain from any registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.) by adding DNS records manually or via auto‑connect where supported.

Free subdomain vs free custom domain: what’s the difference?

Framer supports both free subdomains and custom domains, but they serve different purposes.

Framer‑hosted subdomains

  • Uses a structure like yoursite.framer.website or similar branded extensions.
  • Completely free and automatic; no need to pay for registration.
  • Best for prototypes, personal experiments, or temporary landing pages, but looks less professional for client or brand sites.

Custom domain (Framer free or paid)

  • Uses your own TLD, such as yourbrand.com or yourbrand.in.
  • With the Framer free custom domain offer, you get the first‑year registration discounted or free on yearly plans.
  • Gives a clean, brand‑friendly URL that’s ideal for portfolios, SaaS sites, and client‑facing projects.

In practice, if you’re serious about branding, you should upgrade to a yearly plan and claim a custom domain rather than sticking with the default Framer subdomain.

FAQs about Framer’s free custom domain

1. How do I get a free domain on Framer?

You get a free or discounted custom domain by upgrading your site to a yearly Framer plan, then going to Project Settings → Domains and selecting “Claim a free custom domain.” After choosing an eligible domain, the first‑year registration is applied through Framer’s voucher with Hover.

2. Does Framer really give a free domain for the first year?

Yes, but only for new registrations on eligible yearly plans, and only once per subscription. The first year is free or discounted depending on the voucher; after that, your domain renews at Hover’s normal price.

3. Can I use my own domain bought from GoDaddy or Namecheap?

Yes. You don’t have to use the Framer free custom domain offer. You can connect an existing domain from any registrar by adding DNS records in your domain‑hosting dashboard or using auto‑connect if supported. Framer supports this in the Domains section under “Connect a third‑party domain.”

4. What happens after the first year of the free custom domain?

After the first year, your domain renews at the standard rate charged by Hover, and you manage renewal and DNS in your Hover account. If you don’t want to keep it, you can let it expire or transfer it out following Hover’s domain‑management workflow.

5. Does the free domain work on all Framer plans?

No. The free custom domain promotion is only available when you upgrade to a yearly plan (such as Mini Yearly or Basic Yearly). Free or monthly plans get a Framer‑branded subdomain instead and can’t redeem this offer.

Key takeaways

  • Framer now makes it easy and affordable to add a custom domain to your site by offering a free or discounted first‑year registration when you upgrade to a yearly plan.
  • The offer is powered by Hover, which handles domain registration and DNS, so setup is mostly automatic.
  • You can claim a new domain through Framer or connect an existing one from any registrar, depending on your branding strategy.
  • For a serious, client‑ready project, choosing a custom domain via Framer’s free custom domain option is the best way to look professional without extra hassle.

If you haven’t already, consider upgrading your Framer site to a yearly plan and grabbing a free custom domain while the offer is active—your brand’s URL will thank you.