Step-by-Step: How to Register, Buy a Plan, and Claim Your Free Domain on Hostinger

Follow these precise steps to set up your digital workspace from scratch.

Step 1: Choose Your Website Builder Plan

1. Go to Hostinger

2. Click on Website Builder in the top navigation menu, or click the main "Claim Deal" button on the homepage.

3. You will see a few options. Look for the Premium Website Builder or Business Website Builder plan (The Premium plan is the most popular starting choice as it includes a free domain name, 24/7 support, and the full drag-and-drop AI builder).

4. Click the "Choose Plan" or "Add to Cart" button under your selected plan.

Step 2: Select Your Hosting Period

1. You will be redirected to the cart page where you need to choose your period (1 month, 12 months, 24 months, or 48 months).

> 💡 Pro-Tip for Readers: Choosing the 12-month plan or higher is the smartest move because Hostinger gives you the Domain Name for 100% Free for the first year. The month-to-month plan does not include a free domain.>

Step 3: Create Your Hostinger Account

1. Scroll down to the "Create Your Account" section on the same page.

2. Enter your primary email address, or choose the one-click signup using your Google or Facebook account to make logging in quick and easy.

Step 4: Select Payment Method & Complete Purchase

1. Scroll down to the "Select Payment" section.

2. Choose your preferred payment gateway. For readers in India, Hostinger offers incredibly seamless local options:

* UPI (GPay, PhonePe, Paytm)

* Net Banking

* Credit / Debit Cards

3. Fill in your billing address details if prompted, click "Submit Secure Payment," and complete your checkout via your phone or card interface.

Step 5: The Setup Wizard & Claiming Your Free Domain

1. Once your payment goes through, you will instantly land inside the Hostinger hPanel (Dashboard) with a welcoming setup wizard. Click "Start Now."

2. The wizard will ask who you are creating the website for. Select "Myself" and choose "Create a new website."

3. When asked for your platform, select "Hostinger Builder with AI."

4. Claim Your Free Domain: The system will display a prompt: "Claim a Free Domain." Click "Select," type your desired website name (e.g., yourbrandname.com), choose your extension (like .com or .in), and click "Search." If it's available, click "Continue" to instantly lock it down and link it to your plan for free!

Step 6: Generating Your Website Using AI

Once the domain registration is confirmed, Hostinger will ask how you want to build your site. Follow these steps to generate your sleek digital product store instantly.

1. Choose Your Building Path

1. On the selection screen, you will see two primary options. Select the card that says "Hostinger Builder with AI" (Generation + drag-and-drop editing) and click "Start Creating."

> ⚠️ Pro-Tip for Readers: Avoid switching to "Horizons (Vibe Coding)" mid-process for this guide, as the classic builder gives you instant drag-and-drop control over the template blocks we will use later.>

2. Feed the AI Your Business Context

A form will appear asking you to describe your website. Fill it out accurately so the AI designs the perfect storefront:

* Brand Name: Type your business name or personal brand (e.g., Raj Design Academy or Sadar Marketing).

* Website Type: Select "Online Store" or "Portfolio / Showcase" from the dropdown menu.

* Description (The Magic Prompt): Copy and paste a highly descriptive prompt into the box so the AI understands the aesthetic.

* Example Prompt to give your readers: "A minimalist, highly professional online storefront with a clean, high-readability 'Apple-style' white background. The site is for selling a premium digital guide and includes an authority hero section, a clean product grid, and an elegant footer."

3. Select and Customize Your Visual Identity

1. Click "Create Website" and watch the AI assemble your site layout, section by section, in under 30 seconds.

2. Once generated, Hostinger will present you with 3 unique design variations (Styles) on the right-hand panel.

3. Preview each style. Look for the layout that features the cleanest white space, sharp modern typography, and a prominent call-to-action button.

4. Click "Select this style" and then click "Start Editing" at the top right to open the full visual canvas.

🎙️ Pro-Tip for This Step:

> "Don't stress over the filler text or generic images the AI generates in this step. We are going to wipe those out and replace them with our custom copy and payment structures in the next chapter. What you are looking for right now is a layout that feels balanced, fast, and exceptionally clean to the eye.">

Back to Chapter 5

Click here to watch the video on how to use Hostinger Website Builder