Domain transfer

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  gillianthomas2164 · Member · Feb 10, 2021 at 5:07 pm

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  I already own a domain, with 123reg , which has just renewed. I am trying to transfer it for my new website on WordPress. I have read the guide on how to do it and it says it will be free, but everytime I try, the site wishes to charge me £84!! I don’t understand :( This is all very new to me.

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  themagicrobot · Member · Feb 10, 2021 at 6:17 pm

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  You can register a custom domain here free for the first year if you purchase a plan. Likewise, to transfer or map a domain you hold elsewhere to a WordPress.com site requires a paid plan.

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  gillianthomas2164 · Member · Feb 11, 2021 at 5:07 pm

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  Thank you. What about ‘pointing’ – I am not really sure what that entails, but a friend said that might be possible and it is free.

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  themagicrobot · Member · Feb 11, 2021 at 5:57 pm

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  “Pointing” isn’t recommended. The .wordpress.com subdomain would remain in the browser address bar and if your custom domain did display it wouldn’t get a padlock and https as it can’t be set as the primary domain here at WordPress.com without a paid plan. No doubt your site would display ads (any income from which would benefit WordPress.com not you) if you kept the site on a free plan.

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  gillianthomas2164 · Member · Feb 11, 2021 at 6:44 pm

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  Ahhh okay – so just over a year ago, when I first registered with WordPress, one option was to transfer my domain from 123 reg to WordPress and I would receive extended registration for one year – do you know if that option is still available please?

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  staff-mckluskey · Staff · Feb 12, 2021 at 8:36 am

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  @gillianthomas2164,

  You will always need a paid plan to use a custom domain and have it as your primary address.

  You can either map it (maybe this is what your friend referred to when they said to point it here) – your domain will stay with the current registrar, and you’ll need to go to their site to manage anything domain-related.

  Or you can transfer the domain to WordPress.com, and we’ll be your new registrar. This way, you’ll manage everything from one place, and you’ll be able to reach support with any domain related-issues :)

  Here you can find more information: https://wordpress.com/support/domain-mapping-vs-domain-transfer/.

  one option was to transfer my domain from 123 reg to WordPress and I would receive extended registration for one year

  When the domain is transferred to WordPress.com, it will act as if it was newly registered with us.

  I hope that helps :).