Buying .com without upgrading to Premium?

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  reelvetsfishon · Member · Jul 26, 2016 at 6:49 pm

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  I’d like to buy a domain, but I don’t want to upgrade to Premium. I have done this several times in the past. Can I still do it or do I need to buy the domain elsewhere? Thanks!

  The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

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  leifq · Member · Jul 26, 2016 at 7:22 pm

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  Hi there,

  Some good info on working with custom domains in WordPress.com can be found here:
  https://en.support.wordpress.com/all-about-domains/
  https://en.support.wordpress.com/domains/

  Essentially, you don’t have to register your custom domain with WordPress.com. However, a Premium or Business Plan will still be required to map a domain you already own.
  https://en.support.wordpress.com/map-existing-domain/

  So, to my knowledge, there are no free options when it comes to using a custom domain with a WordPress.com site.

  Hope that still works out for you :)

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  reelvetsfishon · Member · Jul 26, 2016 at 7:25 pm

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  Thanks for this. At least three times in the past I’ve bought a .com domain through WordPress (it was about $14 a year) and had it linked to my free wordpress site. That is what I was trying to do.
  Did something change?

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  justjennifer · Member · Jul 26, 2016 at 7:29 pm

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  @reelvetsfishon that option is no longer available. If you now wish to buy a custom domain and/or map a domain, it will require purchasing an upgrade through https://wordpress.com/plans/

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  reelvetsfishon · Member · Jul 26, 2016 at 7:35 pm

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  Wow, really? So a site I used to be able to set up for $14 a year is now at least $72 a year? I’m setting this up for a veteran’s non-profit that does not have that in the budget. I’ll have to host the site elsewhere – which is too bad. I’ve been loyal to WordPress for five years and have set up four non-profits and three blogs with you…

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  justjennifer · Member · Jul 26, 2016 at 7:43 pm

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  It is still possible to set up an entirely free website on WordPressdotcom.

  Wishing you and the vets all the best.

  (And for clarity’s sake, I’m a member here just like you.)

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  reelvetsfishon · Member · Jul 26, 2016 at 7:52 pm

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  Thanks for clarifying. :) I appreciate your response.
  I can set up the site for free, just not have a custom domain, right? The site would have to be the .wordpress.com version?
  Thanks again for trying to help out!

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  justjennifer · Member · Jul 26, 2016 at 7:55 pm

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  That’s correct and you are welcome.

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  reelvetsfishon · Member · Jul 26, 2016 at 8:01 pm

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  Got it. That doesn’t really work for a non-profit org. Thanks anyway!