Is there a free domain in Pakistan?
No. PKNIC, the registry for .pk and .com.pk, charges Rs 2,100 per year for registrants in Pakistan from 1 August 2026, billed two years at a time. A "free domain" offer is usually a hosting bundle, a first-year promo or a free subdomain, and each one has a catch.
What PKNIC actually charges
The registry itself does not give names away. For registrants based in Pakistan, PKNIC charges Rs 2,100 per year from 1 August 2026. Before that date it was Rs 1,800.
PKNIC bills two years at a time, and you can pay for up to ten years. Registrants or registrars outside Pakistan pay USD 15.99 per year.
PKNIC's own site lists no free tier, trial or promo. So if a page claims you can get a free .pk or .com.pk straight from the registry, be careful. Our guide “How much does a .pk domain cost in Pakistan?” guide has the full breakdown, and our guide “What is PKNIC? How the .pk registry works” explains who PKNIC is. We are not PKNIC; we file registrations through PKNIC or a registrar.
Where "free domain" offers come from
Free offers do not remove the fee. Someone still pays PKNIC, and the cost moves somewhere else.
These are the four kinds you will usually see:
- Hosting bundles: a domain comes with a hosting plan, often for a set term.
- First-year promos: year one is discounted or zero, then the normal price returns.
- Free subdomains: an address like yourshop.somebuilder.com, which belongs to the platform, not to you.
- Fake offers: a promise of a free domain if you fill a form or pay a small "verification" fee. Read our guide “Common domain scams in Pakistan and how to avoid them” before you pay anything.
What it costs when the free part ends
A bundled domain is paid for through the hosting plan. When the plan ends, the renewal is often charged at the full rate, and sometimes more than you would pay elsewhere.
Before you accept any offer, write down three things: the renewal price, the renewal date, and what happens to the domain if you stop paying for hosting.
For .com names, Verisign's wholesale fee is USD 10.26 until 31 October 2026 and USD 10.97 from 1 November 2026. Any retail renewal price sits above that. See our guide “What a domain costs to renew, and why year two can cost more” for how renewals work and our guide “What happens when a .pk domain expires?” for what happens after a missed date.
Who owns a name that comes in a bundle?
People often skip this question. The registrant is the person or business named on the registration, and PKNIC fixes that name at registration. So check it before you pay, not after.
If a hosting company registers the domain in its own name, or in a reseller's name, you may only be using it. Moving your site later can then turn into an argument.
Ask for the registrant to be you or your company. Then check it yourself on the WHOIS lookup. If you ever need to move a name, our guide “.pk domain transfer, step by step” and our guide “Registry, registrar and reseller: who owns your domain?” explain how the chain of companies works.
Risks of chasing a free domain
A mistake usually costs more than the saving. If your business is built on a name you do not control, you can lose it and the customers who know it.
Watch for these:
- Lock-in: the domain only works while you stay with one host.
- Wrong owner: the registrant is the seller, not you.
- Short names: names directly under .pk need at least four characters, so a short name on offer may not be valid.
- Surprise renewals: a large bill after the first year.
- Fake offers: you pay for a "free" domain that is never registered.
Lower-cost routes where you own the name
If money is tight, pick a route where you know the price and the name is yours.
You can register a new name in your own name and pay for the term you choose, in two-year blocks for .pk names. We check availability live at our guide “How to register a .pk domain (PKNIC rules explained)” and file the registration in your name. Check the price list or ask us on WhatsApp for current rates.
You can also buy an existing name from its owner on the marketplace, with payment held in escrow until the name is handed over. Or use a free subdomain while you test an idea, then move to your own name before you print cards or run ads. For name ideas, try the name idea tool. For how .pk, .com.pk and .com differ, read our guide “.pk vs .com.pk vs .com: which domain should a Pakistani business pick?”.
For what a domain really costs, see our guide “Domain price in Pakistan (2026): what you really pay”.
Common questions
Is a .pk domain free?
No. PKNIC charges Rs 2,100 per year for registrants in Pakistan from 1 August 2026, billed two years at a time. Its site lists no free option.
Is there a free .com.pk domain registration option?
Not from the registry. A free .com.pk offer is a bundle, a promo or a scam, and the cost shows up at renewal or in who owns the name. See the .com.pk page for how .com.pk works.
Is there a free promo code for a .pk domain?
We know of no official PKNIC promo code that makes a .pk free. Be careful with anyone selling "codes", and read our guide “Common domain scams in Pakistan and how to avoid them” first.
Can I get a free domain with hosting?
Some hosts include one. Check the renewal price, the registrant name and whether you can move the domain away. We do not sell hosting; our guide “Domain vs hosting: what is the difference?” explains the difference.
Is a free subdomain the same as a free domain?
No. A subdomain like yourshop.platform.com belongs to the platform. If you leave, the address stays with them.
How can I pay for a domain without a card?
With us you pay in rupees by bank transfer, Raast, JazzCash or Easypaisa. See our guide “How to buy a domain in Pakistan with JazzCash, Easypaisa, Raast or bank transfer”.